The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1845-06-23

all the beautiful financial and industrial schemes
without which England can no longer successfully
compete in manufactures and commerce with her
neghbors II would retard her progress for fifty
years and in the ratio, adrancs the prosperity
Of rival nations; and it might possibly lead civil
revolution of her government All these conse-
quences Of war with America, England will not
risk, unless urged by the most serious considera-
tons. An alternative must present itself, in which
the continuation OF peace is as Immediately danger
Gus TO her permanent interests as actual war; and
such an alternative has not vet arrived
But while England is obliged 10 avoid an open
war with the United States, she will be doubly &c,
tive, by her diplomacy and her press, to iniure us
in our negotiations with Mexico and Texas and to
degrade us in the eyes Of the civilized world And
permit me here TO tell you, not as a partisan, but
simply as an American, that the annexation of
Texas has, for the United States, become point of
honor. The question Of armed interference is en-
tirely given up in Europe--since it is known that
France will not make common cause with England
In that matter, however oficious Mr.. Saligny may
have been as French charge d'affailes in Texas. IT.
therefore, the United States do not annex Texas it
Will be put down to our weakness, and will Sc
rously lnjure us in all our other negotiations. The
reasons which General Jackson has urged for the
immediate annexation are unanswerable. They are
those of a statesman, political economist and a
soldier. But there are diplomatic reasons almost
equally, if not more, urging the completion of that
measure Nothing has of late raised our national
character abroad so much the fact that in the
midst of the threats Of British statesmen and public
writers, and despite the public opinion of England,
the American Congress annexed Texas, and threw
down the gauntlet to Great Britain or to Great
Britain and France combined! From that moment
the press of Europe became silent on that subject
and treated the matter as tat acconapi ian ac-
complished fac) in history and diplomacy Eng
land ceased openly to oppose it, not to render her
self an object of rdlcue, and affected to consent to
tUh N OH M No.
gave increased standing to all diplomatic agents
abroad; but, for this very reason, failure Of the
measure no,c, would cover us with disgrace in the
eyes Of the world.
Again: | would observe that the annexation of
Texas IS most conservative measure though it may
not appear so to northern statesmen Here in Eu-
rope, this matter is much better understood; because
here, America is looked upon unit, and not MS
divided by different sectional interests. Here in
the first mart Of the world, people know that, with
out cotton, the United States would make but sor-
ny figure as participant in commerce. Here, il is
perfectly well understood that the cotton production
not only furnishes by far the greatest portion Of the
trading capital of America, but Also on account of
its great bulk, principal alment of navigation.
And it is equally well comprehended, that il the
northern and northeastern States of the Union ever
succeed In manufacturing cotton cheaper than in
England, the great cause of the phenomenon will be
found in the production of the raw material at home
which, in time must enable the northern States to
fix the price oft. America is invulnerabe as long
as she possesses the monopoly of cotton; and one Of
the chief means of securing to her this monopoly is
the annexation of Texas. If Sidney Smith was
right in saying that the mission of the Anglo-Saxon
race is the manufacture of cacoes, it is equally true
that the mission of the Anglo-Americans consists in
cotton-panting, and that the Anglo-Saxons cannot
fulfil their mission without the Anglo Americans.
Again: if Texas be annexed, all other questions
in dispute sink at once into insgnifcance. England,
though not at all prepared for with America,
may certainly be supposed to be more tempted by
Texas and Oregon, than by Oregon alone. In Tex
as she opposes an immediate, in Oregon only pro-
spective evil Texas is to England vital question,
and all her public writers have treated it such;
while they (and especially the organs of Sir Robert
Peel-the Standard and Herald) openly avow that
Oregon possesses no value either to the United
States or England; and that, in negotiating for it,
England has only view to her national honor. If
peace is really object with the opponents of the
annexation of Texas in the United States, let them
look upon the matter calmly and dspassonately,
and they will see that the annexation is the most
powerful peace-measure they can propose, because
it takes away the only motive of war with Eng
land.
England has worked hard for reputation for
honesty ever since the re-establishment Of peace.
She has put forward so many declarations of good
faith and Christian intentions, to invite public at
tention to her proceeding. Her great abolition
scheme, followed as il was by the introduction Of
m
iury-as. indeed, the retaining of the great monopo
lies by the surrender of the small ones. All these
things, taken together, command England to be
cautious, and not to wage war for interested mo-
tives. England, as great commercial nation, must
sacrifice everything to her public credit and
retain that credit without faith. England has ac-
knowledged the independence of Texas, and cannot,
therefore, oppose annexation if the Texans are will
ling to be annexed She has no reasonable ground
to quarrel with that point; but she may quar-
rel osensbly about Oregon, and, in her heart, look
upon Texas the sufficient cause of that quarrel.
As regards the diplomatic notes of Seiior Cueyas
addressed to Governor Shannon, they fell, as every
reasonable must have expected, stll-born from the
European press. There is neither public nor d.
plomatic sympathy for Mexico and even the conser-
patipe journals of France blame the French charge
to Texas for his official interference in matter Sin
which the interests of France are by means COM
mitted." The English press alluded but in few
words the matter; and concluded that, afier all,
Mexico seemed 10 be determined to do all in her
po,cer to oppose annexation" Further than that,
the comments of the press did not go; and the firm
quotations of stocks, and the great business done in
railroad shares at very advanced prices show that
there is sympathy for that antediluvian empire;
and that the cotton interest is, as yet the strongest
of all in Great Britain.
refrain in this, my Introductory letter, from
further comment on this apparently perplexed, but
yet exceedingly simple, question of annexation. /
will in my next letter, (should you deem this
worthy of being published enlarge on the policy of
Europe generally, and on the social position of her
people may possibly take trip to Paris, and in
troduce you to the Chambers; and it is not unlikely
that / may claim an acquaintance with the Emperor
of all the Russias. And shall have special care
to ascertain, in all these places, the feelings Of the
people, and the men in power, regards the United
States;-for what, after all, can be more interesting
than to learn what foreign nations think of us, and
what standing we occupy in the eyes of the world
Yet must we not overrate the influence Of Europe.
hope to be able TO show you that we have taken
stride in advance of England and the continental
powers, so that the people Of Europe rather des-
tined receive impressions from America, than that
we should look for enlightenment to the nations of
the old world. We may consult their libraries; but
they will, in time, have to adopt our principles.
PHlLOPAX.
LONDON June 9, lS45.
The Hiberna is in since last Saturday night; and
the news is quite refreshing to English ears They
talk here about war; as religious men do about the
davu NAV eventually have MI the claims