The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1844-08-30

Inc Hon. Wiii1qm WtihtHS, oil Pittsburgh, at
present Secretary of War, states, ina recent pub
lcation, that, in his opinion the annexation OF Tex
as would create an annual demand for one hundred
steamboats, more than those at present required
Look at the noble streams within the republic, and
then reflect upon the almost inconceivabe impulse
given to trade, and you will conclude with me'that
the estimate of the learned Judge is rather under
than over the true number.
If NOT ANNEXED TO THE UNITED
STATES, TEXAS WILL FORM CON-
NECTiONS WITH GREAT BRITAIN, AT
WAR WITH THE INTERESTS AND
SAFETY OF OUR UNION.
The willy diplomatists of EngIandhave been long
engaged in efforts TO secure the confidence ard
friendship of the Young Republic They have
offered to loan her money, and make pretensons
to be her only true friends British emissaries have
been sent there to alienate the Texans from the
United States, and to induce them to take shelter
under the flag of England. Does any one doubt
this' Let the past testify What did that haugh-
ty tyrant do when we sought to obtain our Just ter
itory--the land which now forms Alabama and
Missis,ippi' Let Mr.. Clay answer;
HENRY CLAY SAYS THAT ENGLAND
SENT EMlSSARIES TO INTERFERE IN
THE AFFAIRS OF THE UNITED STATES.
In Mr. Clay'S speech, delivered in the Senate,
December 25, 1910, in referring to the danger of
Great Britain seizing territory, which now
forms Alabama and Mississippi, he proceeds to say
[See Greeiey's Life and Speeches of Mr.. Clay,
Vol. Up. II
'Are you prepared to see a foreign power
seize what belongs to us: have heard In the most
credible manner that, about the period when the
President too. his measures in relation to that coun-
try, agents Of foreign pO,cer [Englandl ,ccre IN
trisueiag rih The people there to mfuce them to
come u0,der has dominion"
Can any American inquire why Great Britain
desires to gain possession of Texas' If there be
any such, | ask him why did England seize upon
her East India colonies? Why has she done vio-
lence to the feelings of united Chrstendom, in
bathing in blood the streets Of the commercial en-
porium of China; Why has she hunted down,
with ball and sword, the miserable natives of AZ
ghanistan? Why has she extended her expressions
to the distant south Pacific, and there, in spite of
all national law, seized upon Islands merely because
they were too weak TO oppose force TO force: Why
do the patriot sons Of Erin now groan in the cells
other penitenhates? Why does she attempt TO
rob us of Orcgon' Why does she aim at fching
Cuba from Spain' In brief, why does naughty
England strlve'to grasp in her bloody hand every
defenceless spot of earth upon which the sun in
his course sheds his benignant rays' ShejsprOmpt-
eddy the lore ofplunder and of conquest
England will succeed in her designs upon Tex
as, if that Republic is not taken under the shelter
of the American Eagle. What does the great
Jackson, say upon this pont' Read the language
he used on the llth of March, ls4l
''The present golden moment TO obtain Texas
must not be lost, or Texas must, from necessity,
be thrown into the arms Of England, and be forev-
er lost to the United States.''
Again, on the 18th of May, 1874, the old man of
more than three score and ten, speaks thus:
s'It may now be stated as fact. on which we
may rely with the greatest confidence. that ifTex-
as be not speedily admitted iuto our confederacy,
she must and will be inevitably driven into allan
ces and commercial regulations with the European
powers, ofa character highly injurious, and prob
ably hostile to this country. What would then be
our conditions? New Orleans and the whole valley
of the Mississippi would probably be endangered.
The numerous herds of savages within the limits Of
Texas, and on her borders would be easily excited
to make war upon our defenceless frontier do
not deem it necessary to be more explicit here in
the enumeration Of the reasons which justify, to
my mind, the speedy annexation Of Texas to the
United States. My aim is to give this country
the strength to resist foreign interference. With
out Texas, we shall not have this strength. She
is the key to our safety in the Southwest and West
She offers this key TO us on fair and honorable
terms. Let US take it, and lock the door against
future danger"
Remember, the above is the language of In
dre,c .JackS0n.
Texas presents to the eye of Great Britain the |
richest attainable prize the world affords. She
knows that with the possession other territory, she
has the western and south western sections Of our
confederacy in her power--shc sees that her soil
is capable of producing almost if not quite enough
of cotton TO supply her manufactures, for which
she could pay in the fabrics Of her own workshops
Look at it. England admits Texas cotton into
her ports free Of duty, upon condition that Texas
receives English manufactures on the same terms.
What then becomes Of the great cotton growing
interest of our own country? Our planters can
not maintain competition with those of Texas,
because England places high tax upon United
States cotton, and lets the Texan article pass free
Of duty. Break down our planters, and what be-
comes of the Southern market for our farmers and
our manufacturegs-fo for the planter cannot buy un-
less he can also SELL What, also, becomes of our
Eastern manufacturers, in another respect? Their
fabrics must pay high tariff before admitted into
Texas, whist those of Great Britain pay nothing.
The inevitable effect would be- the exclusion of all
our domestic manufactures. Such treaty is not
mere suPposition. II is destined 10 be establish