Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1845-04-04
VIEWS OF ANNEXATION.

ever, re-pubish the letter. anu suploih d very
few comments Of cur own
"The state of the Annexation question IS now
very critical and interesting. We have heard
,brouob fbe Texan press, the voice OF some O
The GREAT men of Texas. But we have not ye
heard The voice of the people. Human nature Is
much The same both sides OF the SABINE. Inc
great men and the presses, ana much OF ihe ID
lent and wealth 0! this country are generally ar
rayed, as il by instinct against Inc feelings OPP
Mons and interests OF The people,
"The public men Of Texas viii not be quite Sc
great, when that nation shall necohe merged u
The Union. Their Congress VIII become ioca
LEGISLATURE their President mere Governor, ant
she will have no more embassies 10 send abroad
Attempts are vain, however, to arrav the nationa
pride of The people against their ahnity 10 ant
love for The American Union.
"The same local feelings and interests. ant
the same personal ambition, which now operate
agains, Annexation in Texas had we'll nigh pre-
vented The adoption Of the Federal Constitution
and have. in some instances, threatened lis exist
ence since
"Thc President OF Texas is opposed 10 Annex
alton upon any terms DR.. Ashbel Smith now
Secretary OF State, and late Minister TO LONDON
was indoctrinated in the same policy while ABROAD
and when in this CITY, on his return, declared ms
hostility TO the measure. Hence, we may ac
coun, for the tone of The Government organ o
Texas (he "Regis,er') on ibis snhjeci.
aNine.,enths Of the voters OF Texas are still III
favor Of Annexation upon any just and reasona
Bile terms-upon the best terms that The friends 81
Texas were able 10 get Tor the present Still. the
Jealous and perseverng hostility OF The few may
effect much.
aThe hes, opinion is-and have consulted the
hos, informed on the suhlecl-,hat President
Jones will be compelled, BY public opinion, lo
summon Congress in special session, and submit
10 them the propositions OF our Government
"If, the Congress do not authorize annexation
on The terms of the original Joint Resolutions, as
they passed our House Of Representatives, they
then can indicate the terms 10 which they Will as
sent. and these will be made the basis OF Treaty
or of Articles Of Annexation, according TO The
proviso of our Act.
Now as 10 these terms, there arc many things
10 be considered hy both parties.
"rhe terms OF the Joint resolutions are consi
dcred hard and humiliatng 10 Texas. But still i
must be remembered, that they We're the only
terms which we could get from The late Congress
and ,hatthe moment Texas shall become State
she will be treated with the same Kindness and in
diligence that we have ever extended 10 new
States. The whole history Of our Legislation is
full OF instances of profuse libcrality 10 new
States. They have always got all that they ASK
ed, and even more. Ii we are TO be thrown back
upon Treaty again il will be an uphill bust
ness The best chance for a speedy and salts
factory accomplishment Of the measure, 50 much
desired by the people Of both countries, Is by The
acceptance OF the terms of the Join, resolution
"There are Two points upon which Texas may
verv properly disagree 10 those terms, and, in re-
card 10 them. our Government WILL no doubt, be
disposed 10 meet The views OF Texas, by lesisla-
ton. viz We take from Texas one Of hermann
sources of reveEue-the cus,ons-whcb are
pledged for the payment OF her debts, and leave
her creditors without redress. This would be
discreditable 10 Texas, and 10 the whole Union Of
which she would form part. II may be SAID,
that all the original States Of the Union gave up
to the General Government their RICH, 10 impose
dulles, &C., but, in consequence OF that conces-
sion, the State deb:s were assumed, and paid BY
the General Government With the same pro-
prieiy therefore, we may assume the debt OF
Texan independence II may be said that we
leave 10 Texas her lands, from the proceeds ol
which she may pay her debts, and have surplus
Blu. This will depend upon The boundaries which
we NAV assign 10 Texas, and which are TO be the
subject of negotiation with Mexico. II Texas is
TO be restricted within the narrow limits which
some have assigned 10 her, she will have but a
small and inScflicienta domain lett
"The question of boundary is OF itself one OF
vital interest to Texas, and she will not be salts
fed with any boundary short OF that OF the Rio
Grande.
"Thus much as 10 the objections which Teya'
NAV urge to the terms Of the Joint Resolutions
Now, as TO our own objections 10 ihem,--anC
here will undertake 10 say. tina, the terms Q
these resolutions. so far as the Union is concern
,,tino 81 In nd rI ar1n in
consistent with The constitutional rights and Gu
tics Of the General Government. We canno
give up TO Texas the control Of her public do
main. II would be as great an anomaly as Il
give her The power 10 declare war and involve
The Union in it, Much OF that domain is il
possession OF the native tribes, and if we lei
The management OF the domain 10 Texas w
might become embroed in expensive war.
with those tribes Treaties are also TO be made
with the Indians for the ex,ingRishment OF lhei
title, their removal, &c. The expenses attend
ing the management Of the land system have
been found 10 he very sreat-and, taking The
whole period Of the duration OF or Government
have amounted TO nearly as much rs The receipts
from their sale.
"Asain, Texas pressed for money to pay ih'
interest of her debt may be induced, and wcul,
be no doubt 10 nndersell our Louisiana anC
Florida lands The Government of the Une'
States has fixed upon one dollar and twenty-five
cents as the minimum price Of their lands, an'
how would il do 10 allow Texas, as State, TO un
dersell usl
"This being the state Of The matter, neither PAR
" will agree, finally AMI permanently, TO III
terms proposed. We mus, take the control ant
possession lthe Lands u Texas, and, as an equi
vaent Tor them, and for lie deprivation Of Texa
from other sources Of revenue, We must pay he
debts; or, what is he same thing, if the word as
sumption is more odious in our estimation thar
that Of reputation, lei us allow her a fair aDt
adequate consideration for her lands.
such terms would satisfy the Texan people
and would be approved by ours. They can an'
mast be carried into effect no matter upon wha
nominal Terms Texas may be annexed
'Shoud Texas agree 10 take the Joint Resolu
lions, ard trust, as she might implicitly do, 10 iu
ture legislation 10 remedy their defects, the worl
will be accomplished.
"But there is still another and almost equally
easy mode Of attaining the object: Let the Tex
an Congress suggest The conditions upon which
she will accept the Joint Resolutions, as article
OF annexation, and lei our Congress assent L
those conditions, and the work will then be com
plete.
in no other way will annexation he broush
about for wears The rroviso Of Mr.. Benton j.
too complicated, and will subject The whole ar
rangemeDl 10 tedious delays, il not 10 insuperab'
difficulties
"When Mr.. Calhoun's Instructions shall b
made pablo, ii will he found, presume, that h,
relies on some sach mode as have suggested
and not upon the appointment OF Commissioner
10 treat with Texas.
COMMENTS.
The above letter assigns very strong reasons
why the United States should have The power L
dispose Of The public lands Of Texas. prevents
an undue competition in the market between Tex
as and the United States-and il moreover make.
better arrangement about these lands wheneve
new States are TO be carved out ofTexas. II pro
vides also better mode for negotiating with lht
Indians, and managing The various tribes which
are scattered through that region. Should Texa!
transfer her lands 10 US, rather than retain then
herself, (and take the chance of having some fu
,ule surplus for her own domestic purposes, anC
she will transfer them upon condition that We iunt
her debts, and pay them OFF as fast as we sell thu