Boon's Lick times. [volume] (Fayette, Mo.) 1840-1848, 1844-11-30


every principle Of law and justice.
But the time has come when an opportunity |
is again offered the people Of this state, thro' |
the legislature to act on this subject and in as
much as the command Of congress has been
set aside, there is no reason why the present
system Of election should be continued, espe.
cially as it is believed thst there is a decided
mqjprily Of the people Of the state in favor Of
the district system Of elec,ng our members
TO congress.
In view therefore Of all The facts connected
with this subject, presume you will consider
1t to be your duty to lay of the state into five
equal districts, as nearly as may be, for the
purpose of electing, in future, our represen-
tatives in congress.
The subject Of the annexation OF the repub>
liz Of Texas TO the United States has for some
time excited a deep interest among he people
Of this state, and it is believed that an over
whelming majority desires 10 see that objec,
accomplished.
The state Of Missouri is peculiarly interes,
cd in the successful result Of this measure
| If Texas be admitted into the union, it becomes
| at once TO us a border state and our relations
assume, in consequence, an intimate and friend
| ly character. Our connection with it too, is
rendered still more close, by its numbering
among its inhabitants, many who were once
the citizens of our state. In o CONNIE rcial
point Of view, in the great and increasing mar
ket it would afford for the agricultural and
mechanical products Of our labor, and in the
exchange Of commodities that would result
from this trade, it is highly desirable that Tex
as should become part Of our union II on
the other hand its admission into the con(ed.
eracy should not take place, the consequence
to US would be peri,ous, perhaps DISASTROUS
The general government has located on our
borders, and those Of Arkansas, immense
hordes OF Indians: whose warriors at this
time amour, to nearly forty thousand, and in
the limits of Texas they are computed to be
about twenty thousand more.
In the event of a war with Texas, either as
a principal or as an ally, it would be an easy
thing TO precipitae on our territory fearful
number Of these savages. A servile war, too.
could easily be excited among us, and when is
added TO these, the blockade of the mouth Of
the Mississippi, whereby all our products reach
their destination, the evil would become in!ol-
cradle. And as field, too. whereby the inva
sion Of our soil, by foreign enemy, could be
rendered so easy, as TO he used at discretion,
the acquisition Of Texas becomes 10 US mat
ter Of the first moment.
have alluded to these points by which the
question bears directly on our state. but in con-
sequence Of its general agitation throughout
the union, | have moi thought proper TO bring
to your consideration the other bearings OF this
great question, on onr relations as a confedera-
cy.
As no doubt is entertained on the subject Of
the wishes and feelings Of all our members in
congress in relation TO this matter, and of their
anxious desire TO aid in the accomplishment Of
ii ~ bor
that the wishes Of the people Of this state NAV
be fully known and understood by the congress
of the U. States, would respectfully sugges,
tina; you memorialize congress in favor Of the
annexation Of Texas, ut period as early as
! practicable.
Closely connected with this subject. is the
subjec, of our title to the territory Of Oregon
The possession Of this country by the United
States is not only important in a military and
commercial point OF view, but it assumes
more important aspect when it becomes neces~
sary for US TO assert our clear light TO il against
| the pretended claim Of the British government.
| The studied policy Of that government in avail
ing itself Of every possible pretext % extend its
territory, whereby protection can be afforded
to its great marine, and market opened for
its immense manufactures, is too well known
10 require explanation or comment here. Shall
we tamely submit when our soil is invaded.
and a military force planted on it, that will
| render its recovery, at a future day, matter
of grea, doubt, perhaps of impossibility?
We owe 10 ourselves, as a nation, to assert,
and maintain, at all hazards, the integrity OF
our territory, and we owe besides, 10 those
who have planted !heir homes in this new re.
gion, tina, protection which they have the right
TO claim as American citizens on American soil
As many Of our most valuable citizens have
emigrated TO that territory, i, seems to me that
an expression Of the public feeling on this sub.
ject would come with peculiar proprety from
the General Assembly Of this state, and cheer
fully recommend this course TO you.
At the las, session of the legislature an
act was passed entitled An act to provide
for the sale Of lands for the taxes" I'm.
der The operation Of this law very large
amount Of land has been offered for sale, and
no inconsderable quantity sold, and although
The object intended to be accomplished by This
law, was Of itself perfectly just and right, yet
it is believed that it has operated very une.
qually and even unjusty on innocent persons,
In many cases, persons have purchased
tracts OF land, believing that their title was
per feet, and that there was no claim whatever
on it, and the first notice they have had TO the
contrary, was the TACT that their lands had
beer sold for taxes in arrear, by the sheriff Of
he county, and were now the property Of an
other. This evi! should be remeded as far as
possible by the legislature.
In the 22d section Of said act, il is made the
duty of the register Of lands to give 1otice Of
the time and place of any sale to be made by
the sheriff, under the provisions Of this act, al
| laas Of Ell haTn ,