Sentinel of the valley. [volume] (Woodstock, Va) 1841-1848, 1844-12-26

the whale fishery on the northwest
coast of the Pacific the privileges
which has through all time heretofore,
been accorded to them of exchanging
goods Of small amount in value, at
her ports in California, for supplies IN
dispensible to their health and comfort.
Nor will ii escape the observation of
Congress, that, in conducting a cores
pondence with a minister of the United
States, who cannot and does not know
any distinction between the geographic
cal sections of the Union, charges
wholly unlounded are made against
particular States, and an appeal to
others for aid and protection to AID and
protection against supposed wrongs.
In this same connection, sectional
preiudices are attempted to be excited,
and the hazardous and objectionable
effort is made to ioment divisions a.
mongst the States Of the Union, and
thereby embitter their peace. Mexico
has still to learn, that however freely we
we may indulge in discussion among
ourselves, the American people will
tolerate no interference in their do
nestle affairs byany fereign government
and in all that concerns the constitu-
tlonaI guarantees and the national hon
or, the people ofthe United States have
but one mind and one heart.
The subject Of annexation addresses
itself, most fortunately, to every por-
ton of the Union. The executive
would have been unnnindful of It high,
est obligations if it could have adopted
a course Of policy dictated by sectional
interests and local feelings, On the
contrary, it was because the question
was neither local or sectional, but
made its appeal TO the interests of the
whole Union, and Of every State in the
Union, that the negotiation, and finally
the treaty Of annexation, was entered
into; and it has afforded me no ordina-
ry pleasure TO perceive, that so far as
demonstrations have been made upon
ii by the people, they have proceeded
from all portions of the Union. Mex
leo may seek to excite divisions a.
mongst US, by uttering unjust denunci-'
atoms against particular States; but
when she comes to know that the invi-
tations addressed to ourfellow citizens
by Spain, and afterwards by herself,
to settle Texas, were accepted by emf
grants from all the States; and when,in
addition to this, she refreshes her le-
collection with the fact that the first
effort which was made to acquire Tex
as was during the administration of a
distinguished citizen from an eastern
State, which was afterwards renewed
under the auspices of a President from
the southwest, she will awake to the
knowledge of the futility of her present
purpose of sowing discussions among
US, or producing distraction il our
deEberative councils by attacks Ell
Their on particular States, Or on per-
sons who are now in the retirement of
private life. Considering the appeal
which she now makes to eminent citi
zens by name, can she hope to escape
censure for having ascrioed to them, as
well as to others, a design las she pre-
tends now for the first time revealed)of
having originated negotiations to de-
spoil her, by duplicity and falsehood, of
a portion Of her territory? The opinion
then, as now, prevailed with the exec
utive, that the annexation Of Texas to
the Union was matter of vast impor-
lance. In order to acquire that terrific
ry before it had assumed position a
mong the independent powers OF the
earth propositions were made to Next
co for cession of it to the United
States. Mexico saw in these procee-
dings at the time, nocause ofcomplalnt.
She IS know, when simply reminded Of
them, awakened to the knowledge of
the fact, which she, through her
Secretary of State, promulgates TO
the whole world as true, that those ne
gotiations were founded in deception
and falsehood, and superintendent by
unjust and iniquitous motives. While
Texas was dependency of Mexico,
the United States opened negotiations
with the latter power for the cession Of
her then acknowledged territory; and
now that Texas is independent Of Mex
leo, and has maintalneda separate ex
istence for nine years-during which
time she has been received into the
family of nations, and is represented
by accredited ambassadors at many
Of the principal courts of Europe-and
when it has become obvious to the
underworld that she is forever lost to
Mexico, the United States is charged
with deception and falsehood in all re-
lating to the past, and condeinnatory
accusations are made against States
which have had no special agency IN
lthe matter. because the executive OF the