Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1844-05-07

the North All that the friends of Texas nsk-ail that
We hope TO obtain, by annexation is, security for our
property, and safety for ourselves
After this hasy review Of the circumstances which
attended the appearance of the letter OF Mr. Clay we
shall proceed, in another number to notice it, argu.
ments. A VIRGINiAN
FOR TIE ENQUIRER
MR.. CLAY'S LETTER
The letter of the Hon. Henry Clay on the subject of
Texas has at last made its appearance and the country
can judge Of H. boil, as an evidence of his great episto
larry talent and the soundness Of his views. Coming
from 81 stinsuisled source, confess my deep dis
appointment the arguments there forth against
ne1aton, and shall briefly consider Of the most
weghty (his being determined by The stress which their
author lays on them
Nearly half of this long letter is based upon the
fact, that Mexico has not yet acknowledged the lnde
pcndcncc OF Texas, and that cannot therefore have
her annexed to this Union without violating The treaty
Of 1919 between the United States and Mexico. The
distinguished gentleman must surely forget, that since
that treaty Texas has been declared independent of Mex
leo by all or nearly ALL the powers OF Europe, and that
our own United States has done so likewise. IT then
Texas has been declared ISpEPESpEST what does this
mean: An independent nation must ser al termiat be
able to contract alliances with any other power; for if
she is prevented from doing this by the action Of any
other nation she to all ntens and purposes indie
pendent but comfortable by that power which thus pre-
vents her. Mr. Clay SAYS, that Mexico has not yet
consented 10 TIC Independence Ol lcAdS, VIC WOuiu DC
committing a fraud on her, 10 Texas
now In reply 10 this need only say, that is now too
late TO use this argument if il valid nj
any time We have solemuly declared Texas soye
reign State have entered into commercial arrangements
with her. ard have by these very acts violated the treaty
with Mexico, which Mr.. Clay much relies on as his
main argument this question. Was Mr.. Clay opposed
to the recognition of Texan independence, when she b.
her yalor had achieved the victory Of San Jacinto, Did
he not by his support and countenancc assist 10 bring
this about Unless history has become taithess chrol
icer he occupied prominent position them and raised
his voice have her acknowledge by the L. States,
FREE sovEEEiGS and INDEPENDENT, of all The world
re- then there could be violation of any treaty
with Mexico leave it to an impartial world TO decide,
whether it be not too late for Mr. Clay, who the
prime mover of that movement, 10 speak in terms
which he holds in his letter. No Sir Mr. Clay himself
has violated treaty. if there has been any vioation
and he is eS'opped By his deed" from pleading
this 10 the annexation.
Mr.. Clay appears to think that with Mexico
will be the inevitable result OF annexation. How he
has arrived this conclusion is really question Of
considerable perplexty If there be any truth in
ports, Mexico has declared armistice with Texas,
and this has been done after ten years of unsuccess
FIJI attempts to bring her back TO her former allegi-
ance What then, may ask, does this not amount
to ? To my mind, it shows conclusively, that Mexi-
CO herself despars Of obtaining posses OF
Texas and | have little or doubt my mind,
that she would this have consented TO the indie
pendence of Texas, but for the support which Mexico
has indirectly received, from the enemies of Tex.
as in this country But to return for few
ments 10 the great argument oil Mr. Clay, that
the annexation al Texas at tins umc would be
fraud on Mexico; let whit Messrs
Clay ard Adams's opinion in relation to Mex,co
when she occupied towards Spain the position
which Texas now does towards Mexico. In 1923,
Mexico declared herself independent of Spain--and
the United States in the year following, through her
Secretary of State, mot Cay) instructed our Minister
at the Court of Madrid, to urge upon Spain the pro-
priety OF acknowledging the independence of Mexico
To prove this, here is the letter Of Mr.. Everett
Minister, and the reply Of The King, through his
"He remarked" says MIR. Everett, "that the King
would never abandon his claim TO these his ancient
and rightfnl possessions that the cnuss WAS good
one, aud although the prospect nniavorable they
had right TO suppose they would in he end succeed
Here we have the declaration OF the King OF Spain
distinctly stating, that under no circumstances would
he surrender his title to Mexico, then embracing The
whole of Texas. Nov let Us see what Mr.. Clay, (who
now speaks Of effort 10 acquire Texas, as "fTaud
upon Mexico) did under circumstances even more
glariDGly unjust than he represents the present.
Scarcely three years had elapsed uls. the declara-
ton nf independence by Mexico land twelve years be-
fore Spain Acknowledged ~ Mr. Clay declared s'thal
the contest between Mexico and Spain was faaly SET
ted," &, continued twelve yeas longer Now, if
Messrs. Adams and Clay ns;iabe in treating for
Texas with Mexico, while both belonged to Spain (foy,
have SAID before, the contest did not terminate Tor
Twelve wears 0UerWdtuS,) now can MI IIay contend,
that its anne xation would be fraud on Mexico
when fact the contest has ended in the expulsion
from Texas of the whole Mexican force ten years ago
Can any one read these truths-recordcd facts-and
not be startled at the duplicty which evnces itself in
almost every line? Can the South be gulled by ar-
fee so shallow? And how must thosc who have here
lofose ex,oed Mr. Clays magnanmity now regard
him. when he conccals the positions then assumed by
him. and occupies ground directly the opposite; IF
Mr. Clay thought Texas SO desirable then, is she not
much so no,co-and ask all rejecting men 10 decide
whether We have net better right 10 treat with Texas
now-her independence being acknowledged by ou.
own country, by France and England, and other Eu-
ropcan rtr;es-and when, IN addition to this,
remember that she has been, we may say, unmoieEted
by Mexico Tor ten yeers-than we had. twenty years
SINCE {, treat with Msxco for Texas, when the Spa
Rish King distinctly declared "hc would never rrln-
qrlsh his rights to that territory And get Mr.. Clay
dsrega riding the solemn proestatons ct Spain tina
auhicci, took upon himself 10 declare that the United
States "ooksd upon the contest settled, and dong
before Spain had acknowledge the Independence Of
Maxico) enter into negotiaoa Nth .Ncrico fyr the
ACQUISITION of TEXAS? These are undca;abic facts,
and never since the foundation OF this Government has
la public been guilty Of such tergiversalions as
Mr. Clay on this subject. Can it be possible that
the "hr- minded md cvarcus statesman has truck
ted for abolition support II mast be sO-or else he
could not see John Tyler adding another laurel to his
brow and the DEMON Of envy has caused him to give
his voice for the sacrifice oil the South An unholy IN
chastened ambition has taken possession of the once
patriotic bosom and the MoLocH or rARrY is the God
TO whom the offerings are made.
Lstus of the South present an undivided front in
this cause Let on the graves Of our fathers
ne YER To sacrifice country for any ; but with
an undvinr Underwriting determinations let us rally to
the rescue. Texas given up BY TREasoS--we have
right TO re-ake t-nnt God grant thu; Southerner
will suffer himself be deceived by the specious ar
gumcnts OF any enemy Of tie South.
YORK.
HESGiC0 COUNTY.
Al highly respectable meeting Of The Democratic
Assoc alton nf he COUNTY Of Ilen,icn keld on Mon.