Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1844-05-25
TO THE PEOPLE OF LOUISIANA.


freely and unreserVedy, the opinions may entertain upon
such subjects may be brought before me one Of their
Senators in Congress In with this rule OF my
political fe anxious TO communicate To you, at the
earliest propreiy would permit the reasons which
have influenced my fired purpose vote against the
ratification of the treaty before the Senate for the an
nexation Of Texas the United States and avail myself
Of this mode Of address in preference TO the alternative OF
waiting for opportunity make speech, which might
be laid before you the removal Of the injunction Of secre
cy from proceedings
Permit say, in the outset that while consider the
Of negotiating and communicating the treaty high
ly e1ceplionsbe, and while believe that the Executive
and his advisers influenced by the selfish and
bilious motives in originating and completing il, and prac
tised grossest fraud upon the Executive Of Texas in
duce him to the negotiation, am free to admit
that had there existed objections the terms Of the
treaty and higher order emanatng from treaty
obligations Mexico, and had others, based upon con-
sderaons connected with domestic and foreign policy
been removed might have felt il to be my duty to vote for
the annexation of Texas. When the question first
presented my mind, and before had examined il in all
its bearings and probable results confess that thought
avoaby Of annexation and expressed myself TO several
Of my friends and associates but, after mature and calm
reflection, have arrived at the conclusion that there exists
no State necessity Tor ihe measure, and that the ratification
Of treaty before the Senate would only involve
the nation unjust but would, in especial man
ne PROSTATE the best interests Of Louisiana These being
my solemn CONVICTIONS have not stopped 10 inquire what
effect their avowa might have upon popularity OF home
however gratifying coincidence OF opinion between CON
suents and myself might he, my own seespect and the
approval Of my own conscience still more important
The ratification of the treaty Of annexation, before
the Senae will inevitably in my opinion involve in
with Mexico, and in all probability, in war with En-
gland, and perhaps with France Every we-wsher to the
prosperity of country would consider war with the two
latter Powers, either of them national calamity but
in wagng it, in the event supposed, breach OF treaties
violation of the laws Of nations could be justly charged
against while, in the contest with Mexico national
honor would be furnished if not destroyed by the nfacton
Of solemn treaty stipuaons Is national honor nothing
Are treaty obligations be dsregarded whenever It suits our
convenience Are prepared to show to the world by
acts that ready at any time 10 wage unjust
whenever believe that the physical
crafty Unsuitable lust for territory, when may
consider that additional territory is needed 70 preserve
tica equilibrium, nterpose protection TO the pecu
liar institutions of the South for other OF the thou
sand purposes for which reckless ambition might suggest the
acquisition of additional territory Say that Texas Is annexed
with eye the of the balance OF political pow
how many slave States we make out OF Four would
be q bera number But, while are carving out these
States would nothing be done in the Northwest When
the country north and west Of Missouri TO the foot Of
the Rocky Mountains to be peopled and formed into
States 10 say nothing Of the Oregon Territory Of
the Mountains, what becomes of this equilibrium To
maintain shall have to acquire, by war or otherwise,
New Mexico, California, Sc. and brethren at the
North would probably be anxious for the OF an
equilibrium ourselves, to what point would such wild
monstrous doctrine lead US To the purchase
quest Mexico the side and Of the Canadss the
other while such of national policy, to say nothing
Of It's inquy, necessary TO effecuae il, must
bring about combination of the civilized world against
not internal discussions and dissolution Of the Union
| Such course would not be dssmiar from that have
sometimes known pursued by planters in the South, who,
nstgaed by vanity avarice, have gone purchasing
plantation after plantation, in Order they sad to remove
troublesome neghbor round IF their landed estate
until they have involved themselves nextrcaby in debt and
have terminated their ambitious efforts to acquire barona
| estates in bankruptcy and utter ruin.
But this is ALL We know that in some of the States
such Kentucky and Tennessee, the disposition rid
slaves,
j increasing, and that in Others such Maryland and Viz
tai Dyesye labor produces but small HIS bee,
principally supplied with slaves that she needed lei
Texas be annexed and such opening will be presented
that In all probability, some, oil Of these States will
DC drained OF their slaves the South does
as many she requires and would be, therefore, abb
furnish them What, them becomes Of this bugbear OF
the balance OF political power, should all or the most O,
these States join themselves, the Of time the,
would probably do, TO the slavehsljng States The
beam will be kicked with vengeance and we shall run the
o losing from our side and support States already popu
ous and influential for the uncertain prospect Of securing the
and OF country yet unsettled and which will nece
| sarily weaken ourselves
Let me examine this question, Of political balance in
another aspect Southern gentlemen have affirmed thai mn
less Texas is annexed the North will have the
IN both branches of Congress- and that then slavery will moi
be secure from the ruthless attacks the aboonis,s Nv
ahcesto emgrateu from England more than hundred
years ago, and settled in Virginia, and their descendants
without single exception that know Of have from Thai
period resided in the slaveholdng portion of the United
States The destiny Of the South will be the destiny of INV
children am moreover Of those who believe that the
physical and moral condition of the slaves Of the South is So
Perior TO that Of many Of the manufacturing and aborinc
classes Of the old and world and do not believe tina,
slavery Is political or moral evil Whenever therefore the
institution of slavery, guaranteed by the compact Of our
Union shall be seriously assied shall found ss reo,v
to defend il, from what quarter the attack NAV ss
any OF those who claim TO be, par excellence its peculiar
guardians and protectors; many OF whom however must
say evnce zeal than Judgment brsvado than true
courage, in the they pursue Possessing then every
motive from BIRTH education, and long opinions
aud we-maiured CONVICTIONS TO say nothing Of interest
watch and protect far able the institution If
slavery, decidedly Of opinion that the annex alton Of
Texas the United States will give any additional Sc
curty 10 the South and that the contrary our position
will be weakened by such Let us suppose for
monent that there exists now may hereafter exist xe
purpose the part Of brethren Of the non sa vehoipy
States to abolish slavery, would the of Texas
rest that purpose, or would rather stimulate f Saw
that they are even at this resolved the abolition
81 slavery IN the United States Of course they must be in
favor Of dissolution Of the Union 10 dissolve that at
any ume Tor any cause, Is produce civil war Any at-
tempt the of the Norho with slavery must
end in disruption Of the Union and none know this fact
better than Northern brethren, aud none, nm sure
would deprecae such result than they Interest TO
say nothiog OF patriotism would forbid such idea The
love OF the Union strong in the North the South
IT'S dissolution would prove disastrous that portion Of
the country than to and have stronger evidence
han now possess before believe in the existence Of
my serious general wish in the -savehong States 10