The daily Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1841-1845, 1844-06-25


IT, that the rest IL wanted by US, could be sold BY
us TO some other power-(2 State Papers, 552, Lis-
ingston to Madison, No. 476, 10 document above =
How fully ard automatically does this fact repei al
the hbellous mputatons Then and since made aesins'
Mr. Jefferson aud Us, for seeking louisiana I"c'uu-
ing Texss) fron ambition and the love of akgtah-
dizement But after Louisiana was obtained WIN
Florida the latter still regarded rs 30 essen
tial that, on message by MIR. Jefferson OF conn
dental character, IN January, loOo' congress rsen
in secret session matured law spPropriating ST.
900 600 TO enable him to make INC purchase ana
the object Of the law was co"eesed from loreign
scrutiny and intrigue, BY enti'ng II IAN aet TO de-
fray any extraordinary expense which may be incur
red in the foreign intercourse between the United
States and foreign nations, "-(4 Laws, page 5, Feb
ID 1909
In order TO aid in that negotiation the following
memorable resolutions were passed in the House of
Representatives, in sec eli session, and are in truth
apprehend the whole foundation Of the subsequent
cesson of Texas in 1919, whose dement's have been
the object Of much anmadversion. There had
been instructions before to make the Colorado the
western boundary if every difficulty could thus be
adjusted with Spain, and the Florldas obtained but
an absolute refusal to cede any part of Texas or
Louisiana east OF the Coorado-(See fully on this
State Papers, pages 626 TO Coo, containing letters
from July, 1903 TO May, 1885, TO and from our Min
isleIs at M adrd.)
Here are the resolutions
Resolved, That -- dollars be appropriated by
law towards deiraying the expenses which may be
incurred i'll the purchase Of the Spanish tories
lying on the Atlantic ocean and Gulf of Mexico and
eaetward Of the Mississippi, TO be paid out of any
money in the Treasury not otherwise appropriated
and 10 be applied under the direction Of the Pres-
dent OF the United States who shall have authority,
II necessary, TO borrow the said sum, any part
thereof in behalf of the United States at IA rate of
interest not exceeding six per centum per annum
redeemable at will and shall cause account
thereof to be laid before Congress soon as may be-
"Resoired, That an exchange of territory between
the United States and Spain is deemed by this House
10 be the most advantageous mode of settlement Of
existing differences respecting limits between the
United States and the court of Madrid and that any
arrangement between the two governments which
shall secure to Spain ample barrier the side of
Mexico and to the United States the countries ,raiered
by the Mississippi and to the eastward of it, will meet
the appreciation Of this House, (See House Jour-
nal for January Ia, 1906, Appendix, pages 437 and
45S)
The negotiation was at once renewed, with view
TO buy the FAorIdas, or get them in exchange,
those or better terms - See State Papers pages
500 and $40 March 10, 1906, Madison TO Bowdoin
In truth, so vital to selt-preservation and peace
was the possession of them regarded, not only in
1906, but in 1911, that the forclbe occupa-
ton of it in the latter year was authorized by
Congress, as will soon be more fully explained.
And again in 1920, Mr. Monroe advised another forci-
bic occupation it Spain longer refused ratiy the
treaty Of cession in 1919 which the Senate had al
ready ratified unanimously. alter this retrospect
and much more that need not now be detailed, can
readily conceive that, not only in lSO6, but in 1919,
when the extent and value of Texas was less known
than now, and when the FIordas were 80 much
nearer, some of the old and we-settled States and
their possessions so highly appreca,e ed other
counts than their soil-that such resolution could
be easier passed by Congress, and easier complied
with by the executive, than
In the then infancy of the republic, and the COM
paratve ignorance of the sources OF some of the
tributaries of the Mississippi and the vast western
extent Of Louisiana the west side of that river
much lower appreciated than it deserved; and only
State vas contemplated to be established
that side and large reserved territory to be held
for the Indians.-(4 jeff Life, SD
But we had hardly parted with Texas before the
explorations and enterprise Of people, under the
blessings of peace, unioded more to the extent
and fertility of that region, and the remote sources
Of many of beautiful rivers and it dis
covered that had failed to retain even what Con-
gress had originally intended in the resolution should
not be ceded-that is, all the land all the tributa-
ries of the Mississippi
A large and valuable tract on the Red and Arkan-
rivers parted with, either through want of
correct geographical information, other causes
now unknown, and conflicting with the resolution.
Hence IN lew months inquiries in Con-
gress whether more had not been ceded than was
proper; and resolution offered by Dr. Floyd
90 ascertain if Span had not empowered her minister
to go farther wet with the line, and if that fact
not known TO the Secretary of State L Journal of
I76-7)
Hence, too, as soon as April, 1920, Mr. Cay of
fered the resolutions now in my hands, calling in
question the legality OF the cesson as well as its ex
pediency. Will read the first one
Resolved That the Constitution of the United
States vests in Congress the power dispose Of the
territory belonging t. them and that treaty pur.
porting to ALLEVIATE any part thereof is valid without
the concurrence Of Congress"
Hence, not only Efforts made by him and
Dir. Adams, early 1895 10 regain the whole
country by purchase fiom Mexico, and again in
1897, and again IN 1929 by General Jackson and
MIR. Van Buren,, and thencetorward Till 1895, when
Texas declared her independence but in the Senate
Mr., Preston, in 1888, offered another resolution,
that the original cesson in 1919 "f epii precedent
and questionable constitiaionahfy."
Without going further now into the historical data
connected with this branch Of the inquiry, it must be
evident that II the cesson in 1919 void from any
cause, Texas, being within the original limits Of
Louisians, ought now to be under the stpulaons of
the treaty OF 500, protected IN her religion INDUCED
in all the rights of American citizens, and,
possible, admitted into the Union equal terms
with all other new States. do not go for tecbni-
caltes for or against this view OF the subject nor
am kdisposed TO allow little special pleading by
topples forms, TO prevail against her moral claims
on Usher substantial and legitimate rights. How
are the merits, them France has released US
from the obligation, in the treaty with her. TO admit
into the Union all the territory then within the limits
of louisiana Texas has never been asked to re-
lease us Gould we, then. become exonerated by our
own acts a.onel Certainly not, ss we are but
party to the contract.
No principle is better settled, than that govern
ment of limited powers, having once acquired terri
tory, or admitted States into its Union, cannot ,cll
portions of them to foreign powers. There is no
such grant in the instrument-tbere is no such prac
tice The disposal Of the lee in wild land TO midi
viduals and companies, is all the power in selling
territories or States, which has been exercised in
IN q
case has the jurisdiction or sovereignty over
the people in territories and States, whether few
and small, or numerous and large, ever been
exercised without that express assent of the parties