The Arkansas banner., 1844-05-29
lM.. Calhoun 10 Mr. PaL.eaham.
DEPARTMENT OF STATE,
 Washinoton. Anril Is. lSll.

The undersigned, Secretary of State of the United States, has laid before the President, the note of the Right Honorable MT. Paken- ham, Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plen- ipotentiary of Her Britannic Majesty, address ed 10 this Department on the 26th of Febru- ary last, together with the accompanying copy of a despatch of Her AIajesty's principal Sec retary Of State for Foreign Affairs to Mir. Pa kenham. Inreply, the undersigned is direct ed by the President to inform the Right lIo- norable Mir. Pakcnham, that while he regards with pleasure the disavowal of Lord Aber- deen of any intention on the part of Her Ma jesty's Government ''to resort to any mea- sures, either openly or secretly, which can tend 10 disturb the tranquility of the slave holding States, and thereby affect the tran guilty of the Union," he at the same time regards with deep concern the avowal for lhe first time made to this Government, "That Great Britain desires, and Is constantly ex- erting herself to procure the general aboli- ton of slavery throughout the world"
 So long as Great Britain confined her policy to the abolition of slavery in her own pos sessions and colonies, no other country had right to complain. It belonged to her ex- clusiveiy to determine, according to her own views of policy, whether it should be done or not. But when she goes beyond, and avows it as her settled policy, and the object of her constant eXertons, to abolish it throughout the world, she makes it the duty of all other countries, whose safety or prosperity may be engendered by her policy, to adopt such mea- sures as they may deem necessary for their protection.
 IL is with still deep concern the President regards the avowal of Lord Aberdeen of the desire of Great Britain to see slavery abolish ed in Texas; and, as he iniers, is endeayor- ing, through her diplomacy, to oaccomplishit 1t. by making the abolition of slavery one oi the conditions on which Mexico should ac- knowledge her independence. It has con- firmed his previous impressions as 10 the policy of Great Britain il reference to Texas and made it his duty 10 examine with much care and soicitude what would be it's effects on the prosperity and safety of the U. States should she succeed in her endeavors. The investigation has resulted in the settled con victon that il would be difficult for Texas in her actual condition, to resist what she desires, without supposing the influence and eXertlons of Great Britain would beextended beyond the limits assigned by Lord Aber- deen, and that, if Texas could not resist the consummation of the object of her desire would endanger both the safely and pros perity of the Union Under this conviction it IS felt to be the imperous duty of the Fe- deral Government, the common represents tive and protector of the States of the Union 10 adopt, in sel-defence, the most efectua measures to defeat II.
 This is not the proper occasion to state a large the grounds of this conviction. It i' sufficient to say, that the eonsummation o the avowed object of her wishes in reference .to Texas would be followed by hostile feel ings and relations between that country anc the United States which could not fail to place her under the influence and control of Grea Britain. That, from the geographical posi- ton of Texas, would expose the weakes and most vulnerable portion of our frontie to inroads, and place in the power of Grea Britain the most efficient means of efIectin! in the neighboring States of this Union wha she avows to be her desire to do in all coun tries where slavery exists. To hazard con sequences which would be so dangerous [ the prosperity and safety of this Union, with out resortng to the most effective measure to prevent them, would be, on the part (