The daily Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1841-1845, 1844-05-31
LerrEn OF col. 4. N. Johnson,

ARRerdlioH Of Ierds and 81 StdreFy
WHrE SULPHUs. Keniueky,
May 8. isil.
Ola Yours of the fourth of March 10 received
propoupding a number VI questions TO which you re-
! quest NV answers. A multiplied y Of engagements,
which have keit IN contih uai motion, have pre-
vented from giving on earlier response and the
same will now forbid as full answers as could
desire.
/ As il is in reference 10 the position which occupy
upon national theatre, that you propose tho IN
quIes and with the ayow cd intention Of giving pub
city TO my answer shall reply with reference TO
The course which should consider IT my duty 10 pur-
SUE, If acting in national character.
| Your first proposition contains four queries "Are
you in favor ofanneIng Tex TO the Un,ed States
| If 80, upon what grounds Do you desire 1t for the
purpose Of aiding the slave system IL that system
| should te the nam thing benefited by II, would you
| IN, ihnk !, eIpedsDt To annex Te1asV
The answer 10 the first and second Of these will
supersede the necessity Of an answer TO the other
two and the annexation Of Texas is the most abb
sorbing question at the present moment, shall con-
tine my remarks principally to that point, with my
reasons for the measure.
| am in favor Of The annexation of Texas as
have heretofore stated in my letter Of January last
published in many Of the public newspapers.
Texas part Of louisiana included in the
purchase from France by the treaty of 1863. This
was asserted by Jefferson, Madison, Monroe Adams,
Livingston, and Clay aud subsequently, admitted by
| Don Onis, the Spanish Minister, with whom the
treaty negotiated III 1920, for ceding il to Spain
The constitutional power Of Congress to acquire al
ditional territory by negotiation was settled in the
purchase of Louisiana and OF Florida Its constilu
tional power TO cede to a foreign nation tory
acquired, has been held doubtful but as it was
once sanctioned by the treaty which coded Texas to
Spain, it was acquiesced in !; but with the hope in
many minds that II might be honorably rega med at
some future day. Mar. Adams, Mr.. Clay and Gene.
raj Jackson, all desired TO recover it by purchase
from Mexico, when It constituted part Of that en-
pire, but did not succeed Now, Texas has become
a separate and independent State and has offered
herself to become-what she before the treaty
with Spain OF lo20-a part Of the United States -
Indeed she has right to demand il Of US treaty
stipulation; the convention with France Of 1903 ha
wing provided that the territory coded be received
into the Federal Union upon an equal ioO:ing with
the original States. The independence Of Texas
has been knowledged by England, France, and the
United States-the three greatest commercial nations
in the world Since the defeat and capture Of Santa
Anna at San Jacinto, in 1896, Texas has enjoyed
her independence without interruption. She has
had her own Congress, her Executive officers
her own army and navy, been governed by her own
laws, and enjoyed her Independence absolutely
the United States. Mexico has obtained peace with
her by soliciting armstice, without formally ac-
kropledging her independence though, in that pro-
tracted armis,ce, she has virtually ADM ted il ; and
Santa Anna, the President Of Mexico had, upon be-
ing captured, s,lemnly acknowledged ii. Where,
then, be the objection TO the United States full
HlilDH StpuidliO0S treaty OF lSUJ, Df re-
cciying that territory as part Of our own, and al
proper time, admitting it into theUnion, upon foot
ing with the original States' can none. Mex
leo can have no cause Of complaint, nor any
other nation on earth.
Mexico has threatened the United States with
rupture if The measure shall prevail 1t would be no
just cause for RUPTURE and it is not congenia with
the independent feelings of Americans to be deferred
from their true policy by the unrIghteous Of
q foreign power, even when that power has strength
Commensurate with our own. would never consent
to act Djustly towards the weakest nation earth
would 30 far compromlt the honor Of my own
country as to be Influenced by the threats of the
mghiest nation in existence. Ii is also stated tina,
Britain will except to the measure and that the
Xation will probably lead to a rupture with that
great power. l suppose none will pretend that she
would have any more right to interfere, than we have
10 interfere with her East Indian possessions; and
should blush for my country II ! could believe that
Americans, in any cons derabe number, existed, who
would hesitate to pursue The policy which the int.
rests OF republic dictated, lest il should provoke
the displeasure Of any foreign nation. A wise man
will never court adversely to avoid the malevoe
jealous neghbor; nor will brave nation fail to pro.
mote its own prosperity through fear that another
ton will be jealous of It's rising strength. The fact
is ceaI The meridian sunbeau,s that the United
States IT they continue true 10 themselves des-
tined to become the might est nation in the world
No foreign power can prevent Il. But to gain that
point they must be fearless as they are lust IL IL
improbable that the des,nics of Texas IL we re-
fuse her proer, may day be linked with those of
Great Britain, and in that event. the avowal is made
by some OF the most conspicuous OF the opposers OF
amer alton, that they would wage war with England
to prevent II. II such should take place, would
il not be more consonant with both justice and safety
to be united with Texas in defensive war for the
protec n of our own territory, than to carry on an
offensive war against both Texas and England for the
conquest of country which we shall have once re-
fused to posses-1 Providence has opened the
way for the annexation and to refuse, or to postpone
the measure would, in NY opinion, be acting unJusiy
both Tow ards that country aud our own.
Objection has been made TO the extension OF our
territory. This would have weight II il were TO b.
but colony but the alton will Constitute IL en-
integral part of The nation, having the same interest
! in maintaining The integrity of the Union that the
original States have. There can, therefore, be no
danger arising from that source. w ouid II not e
for ell Europe 10 be united IN one great repub-
lie, having the same language the same intelligence,
the same jurisprudence, the same laws, and the same
interest IN every part to preserve that union, than TO
lie in her present situation Had she thus grown W
from the infancy Of her settlements what sanguinsry
wars aud devestations would have been avoided p
Oceans OF human blood would have been saved, and
philanthropy would have scanned the pages Of her
history WITT delight where she is shocked with
the most cursory recital lie, distinct nations now
multiply upon northern continent, and America
may one day be what Europe has long been but lei
republican union be preserved and extended and IL
tendency will be 10 acquire strength by its growth
WI obi Nhot t"uh'N shali u'touit hh re'D ol
The advantages Of annexation TO every part of ou
own country would be great.
II would secure an entrance into the Gulf Of Mex
ico and into the ocean, through all the rivers
the Mssiss ppi which takes their rise in the
' part of the United States II would secure a yalua
bic and convenient market for all the products Of th,
Far West II Is the richest sugar aud cotton soil II
the world and while II would save 10 The countrl
all the treasure sent abroad FOR the purchase OF sugar
IT would bring into the country immense sums iron
foreign countries 10 exchange for its surplus produce
II would furnish rich market for the manufacture
= Of the Northern States and, by admitting then
without mpost, give them a decided advantage owe
. all foreign articles Of Manufacture Il would nrn