Jeffersonian Republican. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1840-1853, 1844-12-12

iiguOus PROVINCES of Mexico. The spirit of
revolt from the control of the Central govern
ment has, heretofore, manifested itself IN sone
Of those provinces, and il is fair 10 infer that
they would he inclined 10 take The first favor
able opportunity To proclaim ihelr independ-
ence, and TO form close alliances with fexas.
The war would thus be endless. or ii cessa-
sions of hosuIIles should occur, they would
only endure for season. The interests ot
Mexico, therefore, could in nothing be better
consulted than in a peace with her neighhor,
which would resul, in the establishment oi
permanen, boundary. Upon The ra.icalol
Of the treaty, the Executive was prepared 10
treat with her on the most liberal basis
Hence The boundaries of Texas were left un-
defined by The treaty. The Executive pro-
posed to seIlle these upon terms thai all the
world should have pronounced just aud fea-
sonahle. No negotiation upon that polnt
could have been undertaken between the T.
States aud Mexico, in advance Of The rali6-
caIion Of the treaty.
We should have had no righl--no power
mo authority, 10 have conducted such ne
gollati0n; and 10 have undertaken il, would
have been an assumption equally revolving TO
the pride of Mexico and Texas, and subject
ing US TO the charge of arrogance; while 10
have proposed, In advance Of annexation, 10
satisfy Mexico for any contingent interest
she might have in Texas, wonld have heen
! 10 have treated Texas, not as an independent
power, but as mere dependency of Mexico.
This assumption could not have been acted
on by the Executive. without setting at deii-
ance your own solemn declaration that that
Republic was an Independent Sta,e Mexi-
CO had, i, is true, threatened war against the
United States, in the event the Treaty. of An
/ nexalon was ratified The Executive could
not permit itself to be influenced by this
threat. Ii represented, in this, the spirit Of
oar People, who are ready 10 sacrifice much
for peace, but nothing TO intimidation.
! war, under any circumstances, is great
ly TO be deplored. and the United Stales Is
the last naIlon 10 desire 1t but if, as the
dlton of peace, i. be required oil US TO lorego
the unqueslionable right OF treating with an
independent power. Of our own Continent,
upon matters highly interesting 10 both, and
that upon a naked aud un>llslaned prelension
of claim by third power, 10 control the free
will Of the power with whom We Ireat--de
voted as We may be TO peace, and anxious IN
cultivate friendly relations with the whole
world, The Executive does no, hesitate to say
tha, the People of the United States would
be ready TO brave all consequences, sooner
than submit TO such condition. But no appre-
hension Of war was entertained by the Exec
ulive and mus, express frankly the opinion
hcl b., bouD aH III c.,
ale, i, would have been followed by prompt
settlement, to the entire satisfaction of Mex
leo, of every matter in difference between
the TWO countries. Seeing then that new pre-
parations for hostile Invasion Of Texas were
about to be adopted by Mexico, aud that
these were brought abou, because Texas has
adopted the suggestions OF The Executive
upon the subject of Annexation, il could not
passively have folded It's arms and permitted
war, threatened TO be accompanied by eve
ry act that could mark barbarous age, to be
wsged against her. because she had done so.
Other considerations of controlling
character influenced the course Of the Ex.
ecutve. The treaty which had thus beer
negotiated, had failed to receive the rati-
fication Of the Senate. One of the chief
objections which was urged against IT, was
found to consist in the fact, that the qnes-
tiol of annexation had not been submit
ted 10 the ordeal Of public opinion in the
limited States. However untenable such
an objection was esteemed to be, IN view
of the unquestionable power of the Exc.
cuiive to negotiate The treaty, and the great
and lasting interest involved in the qnes-
ton, felt it to be my duty TO submit the
whole subject to Congress as the hes, ev-
FOUNDERS Of fpopular sentiment. No def
mite action havine been taken on the sub.
ject by Congress, the question referred It,
self directly TO the decision Of tht. States
aud the People. The great popular elrc.
which has just Terminated, afforded the
best opportunity of ascertaining the will
of the States, and The People upon it,
Pending thai issue, il became the inpers-
tive duty Of the Executive 10 inform Mex
leo that the question of annexation was
stiI before the American people, and that
until their decision was pronounced, any
serious invasion of Texas would be re
garded as An attempt to foreslall their
Judgment, and could not be looked upon
with indifference. am most happy to
inform YOU that no such inyssion has taken
niace. and trust that Whatever yaur aC.