Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1844-05-18

siderable community within the United States,
except perhaps New oreans-opposed, in this
respect, to the general opinion in The interior of
her own State favor Of the annexation, in the
manner now proposed, Of Texas to the United
States
II has been lately confidently asserted, we know,
that majority of the People Of the United States
are in favor Of the annexation as now proposed.
SO far from this being true of the whole country,
however il may be so of few districts in parcu-
lar States, declare il 10 be our firm belief,
founded upon observation which extends over a
pretty wide space, that fully four fflhs, if not nine
tenlhs, Of the People are utterly opposed to the
measure now presented to them, and that large
proportion Of them opposed to the annexation
Of Texas to the United States in any form or at
any time. There is, in short, no such thing as any
public voice or will demanding the measure in its
present shape, whilst against il there are insupera
BILE public objections, independent of the interested
and mercenary intrigues in which it is believed 10
| have had its origin.
| But, Of all The arguments against the measure
always excepting that of the indeble national dis
grace attending breaches Of faith by the wilful vio-
laon Of solemn treaties--the one which is entitled
to the greatest weight is the fact that the PROPOSED
annexation, and assumption OF the relations and OBJ
legations of Texas, would be the establishment Of
state Of War between the United States and Mexico.
This position has been so fully maintained in able pas
pers from eminent persons lately spread before our
readers that we are spared the necessity Of fortify
ing it, as might be done impregnably, by reference
TO those writers on public law whose authority is
equally recognised by our own judicial tribunals
and by the high court of nations. The Gov
eminent of Mexico was itself candid enough 10
forewarn this Government of the necessary conse-
quence of this measure and, all needless of the
warning, supercilionsly disregardng, or affecting to
disregard it, the Executive of the United States
persisted in its wilful course, renewing and press
ing this project upon the Government OF Texas
even after receiving this warning, and acknowledge
ing and commenting upon it in It's Message TO Con-
gress at the opening Of the present session.
| We to the particular purpose for
which, observing the pertinacity with which this
project of " annexation," with ALI exceptonabe
features, is still persisted in, invite the readers
attention anew TO the consideration of additional
circumstances connected with it, as follows:
some time ago, that even after the sort of defiance
to war which the President, in his Message TO Con-
gress delivered TO the world in answer to the re-
monstrances Of the Government of Mexico, the
President Of Texas could not be induced to yield
his assent to the conclusion Of the Treaty Of "
nexation" until this Government entered into GER
tain spulations with him, to protect him and his
countrymen from the consequences which ne very
well knew would be likely TO follow his conclusion Of
Treaty Of annexation TO the United States, whilst
he had, at the same moment, Commissioners en-
Recently it has particularly to our know
ledge, through channel entirely private but con-
fded in, that there was entered into, between the
authorities Of the United States and the authorities
of Texas, previous to the signing Of the Treaty, an
understanding, which, though not embodied in the
Treaty, is much Of the essence, if not Of equal
consequence, as any provision Of that Treaty, and
was, with the President Of Texas, sine qua non
No. 2, if not No. |, in the negotiation. By this
understanding, If we are not msinformed, the Ex-
ecutive Of the United States bound this Govern
ment to station on or near the Texas boundary
line force Of something like thousand infantry
and several hundred cavalry, and to maintain in
the Gulf OF Mexico naval force superior to any
naval force tina. Mexico has at her disposition.
That President HousToN should require such
disposition Of the United States military and naval
forces, whilst that requirement indicated any thing
but consciousness Of such national independence as
qualified Texas TO become a party to Treaty Of
annexation to the United States, was with him
doubtless measure Of wise precauton. But what
shall we say Of the conduct Of our Executive, if it
shall appear that he entered into such secret stpua-
tons, and executed them 100, without condescend-
ing to consult the treaty-makng power and still
less the war-making powerl We say the war
making power; for, if the President agreed to place
the land and naval forces Of the United States on
the land and naval frontiers Of Texas, it would be
for no purpose but Of offence or of defence for no
purpose but to fight the battles Of Texas, for
eign Power.
BE that as it may, without waiting for the rati-
fcaion Of the written Treaty. and even before trans
hitting il to the Senate, the President is putting in
execution his understanding with the President
lof Texas The troops Of the United States are
already in motion. Onrhe 9th Of last month the
Sd Regiment Of United States Infantry left Jef1er-
son barracks, near St. Louis, for Fort Jesup, on
the Texan line; and on the first day Of this
month the 4th Regiment Of Infantry received or
ders also 10 depart for Fort Jesun the two reoi