The daily Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1841-1845, 1844-07-06

SPEECH
MR. OWEN. OF INDIANA,

MR.. OWEN, OF INDIANA,
slpsrsd In Ia Houx II Representatives, Nay ~ 1871
On Ia iw md dsu qt ks United Stairs noss " sce"
The elsr mads BY TtIas u sass1sf'''s
1.-THE navy appropriation bill being under d'scu'-
sion. ia Committee Of the Whole on the state OF INC
Union, and tho subjec, Of the annexation Of ieAa'
having been introduced, in connection WIN inc navy
estimates, by several gen.lemen,l
Mr.. OWEN said: desire to offer few remarks
on a suLiec, which was drawn into the Prcsen. De
bate yesterday by tho gentleman from sou.n TSIu
lima (Mr Holmes and the gentleman from new
Hampshire, (Mr. Halc,) and which has been ~,
cussed to-day BY the gentleman from new io'A'
(Mr. Huui.)
have not forgotten, sir, that few weeks since,
when opened The debate on the important suOJcc'
Of the tariff, almost taken to task, Ms or P'S
sumption, by gentleman on the opposite sac
now, because seek the ear OF the House ~ .ns
early period Of disrussion on question even no'1
exciting, it may just cause for apology 'ha'
address you before older and more experienced mem.
beers have spoken, | have 10 say, mat u ~ rae
rather than opinions purpose briefly 10 presen'
| facts, some OF which, though separately ana III
general way known to many, may still, 10 theh au-
thenlic and connected form, not yet have iuiiy pre-
sented themselves to a portion Of my fellow mem
beers among the rest, IL may be permitted 70 Juuso
from his remarks, to the gentleman IRON VIEW
/ H
ed with which should, at this juncture, DO dispas-
sionateIy, deliberately, scrupulousIy oxamihes ny
American statesmen that subject Is the annexation
| Of Texas.
This duty Of examining for ourselves, always i'm
perative acquires additional urgency from the pres
| ent aspect OF the subject. Those who are accus'
toned to seek opinions in distinguished nu'horties,
rather than patient investigations, find themselves
| at fault here.
| From the shades OF the quiet Hermitage, whence,
il from any spot upon EARTH the voice OF experience
free from disturbing passion, and OF PATRIOTISM chas
tened by the calming hand Of time, may be expected
10 reach us--from the retirement Of those shades 10
whose venerated inmate the heart Of grateui peo-
pie still turns with confidence and with PRIDE comes
a voice of warning and of cxhortation. Gen. jack
son, not three months since, wrote to member oil
| this House
"1he present golden moment to obtain Texas
must not be lost, or Texas must from necessity DC
throw into the arms Of England end be forever lost
10 the United States"
| From this bold opinion some Of our most trusted
statesmen dissent Henry Clay, to whom, IN spite
Of his faults political opponent cannot refuse Ihe
character of great man, takes the opposite ground.
In his letter of the 18th April, on this subject alter
briefly reviewing the events of the Texan struggle,
and alud,ng TO our recognition Of Texan indePen-
dcnce, Mr. Clay adds:
"That recognition did not affect or impair the
rights of Mexico, change the relations which sub
sisted between her and Texas. She on the contrary,
has preserved all her rights and has continued to assert
and SO far as know yet asserts her right TO reduce
| Texas TO obedience, as part OF the Republic oil
Mexico"
Mr.. Clay then goes on to say:
| "Under these circumstances, il the Government Of
| the United States to annex Texas, II would
acquire along with it all the incumbrance which
Texas under, and among them the actual or sus-
pended war between Mexico and Texas. or that
tharo nj ha dnnlt Anne a luu
and war with Mexico are identical. Now, for one,
certainly am not ,ciAng to engage this country in aJo-
reign ,oar, for the object of acquiring Texas"
} All this is very plain and, if the premises were
correct, very just. Mr.. Clay says tina, Mexico, BY
The act of holding to her purpose ultimately to recon
quer Texas "has preserved all her rights over her,
sas part Of the Republic Of Mexico. lfthis be true,
Mexico may rightfuy make war on US, if we annex
Tcxas. We therefore, in annexing her, would en-
gage wrongfully in war And In regard to such o
war, will gainsay Mr. Clay's opinion, tha, we
ought 10 risk being drawn into it, for the object
of acquiring Texas" The right aud wrong of the
case will examine by and by; now only calling
\. ~ % 4 me s sss snst ,sts NAV, ~;
only by the Presidential candidate but by the con-
trolling journals the Wing party. The National
lnell'gencer Of May 6, in its leading article, de-
cares
+" Let Texas be annexed rifhom the consent of .M,r-
ico, and we shall the consummation of that act
followed by consequences, the bare Imagination of
which is sufficient fill with al arm and dismay The
bosom Of every friend TO his country"
i Mr. Van Buren,, man wise and far-seeing as few
! statesmen are or ever have been, takes different
ground halfway, If may so express it, between
MIR. Clay and General Jackson. After establishing
beyond cavil, Tin his letter of April 20) the constu
tonal right 10 annex he quotes as still applicable 10
the present Juncture, the language OF General Jack
son in 1886, that " a too early movement might sub
ect us, however unjusty, the imputation of seek
ing to establish the claims Of neghbors 10 ter
rtory, with view TO IFS sui scquent ACQUISITION nv
ourselves" Mr.. Van Buren, adds, however. this
very important opinion:
"Iby no means contend that formal recognition
Of 1tr1 by Msrieo is necessary 10 jussi6 us in assent
ing TO her annexation TO the United States Time
and circumstances may work such a change in the
relations between these two countries as 10 render am
act Of that character The part Of Msrco ,nn,ees,o,
and ,nimportau What mean to say is, that, from
all the information | have been able to obtain on the
subject, no change has ya token place that would
make the objections have here detailed, inappl-
CABLE
Here, then, are three opinions the one that we
have right to annex Te1os now another Tint we
never shall have right until Mexico consent TO the
snbc1 stion and the third that time and circum
stances may hereafter give us a right without con
sutng Mexico, but have not yet done so. And in
support OF each OF these contcndng opinions one of
the most distinguished names among the living
statesmen of America can be adduced.
To the facts OF the case let appeal, to guide our
decision where authort entitled to The bybes, -,
spec, disagree.
BY the treaty Of April 30, 1903, during Mr. JeGcr-
sons administration, the colony province of Lon
is'ana, as every one knows, was purchased ofl
France. The western boundary of this "coIopy or |
province extended To the Rio del Nore ana ~ |
course included Texas, which thus became ours II |
any one u to be found so rash little acqusined
with the iacis as to question this let him suffer mo
10 refer him TO M: CIsy's speech of AriI3 1920.
Unpublished In the National intellisencer Of April NJ
any ccs-ion Of Texas, he says:
nc Mr, cay presumed the spectacle would no, |
be presented ofquesoning in this branch of Tho 90
xcrnment. our lille 10 Texas ,xh.ch Ia - ~ |