The daily Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1841-1845, 1844-05-02
Ifr. Calhoun 10 Mr.. Pokenham.
DEPARTMEST OF STATE,
W,shinpton Anril IA 4,


Washington, April 49, 1914.
The undersigned, Secretary Of State Of the United
States has laid before the President the note Of the
right honorable Mir Pskenham, Envoy Extraordinary
and Minister Penipoentisry OF Her Brlannic Ma
jesty, addressed TO this d. psrtment the 26h Of
February last together with the acc mpanying copy
ola despatch Of Her Moiesiys principal Secretary Of
State for Foreign Affairs TO Mr.. Pakenham. In re-
Ply the undersigned is directed by the President TO
inform the right honorable Mr.. Pakenham that while
he regards with pl, assure the disavowa Of Lord Alb
erdeen OF any intention on the part of her Maesy's
Government "t1 resort 10 any measures either open
ly secretly which tend 10 disturb the internal
tranquility OF the slave holding States, and thereby
affect the tranquility Of this Union" he at the same
time regards with deep concern the avowal for the
first time made TO this Government ''that Great
Britain desires and is constantly exerng herself to
procure the general abolition of slavery throughou
the word.m
s. long as Great Bri ain confined her policy to the
abolition of slavery in her own possessions aud colo
MES other country had right to complain. 1t
belonged TO her exclusively to detrrmne according
her own views Of policy, whether it should be done
or not But when she goes beyond, and ayoas il as
her settled policy and the object of her constant er
erons, to abolish It throughou the world she makes
II the du'y Of all other counties whose safety or
prosperity may be endangered by her policy to adopt
such measures as they may diem necessary for their
protection.
1t Is with still deeper concern the President regards
the syowa Of Lord Aberdeen Of the desire OF Great
Britain TO see slavery abolished in Texas; and as he
niers, Is endcayoring, through her diplomacy TO ac
complish H. by making he abolition OF slavery one OF
the condiion. on which Mexico should acknosledre
her independence. II has confirmed his pre- yious in
pressions L. the policy Of Grea, Britain ia reference
10 Texas and made Il his duty to examine with ~ och
care and snlictude what would be lis fleets on the
eniy and safety of the United States sbonld she
succeed ~ her ondesgors. The investigate has re-
suited in the settled conviction that 1t would be diff
cult iVr Texas in her actual condition, TO resist what
she desires, without suPpos ng the influence and
eritons OF Great Britain would he extended beyond
he llnilts assigned BY Lord Aberdeen, and that, il
Texas could not resist the Ion of the Oh
ect OF her dere, would endsnger both the safety and
prosperity Of the Union. Under this oony C ION IL ia
ct 10 be the mp-rious duty Of th federal govern
meD, tho common representative and protector OF the
States Of the Union, t. adopt, in self-del,nce tb.
most sfeciua M assures 10 defeat II.
This is not the proper occasion to state al large the
grounds Of this conviction IL is sufficient TO saw
that the consumuatlon OF the avoved object of her
wishes in reference to Texas would be followed by
hostile feelings AID relations bdween that countr,
and the Uoiisd States, which could not fail to place
her under the influence and control of Great Britain
That from the geographical position of Texas would
expose the weakest and most vulnerable por ion of
our frontier TO inroads and place in the pow. oil