The Evansville journal. (Evansville, Ind.) 1834-184?, 1844-09-12
NO.3o
From tie Tuscambia NORTH Alabaasiaa.

ANOTHER LETTER FORM Mr.. CLAY
We are indebted 10 our worthy friend John
NJ. Jackson. ESQ, OF Moglton. Tor The subioined
very inter es.ing letter from Mr.. Clay, which
has been handed US for publication. II was
drawn from him in reply 10 a letter written him
by Mr.. Jackson and r. NJ. Peters, Esq;s touch
ing certain matters connected with The annexe-
ton question.
AsnLArD, 9Th july, 1874.
Gentleman I'll have received your ~favorin-
forming me that my vie ws. as disclosed IN my
letter nom RaItigh on the question of the an
nexation OF Texas are misconceIved. II not mis-
represented in your quarter; and that il is snp-
posed have changed my opinion frum what il
was in 1919. endeavored 10 express myself IN
that letter as explicitly as ! could, and do nor
think now ihaIit can be fairly misinierpretei.
In 1919, when ! addressedthe Hause of Repre-
ssniatives, The Executive had negotiated the
Treaty with Spain, by which Texas was ce3ed
10 that power. but Congress had not then given
any sanctionto the cessiou. i believe now as !
thought then. that the Treatg-Rakina power is.
not rofnpetent.w without the conc urrence OF Con-
gFess 10 cede wsy any Territory belonging 20
the United Statrs But Congress, by repeated
acts, subsequently manllestedIls appreciation
OF. ihe treaty ;alld these facts rendered il as valid
and obligatory upon the United States as il Con-
grsss had gwen lis assent. prior TO the cencin-
sion of The treaty. Atihai period OF 1879, Tex
as as claimed by us. was nnpsopled. No hos-
tile iIicufsions had been made INFO it by citizena
of the United States. In 1925 and 1877. there
were but few inhabitants Of Texas, consisting
of some c~olonis.s, plontd there unjer the autbor-
.ity OF Mexico, At neither OF The three periods
above mentioned bad any State or. section, in
ibis Union, manilesfed any opposition 10 Texas
composing a part Off. IL has been said that
AIR. Adams administration offered 10 reRocipte
with Mexico Tor Texas. Notwithstanding the ex-
istence OF q wal between Spain and Meaico,and-
that 1t could not therefore have believed thai
the acquisition of Texas, at that time, would
have involved the United States in war with
Spain. Hence it is argued that The ratification
Of the late frentys could not have compounded
our pecce.
MFsAdams thoughtit desirable obtain Texas.
Two foreign powers claimed il Mexico was
in possession. and Spain was doing nothing 10
assert and enforce her claim. Her representatives,
had even gone so far as to stipuiate, BY q corr
Iyenion, 10 acknoxisdge the Independence o.
Mexies plhengirihat eonyentien was not rasif-
ed by Spain
/ DIR. Adams had a right TO authorize the neeo-
tiuyon Of a treaty Tor the acquisition of Texus
with both orseather az the powers claiming it,
It as natural that he should begin with taat
pow or which had The possession Of Texas Spain
had intsrposed no obsIacls. She made. no de-
that she would regard the acquisition
OF Texus asanaact of war. In point Of fact ne
overture was formally made 20 Mexico 10 pur=
chase Fsxas,no Hegotlation was opened, no trca-
~ WIS opened, no treaty was Concluded If q
EuegoIation had commencedssorif a treaty had
been signed, and Spain had protested, the PFu,
dent aud cautious policy which characterized
MIR. Adams adrninissration. would undoubtedly
have prompted him TO quiet Spain, and accomo.
date hi mattel nregious 10 the annexation CT
Itheal in q wsr with SPAN. How totally dTIferF
emf are all the circumstances, Under sTh Ieh. with
mr.. Adams' a authority. l authorized the oyesrs~1
to Mexico, from those which attended the re-.
ceut.treaty OF MIR. Tyler! So far from Mexico
being silent, she repeatedly aud solernnly decisT-
ed thatshe would consider annexation as war
with her. Texas was no longer an unlnhabitea
country. Ii had been wTestad from the domiH~
of Mexico by citizens, many of whom went
armed from The United States. The war between
| Mexico and Texas had net been terminated BY
| any treaty oil Peace. Mr-Tyler not ouiy Old
not consult Wexice, but he announced that her
assent 10 the annexation was altogether unue-
cessary. And he proceeded 10 conclude q treaty
embracing a large extent OF, territory and Q nu-
merous populancH, not comPrehenoed in the
Taxas winch The United States csded 10 Spain
ia 1919.
In The mean lime TOO. a powerful opposition
had arisen in the United States against the an
nexatton OF Texas to them. Several States had
GeclaEsd, through their Legislature against il, 4
Iothers il not whole sections OF the Union, were
believed 10 be adverse 10 it. This was the OPP
position TO the measure, 10 which in my Raleigh
letter. l alluded. when | spoke OF q ''consideTs.
BILE aud respectable portion of the ccNFEDERAcT."
| did not refer to persons but TO StaIes OF sec
tons.
Under such circums;a1ees,l could not but re-
gard the anne xalion of Texas at this time, com,
promiting the honor of my-country, involving II
in a war, in which The sympathies Tall chFis.
TENDON, would be against US, aud endangerlng
the Integrity Of tue Union. | thought then, ana
still believe, that national dishonor, foreign war.
and distraction and division at home were TOO
f great sacrifices 10 make for the acquisition Of
Texas.
But, gentlemen you ar DESTROYS o~fknowingb by
what policy would be guided. in the event OF
z my election as Chief Magistrate of the Unitec
States in reference TO the gu estion OF the annex
/ tatlon of Texas. / do not think { TighE TO an
nuunce in advance, what will be the coniso OF
{ flu ure administration i'll respect to q question
! with a Foreign power. have, however. no hes
4 nation in saying that, far from having any per
soual objection TO The annexation OF Texas. !
g shauid be elna4o sec itwithout dishonor with.
out war. with the common consent OF III uniol
!. and upon Iust and tnir erins do not think tina
y the. subject of slavery ought to stfse; the cues
, tlon, one way az tho other. Whether Texas bt
IndepenSeot orfncorporated in the United States
| do not believe will proiong or shorten the du
s ration Of that institution. II is destined TO be
1 come extinct, al some distant day, in my opiTs
ion. by the operation OF the inevitable laws o
population. 1t would be unwiss to refuse a per
q, mauent ACC %uisitiou, which will exist as long q
the globe remains on account OF q tsufcfas
+ institution.
I In the contingency Of my election, to whic
r you have advefted, il the affair of acquiring Tea
q as should be governed by the state of tscts aa
] tue state of public opioniou existing at the tim
r [ might be called upon TO act. Above ALL
. should be governed by the paramount duty {
preserving this Union entire, and in harmoa,
. regarding il as j do as TIE great guaranty of es
cry political and public blessing, under Prov
o dance which as a Tree people. We are perHiiste
/. TO eaioy.
. | am, gentlemen respectfully.
Your obedIenI aervant,
ii. CLAY.
= n4a.s.a TLc. NJ Paters