The Hillsborough recorder. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1820-1879, 1844-06-20
TEXAS.
Nh. BareH's klin 10 his Constituents



FELLow-cITIzESs: Ihsye sIwsys bern,
and | trust sh.ll slwsys be. ready TO make
known 10 my commitments, freely and uh-
reseredly. the opiBi"ns ! may entertain
upon such subjects ss may be brought be-
lore me 40 one Of their Senator's 10 Con-
gre's.
10 eonsonaee with ibis rule Of my poll
licsl life. ! an ANXIOUS 10 eommun,csie 20
you. 81 the earliest momen, ptopnety
wouli permit. The reasons which have TO-
Auenced me in my FIXED PURPOSE - vote
agsinsl the rst6cauoD Of the treaty now
heinre The Senate for The annex alton OF
Texas to the u. Siaies; and | avail my cell
nj this mode Of address in preferences IN
the sl,ernsti,e Of waiting for 40 opportu-
nifty n make . speech, which might be
lad before you by the removal Of the
Injunction Of secrecy from our proceed.
lngs.
Permit me 70 say, in The OUTSET. that.
while I consider the manner OF nsgotisi.
ing and eonsummsting the treaty 80 high
~ .excsphonsbls. and while believe that
the executive and his advisers were iDfu-
enced by the mos, sel6.h and ambitious
motives in originating and completing il.
and prac,iced the grnssest fraud upon ,he
executive Of Texas 10 induce him 10 con
sent 10 the negoiia,ion. sm free to sd-
init that. had there existed no objections
to the terms Of The treaty. and none Of
higher order emsnsting from our treaty
obligations 90 Mexico, and bad others.
based upon CONSIDERATIONS come ctsd with
our domestic and iote'gu policy been re.
moved. | might have fel, il TO be my do.
" TO vote Cor the annexation OF Texas.
When the question was first presented to
my mind, and belore | had examined It
IN all i,s hearings and probable results, l
confess that | thought fsv ably Of annex
suon. and so expressed myself TO several
Of my friends and associates; but. after ma
ture and calm U Election, ] have arrived at
the conclusion thst lbe'e exist. no state
nscessuy fpt The measure, and that the ra>
,ifea.ion ot the treaty now before the Sc.
ns.e would not only involve the patton in
an unjust war. but would, 10 an especial
manner, prostrae the best interests Of
Louisiana. These being my solemn con-
sictons. | have not stopped 10 inquire.
whs, effect their avow al might have upon
my popularity at home. as. howe yer gra-
niy,ng coincidence Of opinion beta cen
my constituents and myself nigh. be,
my own se;frrspeet and the approval Of
my own conscience are sill more lmpor-
tant.
] he ratification Of the treaty Of snnex-
stion. nov before the Sena'e, will Insvi a.
bly,, in nv opinion, involve Us in war
with Mexico. and. in all probability. in .
war With England. and perhaps with
france. Every well wisher to the pros
perty Of our country would consider q
ar u it'll the Two latter powers. or either
o. them, IS a national calamity; but in
waging It, 10 The even, sui posed, no,
breach Of treaties. no violation OF the laws
OF na'ions. could be justly charged asaiDst
Us: while, in the contest with Mexico. opr
national honor would be tsrnlshed Vt not
destroyed by the lnirscton OF s"leon
treaty .upnlsnons. I. nsuonal honor
nothing! Are treaty oblig'"ops 10 be dis
regarded whenever u suIis our con'en''
ence! Are we prepared TO show to The
world, BY our acts. .ha, we are resdy at
sny time to wage an unjust var whenever
We believe that we possess the physical
power to crafty an ,nsa liable lust Tor ter,
rry, or WHEN We may consider that sdd'-
tonal ,er,iisry is needed to preserve no.
h,icsl equilibrium, or to in,erposs pro'ec.
ton To the peculiar Institutions Of the
south. or for any other Of The thousand
utposs for which reckless ambition might
sugpes, he acquisition Of additional ,erri'
tory. Say tina, Texas is annexed with an
eye to the preser, alton Of the balance o.