The voice of freedom. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1839-1848, 1844-05-16

pendipr, should be msconstrued, / shall
send this to a friend who will delay Its
delivery as long as that can be done
consistently with faithful compliance;
with the requirements of your letter, and
the general objects for which it was
written.
You by no means overrate the lmpor-
lance ofthe subject upon which you have
been pleased to address me. 1t is not
only question of intense interest to ev-
cry part of the country, but is unhapplly
also one in regard to which we may not
promise ourselves that unanlmlty In opn-
ions which is so important when great
National questions like this are to be de-
cided. That those which ] am about to
express will, in at least one important
particular, differ from that of many
friends, political and personal, whose
judgments and purity Of views hold IN
HIGH and habitual respect, can well
( imagine and it is quite evident, from
the tenor Of your letter, that they will not
in ali respects correspond with your own.
If however, such Of my tellow-cltlzens
who are neither influenced by prejudces,
nor warped by self-interest, concede to
my opinions the merit of having been
formed under views directed to the pre-
servation and advancement of the honor
and best interests of our common coun-
try, as a whole and expressed with a
sincerity which has overlooked, as far as
our feeble natures will permit us to do,
all personal considerations, my most ia
yorable antcipations will be realized
1t has already been made my duty to
act officially on at least two several oc-
casions, but in different forms, upon the
subject-matter to which your questions
have reference.
Having charge of the Department Of
State in 1929, prepared, by the dlrec-
ton of the President, Instructions to our
Minister at Mexico, by which he was d.
rected to open, without delay, a negoti-
alton with The Mexican Government for
the purchase of the greater part of the
then province of Texas, aud by which he
was likewise authorized to insert in the
Treaty provision similar to that in the
Louisiana and Florida Treaties, for the
incorporation of the inhabitants of Texas
into the Union as soon as it could be
done consistently with the principles of
the Federal Constitution. The reasons
in favor ofths measure | stated at large
in that document.
Ia taking this slep, the administration
of President Jackson renewed (but, as
was supposed, under more favorable cir
cumstances) an attempt to accomplish
the same object which had been made
by its immediate predecessor. lnslruc-
tons, similar in their general object,
had, in the second year Of the latter adj
ministration, been sent from the Depart
ment Of State to the same American
Miister at Mexico. am not aware
that there were any material differences
between them, other than that those o.
1927 proposed an acquisition of territory
as far West as the Rio del Norte- being,
| believe, the extreme Western bounda-
ry of Texas, whilst the cession asked
for by President jackson extended only
as far west as the centre of the Desert
or Grand Prairie, which lies east of the
river Nueces 4; and that, for the former,
the payment Of one million of dollars was
authorized, whilst by the administration
of President Jackson, the American min
lister was permitted to go as high as four
and, if Indispensable five millions. Both
authorized agreements for smaller por'
tons orterritory, and the payments were
modified accordingly. In respect to the
proposed stipulation for the ultimate in
corporation of the inhabitants into the
Union, both instructions were identical
In August, 1887, proposition was
received at the Department of State
from the Texan Minister at Washing
ton, proposing a negotiation for the an
neXaton Of Texas to the United States
This was the first time the question Of
the annexation of a foreign Independent
State had ever been presented to this
Government. In deciding upon the dis
position that ought to be made of it,
did not find ii necessary to consider the
question of constitutional power, nor the
manner in which the object should be
accomplished, if deemed expedient and
proper. Both these points were there
fore, in terms, passed over in the reply
of the Secretary Of State to the Texan
Minister, as subjects the consideration
of which had not been entered upon by
the Executive.
The question then recurs, if, as sensi.
BILE men, we cannot avoid the conclu.
! sion that the immediate annexation o.
Texas would, in all human probability
draw after it war with Mexico, can it
be expedient to attempt it !? OF the con
sequences Of such a war, the character
it might be made to assume, the entan-
! clements with other nations which the
position of belIgerent almost unavoid-
| ably draws after il, and the undouhied