Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1844-03-29

pcratvey urged upon this government the necessity
Of an extension Of IT. jurisdiction over Louisiana and
Florida As peace however, was our cherished poll
cy never TO be departed from unless honor should be
perIled by aiherng To it, we patiently endured Tor
time serious conveniences and privations and sought
transfer Of those regions, 10y negotiations anu mol
by conquest)
"rhe issue ofthese negotiations was a conditional
ccsson OF these countries to the Uni ed states Inc
circumstances however, Of their being colonial pos
SIS ions Of France and Spain, and therefore dcpen-
dent on the metropolitan Government renders those
transactions materially different from that when
would be prrscntcdby the question of the annexation
o Tex's. The latter is State with an independent
Gnvernncn acknowledged as suci by the United
States and claiming territory beyond, though Tor
dcring on the region ccted by France, IN the treaty
orthe 3Orh of April 1903 Whether the Constitution.
of the United States contemplated the annexation OF
such State and if so, in what manner that o Jct is
to be ELECTED are questions IN the opinion oil 'nc res
llent, il would be incxpcdent, under existing clrcum
stances, to agitae.
$50 lang MS Texas shall remain at war, while the
United States are al peace with her adversary, the
proposition OF the Texan Minister Penpoientlary |
necessarily involves the question of war WIN mat ad-
versary. The Uned States arc bound to Mexico by
a treaty Of anity and commerce, winch Will be scru-
puouslv OF served on their part so long as can be
reasonably hoped that Mexico will perform her duties,
and respect our right. under II, The United States
might Justly be suspected of disregard OF the fflend,
~ purposes OF the compact If the overturne OF General
Hunt be received TOR future consideration,
MS this would imply disposition on our part to es-
pousc the quartet of Texas with Mexico; disposition
e the uniform policy and the obvious welfare oil Tic
United ) aes."
From that time until quite recently, the subject has
! been withdrawn from public attention. The war be-
{ tween Mexico and Texas is not yet conclnded al.
though active hosilies hnve ceased and truce Is
A understood TO have been agreed upon In me mean
time. Texas has maintained itself, as an Independent
sovereignty aud has extended its relation with the
nations of the world lin the judgment o! the Coy
eminent Of the United States, there were msuperahc
h objections the sibjcc of annexation, seven years
In, la mn n tI,un
g only 10 strengthen such objecti,ns.
= The Constitutional authority Of Congress TO admit
nc States into the Union, formed of territories not
If belonging 10 Of the States at the adoption OF Inc
l. present nim Of Governments is an important point |"
d your inquiries. e.,
The Con.titution Of the United States provides
It New States may be admitted BY the Congress
l. into this Union, but new States shat be formed or
y erected within the jurisdiction fany other oae; nor
- any State be formed by The junction OF two or more
y States, parts Of States without the consent oi me
u legislatures of the States concerned, as wen as Vi
I'd the Congress"
is II would seem very reasonable 10 confine this pro-
mt vision to States he formed out Of territories already
belonging the Uni ed States and in regard to when
n the old Congress by 'cepng the resson OF tcrflo
he ~ from individual States, and agreeing 10 me propo
N srd terms Of ress,n had already stipulated that ry
r. might be created and admitted into the Cnlon ANY
H. other construction would be forced and unnaural-
I'd and would IMPLY that The trainers Of the Cons'tu
g. ton and the people were looking to the extension 81
~ their territories although those which they then held
were, one-haf wilderness, and the oiier nan yer!
. lhnlv ppoplcd. a.,
c1 Its MT atall probable, from the history OF the
rh States, from the circumstances in which they were
IN placed III 1889, or from all that IS to be learned oil
mems opinions and expectations at that day that any
n. lea was enter ained BY any hodv, of bringing into
Oh the Union any time States formed out OF me Ter
ri,ories of foreign powers. Indeed, much ,n'onsy
| was felt towards the Government from fears oi
TO It's overbenring weight and strength when proposed
en- to be established over the thirteen States.
at This jealousy, il easy to believe would have been
he heated into decisive and perhaps successful OPP
rli position II had cen understood that projects of en-
arIement Of boundaries, or ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
I'D had been among the objects contemplated bv It's es.
n Enlistment And is Of the unaccounnble &C.
c,nricirics and apparent inconsistencies Of opinion,
no that those who hold the Constitution Of the United
Of States to be compact between States should think,
" nevertheless. that the government created by that
H. Constitution, is nj liberty 10 introduce new States
he formed Of foreign territory with without the
OF those who regarded the orssa par
nd ties.
fn' Bv the Convention with France of the Both o
is April 1903 Louisiana ceded 10 heUnt States
in wi this condition.
