Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1844-04-30

moi wiling to involve ibss country III i"'t'gh wa
far the object Of acquiring Texas. Know mere a'e
Lse g no regard such war with indifference ana as
;, A M affair on account OF the weakness oil Mex
on and her inab lty to inict serious INJURY upon 'h's
country But | do not look upon II thus ish.iy. i
,egard all wars great calamIt'es, TO De avoided u
possible, and honorable pence as Inc "'srSt anu
ppoI,cv OF this country. What the United States most
rpeod are unior peuce and patience. Nor do think
Thai The weakness of power should form motive, III
ony case for inducing 10 engage IN or to depreca'e
The evils OF war Honor and good faith and justice are
eouaIly due from this country towards The weak IS
towards The strong. And, an act OF injustice were
10 be perpetraled towards any power it would be more
compatible with the dignity OF the nation, and IN my
JUDGMENT less dishonornble, 10 niict 1t upon pow
erful instead of a weak foreign nation But are we
nerfpctIy sure that should be free from injury IN
state of war with Mexico? Have we any security
,h, countless numbers Of foreign vessels, under the
authority and flag OF Mexico, would not prey upon our
feoceless commerce III the Mexican gulf on the Pa
oGc ocean, and every other sea and ocean: what
commerce. on the other hand, does Mexico offer, as an
indemnity for our losses, TO the CALAMITY and enter
mise of our countrymen This view Of the subject
.unposes that the war would be confined 10 the United
States and Mexico the only bellgerents. But have
we any certain guaranty that Mexico would obtain no
allies among the great European powers: Suppose ony
such powers jealous OF our increasing greatness, and
disposed 10 check growth and cripple us, were 10
take part in behalf of Mexico in the war, how would
tendon and the enlightened world, We have been 80
riousy charged with nordnate spirit of territorial
aggrandzamcni and, without admitting the justice OF
III. charge must be owned that we have made vast
acquisitions of territory within the last forty years
Suppose Great Britain and France, one Of them,
were to take part with Mexico and by manifesto
were TO proclaim that their objects to assist
weak and helpless ally check the spirit Of encroach
me mt and ambition OF an arendy overgrown Republic,
seeking still further acquisitions of territory, to nam
"a, pt.,I n tho
IT, States and to prevent the further propagation oil
slavery from the u. States what would be the effect OF
such allegations upon the Judgment OF an nparl a and
enlightened world:
Assuming that the annexation of Texas is war with
Mexico is II competent TO The treaty making power TO
plunge this country into war, not only without the con-
curence Of but without deignng TO consult Congress-
TO which, by the Constitution, belongs exclusively the
power of declaring war
| have hitherto considered the question upon The
.npposon, that the xation is attempted without
the assent of Mexico l she yields her consent, thai
would materially affect the foreign aspect of the ques
tion If IL did not all foreign difficulties. On
The assumption of that assent, the question would be
confined the domestic considerations which belong 10
it, embracing the terms and conditions upon which an
ne xaon proposed do OF think that Texas ought
10 be received into the Union, integral part oil IT,
IN decided opposition TO the wishes OF considerable
nd respectable portion OF the Coniederacy. think 4,
far and important TO compose and harmonze
the present Conederacy as II now exists, than TO IN
,roducc element of dlscord and distraction into
il. In my humble opinion, it should be the constant
and endeavor of American statesmen 10 efad'-
cate preudices TO cultivate and foster concord and to
produce general conientment among all parts OF our
COME deraoy Andru wisdom, II seems to me, points
10 The duty OF rendering its present members happy,
prosperous, and satisfied with each other rather than
10 attempt introduce alien MEMBERS against The CON-
mon consent and with the certainty OF deep dssaslac
ton Mr.. Jefferson expressed the opinion, and others
believed tina, IT in the contemplation of the
trainers Of the Constitution add foreign territory to
the Conederacy out OF which new States were 10 be
formed. The acquisitions oil LOUISIANA and Florida
nav be defended upon the peculiar ground Of the rea
ton III which they stood 10 the States OF the Union
After they were admitted, might well pause awhile,
peope wastes, deyelope resources prepare
The means of defending what possess, and augment
our strength power, and greatness. Ii hereafter fur
her territory should be wanted for an increase popu
laton, need entertain apprehensluns but that IT
will be acquired by MEANS it is 10 be hoped fair, honor
able, and constitutional
1t useless 10 disguise, that there are those who es
pouee and those who oppose the 4aton OF Texas,
upon the ground of the influence which it would
ert in the balance Of political power between two
great sections of the Union conceive that no mo.
tive for the acquisition of foreign territory would be
more unfortunate, pregnant with more fatal conse
quences, than that Of obtaining It for the purpose oil
sire ming part against another pnrt of the
common Confederacy. Such principle, put into prac
teal operation, would menace the existence If 1t did
not certainly the seeds OF dissolution OF the
Union. II would be 10 proclaim TO The world an IN
sa!iatle and unquenchabls thirst for foreign conquest
or acquisition of territory. For, if to-day Texas be
acquired 10 strengthen one part OF the Conederacy,
tomorrow Canada may be required to add strength
to another. And after that might have been obtained
still other and further acquisitions would become no.
cessary 10 equaIize and adjust the balance Of political
power Finally, in the progress Of this spirit oil uni
versa dominion, the part OF the Conederacy winch IS
weakest, would find itself still weaker from The
impossbll,ty Of securing theatres for these pecu-
liar institutions which it is charged with being DESTROYS
to extend.
But would Texas, ultimately really add strength to
that which is considered the weakest part OF the
Confederncy' If my Information he correct, 1t woud
not According TO that, the territory of Texas is sus
ceptibe of division into five States of convenient size
and form. OF these, two only would be adapted to
those peculiar institutions to which have referred,
and the other three lying west and north OF San Ano-
Mo- being only adapted TO farming and grazing purPo-
ses, from the Of their SOIL climate, ard produc
tions, would admit of those institutions. In the
end, therefore. there would be two slave and three
free States probably added to the Union If this view
of the soil and geography of Texas be correct, it
might serve 10 diminish The zeal both Of those who
oppose and those who urging annexation.
Should Texas be nexed to the Union, the United
States will assume and become responsible for the
debt Of Texas, be lis amount what il may What il IL
do not k now certainly; but the least have i,
stated at IS thirteen millions oil dollars. And this re-
sponslbhy will exist whether there be stipulation
in the treaty or not expressly assuming the payment
OF the debt of Texas For suppose it 10 be undenu'
bile that, IT nation becomes incorporated in ano-
ther, all The debts, and obligations, and membranes,
and wars of the incorporated nation become the debts,
and obligations, and membranes, and wars OF the
common nation created by the incorporation.
II any European nation entertalns any ambitious
designs upon Texas such that OF coonzln2 her, or
in any way subjugaling her, should regard It rs the
imperative duty Of the Government ofhe United States
to oppose to such designs the most firm and determined
resistance 10 the extent if necessary of appealing 10
arms TO prevent the accomplishment, OF any such de-
signs The Executive of the United States ought to
be informed as 10 the aims and views of foreign
Powers with regard TO Texas, ard presume thai il
there be any of the excepiionabIe character which
have indicated, the Executive will disclose to the
ordinate depa of the Government, if no, 10 the
public the evidence OF Them. From what have seen
and heard, believe that Great Britain has recently
formally and solemnly dsavowed any such aims or
purposehas declared that she is DESTROYS only OF The
independence Of Texas, and that she has intention
10 interfere in her domestic institutions. IL she has
made such dsavowal and declaration presume they