The Charlotte journal. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1835-1851, 1844-09-13
A Letter from HEr. CLAW.
From the Baltimore American.

:
!, the North Albanian Of the 10th ultim,
1t will be found 10 be explicit and full O
the subject of the annexation of Texas
, subject upon which Mr.. Clay had pre-
yiously declared himself with clearnes
! and emphasis which seemed to require n
. further calculation.
The references in the letter 10 the de
bates of 1919 and 10 the negotiations O
1897, in relation TO Texas, will show tn,
difference between the question now rails
ed and the one which engaged the atten.
ton OF The Government then. Mr.. Clay's
course on those occasions as at presen,
was open, direct and patriotic:
ASHLAND, 9th July, 1874.
! GENTLEMEN: have received YOUR ia.
vor informing me that my views, as dis.
closed IN my letter from Raleigh, on the
question of The Annexation Of Texas, are
misconceived, ifnot misrepresented in your
quarter and that II is supposed that have
changed my opinion from what it was in
1919. | endeavored TO express myself in
that letter as explicitly as could, and |
do not think nov that it can be fairly
misinierpreted.
In 1919, when addressed the House oil
Representatives, the Executive had nepo.
hated the treaty with Spain, By which
Texas was ceded TO that power, but Con-
gress had not then given any sanction TO
the cesslon, believe now, and thought
then, that the treaty.makiug power is not
competent, without the concurrence of
Congress, TO cede away any Territory lie.
longing 10 the I. States. But Congress,
by repeated acts, subsequently manifested
lis appreciation Of The treaty; aud these
acts rendered II as valid and obligatory
upon the L. States, as if Congress had
gwen ITS assent, prior 10 The conclusion Of
the treaty. Al that period Of 1919, Tex
as, as c!nlmed by US, was un.peopled. No
hostile incursions had been made into il
BY citizens of the United States. Inl625
and 1897, there were bu, few inhabitants
OF Texas, consisting Of some colonists,
i
r-", '"e Deoer the authority Of Next
a - ,'Her of the three periods above
,.'e"''o"eo Jug any State or section in this
: - n'a"''es!ed any opposition TO Texas
~ mps %part Of it. 1t had been said
NAV - !, aams' administration offered to
e"s'o, with Mexico for Texas, notwiih.
s1g the existence Of war between
1peh and Mexico, and that it could not
therefore have believed tina, The acouisi.
lion Of Texas, at that time, would have in.
volved the United States in war with
Spain. Hence i! is argued that the ratifi.
cation of the late treaty could not have
compromised our peace.
Mr.. Adams thought it desirable 10 OBJ.
tain Texas. Two foreign powers clairaed
1t. Mexico was IN possession, aud Spain
was doing nothing TO assert and enforce
her claim. Her representative had even
gons 80 far as 10 stIpulate, IN convention,
10 acknowledge The Independence Of Mex.
leo, although tina, convention was moi rat
flied by Spain.
Mr.. Adams had right to authorize the
negotiation Of treaty for the acquisition
of Texas with both or either Of the powers
claiming it. 1t was natural tina, he should
begin with that power which had the pos.
session Of Texas. Spain had in.erposed
no obstacle. She had made no declara.
lion that she would regard the acquisition
Of Tcxns as an act Of war. In point OF
fact, no overture was formally made to
Mexico to purchase Texas, no negotiation
was opened, no treaty was concluded. If
a negotiation had commenced, or if trea-
ty had been signed, and Spain had pro-
tested, the prudent and cautious policy
which Characterised Mr. Adams admins
tralion, would undoubtedly have prompted
him to quiet Spain, and accommodate the
matter, previous to the annexation Of Tex.
al to Inc United States, and without plunp.
ing them in war with Spain. How totally
different are all the circumstances under
which, with Mr.. Adams authority, an.
lhorised :he overture 10 Mexico, from
those which attended the recent treaty OF
Mr.. Tyler So far from Mexico being
silent, she repeatedly and solemny declar-
ed that she would consider annexation as
war with her Texas was no longer an
uninhabited country. II bad been wrest.
ed from the dominion Of Mexico by citi.
zens, many Of whom went armed from the
United States. The war between Mexi.
co and Texas had not been terminated BY
any treaty Of Peace. Mr.. Tyler not on.
" did not consult Mexico, but he announc.
ed that her assent to the annexation was
altogether unnecessary. And he proceed.
ed to conclude a treaty, embracing large
extent of Territory, and hume rous popu.
laron, not comprehended in the Texas
which the United States ceded 10 Spain
10 1919.
Ia the mean time too, powerful oppo.
s'ron had arisen in the United Sales a.
gaInst the annexation Of Texas to them
Several States had declared, through their
Legislatures, against il, and others, If mol
whole sections Of the Union, were beliey.
cd to be adverse to it. This was the on.
position 10 the measure, to which, in nv