The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1844-04-29

do. Our right receive the rich grant te ndered by
Texas Is perfect; and hs government should not,
having due respect either to iis own honor or its
own interests, permit its course oil p,l,cy 10 be in
teruped by The iuteri. renee OF Other powers,
If such inferfsseoce was threatened. The question
Is one purely American. In the acquisition, While
abstain most carefully from all that could inter
rupt the public peace, we claim the rgb; exercise
| a due regard TO our own. This government cannot,
consistently with liz honor, permit any such inter.
ference. With equal. If not greater propriety, might
the Uolted States demand OF Other governments to
surrender their numerous and yalu. bic acquisitions,
made 10 time past, at nnmherless places ON the SUI
face OF the globe, whereby they have added their
power and eulsrgef their resourcrs
To Mexico, the Executive is disposed to pursue
course conciliatory in Its character, and at the
same time render her the most ample Justice, by
conventions and stpulations not inconsistent with
the rights and dignity Of the government. It's &C.
tuated by no spirit OF unjust ACKNOWLEDGEMENT, but
looks only 10 It's own security. Ii has made known
| to Mexico, at several periods, its extreme anxiety
to witness the termination of hostilitles between
that country and Texas. Its wishes however, have
been entirely disregarded. Il has ever been ready
to urge an adjustment Of The dispute upon terms
mutually advantage GUS to both 1t will be ready at
| all times to hear and discuss any claims Mexico
may think she has on the justice Of the United
States, and to adjust any that may be deemed 10
! be so on the most liberal terms. There is no de-
| sire the part ot the Executive to wound her
pride, affect inuriously her interest; but, at the
its action the essential interests Of the UnitrdSlates
| Mexico has no right to ask or expect this OF us
we deal rightfuly with Texas as an indepen
| dent power. The war which has been waged for
eight years has resulted only in the conviction with
all others than herself, that Texas cannot be recon.
quered. cannon but repeat the opinion, expressed
my message at the opening 81 Congress. tiat
| could not look upon its longer continuance without
the greatest uneasInesa, has neyerthe less, for all
past time, preserve. course Of strict neutrality.
1t could not be ignorant Of the fact of the exhaus
ton which war OF 20 long duration had pro-
duced. Least of all was it Ignorant OF the anxi-
| ETY. of ether powers to induce Mexico to enter
| into terms OF reconciliation with Texas, which,
affecting the domestic institutions of Texas, would
| operate most inuriously upon the United States,
| and might most seriously threaten he existence
quainted with the fact, that although foreign
governments might disavow all design to disturb
| the relations which exist under the Constitution
between these States, yet that one, the most pow
! erful amongst them, had not failed to declare It's
marked and decided hostility to the chief features
in those relations, and its purpose on all suitable
occasions, to urge upon Mexico the adoption OF
such course in negotiating with Texas az to pro-
duce the obiteration Of that feature from her do
mestic policy, one of the conditions of her
cognltion, BY Mexico, as an indepe ndent State.
| The Executive was also aware of the fact, that
formidable associations OF persons, the subjects
of foreign powers, existed, who we're directing
their utmost efforts to the Accomplishment af this
object To these conclusions it was inevitably
brought by tho documents now submitted to the
| Senate. l repeat, the Executive saw Texas in
state Of almost hopeless exhaustion, and the ques
ton narrowed down to the simple proposition,
whether the United States should accept the boon
Of annexation fair and liberal terms, or, by
fusing to do so, force Texas seek refuge in the
! arms Of some other power, either through treaty
OF alliance, offensive and defensive, or the adoP-
ton Of some other expedienf. which might virtual
| y make hertrlbutary to such power and dependent
| upon It tor all future time. The Executive has full
reason to believe that such would have been the
result, without It's inerpositon, and that such will
be the result, IN the event either of unnecessary
delay in the ratification, or of the rejection Of the
| proposed treaty.
In full view, then of the highest public duty and
as measure OF security against evils intellectually
great, the Executive has entered into the nrgoria
ton, the fruits of which submitted to the
Senate Independent ofthes urgent reasons which
existed for the step it has taken, it might safely in
woke the fact, which il confidently believes, that
there exists no civilized government earth, hav
ing voluntary tender made It OF domain so rich
tonal greatness and wealth, and necessary to its
peace and safety, thai would reject the offer Nor
are other powers Mexico inclusive, likely, in any
degree, to be injuriously affected by the ra,ifica
ton of the treaty The prosperity of Texas will be
equally interesting to ALL in the increase of the gen.
eral commerce Off world, that prosperity will be
secured by annexation.
But one view of the subject remains to be pre-.
sented 1t grows out Of the proposed enlargement
of our territory From this am free to confess,
see no danger. The federaive system is suscepti-
BILE ct the greatest extension compatible with the
ability ct the representation ct the most distant state
territory to reach the seat of government in time
to participate in the functions OF legislation, and to
make known the wants of the constituent body
Our confederated republic consisted originally of
thirteen members 1t now consists of twice that
number while applications are before Congress TO
permit other additions.
This addition Of new States has served to strength
rather than to weaken the Union. New inter-
ests have sprung up which require the united power
of all, through the action OF the common govern
ment. to protect and defend upon the high seas and
IN foreign paris Each State commits with per-
feet security, to that common government those
great interests growing out OF our relations with
other nations of The world, and which equally
involve the good OF all the States Its domestic
concerns are left to its own exclusive management.
But if there were any force the objection, it
would seem to require an immediate abandonment
Of territorial possessions which lie in the distance,
and stretch TO far-of sea; and yet no one would
be found, it is believed, ready to recommend such
an abandonment. Texas lies at our very doors, and
In our immediate vicinity.
Under every view which | have been able to
take Of the subject, think that the interests Of
common constituents, the people Of all the States,
and a love of the Union, lett the Executive no
other alternative than to negotiate the treaty. The
high and solemn duty Of ratyng of rejecting II.
is wisely devolved on the Senate by the Constitu-
ton of The United States JOHN Tyler.
WASHINGTON, April q, 1874.
Nessrs. Van Zandt and Henderson to Mr. Calhoun.
LEGATION OF Texas,
Washington City, April Is, 1874
The undersigned, &c, in reply to the inquiries Of
Mr. Calhoun, Secretary of State of the United
States, have the honor to submit the following:
In 1886, after the declaration of the independence
Of Texas, in pursuance Of the orders Of the con-
vention and Il expression of the popular will, the
President ad in'crn, by his proclamation, ordered
an election TO be held throughout the Republic for
the ratification or rejection of the Constitution
which had been adopted by the convention, and
Tor the expression by the people of their wishes in
regard to the annexation of Texas to the United
States. The result was, that, upon full poll, but
ninety three votes were given against the annex
alton
Following up this declared wish of the people, the
first Congress that assembled thereafter passed an
act empowering the President To appoint minister
to present tie question to the Government of the
United States. The proposition having been de-
cned, it deemed prudent, in order 10 facilitate
negotiations with otter countries not to press the
question OF annexation further, and therefore it
was Withdrawn.
subsequently, in 1912, instructions were given