Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1844-12-06

volt from the control Of the Central Govern.
Lent has, heretofore, manifested itself in
s ,me of those provinces; and it is fair to infer
at they would be inclined to take the first
'vorable opportunity to proclaim their indie
J endence, and to forr close alliances with
exas. The war would thus be endless; or.
ii cessation of hostilities should occur, thew
you'd only endure for season. The interests
! f Mexico, therefore, could in nothing be bet
! or consulted than in peace with her neigh
ors which would result in the establishment
q permanent boundary. Upon the ratification
= the Treaty, the Executive was prepared to
reat with her on the most liberal basis.
Ience the boundaries of Texas were left un-
efned by the treaty. The Executive pro-
osed to settle these upon terms that all the
world should have pronounced just and rea-
enable. No negotiation upon that point
;ould have been undertaken between the U. S.
Z Mexico, in..advance Of the ratification Of the
treaty. We should have had no right-no power
no authority, to have conducted such a ne
gotiation; and to have undertaken it, it would
have been an assumption equally revolving to
the pride of Mexico and Texas. and subject
ing US to the charge of arrogance while to
have proposed in advance of annexation, to
satisfy Mexico for any contingent interest she
might have in Texas. would have been to
have treated Texas, not as an independent
power, but as a mere dependency of Mexico,
This assumption could not have been acted
on by the Executive, without setting at def
ance your own solemn declaration that that
Republic was an independent state. Mexico
had, it is true, threatened war against the u
nited States, in the event the treaty of annex
alton was rati6ed.-The Executive could not
permit itself to be Influenced by this threat
1t presented in this, the spirit of our people,
who are ready to sacrifice much for peace, but
nothing to intimidation. A war, under any
circumstances, is greatly to be deplored, and
the United States is the last nation to desire
it; but if, as the condition of peace, it be re-
quired of US to forego the unquestionable
right of treating with an independent power.
OF our own continent, upon matters highly In
terestlng to both, and that upon naked
and unsustained pretention ofclaim by third
power, to control the free will of the power
with whom we treat-devoted as we may be
to peace, and anxious to cultivate friendly re-
latlons with the whole world, the executive
does not hesitate to say that, the people OF the
U. s. would be ready to brave all consequent
ces, sooner than submit to such condition
But no apprehension of war was entertained
the opinion that, had the treaty been ratified
by the senate, it would have been followed b.
a prompt settlement, to the entire satisfaction
OF Mexico, of every matter in difference be
tween the two countries. Seeing then thai
new preparations for hostile invasion of Texas
were about to be adopted by Mexico, and that
these were brought about because Texas had
adopted the suggestion of the Executive upon
the subject Of annexation, it could not pass
vely have folded its arms and permitted war
threatened to be accompanied by every &C
that could mark barbarous age, TO be WageC
against her, because she had done so.
Other considerations of controlling char
acter Influenced the course of the executive
The treaty which had thus been negotiated
had failed to receive the ratification of the Sc
nate.-One of the chief objections which was
urged against it, was found to consist in The
fact, that the question of annexation had no
been submitted to the ordeal of public opinl'r
III the United States. However untenabe
such an objection was esteemed to be, in vleS
of the unquestionable power Of the executlv
to negotiate the treaty, and the great and las
ting interests involved in the question, fe
it to be my duty to submit the whole subjeo
to Congress, as the best expounder of popu
lar sentiment. No defnitive action havin
been taken on the subject by Congress. tn
question referred itself directly to the decisio
of the states and the people. The great por
ular election which has just terminated, affor
the best opportunity Of ascertaining the Wi
of the states, and the people upon it. Pendin
that issue it became the imperative duty
the executive to inform Mexico that the ques
ton Of annexation was still before the Ameri
Can people, and that until their decision wa
pronounced, any serious invasion of Texa
would be regarded as an attempt to forests
their Judgment, and could not be looked upo
with indifference. | am most happy to in
form you, that no such invasion has take
place; and / trust that whatever yonr acto
may be&upon it, Mexico will see the Inpor
lance of deciding the matter by resort
peaceful expedients, in preference to those 0
arms. The decision of the people and tn
states, On this great and interesting subjec
has been decisively manifested. The ques
ton of annexation has been presented nakedl
to their consideration. By the treaY itsel
all collateral and incidental issues, whlc
were calculated to divide and distract the put
lie councils, were carefully avoided. Thes
were left to the wisdom of the future to dete
mine. 1t presented, l repeat, the isolate
question of lamentations; and in that form 1t hi
been submitted to the ordeal of public sent
ment. A controlling majority of the peopl
and large majority of the states, have dec
ded in favor of immediate annexation.
! structions have thus come up to both branc
es ofCongress, from their respective constlt
! ents, in terms the most emphatic. 1t is Il
will of both the people and the states, tn
! Texas shall be annexed to the Union promT
= ly and Immediately. 1t may be hoped tn
in carving into execution the public WI
! thus declared, all collateral issues may be
voided. Future legislatures can best decl
> as to the number Of states which should
> formed out of the territory, when the tn
: has arrived, for deciding that questle
: So with all others. by the treaty,
- United States has assumed the payment