Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1845-04-08

vas,lv more stability and commanding imneasu-
rablv more respect before the Worli. enc - ~,
deed denominated revolving province, slitluid'eI
! bv citizens of our own country ~ receGe, a.u
her moral claim 10 sovereignty IS denleu. oiI,
how stands The truth and the history In 1871,
Texas with Coahuila, formed one OF lne ihec-
pendent States Of Mexico, which consisted ..
] Confederacy, whose Constitution was Amos. d
transcript OF our own. She invited emigration from
abroad. Influential inducements were held ou' oy
laws 10 The citizens Of The u States, who migrated
there by thousands In 1898, a military IeVolu-
ton, led BY Santa Anna, ended in the suDVefsloh
of The constitutional government and me eslaoi,si,'
ment of military despolsm. The Sla' iea's.eo
One after another fell before the sword oi me co-
queror Texas alone maintained her postum
triumphanlly repealed the aggression, ana hnaiy'
on the plains of San Jacinio, sealed her ihue-
pendence BY the capture OF the despol ana me
overthrow Of his army. What motal risn', mn :,
has the usurped Government OF Mexico ~ '' ~
allegiance Of Texas? Her obligations were 70
the constitution and not 10 The despollsm % o"'i.a
| Anna. Mexico herself revoed from op1ih ~
1921. a few weeks only after our cession OF eAds
10 her and before Mexico even knew OF the ces-
sion. or had taken possession OF The country. on
the overthrow Of Spanish power. Texas was as
independent as Mexico. Abandoned BY Us, sne
went into the confcderacy, and whatever inishs
have been her causes Of complaint, Ecr r'sn' "
revolution would be as indnbitahle as MexlcoS
right Of revolution But Texas, repeat, was
never in truth any part of The existing govern
lnent OF Mexico.
Will the free citizens OF the United states
question the right OF independence founceI on
I revolution? Our own ever memorable ue:Ia."
ton announces that government Is insulu'eu
among men 10 secure the rights OF liie liberty,
and the pursuit OF happiness that il derives us
lust powers from The consent OF The governed, ana
whenever il becomes destructive OF these ends,
il is The right OF the people 10 alter or abolish II
and 10 institute such new government as 10 menu
nav seem most likely 10 effect their happiness
and safety.
Sir, with The history Of our own glorious re,
volu,ion before Us, looking upon that lliuslrlous
assembly Of patriots deciding The great question
Of our independence, and pledsing 10 each other
their lives, their fortunes and their sacred honor
in the cause, let no American voice be heard 10
calumniatc those who emulate cur glorious ex-
ample.
Brt, Texas, for causes deemed righteous by
her, MOI only declared and achieved her indcpet-
Gencp, bul has ever since maintained, and can
ever maintain it, Her sovereignty has been re-
cosnzed by ourselves and by the great CONNER
cial powers Of the earth, and treaties OF inter-
course and friendship established between all
Mexico has failed in all her efforts 10 subduc her,
has practically long since abandoned Inc alleinp''
and is VIGOROUSLY incapable Of success. las
she right forever 10 persist IN naked claim:
and thus defeat arrangements between eAds anu
other powers, deemed by them essential 10 their
welfare? Is there no limit 10 such prctensions!--
Sir. She openly declares that she Will never con-
cen, 10 the independence of Texas. We, lhcn,
ourselves must decide upon our responsibility,
The time al which We are justified in disregardinS
The impedrenis Of Mexico. That Time IS now.
We are ready and Texas is willing, and Who
iorhids the union?
sir, il is England and The Wing parry On
his great measure their opinions and their ieel.
Jugs are Identical In 1909 when Louisiana,
Arkansas and Missouri were acquired by Jeiier-
son, they were equally in unison. Tie great
leaders Of Federalism then, as new, denounced u
as Gisurion. ia 1912, The same sympathy pre-
vailed When British arms were defeated,
Wings resolved that il was unbecomng moral
and religious people 10 rejoice al our victories
They have lately dismembered Maine, and ceced
10 Grea, Britain territory larger than vermont
and which that power is even now terrifying
against ourselves! They have refused 10 extend
our jurisdiction and The protection OF our laws
over Oregon; they refuse now 10 regain The lost
portion Ui HE erea. valley oil the Mississippi and
seek to in,imidaie us with the alarm Of var
| They are overwhelmed with anxieiies for The
| peace OF The country and iorebode apprehenslons
| Of ruin, while but recently their grea, leader in
| voke,l rol only war, but peslilence and famine,
and The whole train joined in the invocation,
rather than that Andrew Jackson should be Pre-
| sidcnt OF the Uniled States
Texas Sir, must be ours. lis acquisition j.
