Carroll free press. [volume] (Carrollton [Ohio]) 1834-1861, 1844-05-17
Mar. Clay Om the Texas Ques-
ton.
To the Editors Of The Nat Iate7igencer
RALEIGH, April II, 1914.

RALEIGH, April II, 1914,
GENTLEMEN: Subsequent TO my de-
pRrture from Ashland, in December
last, ! received various communications
from popular asssmblages end private
individuals, requesting an expression OF
my opinion upon the question OF the An
nexaiion Of Texas TO the United States
| have Iorborne TO reply TO them, be-
cause it was not very convenient, dur
ing the progress Of my journey, to do
so, and for other reasons. | did not
think il proper, unnecessarily, TO intro
duce at present new element among
the other eXcjung eubJacIs which ag:
tate and engro9s the public mind. The
rejection Of The overture Of Texas, some
yaars Ogo, to become annexed TO the
United States, had mel with general
Rcquiescence. Nothing had since oc-
Cured materially TO vary the question,
had seen no evidence of a desire be-
ing entertained, on the part Of any con.
siderable portion Of the American peo =
pie, that Texas should become an in
legral part Of the United States. Dur
ing my sojourn in New Orleans, | had,
indeed, been greatly surprised, by in
formation which ! received from Texas,
that, in the course OF last fall, voIun.
iary overture bad proceeded from the
Executive Of the United States 10 the
Authorities Of Texas TO conclude a trea-
ty Of Annexation; and that, 10 order to
overcome the repugnanCe felt BY any Of
ahem 10 negotiation upon the sub beCt,
strong aud, as believed, erroneous re
presentations had been made 10 them Of
q stale Of opinion in the Senate of the
Uniled States favorable 10 the ratifca
tion Of such treaty. According to these
presentations, it had been ascerlaiEed
that number Of Senators, varying from
thrty five 10 forIyIwo, were ready to
saucLion such treaty. | was aware,
too, that holders of Texas lands and
Texas scrip, and SPECTATORS in them,
were actively engaged in promoting the
object OF annexaIlon. Still, | did no.
believe that any Executive oflhe Uni
ted States would venture upon so grave
and momenlous proceeding, not only
without any general manifestation o.
public opinion in favor Of it, but in di.
rect opposition to strong and decided ex-
presSions Of public dsapprobation. Bu
it appears that was mistaken. To the
aslonishmsnl of The whole nation, we
are now informed that a treaty of an
neXsIion has been actually concluded
and is 10 be submitted 10 the Senate fOI
its consideration The motives Of my
silence, therefore, no longer remain
and feel it to be my duty 10 present an
exposition Of my views and opinions
upon the question, for what they may
be worth, 10 the public consideration
adopt this method as being moro con.
vsnient than several replies to the re-
spective communications which have
received,
regret that have not the a5vanlagt
Of q view oI the treaty itself, so as lt
enable me to adapt an expression Of my
opinion TO the actual condition. and sli
pulaiions which it contains Not pos.
sessing that opportunity, am conslraln
ed to treat the question according t.
what | presume to be the terms of lht
treaty. II without the loss of nalona
character, without the hazard OF forelgl
war, with the general concurrenos o.
the nation, without any danger TO The
integrity Of the Union. and without Civ
ing 40 unreasonable price for Texas
tho question Of annexation were pIesen
ed, ii would appear in quite a dlfIersn
light from that in which, | apprehsDd
il is now 10 be regarded.
The United States acquired title t.
Texas extending, as ! believe, to tn
RIO del Norte, by the treaty Of louisa
ma, They csded and rellnquished tha
title TO Spain by The treaty Of 1919, b,
which The Sabine was substituted for lh
Rio del Norte as our western boundary
This treaty was negotiated under tn
administration Of Mr. Monroe, and wit
The concurrence Of his Cabinet, of whic
Mossrs. Crawford, Calhoun, and Wir
being a majority, all Southern gentle
men, composed part When the trea
" was laid before the House Of Repre-
senelives, being member Of that bo
dy, ! expressed the opinion, which
then entertained, and still hold, tha
Tcxas was sacriGced TO lhe acquisition
Of Florida. We wanted Florida, but
though, it must, from its position, nev
iably fall into our possessiOn; that III
point Of few Jeurs, sooner or laIel
was Of no sort Of consequence, and lhs
10 giving five millions OF dollars an
Texas for it, we gave more than q jut
equivalent But, il wO made a greu
sacrifice in he surrender ol Texas, "