Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1841-1853, 1844-05-30
ANNEXATION OF TEXfS.
Letter frCm Commodore Stewart.
HUI OF I~IrAITH.

are entitled 10 KNOW the opinions OF tlO>e whom thcN
may select as their candidates. upon the leading questions
that asiilte the public mind and concluding With ask
ing mine con the question Of the annexation OF Texas to
this l mon, as one which, from the necessity oi inIne-
diaie action upon II, - the most prominent and interest
ing measure now before the people. And !on also add,
that being a delegate to iae Baltimore conventions which
assemblies on the 2gth cf Nav, ii will be your desire 10
make my views on this subject public
I am profoundly sensible of your good and patriotic
g, and shall p oceed TO reply, ia all irankness aud sin
ceriy, 10 your inquiry.
! assume that there exists no constitutional objection TO
70 Texas being incorporated with our Jnon. nat ques-
iinn seems L. be set al rest since our acgn shon of Lou
leiana and Florida. and the abundant, and. as have sup
posed, satisfactory discussion of ito which all have access.
will at least venture TO say that they baye satisfied my
Passing, then, to the general question, the reasons are
- numerous, cogent. powerful, aud urgent. both on the
score OF policy and humanity, Tor making Texas part 81
the Union, and have 81 strong a bearing upon our ndiion-
al industry, revenues. prosperity and power. that have
not been able To refuse the assent Of my judgment 10
them.
/ have considered on the other baud. The views alleged
against The measure and. greatly as the sources whence
they emanaie are entitled To, aud have my respect. they
they have not proved, on the ca'mest reflection, sufficient
with me 10 outweigh the strong reasons that exist IN is
favor. That a step of 80 much magnitude. present snd
future. should meet with orpo>Iii"n III Tie hrst instance
j. To- be expected. Thus was the case when we acquired
: Louisiana and Florida. the oLj,ciions TO wheel, ar. now
If,rrouen IN the unspcakabir Advantages flowing from ~,
and TO flow throughout ages TO come. Such. II appears To
{ me. would decidedly attend the annexaiIon OF Texas.
Millions unborn, and ages in the future, may be expected
to reap the advantages oil us Incorporation Win our III
Z ION long after the objections OF the da, are forsotien.
THIS important acquisition, which can now be oh'nined
with honor and advantage 10 all parties interested, bring
ing with II the consent and affections OF ITS lnhahi'an'~,
will. prlaps. when future necessity makes ~ acquisition
: imperative, be acquired only through "A dcsola,ug war,
4 sansuinary contests, and the loss Of those affections OF
= the Texan Inhabitants 50 essrp;ia! TO happiness IN "A unit
= ed aud republican people. Brii would not be ioI gain
ing those advantages, however ,ransccndent and lasting
believe they would be for our country, al the expense oi
justice.
The main question, therefore, Is, would "annexaiion
give Mexco Just ground Tor complaint Tor OF course,
no other foreign country has any ,hing TO do with the
~ question. Now, have not been able 10 bring my mind
TO the conclusion that II gives Mexico any just cause OF
pt complaint whatever. 1t l. almost eight years since Tex
he a. won her independence a: the decisive battle Of San
ID Jacinro. No serious invasion of her soil or other Efforts
II. or important movements in arms. have been made by
n Mexico against her since that decisive victory. 1t was,
II IN fact, the consumnation of Texnn independence and
m has produced throughout the world the unavoidable effect
N. Of an event So decisive. The most powerful states "i
er Europe have fnlIv recognized the indie pendence Of Tex
re a,-not suddenly il is necessary TO bear in mind. but at
Is ter letting time enough, elapse fairly to attest the over
at whelmirs victory of San Jacinto was decisive. Those
ms States never would have recognized her independence SO
nd long as they supposed there existed any probability OF
mn Mexico being able again to reduce Texas to sub
viii mission b, force of arms. II has, indeed, been a prlncl-
lar pie with the United states, when evil war eN>ieh u
tf countries To treat both parties alike, rs soon n the p"we'
Ter Of wagiug war dc facto existed with each. But tins ha
nal not been the practice oft,e great p"wersoi Europe. The,
nv: act on different principles, To which their institution
~, more NATURAL, incline them. They are SLOW 10 saicuoI
cu resistance IN any shape, to existing authority IN govern
Iueur They were very tardN - All may tiip u
we'd acknov lodging the independence ofthe rcyolted culenIe
cu. of Spanish America. including Mexico among then
NJ, Nevertheless most of those ancient kingd oms and Stat,
ken have adopted Texas INTO The family ~ nations ny thel
ia. most solemn acts of recognition, which mean with tlier
ma a yrca, deal more than the mere formal acknow ledgnei
ne of a de fdcto government existing IN Texas, and liable,
- m moment. to be again oNcrihrown aud which iaci
,ga may. therefore, well make Us feel easy a. To Their opinio
tie OF annexation.
