The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1844-03-18
ANNEXATION OF TEXAS.
WAR WITH MEXICO.
DISSOLUTION OF THE UNION.


brings us long letter from Mr.. Webster in answer
TO communication from numerous citizens, re-
guessing ms views concerning the annexation of
Texas. IL was written, as appears by the date
some weeks ago, but IS published at the moment
this PROJECT appears to have assumed a threatening
aspect.
WASHINGTON, Jan. %, 1874.
GENTIEMEN-Circumstance have not allowed
me an opportunity, until the present moment, of
answering your letter OF the 18th OF December.
In that letter you expressed the belief, that pro-
position might probably be presented to Congress,
at Its present session, for the annexation OF Texas
to the United States; and you desire to know my
opinions on the constitutionality of such a mea-
sure; its probable effect on the character and future
action OF our government; It's tendency 10 promote
the cause OF freedom, or TO strengthen the bonds of
slavery; and, IN general, the consequences which
ton TO the United States of large slaveholding
country, not only TO American liberty, American
industry, and the continuance of the Union itself,
but also to the great cause of human knowledge,
virtue, and happiness In the United States, and
Texas, and throughout the world.
AT the time when your letter was received, / in
duged a strong hope that no such proposition would
be made IN Congress, or would proceed from any
other quarter. l deem 1t quite unfortunate that
topic, so certain to produce great excitement,
should be added to the other causes, operating al
the present moment, to create dlversies of politi
cal opinion
AS intention has recently been manifested
however, OF making the annexation of Texas TO
the United States a subject of discussion in Con-
gress, lose no time In answering your letter. and
in complying with Its request. The answer is quite
at hand
Mr.. W. here repeats some opinions he uttered
in speech In New York in 1887, with which the
reader Is familiar He also quotes letter to the
purpose from Mr. Forsyth, when Secretary of State,
and then proceeds: i
The constitutional authority of Congress to adj
NIT new States into the Union, formed of territories
not belonging to any of the States at the adoption
OF the present form OF government is an important
point in your inquiries.
The constitution of the United States provides,
that New States may be admitted by the Con-
gress into this Union, but no new States shall be
formed or erected within the jurisdiction of any
other State; nor any State be formed by the june
ton OF two or more States, or parts of States, with
out the consent of the Legislatures of the States
concerned, as well as of the Congress-"
1t would seem very reasonable to conine this pro-
vision to States to be formed out of territories al
ready belonging to the United States and IN regard
to which the old Congress- by accepting the cession
the proposed terms of cesson had already stipulated
that they might be created, and admitted into the
Union. Any other construction would be forced
and unnatural, and it would imply that the trainers
OF the Constitution, and the people, were looking to
the extension OF their territories, although those
which they then held We're one half wilderness
and the other half very thinly peoped 1t is not at
all probable from the history of the States from the
circumstances in which they were placed in 1889,
or from all that's to be learned from men, opinions
and expectations at that day, that any idea was en-
terained, by any body, of bringing into the Union,
at any time States formed out of the territories OF
foreign powers. Indeed much jealousy was telt to-
wards the new Government, from fears OF Its over
bearing weight and strength, when proposed to be
established over the thirteen States. This jeaou-
sy, II IS easy 10 believe, would have been heated
unto n.asc drcsive and perhaps successful opposi-
ton, if i had been understood that projects Of en-
largement OF boundaries, or territorial aggrandZe-
ment, had been among the objects contemplated by
its establishment. And it is one of the unac count
able eccenrlcltes, and apparent Inconsistencies of
opinion, that those who hold the Constitution of the
United States to be a compact between States,
should think, nevertheless, that the government
created by that Constitution, Is at liberty to intro
duce new states, formed out of foreign territory,
with or without the consent of those who are re-
garded as original parties.
BY the Convention with France of the Both April
1903, Louisiana was coded to the United States,
with this condition:
"The inhabitants of the ceded territory shall be
incorporated in the Union of the United States
and admitted as soon as possible, according to the
principles of the federal constitution, to the enjoy
ment of all the rights, advantages, and immunltes
OF citizens OF the United States and in the mean
time they shall be maintained and protected in the
tree enjoyment OF their liberty, property, and the
religion which they profess"
IL is now known to have been Mr.. Jefierson's
opinion, at the time, that an amendment of the
Constitution was necessary in order to carry this
stipulation into effect; and II is known, also that
such was the opinion, ably and earnestly maintain
ed by many distinguished persons in the govern
ment. The treaty, however, was ratified No
amendment of the Constitution was proposed, and
IN 1872 Louisiana was admitted into the Union as
State, upon the same footing as the original States
All branches of the government concurred in this
act, and the country acquiesced in 1t.
In the year 1873, treaty was concluded with
Spain, for the cesslon of Florida. This treaty fol-
lowed the precedent of that with France, and con-
tanned this stipulation:
"The inhabitants of the territories which his
Catholic Majesty cedes to the United States. by
hal he Innn tod in TTn,o IS
the United States, soon as may be consistent
with the principles OF the federal constitution, and
admitted to the enjoyment of all the privileges,
rights, and lmmunitles, OF the citizens OF the Uni
ted States"
Florida has not yet been admitted into the Union
but the treaty was ratified, the cession accepted ac
cording to Its terms, and the people well az the
public authorities, have acquiesced in the contract
tor twenty years, and given 1t the sanction of their
APPRECIATION.
Louisiana and Florida, therefore, are settled
cases. The admission Of one, and the agreement
to admit the other, at proper time, facts are
acts done, and as such must have their full effect
But 1t does not follow that they precedens for
the annexation of Texas. Important differences
are pointed out between the cases In Mr.. Forsyth's
letter. and others might be suggested But il is
enough to say, that what has been DONE on at best
a very questionable right, and in case of strong
and urgent necessity, Is no sufficient warrant for
SIM lar proceeding, in case in which no such ne
cessty exists, and IN which both the right and the
cxpediency may be very properly considered, on
the original and independent grounds belonging to
them.
| am certainly of opinion, with Mr.. Jefferson, Mr.
Madison, Mr.. j. &. Adams, and other eminent men,
that the Constitution never contemplated the adj
mission OF new States, formed out of the Terrific
res OF foreign nations; and while ] admit, that
what has been done IN regard to Louisiana and
Florida must now be considered as legally DONE
yet do not admit the propriety of proceeding
arher and admitting not territory, ceded by
foreign nation, but foreign nation itself, with all
its obligations and treaties, its laws and its institu-
tons, into the number of the States, which com
pose this Union
It is evedent, at least that there must be some
boundary, or some limits to Republic which is 10
have common centre. Free and ardent specua-
tons may lead to the indulgence of an idea, that
such Republic may be extended over whole he
misphere. On the other hand, minds less sanguine,
or mora chastened by the examples of history, may
fear, that extension often produces weakness rather
than strength; and that political attraction, like
other attractions is less and less powerful, as the
ma rte become more and more distant In this "A H.