Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1845-04-18

its lands not having left suiicieht ~ INJECT oui
liabilities, and that debt must, therefore; NC
hopeless and perpetual incumprahce, palaiysnnS
forever all The energies of this unhappy country
Their objections 10 the present oVer,uies are =. q
character lo.ally incompatible with the compact
If nnion. They are the friends OF annexation,
mon conditions that would completely reVo-
utionize The American Confederacy, and pros.
ra,e The Constitution Of our fathers. They urscit
as humilialing concession 10 yield up our puonc
revenue. our porls and custom houses; allhouSh
they we'll know that this argument Will throw US
hack upon The old Articles oil Conieaeralioh.
They are not satisfied with annexation upon ~
equality with The other States; out would WISH
TO 90 into the Union as an independent nation.
Anything short of this is resolved into an 'Inca-
culable sacrifice OF our national existence :
They boast of The nsignifcance OF our present IN
dependence but can feel no pride and glory IN be-
ing American cliZens-citizens OF the mghlest
republic The world has ever yet beheld. Ihey
object 10 The old Missouri compromise ID establish
ing the limits Of slavery. This IS very consistent,
because they are opposed TO every compromise
that would admit US into the Union For The very
same reason they would have seeded from The
Union when that compromise was adopted
Well. do they know that the small portion OF our
territory north of The parallel OF &c. deg. will
never be cultivated by slave labor, and must ne
cessarily be free Stale, whenever il becomes
State at all.
"Surey The people OF Texas rever expected 10
return to the United States upon better conditions,
or with other limits than formerly belonged 10
| them. Then the Constitution conferred Inc Ji-
riSticlon OF boundary upon The United StateS.-
Now, however, this power IS claimed among inc
reserved prerosatiyes Of our separate nationality.
Al one lime we are told that the United States
will employ our revenue 10 impoyersh and OPP
press US; al another, that, with the control Of The
boundary question, She will STRIP us oiour Terrific
~ in order 10 enlarge The dominions Of Mexicolo
her own prejudice All The prominent states
men of America Of ali parties, have asserted the
Rio Grande as The old Louisiana line, and our
Government has established the same by law, yet
such is the exceeding jealousy OF those jriendsN
annexation, such their patriotic devotion 10 our
national supremacy, that they are trembling with
apprehension lest the u. States will violate the
Limits assigned us by the Louisiana treaty, tram
pie upon our own laws establishing the same,
and sacrifice the best interests of the Union Tor
the purpose of inAolng an injury upon US
They have unbounded confidence in the friend
ship of England, but look upon The United States
as our natural enemy. They objected to MIR.
Tyler's treaty, because it iook our lands and
debts togelher-they now object 10 the Joint Re-
solution because it ltares our lands and debts To-
gether. Mr. Brownspla objectionable, because
itpreScrbes too much, and Mr.. Bentons because
it prescribes too litlle-tbe enumeration oil Terms
in The former implies dicaion and arrogance
by The omission OF terms, the latter is rague, iade
finite, AMI ntcomplishes nothing. The former leaves
us TOO little Gscretiun-the latter too much; and
they also object 10 them both united, for the very
plain and satisfactory reason, that they are THE
SWORN AND uNALTERABLE ENEMIES or ANNEXATION
on ANY TERMS WHATEVER
at is deemed a very hard case by some tha, we
should have 10 pay our own debts; and This hard
shin will probably be more sensihly felt by those
whose debts were supposed 10 be iquidaiedby Inc
act of emigration. This objection 10 annexation
seems 10 suppose that our Independence will fur
nsh pretext for repudialing our liabilities upon
the ground of necessity inasmuch a. II Is quite
impossible 10 discover any other mode OF pay
ment. For. during the nire years which we have
enioyed the blessings OF independence, our lands
have steadily deprecated, until large portion OF
them will no longer pay the taxes. Now accord
ing TO these data, how long before these lands will
be sufficient 10 pay the national debt? From The
past We can only Judge of The future il has,