! identified with The great interests OF The country.
! Ii is constitutional. IL can give no just grounds
! Of complaint 10 any Of The nations OF The earth,
! on this continent or in Europe. How, then, shall!
il be oblainedl
Cir, in al discussions, let Us remember
that Texas hcrsefis party 10 this measure CO.
equal with Us. She must be consulted. We
NAV dispute about The terms, but The decision
is only our own. Let us remember, too, tina,
we have much 10 gain by annexation while
Texas can obtain iule else than mere security
against Mexico. Though she even retain her
lands, she sur!enders her import revenue, with
all lis destined income, which would alone soon
exlinsuish her debls. Instead OF a snpplaDling
rival, she becomes a competitor in the exchange
OF her staples on terms of equality with us Her
public men sink from eminent positions as lie
founders OF an empire, 10 The level CT State iunc-
lionares. Looking, as we oneht 10 do, al these
considerations, what project OF union should We
| adopt Sir, the provisions OF Tie treaty have
been considered and acqniesced in by Texas
! and in nv Judgment, they are wiser, rs certainly
are they more beneficial to ourselves, than any
| other plan YET devised. BY this receive her
lands, amounting al least 10 one hundred millions
of acres; treble that sum in value. We pay hcr
debts, as did the revolutionary debts OF the old
| States, but not 10 exceed ten millions. This ar
rangement moi only gives us domain immeasu.
rably more valuable than the incumbrance we
discharge, but brings Texas in position OF entire
harmony with all The new States Of the Union in
respect TO their territory, subJectine all 10 the
same Judicious and Uniform system OF DISPOSE
ton. The Western boundary is left open for m
! iure adjustment. Provision j. made Tor The ;d-
mission Of The territory into the Union as States
! hereafter under The authority of the Constitution.
No questions Of slavery are unnecessarily raised
| The plan is simple divesled OF all cxiraneouS
/ membranes, AND HAVING RECEIVED THE Sane
TioS or TEXAS commends itself 10 my favor
Now, Sir, in all other projects, you lose the pun-
lie domain which ought 10 be yours. You lose
The advantages of uniformity in the disposition
OF the lands. You arc embarrassed with the SET
Element OF premature questions Of slavery
You know mol that Texas herself will sanction
your plan You expose yourselves tothe chances
OF rejection.
| And sir, what is The objection 10 the provisions
oflhe lrea,yl Why This effort 10 substitute some
thing variant from lis slipulatons2 Sir, il is be-
cause they afe lbe slipu!auons OF the treaty! The
rcay is called defunct 1t isspoken Of as odous.
Sir, The provisions Of lheireay passed through The
searching criticism and investigation of the Sc
nate, aud encountered the scrutiny OF political
hostility; and yet, in all The denuncialions poured
out upon it, its provisions were almost if mol
wholly unassaled. Their wisdom was general
~ conceded. The opposition planted itself chiefly
upon general grounds of objection 10 the measure
| oil annexation itself, or TO its present eypediency.
1 The treaty was rejected and row Gentlemen, for
getting the facts, seem anxious 10 change not only
The form hut the substance OF The basis OF aunexa-
tiun lest the adoption Of the provisions OF the lrea-
~ should be deemed an imputaiion upon those
who though, il their duty, under the circumsian-
ces, 10 reject it. Sir, nothing can be more unrea-
sonable or absurd The people decided The ques-
ton Of immediate annexation. II was that which
was submitted Tor their deliberations. Why then,
since the verdict is rendered, should the terms,
which met lne or no opposition, be discarded
Sir am not tenacious Of This plan or Of any
! other Give rs one reasonable in itself, and