The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1845-03-18

|
"The climate Of Texas, the most ,outhsrly par.
of which lies within two degrees and a half Of the
tropic is as varied as the productive qualities of the
soil, and is perhaps the WHOLE superior TO that Of
| any other portion of North America. In Texas
proper, 1t Is neither cold in winter nor SO hot in
summer as In the northeastern section Of the United
/ States"
Mr. Jefferson, in writing to Mr.. Monroe, concern
ing this country, in 1890, says
"To us the province of Texas will be the richest
| State OF our Union, without any exception. The
southern part will make sugar than we can con-
sumo, and the Red river its north is the most lux
urlant country on EARTH"
And Mr. Clay, in speech made in the same year,
upon this subject, bears testimony as follows:
All accounts concurred in representing Texas to
| DC extremely valuable. Its superficial extent was
tnree or four times greater than that of Florida
The climate was delicious; the soil fertile the mar
gins OF the rivers abounding in lve.oak and the
country admitting of easy settlement 1t possessed
moreover it he were not misnformed, one of the finest
ports in the Gulf of Mexico The productions OF
which 1t was capable were suitable to our wants
ne would not give Texas for Florida in naked ex-
change
Her free white population number lac, OOO mostly
from the United States besides $4,000 slaves. She
has President, Congress- courts of Justice instu-
tons Of religion and learning, and thirty five organ
zed counties She has, too, charter of freedom,
sealed with the hearts blood of her own gallant sons
AMI witnessed and approved by all the leading pow
ers of christendom.
Let us glance (said Mr.. d. at her political his
tory.
This country, now the subject of so much agita-
uon discussion and contention was discovered by the
french III 1855. II was subsequently ceded 10 SPAIN
and receded to France in 1870. 1t was ceded by
france TO the United States in 1903 and of the
as follows:
The inhabitants of the ceded territory SHALL BE
INCORPORATED INTO THE UNION OF THE UNITED
STATES, and admitted soon as possible, according
to the principle of the Federal Constitution to the
enjoyment OF all the rights advantages and mmun-
es Of citizens of the United States and in the mean
me shall be protected in the free enjoyment of their
hoerty property, and the religion which they profess "
The western boundary of this coded territory was
declared at the time to be the Rio del Norte as evil
dence OF which we have the concurrine testimony of
Mr. Jefferson, Mr.. Pnckney, Mr.. Madison, MIR.
Monroe, Mr.. Adams, General Jackson, and Mr.. Clay.
Mr.. John ". Adams, Secretary of State under the
administration of MIR. Monroe in the summer of
1918, learning that settlements were forming on a
Poron OF TINS territory, and he believed by
authority OF France, or to promote the views or in
teress of that government, sent special agent
mere, with directions to proceed to the Rio Bravo,
(now called the Rio del Norte and TO give warning
10 the settlers that the territory was within the "Ui
Tea S'afes aoho tooud suffer permanent settlement TO
oe dde mere under any other authority than their 0,cn
AND ne was further directed to manifest "the sur
PRISE 'oth rhic the President has seen possession thus
aken a0ttout authority from the United States of a
Place .0a." Their Territorial imis, and upon chch no
a'e|ut settlement can be made Without their sanction.
Mr. u. said he desired to call the attention of the
senate especially to this article in the treaty of 1903
Us also TO the convincing pidence of the fact that Tex
as was after the treaty, regarded belonging to the
United States.
he was thus particular, for the reason that the
Jastlce and morality of favoring annexation in ma
tlonal view, had been seriously questioned He
would endeavor to show to those, who would patient
follow him through the history Of this territory at
whose door lay bad faith and broken covenants.
inns territory wac partially settled in 1903 when
u was ceded to us by France and by reference to
.ne arncie OF the treaty just cited it would be
mat us inhabitants were entitled TO be admitted into
The Canedafsey % coon n tsy should have repre-
sentative population and in tho mean time they were
TO De protected IN the enjoys of eir liberty pro-
p'r TX. - a.s =. -:liese. hey psofsssed
anty and believing they were at no distant day to en-
JOY Its Tuition as reward for the hardshps dangers
and privations of border life continued to occupy
and improve the country and the poor and advenu.
rous from the United States, from tie green hills of
New England, the Empire, the Keystone the young
and fertile West and chvalrous South continued TO
flock to this territory, under the same hope and ex
pectarion, until 1919.
Here (Mr. ID. said) he would pause to make a
point m The morality well the law Of the case
chiefly for the of those who seemed 10 suppose
that the inhabitants OF Texas in desiring admission
into the UnloD and those who were willing to admit
them, were about to commit an act of great national
wrong.
But while they were thus awaiting the happy pc
Rod when they should be fully restored to the inst-
.u.ons o. The land OF their fathers, and enjoy again
the prceiess boon OF American citizens, treaty was
negotiated by Mr.. Adams, and subseque ny perfected
and the territory of Texas with its inhabitants with.
Out tneir knowledge or consent cedcd To Spain |
And TINS the manner in which our brethren in Tex
as have been proected' in the enjoyment of their lib
ery, properly and religion and admitted the prvi-
isges OF The Union transferred, with ,heiI homes
ther families, and all they held dear, to a caprIcous
weak and ferocious despotism- alien in fact and in
name, IN sentiment, in language, in education in |
habit, pursuit and religion.
This (ssid Mr. d. is the history of this territory
and OF tins people, in plain English, which has been
in2en'oosy giozed over for a quarter Of century,
10 conceal the plumbers and the gross Injustice by
which sentence of national ou,awry was attended
10 De enforced And he desired no better argument
10 favor oil the justice, expedency, and importance
oil remuneration, than the fact that every Admins.
rston since It's cession to Spain, had endeavored to
regaln IL al almost any price. But, was this unhal.
Iowec transfer ever binding upon the inbabta Ds of
Texas tie denied that II was II was fraudulent,
and VOID upon those principles OF natural and eternal
justice which were paramount to all human suthori-
~, and which constituted, according to Vat,el, the
foundation Of national law
BY statute OF most Of the States of the Con-
iederacy, no one could alien real estate of which an
other held possession, claiming title. All transfers.
or agreements to transfer, null and void and
the parties to such instruments guilty of high
msdemeanor. Although such rule had no legal ap-
plcation here be would submit that the transfer of
this people to foreign government under the cir
cumstances, was violation OF the spirit OF JUS
tice IN which II was founded in the sight of Heaven
aud an nflction which none but a tame, spiritless
and degraded race would endure.
Nor did the inhabitants of Texas ever for a mo-
ment submit to this bumiating transfer Upon the
publication OF the Spanish treaty. they assembled
he - 49, wv, .-'6