can ally establish independence for Us b. force OF arms, (n,'
fla, as much 80. perhaps, all circumstances consid'redD ns III
no total overthrow of the Mexican forces at San Jacinio, m
~, simultaneous capture o; the head of the Mexican natioi
g, established the independence of Texas. Great Bntal
~, acknou lodged ours immediately after the fornler event"
~ n ancient, proud. aud powerful monarchy as she was y,
:" Mexico keeps NJ the idle show Of sill being the pare,
' 49, state over Texas. now nearly eight years after the ute
',n, extinction 81 MI her powers. of supremacy, which 80 d
cidcdly persisted on the plans oi san Jaclnio.
' II may he asked, Is this right Can At stand before II
n"' drspasSionai. Judgment of nations and is It rrasonah
Az" towards the United Stairs II cannot be forgotten no
:" long and how Justly Mexico complained of Spain : r'iu
F" y al Ia recognise her independence after she had actual
won il by force of arms. And here 1t may be mennon'
,,a, the fact of Spain la, Jug refused to- recognise il Ion
~ subsequent To The year Io25, formed no objection with @
government for Offering 10 purchase Texas from MeNt
IN that year. This last fact. of itself, may serve TO sh"
'"r' that other nations are not bound to wait nnt'' The pare
e'"y State gives her inmal consent. unreasonable, p,o'onge
have to the independence Of the resisting colony History co
tradiris THIS idea. FIT were true, Holland would ha
we" had To valt seventy years before she became an indepe
Mr.. dent nation for W, have hrcn latel, reminded. from II d
may tlnruishcd source. that II was full that length of lime bcfo
Span-acain>t " hom she had rcvolied-would ackno'
ledge her independence. | hope ! may be excused
ks add,ng-ior I consider II as belonging Ia the subject
this letter. aud due To the true splut OF this whole occ
I. =. slOn-ihat there are not waning opinions. carefully ior
,kar- ed. which go to say. that If Mexco should, al this Ia
,tr,. da,. recummence war III earnest against Texas, Insie
os.d .f Keeping up. IN the latter power. the iriiaiion and
.ept- convenience OF only talking about II for eight Years me-
IL. the chances would be iul ~ great, or even create
lhal she would be conquered herself, Is she would e'
ia" re-s,biugaie that gallant aud independent people.
va" Notwithstanding the conviction of my Judgment II
y" Ne>ico conli not have the least ground TT complal
10 a.,;,s, ms. in Justice or reason. for immediate anueNaii'
hal -" = =: ~ ,ne,su,. I think - vould h,coue
rms marnanimiiy Of this g,ca, republic Ia pursue towards i
as generous and liberal Il course a. possible.
as II. therefore. any suh>equ. mt steps of the most conc
Col. tory nature. Tor soothing her feeling. ma, be open 10
fr would be for adopting them to The very verge OF
Welding up our rights, Interests. or l.npr' II any"
pr,- beyond this be expected or demanded OF IL, t"h'h "
p.t nuticipaf..D or IT any ii!-cou~s qusnce< ~iIra'd urea
X, rs. (Which. however, | should not much fear when
,.ts whole case came To be calmly and di>pa>slnn.iely We
ed. after annexaiInn was a thing accomplished on
mart. We would only do as our fathers dld-ihiow o
-. selves upon the Justice Of cur cause before tod and
lions. and abide all results.
Having ihus given You my oplnions and views Of
Is in all-absorbinr question, under Your call for them, Ia
c ac- ONLY, in conrlu>ion. To add that You are at liberty To /
:, : I.i them. should YOU think them worthy dt.
~ regard the policy aud wisdom Of immediate anne
fend- 49,, = The more obvious. from recolieciius that oppo,
lack mites once lost are not al~a,sio be resa"cd IN rauo
..-s affairs. any more than in those of individuals.
Wth all Difference 10 those who hold opinio's DIT
''o's' ci from those have iofned, and have mere express
few have the honor 10 remain. with the most respectful &
, hv silcratlon. vour most obedicui and very huuhie SeIN.
CHARLIE
To the Hon. } TnoNPsoS,
49,. House Of Representatives. Washington.