Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1844-09-12
A LETTER FROM MR.. CLAY.

iIotl TIE 4fCFM AE0VdHt0H VI lHC iDiu iU'
slant. II will be found to be explicit and
full on the subject of the annexation OF
Texas-a subject upon which Mr.. Clay
had previously declared himself with
cleatness and emphasis which seemed to
require no further eludicailon.
The references in the letter TO the de.
bates of 1919 and % the negotiations Of
1927, in relation to Texas, will show the
difference between the question now rais-
ed and the one which engaged the atten.
ton OF the Government then. Mr.,
CLAWS course on those occasions as al
present was open, direct and patriotic:
ASHLAND, 9th July, 1874.
Geailemen:--l have received your Ia
vor informing me that my views, as dis
closed in my letter from Raleigh, on the
question of the Annexation of Texas. are
misconceived, if not misrepresented in
your quarter; and that il is supposed that
have changed my opinion from what IT
was in 1919. endeavored TO express
myself IN that letter as explicitly as !
could, and do not think now that il can
be fairly misinterpreted.
In 1919, when addressed the House
OF Representatives, the Executive had ne.
gotlated the treaty with Spain, by which
Texas was ceded to that power, but Con.
gress had not then given eny sanction 10
the cesson. ! believe now, and thought
then, that tho Treaty making power is not
competent, without the concurrence of
Congress, 10 cede away any Territory be.
longing to the United States. But Con-
gress, by repeated acts, subs quenily mani
tested its appreciation of the treaty; and
these acts rende red it as valid and obliga-
tory upon the U. States, as il Congress
had given its assent, prior to tho conc|u.
sion Of the treaty. AT that period of Is
10, Texas as claimed by US, was unPeo-
pied. No hostile incursions had been
made into i by citizens Of The United
States. In 1926 and 1927, there were
but few inhabitants Of Texas, consisting
of some colonists, planted there under
the authority of Mexico. At neither OF
the three periods above mentioned had
any State or section, in this Union, man
Tested any opposition 10 Texas composing
part of it. 1t has been said that Mr..
Adams administration offering to nego.
date with Mexico for Texas, notwi,hstand.
ing the existence of a war between Spain
and Mexico, and that it could not there.
fore have believed that the acquisition Of
Texas, at that time, would have involved
the U. States in war with Spain. Hence
It is argued that the ratification of the late
treaty could not have compromised our
peace.
Mr.. Adams thought il desirable TO OBJ
tain Texas.--Two foreign powers claim.
ed 1t. Mexico was in possession, and
Spain was dong nothing TO assert and
enforce her clam. Her representative
had even gone so far as to stlpuate, in
convention, to acknowledge the Independ-
ence Of Mexico, although that convention
was not ratified by Spain.
Mr.. Adams had right 10 authorize the
negotiation of treaty for the acquisition
OF Texas with both or either of the pow
ers claiming it. |: was natural that he
should begin with that power which had
the possession of Texas. Spain had in.
,erposed no obstacle. She had made no
declaration that she would regard the ac-
QUESTION of Texas as an act Of war. Ia
point OF fact, no overture was formally
made to Mexico TO purchase Texas, no
negotiation was opened, no treaty was
concluded. }f a negotiation had com
meDced, or if treaty had been signed,
and Spain had protested, the prudent and
cautious policy which characterized Mr..
Adams administration, would andoubted-
ly have prompted him to quiet Spain and
accommodate the matter, previous TO the
annexation of Texas to the U. States, and
without plunglng them III war with Spain.
How totally different are all the cir
cumstances under which, with MIR. Ad-
ans authority, | authorized the overture
10 Mexico, from those which attended the
recent treaty OF Mr.. Tyler! So far from
Mexico being silent. she repeatedly and
solemnly declared that she would consid.
CT annexation as war with her. Texas
was no longer an uninhabited country
Ii had been wfested from the dominion
of Mexico by citizens, many % whom
went armed from the q. States. The
war between Mexico and Texas had not
been terminated by any treaty OF Peace.
Mr.. Tyler not only did not consult Mex.
co, but he announced that her assent to
the annexation was altogether unnecessa-
ry. And he proceeded to conclude a
treaty, embracing large exteat Of Terri
tory, and a numerous population, not CON-
pretended in the Texas which the q.
States ceded to Spain in 1919.
10 the mean time too, powerful oppo
sltlon had arisen in the u States against
the annexation of Texasto them. Sew
eral States had declared, through their
gisla.uIeS, against it, and others, Il not
whole sections of the Union, were believ-
ed to be adverse to it. This was the OPP
position to the measure, to which IN my
Raleigh letter, alluded, when spoke
of considerable and respectable portion
of the confederacy." did not refer to
persons but TO States or sections.
Under such circumstances could not
but regard the annexation of Texas, al
this time, compromising the honor of my
country, involving it ia war, in which
the sympathies of all ehristendom would
be against us, and endangering the integ-
rity of the Union. thought then, and