Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1845-02-07
Mr.. Calhoun to Mr.. King.
DEPARTMENT OF STATE, }
Washington. Aug. IL. 1874.

washington, aug. X, 1919.
Sir have laid your despatch, No. l3, be-
lore the President, who i~nstructs me to make
known to you that he has read it with much plea
sure, especially that portion which relates to your
cordial reception by the King, as his assurance of
feelings towards the United States. y "
1t would be a great mistake to suppose that
Government has any hostile feelings towards
or any disposition to a%ggrandize itself
at her expense. The fact is the very reverse.
1t wishes her well, and desires to see her set
down in peace and security-and is prepa-
red, in the event of the annexation of Texas, if
not forced into conflict with her, to propose to
settle with her the question of boundary, and all
others growing out ofthe annexation, on the most
liberal terms. Nature herself has clearly mark
ed the boundary between her and Texas, by nat
ural limits too strong to be mistaken. There are
few countries whose limits are so distinctly mark
ed-and it would b. our desire, if Texas should
be united with us, to see them firmly established,
as the most certain means of establishing perma-
nent peace between the countries, and strength
ening and cementing their friendship. Such
would be the certain consequence of permitting
the annexation to take place now, with the acqui-
essence of Mexico-but very different would be
the case if it should be attempted to resist and
defeat it, whether the attempt should be success
full for the present or not. Any attempt of the
kind would, not improbably, lead to a conflict be-
tween us and Mexico, and involve consequences,
in reference to her and the general peace, long
to be deplored on both sides, and difficult to be
repaired. But should that not be the case, and
the interference of another power defeat the an
n~exation for the present, without the interruption
of pcace, it would but postpone the conflict, and
render it more fierce and bloody whenever it
might occur. Its defeat would be attributed to
enmity and ambition on the part of that power
by whose interference it was occasioned, and ex-
cite deep jealousy and resentment on the part OF
our people, who would be ready to seize on the
first favorable opportunity to effect by force what
was prevented from being done peaceably by mu-
tual consent. 1t is not difficult to see how great
ly such a conflict, come when it might, would
endanger the general peace, and how much Mex
leo might be the loser by it.
In the meantime, the condition Of Texas would
be rendered uncertain, her settlement and pros.
perity in consequence, retarded, and her com
merce crippled, while the general peace would
be rendered much more insecure. 1t could MOI
but greatly affect us. If the annexation of Tex
as should be permitted to take place Peaceably
now. las it would, without the interference Of 9th
er powers,) the energies of our people would, 10
a long time to come, be directed to the peacea
BILE pursuits of redeeming and bringing within
the pale of cultivation, improvements, and civil
l cation, That large portion of the continent lynn
t between Mexico on one side, and the British pos
s sessions on the other, which is now, with llttl
: exception, a wilderness with a sparse population
consisting for the most part, of wandering India
c tribes.
n 1t is our destiny to occupy this vast region
IS 10 ~intersect it with roads and canals-to hll
with cities, towns, villages and farms-tO exten
over it our religion, customs, Constitution an
d laws, and to present it as a peaceful and sple
n did addition to the domains of commerc and CT
1t ~ilization. 1t is our policy to increase by gro'
re ing and spreading out into unoccupled region
e. assimilating all we incorporate; in a word, to l
VI crease by accretion, and not, through conque
y, by the addition OF masses held together by t
no cohesion of force. No system can be more u
en- suited to the latter process, or better adapted
ed the former, than our admirable federal SYSTEM
on II it should not be resisted in its course, it "
he probably ful6l. its destiny without disturbing {
nd neighbors, or putting in jeopardy the gene
dy peace; but if it be opposed by foreign interi
ence, a new direction would be given to our
a ergy, much less favorable to harmony with
'en neighbors, and to the general peace ofthe VOL
n.y. The charge would be undesirable to us,
nd much less in accordance with what have as
be med to be primary objects of policy on the par
ose France, England and Mexico.
ro- But to descend to particulars: it is certain
'uf- while England, like France, desires the indep
out dence of Texas, with the view to CONNER
lth- connections, it is not less so, that one of the Il
life, ing motives Of England for desiring it, is
ued hope that through her diplomacy and mfiuel
be negro slavery may be abolished there, and
mately, by consequence, in the United ST
the and throughout the whole of this contmen
UGH That its ultimate abolition throughout the Ell
urst continent is an object ardently desired by
enc we have decisive proof in the declaration OF
ym- Earl of Aberdeen, delivered to this Departn
,xci- and of which you will find a copy among
At | documents transmitted to Congress with the
e al an treaty. That she desires its abolition IN
Ings. MS. and has used her influence and diploma
my effect it there, the same document, with the
feel respondence of Mr.. Packenham, also to be !
lmu- among the documents, furnishes proof not
now, conclusive. That one OF the OBJECTS Oh aus
e up, ing it there, is to facilitate its abolition II
least United States, and throughout the eoltlneI