| however been intimaed, that The British Govern
mcnt will generously assume our debt, and take a
small lien upon our lands and public revenue
| We cannot undertake 10 say 10 what extent those
European favors may he realized, nor TO predic,he
consequences that may follow The doctrine seems
now 10 be we'll settled, that the Constitution oflhe
| United States does not authorize the assump-
| ton Of State debts by The General Government
Every one OF the indebted States is, therefore,
thrown upon lis own resources 10 meet lis own
obligations. Is not Texas willing 10 do the
same? Her national debt is far inferior in
amount to that of many other Of the States, while
| her public domain, il il ever aiiains even the
minimum value of the Government lands OF the
| Union will more than pay all the debts OF all
The indebted States. 1t would not only pay our
comparatively small debt bul leave a large sur
plus for The future Internal Improvements OF cur
country. Can any reasonable doubt be enter
aincd that annexation will give rapid appre-
citation 10 our lands deveope our resources, and
augment our revenue Wilhou; this measure,
our debt must continue perpetual incumhrance
| and incubus upon our prosperity, unless repn-
dated, or paid By foreign Endorsement, imposing
obligations ten fold more repusive 10 The feelings
of freemen than the debt ITSELF
| eWhile speaking of our probable means Tor
an honorable iulflment Of all our obligations,
according 10 the srlctest principles OF good
| faith (which must be The desire of every
good cilizcn,) il may be proper TO suggest the ne
cessity which the government ofihe United States
must soon be under Of purchasinga portion OF our
territory for the settlement OF the tribes oil Indians
on our Northern frontier. Upon the map ol Tex
as will be seen an extent OF territory lying ne
tween our boundary line Of 100 degrees oi west
Longitude, connecting the Red and Arkansas nv
ers. on the east, and the Rio Grande on the West,
and having The Arkansas river on the North, ana
the 34th degree of latitude on the South. On
the Yves, of this territory, and between il and the
State of Arkansas on The East, are settled Inc
Creek Choctaw, and Cherokee tribes oil Indians,
whittier ihey have been removed by The GoteiG-
ment OF The United States. As the stream III emil
grafton progresses westward, these Indians will
be forced before il: so that the United States in
| pursuance OF their scrtled policy, must soon DE
compelled TO purchase the above described terri-
tory Tor their occupancy, or else allow iheir own
citizens 10 be hariassed with Indian difficulties,
both on the East and West Of theil present posi-
ton These tribes are now occupying some OF
The choicest lands of the country, and large
norton of them are restless and disconnected IN
their present vicinity To the whites The exchange,
therefore. must be mutually acceptable TO both
races. II NAV he reasonably presumed from these
facts that the United States will be GLAD 10 ehect
the above purchase, even al the cosl OF Twice lne
amount OF our national debt.
"Fellow- Citizens, in This address, we have ap-
pealed 10 your Judgment, and your understanding.
| We have endeavorpd 10 show that this great nea-
sure. VIII oh engages all your affections, and Your
/ warmest syInrathies, is founded upon The solid
4 basis of interest of national and individual hap
pness, Of present and future prosperity, and mat
il is the only sure guarantee OF your Liberties, and
The perpeuily Of your institutions, for yourselves
and your pos,ery The broad question is now
fairly presented to you, whether you will re-erer
the Union of your fathers. and uniuh The Star
| Spancled Banner upon The banks Of the Rio
Grande, or take the chances Of an alliance with
foreign polentatcs, whose ministers are now
tempting von with renewal OF promises that
/ have never yet been realized Upon your deci-
+ sion will depend the destiny Of millions yet I'M
horn" (SIGNEp BY THE CoMMlTTEE.)
sGavcslon, March 81 1916"
1.-THE total debt OF all the States is more than
two hundred millions
This address is an able, argumentalive, elo-
quent and thrilling appeal 10 the People OF Texas,
earnestly invoking them 10 ratify at once mea-
sure, which will admit them &c the rich bless
ines Of The American Union, and al The same