Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1845-05-03
THE UNITED STATES, TEXAS AND MEXICO

incorporate that Republic with the United States.
In regard to the mission TO England of Mr.. ASH
BEL SMITH, the present Secretary of State for Texas
the journal argues that it may have in view objects
IN every way proper and expedient and entirely
uisuhct rom any design to embarrass the measure
OF annexation; because, even if the Texan Govern
menl sincerely desired annexation, and entertained
the ull expectation that such would be the issue of
the overiures now pending, il would be no more
than due to the courtesy heretofore manifested to-
wards Texas by England and France in the early
acknowledgment OF her independence, and in many
subsequent acts of Kindness to explain to them. in
the most respectful manner, the present posture of
affairs the general sentiment of the people, and the
probable result; and the Journal maintains that such
an explanation would be doubly due, if those Gov
ernments had in time past been solicited by Texas
to endeavor to procure the acknowledgment of her
independence by Mexico, and if they had generous
ly and faithfully exerted themselves for that end
The Journal then proceeds on the authority Of an
intelligent gentleman just from Texas, who has
taken adeep interest in the affairs of that country and
in every practicable way informed himself as to the
present state Of opinions and facts deny that Mr.
SMITHS mission is in pursuance Of any plan of ope-
rations agreed on by the Texan Cabinet, in consul
ation with the British Minister in Texas having for
its object to put off all action on the Joint Resolution
for Annexation until further advces can he had from
England The present being an important moment
for Texas whatever course she may determine TO
pursue, there is at least propriey in her having an
accredited Minister at the Courts of England and
ha
fled Mr.. SMITH, who has resided at those Courts |
nearly three years, and been an instrument in all |
that ranspired between those Governments and his |
own during that period This is the whole reason |
why the . Chief Officer of State in Texas . was
| appointed TO the mission in question. There is no
evidence that Mr.. SMITH or the Texan President and
Cabinet are opposed to annexahon-they having
deemed it proper, in the present crisis, to avoid any
| public declaration of their views on this subject
The Journal also says il is true that President
JONES has been tempered with by the English and
French Ministers, that he has promised them
any delay in submitting the proposition of the Uni
ted States Government to the Congress or People
of Texas. On the contrary, it was well understood
that the President should be formally in
possession of the overtures of the United States Co
vernment, he would submit them directly to the |
people for their adoption or rejection. Besides the |
expense Of extra session of Congress, his mind
was doubtless influenced by the further considera-
ton that the members were not elected with any
special reference to the question of annexation and
that if referred to them in the first instance
| it must after all 90 back TO the people for final
decision.
| The Journal further says, Il is true that Mexico
has offered TO acknowledge the independence of
Texas, if the latter will renounce for the idea
of annexation to the United States. Ii may, how
ever, be presumed that in proffering such an ac-
i acknowledgement Mexico would seek to place the d.
viding line far possible, and perhaps also
require certain amount of indemnity as salvo
for her honor. On each of these points the Texan
| Government must have definite understanding
with Mexico before il will be able to Judge whether
the proposition of the latter is worthy of serious con-
sderation. Such an understanding may possibly
be gained through the instrumentay of the British
| and French Ministers, both of whom decidedly
prefer independence to annexation. Should di-
rect offer of satisfactory character be made by |
Mexico, before the question of annexation is SUBJ |
mitted TO the people, the President may deem it his
duty TO present both propositions to them simulta-
neous wiz. Annexation lndependence-that
they may choose between them. There is how
ever, no reasonable doubt of the result. Almost all
the Americans, who constitute the great majority of
the population, are favorable TO annexation.
1t is denied that Mr.. DoNELsoN, our Charge
dAffaires, was treated with discourtesy or neglect
on his recent arrival at the seat of the Texan Gov
eminent. He arrived on Sunday, and was cour-
teously received by President JONES on the next
day, to the entire satisfaction of Mr.. ID.
Ii is not true the Journal continuesl that Messrs
ELLIOT and SALIGNy, the British and French Minis
tiers, left Texas for the purpose of visiting Washing
ton, this city, Mr.. ELLIOT had no special object
in going to the United States other than recreation.
Mr.. SALIeNY went only to New Orleans, where he
is accustomed to spend the greater part of his time,
making occasional visits to Texas as circumstances
require.
1t is not true that Messrs ELLIOT and SALIeNY
visited the Texan capital Washington immediate
ly on the arrival of the British frgate Euridice with
dispatches from Vera Cruz. The dispatches which
induced them to visit Washington were not brought
by the Eurdice, but came from England and France
by way of the West Indies. The dispatches by
the Euridice met them on their return from Wash
ington TO Galveston and after opening them and par
tally reading them, they continued their course to
Galveston, and had not again visited Washington. =
In conclusion, the Journal expresses its belief I
that the Texan Government is pursuing honest, :
patriotic, and judcious course and adds, on the n
authority before cited, that ten per cent. duty on
imports is sufficient TO raise all the
sary to meet the ordinary expenses of Government
and that fifteen per cent. would leave consider
able surplus. The actual public debt is between I
$l2,0O0,000 and Sl3,000,000 the country is ex- a
remely prosperous; business good the products B
of the earth abundant; and the currency unques- U
tionable consisting of gold and silver h