O. The inhabitants of the coded territory shall be in
&C, corporned in the Union Of the United States and ad
ha, mil,ed poss BILE according to the prlncl
it, pies of the federal constitution, to the enjoyment
eni all the rights advantages and immunlties of the Gu
zens Of The United Sates and in The meantime the
,gh shall be maintained and protected in the free ENJOY
ion men Of their liberty, propeTl and the religion whc
they profess
res Ii is now known to have been Mr.. Jefferson's opn
10 ion nj the time that amendment of The Consti'u
non was necessary IN ueT 10 carry tnls spuialO
49, into effect. and Is known, also, that such was tn
hat opinion ably and earnestly maintained by many Ills
ne nsushed persons in the government. The treaty
hat however, was ratified; No amendment of the Cor
wv stliuon was proposef AMI IN 1917 LOUISIANA was ac
da miticd into the Union State, upon the same foo
lag as the original States. All the branches of til
os goyernmen, concurred in this act, and the countr
~; ncqulcsred init.
do In the year 1919, treaty concluded with Spal
r for the cession of Florida. This treaty followed III
Ing precedent of that with France and contained III
we stipulation:
H. 1.-THE Inhabitants Of the territories which his Gait
I'm ole Majesty cedes TO the United States by this Tre
ling ", shall e incorporated in the Union of the Unite
en- States as soon may be consistent with the prime
Pies OF the federal constitution and admitted to Il
ON cnjoymenrs of the privileges uahts and immun,
and oil he citizens OF the United States"
lcsc Florida has not yet been admitted into the Unto
and bur the treaty ratified the cession accepted,
d in c1rdlnG H. terms, and the people well II
aes public authorities, have acquesced in The f
He'd wcni, years. and given the sanction Of their appr
the baton.
tier ouisiana and Florida therefore are settled case
zach The admission Of one and the agreement to admit Il
en- other At proper time are facts, acts DONE al
and as such must have their full effect. But il does
con- follow that hey presidents for the annexation
nee Texas. Important differences pointed out, b
'or tween the cases in Mr. Fnrsyths letter; and othe
v of might he suggested. But It is enough TO say, III
~ It what has been DONE on at best very questonal
ears right ana Ia case oi strong and urgent necessity
no sufficient warrant for similar proceeding, in
new which no such necessity exists, and in win
rs both the right and expe ency may be very prnpei
rent colSdcrct on Inc Original ahu independent sroun
n ~ Oe'ohsiIg 10 Nlrli
eli TO am certainly # opinion, with Mr.. Je ierson,
=, the MADISON Mr.. j. y Adams and "her eminent M
such that IN. Constitution never contemplated the adm
re to SION VI new states formed Out OF me territories
he # foreign nations; and while | admit that what /
new been done in regard to Louis ana and Florida mi
large no" he cons dered rs legally done YET DO mol hdi
the me pTnfelY "i proceeding tfher, and admitting
nj Ia Territory, ceded by foreign nation, but fore
whn, nation itself with all It's Obligations and Treaties
'ct In laws ana rs institutions, mo the number OIL
part o'a'Ps WHICH CONFUSE MS ohlon'
oh The broad question proposed by you, If the
IN OF bile influence Of the annexation of Texas W
ready American liberty and industry the continuance of
acted Union and HE of knowledge vir
uck liberty and happiness, que ton full of intense
glou. errsl, and which suggests thoughts and rehct
well worthy 10 engage the deepest attention of int,
gent minds. 1t is not to be doubted that the cont
with alce of the American Uninn and its prosperity
NJ success, under its present form Of governments