New-York daily tribune., 1844-05-11
rhe Question of Annexation.

was likely to become formidable and engrossing
one. We felt the force OF their arguments that II
oupAf not to become So but this did not sufnce
TO shake our conviction that It U0uld for, III
the first place, there are Texas Bonds and SCRIP
to the amount of some Ten or Fifteen Millions ol
Dollars aaoat-rnuch Of it held in this country
and by United Statesmen now IN Texas, winch
is waste paper unless and until Annexation can
be compassed, and viii be dollars directly after
ward. Land claims, and claims on the Govern
Inent Of Texas 10 any amount, are heia mere
which are dousoons or dimes according as An
nexatior shall or shall not prevail. Does any
man imagine that so vast a moneyed interest VIII
not cause itself to be felt
But we were not wholly unacquainted with the
character Of the race of which our population is
mainly composed the glorious Anglo-Saxon
race so Wanted in Speeches for Buncombe and
Fourth of July Orations. That race has grown
polite if not conscientious since the days of Its
ancestral Berserkers and Sea Klngs-its fleets
no longer scour the coasts Of all other nations IN
undisguised quest of glory and plunder-it prefers
the politer phraseologyof spreading the blessings
of Christianity and Civilization Practically,
however, it is about the same thing. This race
would be unfaithful to its origin, Saxon, DANISH
and Norman, if 1t were not essentially grasplng,
covetous, pundering, as it is. We can see this
easily enough in the case of mother Britaln-we
rnoralize quite conscientiously over her rapacity
in India, her bloody inhumanty in China, &c
We have not seen quite so clearly the character
of our own conduct toward the Indians and tow
ard Mexico. We may see it yet.
But there are special reasons why Annexation
should be popular at this time. Our coun-
try has been nearly thirty years at peace, scarce
ly disturbed by few. trlhing skirmishes with
Aborigines, of which the result was of course,
never for moment in doubt. Shc is now en-
Toying a very general and obviously growing
prosperity. But she has thousands of restless
spirits, who have an aversion to the dull ways of
steady industry the cankers of a calm world
and long peace who sigh for the license and
chances of War How shall such choice spirits
hoe corn at five shiIIings day, or dig potatoes for
every tenth bushel, when the churches Of MexI-
co are popularity understood to be radiant with
gold and diamonds, defended by a feeble and de-
graded soldcry, who would be scattered like
chaff by the first volley from the Anglo-Saxon
rife, the first charge Of the Anglo Saxon bayo
net How can lads Of spirit be expected to con-
tent themselves with turning over clods for a
livelihood, when such vlstas to glory, power and
wealth, in land of sunny skies and sunny dam
sells. arc open before them Why shall they not
be horror. r.struck at the superstition and degrada-
tion of the Mexican People, and ready to cheer
the sentiment of Senator Buchanan that it be-
comes us TO extend the blessings Of Religion and
Civilization TO that vast and goodly land-there
being no hope for her salvation but in the mus
kets of our meek Apostles from the canes OF Lou
isiana and the glens of the Allegheny Range
But, SAYS one of the unsophisticated II these
,,nouiet spirits want dash at Mexico, what is to
hinder them from stepping over into Texas with
their rifles and marching thence on the Island
City Why, sir, they know by instinct or expert
encc, that this making war on your own hook only
answers Tor short iob-that, when you come to
invading great empire, you want bread, bacon,
powder and cannon. These can be used by lads
OF spirit, but they want a duller race at their
backs-men who are commonplace as to plod
Oh in the ways of hourly industry, clearing, SOW
ing, harvestng-iu short they want the United
States behind them, and not merely Texas. OF
course, they are savage for Annexation
We have felt, then, from the first, that Annex
alton is destined to be grave, formidable IN
overrulng question-very possibly to the over
throw of our Union. Our disunlonlsts, whether
of the North or South, looking to 1t hopefully
rs the wedge which shall rive the States asun
der. Garrison and Leavitt, Gen. Hamilton and
McDutiie are alike refreshed in spirit by its por
tents. Perhaps it will answer their expectations
perhaps not. We shall hope and struggle still
for the Union Meanwhile we must be INDUCED
in few words on the present aspects OF Annex
alton.
The first thought which it suggests to US is
that OF the peculiar nature of an Abstraction
lists understanding and conscience-thc lnetfable
beauties of strict construction Here arc Cal
houn and McDuffie Van Buren, and Richie,
and their followers, vehement in their hostility TO
National Bank. or any thing like it, on the
ground OF It's unconstitutionality. Their tender
consciences revolt at any exercise of power by
the Federal Government not expressly author-
zed by the Consutuuon-they can conceoe noth-
ing to inference, 10 precedent, to implication 1t
is all nonsense TO talk TO them of the power to
create Bank being implied or included in the
powers expressly granted to coin money and reg
uate It's value, 10 raise Revenue, &c. &c.-thcy
must have the power to create Bank expressly
granted, or they have authority for the act
The assent of the trainers of the Constitution, OF
of Washington and Madison, of a Federal and
thea of Democratic Congress- are all nothing.
But when Annexation comes on the carpet they
have different rule altogether Now it is not
needed that there be any special or express au-
thorty; and the power 10 admit nep States,
formed from the territory OF the Union, is held
abundant authority for purchasing ne,o territory
which formed no paEt Of the ORIGINAL Coniedera.