The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1844-07-05
ENGLAND-THE INTELLlGENCER-A
NEXATION

Observing the terms of vituperalion in which the
attempt 10 annex Texas is assaed (see for example
the Inteigencer of July 3D. it occurs to us that in
quarter where English authority has potency of
influence which is rather more than equponderant
10 any OF American origin, doctrine which in former
times, Englishmen did hold, and the British Govern
ment sanctionedmay serve at least as an ex Gel lent
argumentum al hominem to editors now so rampant in
their zeal for the British side of The question We have
said the British Government did sanction the suhjoned
doctrine, and this sanction was given by all the array
of the press under the direction of that Cove rnme Mt
and by fleets and armies bearing it at the cannon's
mouth through The struck world. We say no.
thing IN favor of their particular applications of the
doctrne--we think their application of it, shortly af-
ter the commencement of the French revolution, an
erroneous one and not till very long after, did the
case arrive for its appropriate application But we
are not now 10 stop to examine this pr int what we
have now before is The doctrine ITSELF and we pro-
coed TO adduce authority Of very high cha acte with
the English themselves, and in some respects, of
great weight with US in this ultima thule of the
world.
In the Quarterly Review for October, 1916, art
Parliamentary Reform, p. 228 of the New York re-
print-we have the following discussion The rights
OF one nation with respect to the internal concerns of
another: sit is with the independence of nations as
with the liberty of individuals; they have right to
do everything which involves no wrong to others
So long as my neighbor demeans himself conforma-
bly, to the laws, his conduct is no concern of mine
but if he convert his house into brothe or com
mence mandatory there which should poison.
with its unwholesome stencil, prosecute him for
1.,.t Al
Try 10 another With the internal arrangements
OF a neghboring people we have nothing to do, SO
long as their arrangements have nothing TO do with
u.s. Should they be seized with madness, bite one
another and turn the whole land into one miserable
bediam, God restore them to their senses we cannot
But if this bedlam breaks loose, and lis inhabitants
insist upon biting US, there alternative but that
oil resorting to those measures which, unhappy, arc
the only substitute of law between nations when thew
difei-'wars, as Lord Bacon says, being suits of
appeal to the tribunal of Gods justice when there is
none on earth TO decide the cause That the
French were in state of madness is what all French
men, of every party, have confessed since they came
to their senses after the reign Of terroror of cow
ardice, as one Of their own counlrymen has more
properly call.d it and that they invited other ma
assistance to any people who should rise 10 vindcae
the rights of men, can be matter for dispute, for
the fact is recorded in history
Now, apply this doctrine to the case of Texas
brought under the operation of the principle declared
IN Lord Aberdeen's DESPATCH namely "That the
British Government is constantly exerng itself for
the abolition of slavery throughout the world If.
throughout the world, then in Texas and in the Uni
ted States, for in Jedediah Morse's Geography with
which we familiar in our youth the United
States and Texas used 10 form part of the world
And # we consider, and have just grounds to con-
sider the abolition of slavery by efforts of foreign
power dangerous to our welfare, and tending TO an
archy and general overthrow throughout large por-
tion OF our country, then have reason to conclude
that the English insist upon biting u.s." and upon
the principle laid down by the reviewer would be en-
titled to wage against them for such efforts
and consequently, We have the right of adoo,inp
precautionary peaceful measures to guard against
their Vaccinations. Hence The annexation of Texas
IS justhable on this ground, according to English au
thoriiy Let the editors of the lnelligencer there.
fore, reract the views which they have heretofore
expressed.
But the acquisition of Texas is defensible and the
measure of the Administration correct upon another
ground Of principle stated and enforced in the same
article and there alleged as sufficient cause for the
rupture of the peace of Amens. Here too the In
telligencer will find some Of its bold assertions con-
fronted by that sort of authority which, above all
others, IT reversible authority of English states
mentor IT is as their organ that the reviewer utters
his doctrine. Grouping the reasons for the war
Notwithstanding the peace Of Amiens, which had
been but one year, month, and nineteen DAYS de-
hntively concluded till new declaration of HOSTILE
Ties took pace-the reviewer proceeds-pp. 23O,
o3l:
The political system Of Europe had been fear
fully disocated by the war. France had accom-
plished that which, for century and half il had
been the great object OF English policy to prevent
She had obtained possession of the Netherlands ex =
tended her frontier TO the Rhine and held Holland
on one side, and Italy on the other in actual depen-
oence Was II likely, was it in the nature of
things, that France would stop here Ambition is
one OF those passions which are stimulated not sat-
ated by indulgence. And this ma ion was habilualIv
ambitious habltualy fond of war; polite in council
acung iervenuy and Perseveringy amid all internal
changes upon one system of aggrandizementn
After long enumeration Of facts real or SIM
posed, in relation to Bonspartes personal character
p. 1885, the Reviewer observes: 1T is not u,rea-
sonabe TO recall these facts to remembrance q, oIso
the appointment Of mill airy spies in our seapots under
the character Of commercial agents.
Again: "The alternative proposed to us was war
or such submission as if it were not necessitated by
utter helpessness, could be imputed only to coward
zee or faulty; a submission which would have given
bonapar'e time to create navy, and make invasion
practicable; which would have delayed the war for
no longer time than suited his CONFERENCE.-The
is, till that navy should have been completed and
which would have rendered the war infinitely moro
formidable when the hour was come Mar ,,o,,ly ;,
internal hare been peace; could only hare been a.,