New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1844-03-30
Gen. JACKSON on Annexation.

1t has long been known that General JACKSON
was from the first in the confidence Of those who
violently severed Texas from Mexico in order to
lcgalize Slavery in the lormer-ior that is the
real and impelling reason. If Mexico had not
been nflcxibly hostile to Slavery, the Revolution
in Texas would never have occurred. 1t was in
good part by the open countenance and secret
support Of Gen. Jackson, then President, that
the success Of the Texas rebellion was secured
None, therefore, can be surprised to see the
same Chief now actively promoting the cause of
Annexation, and urging it by such arguments as
the following. If there be any soundness, any
vitality in them, we ought at once to attack and
conquer Canada, since its strongholds are already
in the possession of Great Britain, filed with troops
and warlke stores, with no defensive works on our
side, and all the cities and towns of the North
within few days march of them.
But all this pretended alarm for the safety of
the South from Foreign aggression is the sheer
est cant and hypocrisy. The Mississippi River
and its tributaries are the natural dcfences Of
the South West-better than thousand iortfi-
cations. By the aid of these and their steam
boats, FIVE hundred thousand brave rihemen can
be concentrated on any point on those waters in
twenty days, and any invading army which
could be marched there would be destroyed in a
week more. But hear Old Hickory:
HERMITAGE, Feb. l2 1914.
nv Dear Sir: Yours of the 23d ultimo has
been received, and with it the Madisonian, con-
tanning Governor Gilmer's letter on the subject
of the annexation of Texas to the United States.
You are not mistaken in supposing that have
formed an opinion this interesting sub ect. 1t
occupied much Of my attention during my Presi-
dency and | am sure has lost none Of its i'm
portance by what has since transpired.
Soon after my election in 1929, it was made
known to me by Mr.. Erwin, formerly our Minis.
ter at the Court of Madrid, that whilst at that
Court, he had laid the foundation of treaty
with Spain for the cesson of the Floridas, and
the settlement Of the boundary of Louisiana,
fixing the Western limit of the latter at the Rio
Grande,* agreeably to the understanding of
France-that he had written home to our Gov
eminent for powers to complete and sign this
negotiation; but that, instead of receiving such
authority, the negotiation was taken cut of his
hands and transferred to Washington, and new
treaty was there concluded, by which the Sabine,
and not the Rio Grande, was recognized and es-
tablished as the boundary of Louisiana.
Finding that these statements were true, and
that our Government did really give up that I'M
porant territory, when it was at It's option to re
tain it, | was filled with establishment Ihe
right to the territory was obtained from France
Spain stood ready to acknowledge 1t to the no
Grande, and yet the authority asked by our Nun
lister to insert the true boundary, was not only
withheld, but in lieu OF it, a limit was adopted,
which stripped US of the whole OF the vast coun-
Try lying between the two rivers.
On such subject, thought with the ancient
Romans, that it was right, never to cede any
land or boundary of the republic, but always to
add to it by honorable treaty, thus extending the
area of freedom; and it was in accordance with
this feeling that gave our Minister to Mexico
instructions to enter upon negotiation for the
retrocesslon of Texas to the United States.
This negotiation failed, and shall ever re-
gret it as misfortune to both Mexico and the
United States. Mr.. Gilmers letter presents many
OF the considerations which in my judgement,
rendered the step necessary to the peace and
harmony of the two countries; but the point in
it, at that time, which most strongly impeed me
to the course / pursued, was the injustice done
to US by the surrender of the territory, when it
was obvious that it could have been retained
That this boundary could have been obtained wa.
doubtless The oes OF our Minister in Spain but the offer
Certainly line far West Of the Sabine