The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1844-08-23
THE TEXAS oUEsTIoN-ITs DEBT.

| sNeSOttWtOHS JU We p"CHo " 1'"o' " '0'''
O. .4danas and Henry Clay in 1925.
"The Texan debt and the interest thereon,
against it becomes due, at fair estimate. will be
about $4,000, ,OOO."-T Ewing's speech.
"She [Texasl has not one acre of unappropriated
| land. d."-Sdne.
Now Mr. Ewing either knew these declarations
to be entirely false, or he knew nothing about II.
| But we cannot suppose him ignorant OF the true
situation of Texas.-The correspondence accom-
panying the treaty shows, that the public lands IN
Texas amount to 2O3, 500 90 acres, of which guam
ty there have been appropriated as appears 1885,
G73 acres-leaYing 1856, ILL., 1927 acres to meet the
patry debt Of ten millions OF dollars. Here are her
means, and her whole debt and it is perfectly ap-
parent to any one that she is able to pay it and have
means in abundance left. All the honest ex-secre-
tary said about her debt is mere slang and none
sense, not entitled to moments consideration in
settling the question of annexation.
Mr.. Clay's view Of the treaty of 1891, that Tex
as was ours in spite of the treaty provisions, was
more in keeping with the characteristic boldness
of the man than with the GOODNESS of the statesman.
Our title to it was then clearly relnquished, and
the mere fact that we claimed this territory is
no good argument why we should now have it
Yet in considering this subject, the opinions ad-
vanced while the claim was urged are of interest
and importance AS such we have before referred
TO them. We shall now speak ofthe negotiations
entered into to recover this territory. II there be
"crime" in the project to annex Texas to the Uni
| ba an nod N n
mixed mass of "evl'' to our country, as Mr. Ew-
ing charged, it is well that the people should know
the whole history of its conception But, in
sounding the tocsin of Texas alarm, Mr.. Ewing
is as silent as the grave about negotiations prior to
1887; yet surely if the history of this business be
faithfully gwen, the agency of other administra-
tions in it should not be overlooked. More .gpe
cIally as this very alarm is soGlGed by those who
hold up az the embodiment" of their principles
man Sc intimately connected with the plan of an
nexing Texas to the Union as Mr.. Clay. Before
proceeding to this negotiation, we will aude to an
interesting incident to show the then existing feel
ings of John Q. Adams s--president-with respect
to Texas. In 1922, Mr.. Adams was charged by
Gov Floyd of Virginia. with having sacrificed the
interests of the south in renquishing Texas to
Spain in the treaty of1Sl9 This charge was re-
peated by Col. Benton in 1880, in the memorable
debate on Mr.. Foot's resolutions Mr.. Holmes,
who was one of the committee on fo eign relations
in 1920, then repelled this charge as follows
"I do know that the distinguished citizen (Mr.
Adams) was the last who gave up the Colorado for
boundary, and accepted Of the Sabine"
Mr.. Smith, of Maryland, said in the same debate
that
GA quarrel had taken place between the gentle
man alluded to Mr.. Adams) and Don Onis, the
minister the part off Spain, and they had separa-
ted not to meet again on the subject; that the quar-
rel had arose as he was informed and believed on
the determination of the American negotiator that
the Colorado must and should be the boundary line
that the negotators met again at the request Of mu
tual friends; what passed afterwards he did not
know, further than that he could assure the Sena-
tor from Missouri that the gentleman alluded to by
him was no; the first to recede to the Sabine as the
boundary line."
When the tenacity with which Mr.. Adams was
disposed to hold on to Texas is considered, and
also the bodness with which Mr. Clay opposed the
ratification of the treaty of lsl9 it is not surprising
that both should, when in power, desire to regain
this territory. But the power that held Texas was
now not Spain, but Mexico. The war OF reyolu-
tion in the latter country, had been going on for
years, with varying success. In 1921 Mexico
adopted regular government, and her statesmen
claimed for her virtual independence. On the 9Th |
ofMarch, 1922, President Monroe recommended |
to congress the establishment of political relations
with the late Spanish colonies of North America.
The right, then, of Mexico to the territory of Tex
as was based on the same foundation as our own
right to treat in 17s3 the right of Texas itself to
treat now, viz: on the foundation of successful re-
sstance. It was while Mexico was at war with
Spain, and in the face and eyes of an official re-
monstrance by the latter, that Mr.. Adams and Mr.
Clay negotiated with the former for Texas
j. Q, Adams administration commenced March
4, 1924, and Mr.. Poinset, who had been sent to