The Woodstock age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1844-1845, 1844-09-19

mas been based; and Whcn thus fact q
h"own to the people, we shall hear no fur
Their objection to this great American
measure from the wings.
The attempt to draw distinction be
tween the situation of Texas at the time
when MIR Clay, as Secretary of State I'M
der MIR Adams, attempted to purchase
Texas of Mexico, and its present situa-
ton, is altogether against him. The
truth is, that at the time (l825) Mr. Clay
made his attempt to purchase Texas, il
was unlnhabited, mere wilderness, and
could not be said to be in the actual pos
session of Mexico, she having exercised
no jurisdiction over it. Nor had Spain
ever rellnquished her claim in any man
ner to it. Yet Mr. Clay was then ready
to purchase. But now the country is set
tied, and is in the actual possession of the
Texan government, and has been for
years, without molestalion. Surely then
if the nominal possession of Mexico, and
that for only short time could give her
the right to sell, without the consent of
Spain, the Actual possession and sove-
relgnty for much longer time, should
give Texas, at least an equal right to
act for herself without the consent of
Mexico.
LETTER FROM MIR CLAY ON AN
NEXATION.
We find the following letter from Mr.
4 hn IoL e. Al, Al
August.
ASHLAND, eth July, 1914.
GENTLMEN;-l have received your ia
vor informing me, that my views, as dis
closed in my letter from Raleigh, on the
question of the Annexation of Texas, are
mlsconcelved, if not misreprcsented, in
your quarter; and that it is supposed that
| have changed my opinion from what it
was in 1919. ! endeavored to express
myself in that letter as explicitly as |
could, and | do not think now that it can
be fairly misintcrpreted.
In 1919, when | addressed the House
of representatives., the Executive had
negotiated the treaty with Spain, by
whlce Texas was coded to that power
but Congress had not then given any
to the cession. | believe now,
and | thought then, that the treaty making
power is not competent without the con-
currcnce of Congress, to ccde away any
territory belonging to the United States.
But Congress by repeated acts, subse-
qucntly manifested its appreciation of the
treaty; and these acts rendered it as val
id and obligatory upon the United States
rs if Congress had given its assent, prior
% the conclusion of the treaty. At that
period of 1879, Texas as claimed by US,
vas unpeopled. No hostile incursions
lad been made into it by the citizens of
he United States. In 1926, and 1897,
here were but few inhabitants of Texas,
consisting of some colonists planted there
lnder the authority of Mexico.
AT neither of the three periods above
mentioned had any State or section, in
his Union, manifested any opposition to
Texas as composing part of it. 1t has
'ecn said that Mr. Adams administration
offered to negotiate with Mexico for Tex
Is, Notwithstanding the existence of a
var between Spain and Mexico, and that
could not therefore have believed that
he acquisition Of Texas, at that time,
would have involved the United States in
/ war with Spain. Hence 1t is argued
hat the ratification Of the late treaty
:ould not have compromised our peace.
Mr. Adams thought it desirable to OBJ
ain Texas. Two foreign powers claimed
/. Mexico was in possession, and Spain
vas doing nothing to assert and enforce
Ter claim Her representative had even
one so far as to stipulate, in a conven-
ion, TO acknowledge the Independence
t Mexico, although that convention was
lot ratified by Spain.
Mr. Adams had RICH, to authorize the
egotation of the treaty for the acquisition
fTeyas with both or either OF the powers
laming it. 1t was natural that he should
egln with that power which had the pos
esslon of Texas. Spain had ntcrposed no
bstacle, she had made no declaration
hat she would regard the acquisition of
'exas as an &C, of war In point o f
lct, no overture was formally made to
leyIco to purchase Texas, no negotiation
las opened, no treaty was concluded If
negotiation had commenced, or if trea.
: had been signed, and Spain had profess
ID, the prudent and cautious policy which
Mr. Adams administration,
'ould undoubtedly have prompted him TO
MET Spain, and accommodate the matter,
reylous TO the annexation ofTexas to the
'nlted States and without plungng them
1 war with Spain. How totally different
re all the circumstances under which with
lr Adams's authority, authorized the
venture to mexico, from those which at
ended the recent treaty of Mr. Tyler!
So far from Mexico being silent she re-
earedly and solemnly declared that she
'ould consider annexation as war with
er. Texas was no longer an uninhablted
ountry. 1t had been wresied from the
ominion Of Mexico by citizens, many of
'hom went armed from the L. States
he war between Mexico and Texas had
ot been terminated by any treaty Of peace.
lr Tyler not only did not consult Mexico,
ut he announced that assent to the annex
ton was altogether unnecessary;as he pro.