The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1844-03-26

the United States prepared 70 out al hazard by IRE
assafinatfUp, the psacsable Annexation of Texas
whsn II must eventually be done At the price of
wsr1 VIII they risk UPON this question the dissolu
ton effhe Union, and the destruction Of this Gov
eminent The question of the Anne alton Of Tex
a. regarded in this light, assumes an Importance in
the deliberations Of the American people, equal to-
if greater than, that which character zed The de-
beraons Of the trainers of our Federal Constitution
That Constitution was then regarded a. an O. psri-
men; but it has ceased 10 be such, and the American
people enjoying the fall benefits ofa Govern
| ment the result Of that Conssnution. The measure
Of Anoexalion Of Is.as nov presents the question
practically before the American people Shall the Con-
stution at all hazards, be preserved and this glori
Gus Union be porp etuated! Gt4f Asii
But pass to the consideration Of our interests in
volved in this question, which, though of minor impo
the one considered are evertheess believed
TO be important, as they calculated to harmo-
nze and influence the action Of the Western States,
who supposed not to be entirely Indifferent the
interests Of Commerce and Manufactures. The COM
merce of Texas, few as are the years which she
numbers in her national calendar, has already as
sumed an importance and character such as to attract
the attention of England and other European powers
would ask are the manufacturers, ship builders,
and ship owners of the North, willing to see this
commerce, which gives such rich promise of future
boaeft, pass into the hands of Englandi Texas now
raises 100 900 bales of cotton, worth 100000, and
this constitutes the basis of her exports every dollar
Of which is now invested in the manufactures and
products OF this country Five years hence, and the
exports OF Texas will be worth $l0000,000. When
peace shall be established between Mexico and Tex
as, Texas then becomes the key which unlocks the
whole commerce of northern Mexco-worth &c.
600 600 more. Is this nothingl and are the people
OF the United States who are interested in commerce
and manufactures, SO blind to their interests that
they will permit BY refusing Texas the citizenship
OF the Union, this whole commerce to pass into the
possession Of Englandi
COnnccted with this branch IF tho e,,h;acf
consideration naturally presents itself Should Tex
as, under the protection and guaranty of England.
adopt system of free trade, would ask how are
the Revenue laws of the United States to be protect
ed from the operations of smuggIes' A protective
tariff would be dead letter on our statute book
incidental protection would be equally impractcabe.
Gordon OF Revenue officers backed by the whole
military arm Of this Government, could not protect
our southwestern frontier.
brief allusion to the Importance of the annexa-
ton OF Texas to the United Stses in military poin
OF view, and lhave dono. England knows that Tex
as, from her geographical position is the key to
southwestern frontier, and from variety of causes
our most indefensible and most vulnerable point
Give England the possession of Texas, and having,
as she would BY her fleets the posss sson of the Gulf
OF Mexico, with the whole of Mexico as grand de-
sions and men, and what would prevent her from
opening her communications direct with our servie
population on this frontier and the fifty thousand In
dian warriors on the head waters of Red river, Ar
kansas and the Missouri? This last is a startling
consideration, and were there other reasons for
annexation, this alone would be sufficient to arrest
the serious attention of this Government.
have thrown out these views hastily, and with
little method of arrangement.