Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1844-05-09

4 -SeNJ 49, ~ ANC R1oh~1 @-NAt16 otlli
further acquisitions Of territory. to main
tain the Independence of Texas, dlscon.
necleG with the United States. and 10 pre-.
veat the further propagation Of slavery
from the United States. what would be the
effect Of such allegations upon the judg.
ment Of an impartial and enlightened
world /.
Assuming that The annexation OF Texas
is war with Mexico. is il competent to the
treaty making power % plunge this coun-
Try into war. not only without The con-
curence Of but without deignisg 70 con-
suit Congresslto which. By ths Constiiu.
ton, belongs exclusively the power Of de-
claring war;
have hitherto considered the question
upon the supPosi'ion that the annexation
is attempted without the assent Of Mexi
co. II she yields her consent, that would
materially affect The foreign ASPECT Of the
question, if it did not remove all foreign
difficulties. % the assumption of that
assent, the question would be confined to
the domestic considerations which belong
TO it, embIacingsthe terms and conditions
upon which annexation is proposed. i
DO not think that Texas ought 10 be ad.
United into this Union, as an integrafpart
OF It, in decided opposition to The wishes
OF considerable and respectable portion
Of the Confederacy. think il far more
wise and important TO compose and har.
monte the present Confederacy as il now
exists, than 10 introduce new element
OF diseord and distraction into it. Inmy
humble opinion, il should be the constant
and earnest endeayor of American states
men 10 eradicate prejudices, 10 cultivate
ana foster concord, and 10 produce gene
raj coatentment)among all p{rts Of our
Geaiederacy. And true wisds4h IL seems
q me, points to the duty Of rendering its
present members happy, prosperous, and
satisfied with each other, rather than to
attempt TO introduce alien Members, a.
galnst the common consent and with the
certainty Of deep dissatisfaction. Mr.. JET.
ierson expressed the opinion, and others
oeiievedi that Il never was ia the contem
ptailon Of the trainers OF the Cbnshtutiou
to add foreign territory 10 The -Confedera
cy, OUT Of which new States were 10 be
formed The acquisitions OF Louisiana
and Florida may be defended upon the
peculiar ground Of the relation in which
they stood 10 The States Of The Union.-
Alter they were admitted, we might we'll
pause awhile, people our vast wastes, de.
yelop our resources. prepare the means Of
defending what We possess, and augment
our strength, power. and greatness. II.
hereafter further territory should be want.
ed for an increased population, we need
entertain no appgehensinns but thsi II will
De acquired BY means, il isto be Hoped,
fair, honorable. and constitutional.
II is useless 10 disguise that there are
those. who espouse and those who oppose
The annexation Of Texas upon the ground
OF the influence which ii would exert. in
the balance Of political power, between
two great sections Of the Union. | con.
celve that NC motive for til acquisition
Of foreign territory would be more unfor.
ignate, pregnant with more fatal con.
sequences. than that Of obtaining il for the
purpose Of Strengthening one. part against
.anoiher part Of the common Cbnfedegacy.
Such principle, pu. INTO practical opera.
ton, would menace the existence, if il
did not certainly sow the seeds OF disso-
LUTON ofthe Union. It would be 10 pro.
claim 10 The world an Unsuitable and I'M
quenchable thirst for foreign conquest or
acquisition CT territory. Fer II 10 day,
Texas be acquired TO strengthen one part
Of the Confederacy, 10 morrow Canada
may be required to add strength to auoih
er And after that might have been o5
tanned, still other and further acquisitions
would become necessary 10 eqaslze and
adjust the balance Of political power. Fl
ually, in The progress ofihis spirit OF uni!
gsrsal domini9n, the pant Of the eontede-
faey which is now weakest would find
Itself still weaker from tie impossibilny
ofsecuring new theatres for those peculiar
fhsiitutions which il is charged with being
'desifoas 10 extend.
But would Texas, ultimately, really
add strength TO that which is now consij
cred The weakest part Of the Confedeta.
cy I? i. my Information be correct il
would not. According 10 that, the terri
tory Of Texas is susceptible of division
Into FIVE States Of convenient size and
form. Ofihese. two only would BE adapt.
ed to those peculiar Institutions TO " hich
1 have referred. and the other three. wing
west aud north OF San Antonio. beiag on,
~ adapted 10 farming and grazing parpos
es, from Ihe nature Of their soil. climate.
and productions. would not admit OF those
institutions. Insihe end, therefore, there
would be twoNSlave and three free States
probably added tof the Union. II this
yiew.ol the soil aud geography Of Texas
De correct. il mighkserve 10 diminish the
zeal both OF those WHO oppose and those
who are urging annexation.
Should Texas be annexed to The Union.
the United States will ASSUME and become
responsible for The debt ofNTexas. be its
amount what il may. What il is, do
not kaow certainly: but The least have
seen il stated at is thirteen millions OF dol.
lars. And this responsibility will exist,
whether there bea stipulation 10 The yrea-
~ or not assuming the payment Of the
debt oil Texas. For suppose il to be IN,
deniable that, if one nation becomes in
coporated in another. all the debts, and
obligations, and inc1mbrances. and wars
Of the incorporated nation. become the
debts, and obligations, and Membranes,
and wars OF the common nation creased
by The incorporation.
II any Eulopean nation enlerlains any
ambitious desigus upon Texas, such vas
that Of colonizing her, OF 10 any way sub