Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1845-03-07

- merge her sovereignty, as Separate anu '"ce
dent state, in ours. congratulate my country
~. bv an act of the late Congress OF the United
49,. the assent of this government has been CIV
- the reunion; and it only remains for the Two
..,,o,ies TO agree upon the terms, to consu'nia'e
- object 80 important to both.
regard the question Of annexation as belonging
.,.lusively to the Uuited-states and Texas
49, are independent powers, competent 10 con-
My md foreign nations have no right to interfere
- ,h.rn or to take exceptions to their reunion.
w &c movers do not seem to appreciate the true
t"..st.r Of our government. Our Union is = con-
eI.,.tou of Independent states whose policy is
49,. ~. ,yith each other and all the world. TO en-
Il. limits, is to extend the dominion Of peace
~" .aI;,;onal territories and increasing millions.
~. rvord has nothing to fear from military ambi.
~ -! :, orr government. While the chief magis-
w." and the popular branch of Congress are cleo
VI fr short terms by the suferages of those mill
Eoos who must. in their own persons, bear all the
n,rlens and miseries of war; our government cam
~ he otherwise than pacific. Foreign powers
.Sorld therefore, look on the annexation Of Texas
~ the United-states. not the conquest of a ma
ton seeking to extend her dominlons by arms and
";oIpnce but as the peaceful acquisition of terri
,,,v once her own, by adding another member to
.rr confe liberation, with the consent of that men,
b.,-thereby diminishing the chances of war, and
...,irg to them new aud ever-ncreastng markets
for their products
70 Texas the reunion is important, because the
,,,oag protecting arm of our government would
:. .yteuded over her, and the vast resources of
h., fertile soil and genial climate would be sI1eedi-
J., 5a,eIoped while the safety of New Orleans
and of our whole southwestern frontier against hos
t;s aggression, as we'll as the interests of the
whole Union, would be promoted by it.
"A the earlier stages of our national existence
N. opinion prevailed with some, that our system
Iconfederated states could not operate successful
over an extended territory, and serious elections
have at different times been made to the enlarge
nent Of our boundaries. These objections were
.,rnestly urged when we acquired Louisiana. Ex-
nprcnce has shown that they were not well foun-
iJ. The title Of numerous Indian tribes to vast
tracts of country has been extinguish2d. New
dates have hcen admitted into the Union; new ter
rtories have been created, and our jurisdiction and
laws extended over them. AS our population has
,,panded, the Union has been cemented and
arenghencd; as our boundaries have been cnlar-
qed and agricultural population has been spread
over large surface, our fcderative system has ac-
ouired additional strength and security. 1t may
we'll be doubted whether it would not be in greater
danger of overthrow if our present population
were confined to the comparatively narrow limits
Of the original thirteen states, than it is, now that
they are sparsely settled more expanded ter
u.orV 1t is confidently believed that our system
may be safely extended to the utmost bounds OF
our territorial limits; and that it shall be extern
led the bonds of our Union, so far from being
weakened, will become stronger.
None can fail TO see the danger to our safety and
future peace, if Texas remains an independent
state, Or becomes all ally or dependency of some
foreign nation more powerful than herself Is there
one among our citizens who would not prefer per-
pe,ua peace with Texas, to occasional wars, which
70 often occur between bordering independent ma
tons1 Is there one who would not prefer free
intercourse with her, to high duties ON all our pro.
ducts and manufactures which enter her ports OF
cross her frontiers Is there one who would not
prefer an unrestricted communication with her cit,
liens. to the frontier distractions which must oc-
curl she remains out of the Union? Whatever
is good or evil in the local institutions of Texas
will remain her own, whether annexed to the Uni
tedstatcs or not. None of tile present states viii
be Irresponsible for them.any more than they are fo
the local institutions of each other. They have
confederated together for certain specified objects
Upon the same principle that they would refuse te
u
local Institutions, Our forcfatfers would have beer
prevented from forming our present union. Per
teivng no valid objection to the measure ant
many reasons for its adoption, vitality affecting TIL
peace, the safety, and the prosperity Of hotl
countries, shall, the broad principle which
formed the basis and produced the adoption of on
constitution, and not in any narrow spirit of sec
honal policy, endcavor, by all constitutional hon
OrahIe, and appropriate MEANS to consummate tn
expressed will Of the people and government c
the United-states, by the remuneration of Texa
10 our Union at the earliest practicable period.
Nor will 1t become in a less degree nv duty t
assert and maintain, by all constitutional means
the right of the Untcd-states to that portion
cur territory which lies beyond the Rocky mou,
'aIns. Our title to the country of the Oregon
-elear and unquestionable :" and already are OF
people preparing to perfect that title, by occuP,
ing it with their wives and children. But eight
year ago, our population was confined on the we
~ the ridge Of the AIleghani $. Within that p
FOd-within the lifetime, I might say, of some
my hearers-.our people, increasing TO many mi
lions, have filled the eastern valley of Mississippi
advenlurousy assembled the Missouri to its hes
springs; and are already engaged in estahiishir
the blessings of self government III valleys,
which the rivers flow to the Pacific. The wor
Sehoids the peaceful triumph of the industry
our emigrants. TO us belongs the duty of protc
ting them, adequately, wherever they may be u
on our soil. The jurisdiction Of our laws, al
the benefits Of our republican institutions shou
be extended over them in the distant regio
which they have selected for their homes. Il
Increasing facilities aaaAercourse will easily hri
The states of which I ne formation in that part
our territory cannot be long delayed. within t
sphere of our fedcrative Union. In the me
Tine, every obligation imposed by treaty or &C
TentIonal stipplations shoull be sacredly respect
In the management of our foreign relations
NIL be my aim to observe careful respect for
rights Of other nations, while our own will be
subject of constant watchfulness. Equal and {
act justice should characterize all our intcrcou
With foreign countries. All alliances havin!
tendency to leopard the welfare and honor of c
c0nntry' O, sacrifice any one of the national