Independent Democrat., 1844-08-07

great truths are announced, athat govern
ments derive their just power from the
consent OF the governed; that whenever
any form of government becomes destrucs
tive of the ends for whichit was institut-
ed, 1t is the right of the people to abolish
i, and 10 institute a new government, &C."
. On these great fundamental principles
rests the fabric of our liberty, and ON the
same imperishable basis the people Of
Texas have erected their Republic. Are
these principles now to be regarded as
idle distractions, unfit for practical illus
tration? SO thought not the men Of '76.
They toied through seven years war in
i support of these very doctrines which YOU
are, IN effect, now asked to repudiate Ey
denying TO Texas--reyolutionized and in
dependent Texas, the right to form po-
litical union with another power. And
towards whom is this excessive courtesy,
this extraordinary forbearance. to be dis
played Nominnlly a Republic, Mexico
is really governed by despot as absolute
as the autocrat Of Russia. His will is the
supreme law. 'He is the State" And.
oh! tell it not, for shame, that we, republi-
cans of The land of Washington, may not
uphold and sustain a sister Republics,
bowed down and sinking from exhaustion;
may not carry out the principles avowed
in our own declaration of independence,
lest we offend the most pusianimous and
perfidious despot that has disgraced mo-
dern history. II, indeed, Texas is to be
repuIsed by her republican brethren, in
all her efforts for admission into our po-
ilcal union, trust. for the honor of the
American name, that our rejection may
not rest on the ant-ropublcan and anti
American ground, that Texas has not tho
right to cede her territory and transfer her
allegiance.
Another objection to annexation is, that
our Union would thereby become too un-
wleldy-that there would be danger of
Its falling to pieces by its own weight, or
OF ACKNOWLEDGMENT from contrariety Of
interests. A distinguished statesman, in
speech in the House of Representatives
of The United States, in 1890, in opposi-
tion 10 the treaty ceding this very terri
tory, has so well answered this objection
that | will employ his own language: 81
know, (said hey that there are are honest
aud eniigh'eHed mum, why fSur tiIat
confederacy is already too large, and that
there is danger of disruption, arising out
Of want of reciprocal adherence between
lis several parts. hope and believe that
the principle of representation, and the
formation of States, will preserve us uni
ted people," Life and Speeches Of Hen
ry Clay.l
The same objection was urged against
the acquisition of louisiana. Experience
has shown its faiIacy, and proved that un-
der our complex representative system,
every increase 10 the number of our poll
tical family cousoidates our Union, gives
strength to our institutions at home, and
increases our responsibility abroad. Be-
sides, the application of steam power, the
construction Of rail roads, and, may now
add, the invention of the magnetic tele-
graph, have almost "annhilated time and
sp plce," and brought all the parts of this
great empire into close proximity.
| need not dwell on the objection that
our government has no constitutional pow
er TO acquire foreign territory, or to admit
foreign Suites into our Union. 1t is but
feebly and incidentally urged. | may,
however, remark, that tho express grant
of power in the consitution, ,'"that Con-
gress may admit new States," is without
Imitation; aud the debates and PROPOSE
ions in the convention which framed tho
serve to show that the addl-
ion of foreign territory and foreign States,
10 tho nlalI Of
And the practice ol the government since,
n the purchase Of Louisiana and Florida,
md in the recent adjustment Of the north
3rn boundary, sanctions this view, Gad
>laccs this point beyond doubt.
Having considered the objections to an
| proceed to offer some remarks
IN its Importance in a national view.
The Republic of Texas contains terri
ory sufficient TO form at least five Statas.
ot the size of our own. Situated on
Southern and Western border, it exteIiGl
along our boundary several hundred miles
upon our actual settlements, and several
hundred further on the boundary of our
territory. The Red and Arkan
'as rivers, after traversing her territory
or several hundred miles, through a region
lbounding in the sources of mineral and
agricultural wealth, fall into our own Mis-
'issippi. She commands large extent of
he coast of the Cuff of Mexico. reaching
almost to the mouth of our great river.
Her climate is said 10 be pure aud healthy.
mild and delicious, as that of haly. Her
'oil surpasscs our own in fertility. produ-
ling in great abundance, besides our own
great staple, indigo, rice, sugar, tobacco.
md nearly all the fruits of the tronics'