The daily Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1841-1845, 1844-05-17
IMMEDIATE ANNEXATION

! We presume bIessrs Blair and Benton will change
again to IN ,rrow. Nearly all the great men In the
Republican party have declared themselves TO be IN
| favor of immediate annexation.
BY the subjoined letter. it viii be seen that Gen.
LEWIS CAss is on the American side Of the question
DEraoIr May 10, 1874.
| DEAR SIR In answer to your inquiry, whether
| am favorable To the immediate annexation OF texas
| to the United States | reply that am. As you de-
mand my opinion only of this measure, and briefly
the reasons which influence me, shall conhne nyseii
TO these points.
shall not dwell upon the policy Of uniting coter-
minous coun ries, situated like ours and Texas, with
no marked geographical feature to divide them, and
with navigable streams penetrating The territories OF
both nor upon the common origin OF The people VINO
inhabit them, upon their common language manners
religion, Institutions and, In iact their identify as
branch OF the human family. Nor shall urge The
material interests involved in the measure, by The
free intercourse II would establish between the va
rious sections Of vast country, mutually dependent
upon, and supplying another. These considera-
tons are SO obvious that they need no eiucidauon
from me.
But, in a military point Of view, nnaxaton
strikes still more important, and my mind
has been he forciby impressed with this idea
from reading the able letter Of General Jackson up
on this subject which has just come under my o.
servation With the intultIve sagacity which makes
part of the character OF that great and pure pa
lrot, he has foreseen the use which European
enemy mg ht make VI Texas in the event OF q war
with the United States Judgement in that coun
try would lay open our whole southwestern border
to his deyastat We could establish fortress,
nor occupy any favorable position; for the immense
frontier may, m vast many places, be Gro sed as
rcadily as a man passes from one part of his farm
to anot er. The advantages an active enemy would
enjoy under such circumstances, 1t requires no sa-
gacity to iorete.
hes do fo
article which made its appearance just before left
Europe, IN leading tory periodical in England,
which Is understood to speak the sentiments Of
powerful patty This is Frazer's Magazine; and
more nefarous article issued from prohigate
press. 1t ought 10 be s,ereotyped and circulated
from one end of our country to the other, to show
the designs which are in agitation against US and 10
teach us that our safety in the mighty contest
which IS coming upoD US, Is in knowledge OF our
danger, and IN a determination, by union, and by
wise forecast, TO meet it, and defeat it. The spirit
of this article is sufficiently indicated by its title,
which was IA with the United States bless
ing TO mankind | cannot refer to it at this
ment, but must speak of II from recollection. have
often been surprised il has not attracted more aten
ton H. our country. Its object was to provoke
with the United States, and to lay down the plan
of campaign, which would soonest bring it to for
tunate conclusion for England The basis of this
plan was the organization OF the necessary black
force in the West India islands, and its debarkation
upon our Southern coast. The consequences which
our enemies fondly hoped for, in such case,f but
with entire ignorance Of the true state of the
try, ioretod with rare union of philanthropy
and hatred. wish had the number at hand to
Gull some choice passages for your reflection. The
result was TO be the destruction of the Southern
States the ruin depression OF the others, and the
dissolution of this great and glorious Conlederacy,
on which the last hopes OF freedom through the
world now r,st
What more favorable position could be taken for
the occupation of English black troops and for let
ting them loose upon our Southern States, than is
afforded by Texas ? Incapable Of resisting, IN the
event Of war between as and England, she would
be taken possession Of by the latter, under one or
another of those pretences which every page Of her
history furnishes and the territory would become
depot whence she would carry on her operations
az ainst US aud attempt 10 add servie war to the
other calamties which bostties bring with them
He who doubts whether this would be done, has yet
to learn another trait in the annals Of national antp
athy. Ii would be done, and bo called philan-
thropy.
Every day satisfies and more that majo
rty OF the American PEOPLE are IN favor OF snDera-
lion. Were they not the measure ought not TO be
Effected Bot they are, the sooner is effected The
better do not touch the details of the negotiation.
That must be left the responsibility Of the Govern
ment as siso, must the bearing Of the question W
on aud i's reception by, othnr countries. These
o, inis do not here enter into.
am, dear sir,
With much regard,
Truly yours,
Hon. Z. A. H,ssroAN,