Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1844-05-10
MR., CLAY'S LETTER
ON THE ANNEXATION OF TEXAS.
To the Editors of the National Intelhgencer.
1914


and private individuals, requesting an express
sion Of my opinion upon the question of the
Annexation of Texas to the United States.
have foreborne to reply to them, because it was
not very convenient, during the progress of m,
journey, to do so, and for other reasons. die
not think it proper. unnecessarily, to introduce
at present new element among the other ex
citing subjects which agita,e and engross the
public mind. The rejection of the overture o
Texas, some years ago, to become annexed tt
the United Sta'es had met with general acqu
escence. Nothing had since occurred mater.
ally to vary the question. had seen no evil
dence of desire being entertained, on the part
of any considerable portion of the American
people, that Texas should become an integra
part Of the United States. During my sojourl
in New Orleans, | had, indeed, been greatly
surprised. by information which received from
Texas, that, in the course of last fall, volunta
nv overture had proceeded from the Executive
OF the United States TO the authorities of Texas
to conclude a treaty of Annexation and that
in order to overcome the repugnance felt by
any of them to negotiation upon the subject
strong, and as | believe, erroneous representa-
tons had been made to them of state of opin.
ion in the Senate of the United States, favorable
to the ratification Of such treaty. According
to these representations it had been Ascertain.
ed that a number of Senators, varying from
thirty five to forty.two, we're ready to sanction
such treaty. | was aware, too, that holders
of Texas lands and Texas scrip, and spectators
in them, were actively engaged in promoting
the object of annexation. Still, did not be.
Ileve that any Executive of the United States
would venture upon so grave and momentous a
proceeding, not only without any general mani
tcsiaton of public opinion in favor of it, but in
direct opposition to strong and decided express.
SONS OF public dsapprobation. But it appears
that was mistaken. TO the astoni hmcnt OF
the whole nation, we are now informed that a
| treaty OF annexation has been actually concu-
ded, and is TO be submitted to the Senate for its
| consideration The motives for my silence,
therefore, no longer remain and feel it 10 be
my duty to present an exposition of my views
and opinions upon the question:, for what they
may be worth, TO The public considerations /
adopt this method, as being more convenient
than several replies to the respective commune.
cations winch nave received.
regret mat nave not the advantage OF a
view OF Inc treaty Itself, so as to enable me to
adap, an expression OF my opinion to the actual
cohu'''ohs ana sl'puia'iohs whlcI II contains
MOI possessing tl'at opportunity, am constraIn-
ed 10 treat the question according to what pre-.
sumo TO be the terms OF the treaty. II, without
the loss OF national character, without the haZ
ara oil foreign war, with the general concur.
ence OF the na'lon' without any danger to the
integrity OF 'He oh'on, ana without giving an
unreasonable price Tor Texas, the question OF
a''heNa'on on, were presented It would appear IN
qnne a different light from that in which, ap
prehend, 1t is now to be regarded.
ne United states acquired title TO Texas,
eN'ehn'hg' as pe'leve'to the R'o de Norte, by
t"e treaty OF LOUIS ana. lhey ceded and relin
qu'sneu ''lat ','c J." SPAN oy me treaty IN 1919
ny wn'ch 'he oaohe was substituted tor the RIO
cei N"rte as our western boundary. This trea-
~ was negotiated under the Administration of
Mr. Monroe, and with the concurrence of his
Cao'nct OF winch Messrs Crawford, Calhoun,
ana WIrt' beng majority, all Southern gen.
tlene', composed part. When the treaty WAS
'"'" oei"re me House vi Representatives, being
memoer OF that BODY. expressed the opinion,
wn'ch 'heh entertained and stlll hold, that
e"as WAS sacr'hred 10 Inc acquisition OF Flor
u'' we wa"'eu rior'na; out Thought It
must from us position, inevitably fall into our
possess on That The point OF few years, sooner
or iater' was OF no sort of consequence. and
nat III giving hVe millions OF dollars and Tex.
as .or H. we gave more than a Just equivalent.
put u we '''aue great Sacrlflce IN the surrcn.
ue' Vi e"as' we ought TO take care not to make
100 great sacrIhce IN the attempt TO re.ac-
qu,re H.
NY opln'on OF the lnexpedlency of the treaty
OF loo9 dd not prevail. The country and Con.
gFe,s were sa''she1 with II, appropriations were
made 10 carry 1t INTO effect, the line of the Sa.
o'"e was recognised by US as our boundary in
,'es".'at'o''s o"lh WIN SPAN and Mexico, after
MeT'co became independent, and measures
nave been IN actual progress to mark the line,
from the Sabine to Red river, and thence to the
Racine ocean: We have thus fairly alienated
our 'itie to Ieras, by solemn national compacts,
10 me Imminent OF which we stand bound by
soon 'a,'h ana national honor. 1t is, therefore,
per'ec''y 'die ana ridiculous, ifiot dshonorable,
10 ;''k OF resu'n,ng our title to Teas, as if we
naa never parted with 1t. We can no more do
!hat man SPAN can resume Florida, France
LOUISIANA or Great Britain the thirteen colo
mes now composing part OF the United States
r, during the administration of Mr.. Adams. M.
ro'hset Minister OF the United States to Mcr-
co. was instructed by me. with the President
authority TO propose repurchase of Teras +;
out he ioroore even to make an overture for
mat purpose. Upon his return to the United
STATES he informed me, at New Orleans, that
his reason for not making it was, that he knew
the purchase was wholly npracticable, and that