Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1844-05-02

stood to the States Of the Union. Allei
they were admitted. VIC might well paust
awhile, people our vast wastes, develoE
eur resources, prepare the means of de.
tending what we possess, and augment
our strength, power, and greatness. II
hereafter further territory should be wan
ted for an increased population, we need
entertain no apprehenslons but that il will
be acquired by means, il is to be hoped,
lair, honorable, and constitutional.
1t is useless to disguise that there are
those who espouse and those who oppose
the annexation Of Texas upon the ground
Of the influence which IL would exert, in
the balance of political power, between
I two great sections Of the bnlon. / con-
ceive that no motive for the acquisition OF
/ foreign territory would more unfortunate,
or pregnant with more fatal consequent
ces, than that of obtaining it for the pur.
pose Of strengthening one part against an
other part of the common Conledtracy
Such principle, put INTO practical opera
I ton, would menace the existence, if It did
not certainly SOW the seeds OF dissolu.
ton ofthe Union. |, would be to proclaim
/ to the world an Unsuitable and unquencha.
BILE thirst for foreign conquest or acqusi.
ton Of territory. For il TO day Texas be
acquired to strengthen one part Of the
Confederaey, Tomorrow Canada may be
required TO add strength to another. And,
after that might have been obtained, still
other and further acquisitions would be-
come necessary TO equallze and adjust the
balance of political power. Finally, in
the progress of this spirit of universal do.
minion, the part Of the Confederacy which
is now weakest, would find itself still
weaker from the impossibiity Of securing
new theatres for those peculiar institutions
which it is charged with beng DESTROYS to
extend.
But would Texas, ultimately, really
add strength to that which is now consd.
cred the weakest part of the Confederacy?
ltmy information be correct, it would not.
AccoIdiny to that, the territory of Texas
is susceptible of division into five States
OF convenient size and form. or these,
two only would be adapted to those pecu.
liar institutions to which have referred,
and the other three, lylnglwest and north,
San Antonio, being only adapted to farm.
ing and grazing purposes, from the ma
ture Of their soil, climate, and produc-
lions, would not admit Of those insti;u.
tons. Ia the end, therefore, there would
be two slave and three free States proba-
bly, added to the Union. If this view of
the soil and geography of Texas be cor.
rect, it might serve to diminish the zeal
both of those who oppose and those who
are urging annexation.
Should Texas be annexed to the Union,
the United States will assume and become
responsible for the debt of Texas, be its
amount what it may. What it is, | do
not know certainly; but the least have
seen il stated at is thirteen millions oil dol
lars. And this responsibility will exist,
whether there be a stipulation ir the trea
ty or not expressly assuming the payment
of the debt of Texas. For ! suppose it
| to be undeniab'e that, if one nation be-
comes Incorporated in another, all the
debts, and obligations, and membranes,
/ and membranes, and wars Of the incor-
porated nation, become the debts, aud OBJ.
| legations, and membranes, and wars oil
the common nation created by the incor-
poralion.
II any European nation enteftains any
ambitious designs upon Texas, such as
that OF colonlzlng her, or in any way sub
Ijugaling her, | should regard 1t as the i'm.
perative duty OF the Government of the
United States TO oppose 10 such designs
the most firm and determined resistance
to the extent, if necessary, of appealing to
arms TO prevent the accomplishment oil
any such designs. The Executive oflhe
United States ought to be informed as to
the aims and views Of foreign Powers
with regard to Texas, and presume that
# there be any of the exceptionable char
acter which | have indicated, the Exec.
utive will disclose to the coordinate de-
partments of the Government, if not TO the
public the evidence of them. From what
have seen and heard, believe that
Great Britain has recently formally and
solemnly disavoweG any such aims or pur-
poses-has declared that she is DESTROYS
only Of The independence of Texas, and
her domestic institutions. If she has
made such disavowal and declaration,
presume they are in the possession Of the
Executive.
In future progress of events, il is piob.
able that there will be voluntary or for
chile separation Of the British North A.
rnerican possessions from the parent coun-
try. am strongly inclined to think tina,
it will be best for the happiness of all par
ties that, in that event, they should be
erected into a separate and independent
Republic. With the Canadian Republic
on one side, that Of Texas on the other,
and the United States, the friend Of both,
between them, each could advance its own
happiness by such constitutions, laws, and
measures, as were best adapted to its pc.
condition. They would be natural allies,
ready, by CO operation, to repel any Eu-
ropean or foreign attack upon either.
Each would afford secure refuge to the
prosecuted and oppressed driven into ex.
lie By either Of the others. Tney would
emulate each other in improvements, in
free institutions, and in the science of self.
government. Whilst Texas has adopted