The Woodstock age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1844-1845, 1844-09-26
HERE YOU III AVE IT BOY ST.
CLAWS OPINIONS ON THE TEX
AS QUESTION! READ! READ!
WHERE WILL THE VERMONT
COONS HIDEAFTER THIS? OH
HUME
From the Tuscum hia North Aabammn Of ugu,t It, and
the OHIO STATE JUurnnI u Alaust q, le44,
ASHLAND, 9th July, 1914.


the Ohio State journal ol August u, 1874,
ASHLAND, 9th July, 1914.
GENTLMEN;--I have received your ia
vor informing me, that my views, as dis
closed in my letter from Raleigh, on the
question of the Annexation of Texas, are
msconceived, if not misrepresented, in
yonr quarter; and that it is supposed that
| have changed my opinion from what it
was in 1919, | endeavored to express
myself in that letter as explicitly as
could, and do not think now that it can
be fairly misinterpreted.
In 1919, when | addressed the House
of Representatives the Executive had
negotiated the treaty with Spain, by
whice Texas was cedcd to that power,
but Congress had not then given any
sanction t. the ceSsiou. | believe now,
and thought then, that the treaty making
power is not competent without the con-
currcncc of Congress, to cede away any
territory belonging to the United States,
But Congress by repeated acts, suisse
quently manifested its appreciation of the
treaty; and these acts rendered it as val
id and obligatory upon the United States
as if Congress had given its assent, prior
to the conclusion of the treaty. At that
period of 1879, Texas as claimed by us,
was unpeopled. No hostile ncursions
had been made INTO it by the citizens of
the United States. In 1926, and 1927,
there were but few inhabitants of Texas,
consisting of some colonists planted there
under the authority of Mexico.
At neither of the three periods above
mentioned had any State or section, in
this Union, manifested any opposition to
Texas as composing part of it, 1t has
been said that Mr. Adams administration
offered to negotiate with Mexico for Tex
as, Notwithstanding the existence of
war between Spain and Mexico, and that
it could not therefore have believed that
the acquisition of Texas, at that time,
would have involved the United States in
war with Spain. Hence 1t is argued
that the ratification of the late treaty
could not have compromised our peace.
Mr. Adams thought it desirable to OBJ
tain Texas, Two foreign powers claimed
it. Mexico was in possession, and Spain
was doing nothing to assert and enforce
her claim. Her representative had even
gone So far as to stipulatc, in conyen-
ton, to acknowledge the independence
CT Mexico, although that convention was
not ratified by Spain.
MR. ADAMS HAD "A RIGHT TO
AUTHORIZE THE NEGOTIA-
TION or "A TREATY FOR THE
ACQUISITION or TEX4S WITH
BOTH OR EITHER IF THE POW
Frs CLAIMING 1T. TT VAS Nat
URAL THAT HE SHOULD BEGIN
IVTTH TH4T 20 YER UHICH
nan TIE POSSE SION or
TEXAS. Spain had iuterposed no
obstacle, she had made no declaration
that she would regard TIE acquisition Of
Texas as in act Of war. In point Of
fact, no overture was formally made to
Mexico to purchase Texas, no negotiation
was opened, no treaty was concluded. If
negotiation had commenced, or if a irea-
ty had been signed, and Spain had profess
ted, the prudent and cautious policy which
characterized Mr. Adams administration,
would undoubtedly have prompted him 10
quiet Spain, and accommodate the matter,
previous to the annexation ofTrxas to the
United States and without plunglng them
IN war with Spain. How totally different
are all the circumstances under which with
Mr. Adams's authority, | authorized the
overture to mexico, from those which at
tended the recent treaty of Mr. Tyler!
So far from Mexico being silent she re-
pcaredly and solcnny declared that she
would consider annexation as war with
her. Texas was no longer an uninhabllcd
country. 1t had been wrcscd from the
dominion of Mexico by citizens, many of
whom went armed from the L. States
The war between Mexico aud Texas had
not been terminated by any treaty of peace
Mr. Tyler not only did no, consul, Mexico,
but he announced that assent to the annex
alton was altogether unnecessary;as he pro-
ceedeG to conclude treaty, embracing a
large ey,eut of Territory, and a numerous
population, not comprclIended in the Tex
as which the y. States coded to Spain in
1919.
In the meantime, too, a powerful oppo-
silion had arisen in the United States a.
galnst the annexation of Texas to them.
Several States had declared through their
Legislatures, against 1t. aud Others, i! not
whole sections Of the Union, were believed
to be adverse To it. This was the oppose
ton To the measure, To which, in my Ra-
leigh letter, alluded, when | spoke Of
a considerable and respectable portion of
the "conf,doacy." did no, refer to per-
sons but to States or sections.
Under such circumstances could not
hut regard the Annexation ofTexas, a.
this time as compromlling the honor Of
my country. involving il in war, in which
the sympa,hirs of all Chrislendom would
be against us, and endangerng the n,eg-
ily of the Union. thought then, aud still
believe, that National dishonor. foreign
war, and distraction and division at home
were too great sacrifices to make for tho
acquisition ofTexas.