The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1845-09-29
HoUsroN, 5th Sept, 1916.
To the Editor efthe Union:

To the Editor efte Union:
Sin: The convention have ended their labors; and
the constitution is before the people. II seems, SO
far have learned, to meet with general approba-
tom and there doubt of its acceptance by the
popular vote. II contains, perhaps some matter
which might better have been left to egislation but
it is not overloaded with it, and though have not
had time to examine attentively, think il is free
from any clause that might endanger It's acceptance
by the United States Congress. Ii has one pro-
vision which, in my opinion would cover multi
tude of faults-the prohibition of banking and of all
paper issues intended 10 circulate money. We
shall thus happily be deprived of the use of that
alchemy which, during the last half century, has
reduced great portion of the Union TO bankrupt
cy about once every ten years.
The mass of the convention seem to have been
governed by honesty and good judgment, and to
have been but little swayed by that vague distrust
which, for time, pervaded the people to such an
unreasonable extent. An attempt, though feeble
and abortive one, was made by a fraction of that
body to establish provisional administration,
which would amount to our renouncing our po-
sition as republic, before your government could
admit US State--thus reducing ourselves to in
termediate state of notbngness. Among the people
this measure was advocated only by a party more
moderate in numbers than in measures, who, to
use slang expression, are noted for running every
thing they get hold of into the ground, and who
invariably fail in what they attempt by trying TO
do more than enough. In seeking to take the name
and form Of a State before we could be recognised
as such, they were doubtless actuated by an impa-
tient affection towards the United States; but II
think there was about much dignity in il as in
that eager love which confounds betrotha with mar
riage.
You will perceive, from some of the concluding
sections of the constitution that the President is in
trusted with the duty of submitting the measure Of
annexation and the constitution to the people; oflay-
ing that instrument before the United States govern
II Ill H.. 49, Co.
ferring the powers of the republic 10 the State.
fear that we SHALL by this, incur the awful dspleas-
ure of some papers of the United States which
have lately taken the government and people of
Texas into their holy keeping
We trust that our able, yet occasionally piquant,
correspondent will excuse from publishing the
structures which follow upon distant press. We
should be extremely sorry to lose the good things
which occur in his letter; and yet we can see more
injury than benefit lkelyto arise from the passages
which we have taken the liberty to withhold We
must trust to his good nature for our apology.l
perceive that foreign journals from another quar-
ter Of the world show the interest they take in our
affairs, from the beral style in which they reflect
on our course. In late London paper, Texas is
charged with mercenary motves--with having al
ways been in the market, and been for sale to the
highest bidder. Though the tone of the article is
neither lippant nor dctatoria rs that of others
originating among nearer neighbors, it shows much
of the spleen Of disappointed buyer.
Let us now examine the charge, and see how near
il comes to the truth. The majority of Texans
have always been wiling from the force Of early
ties, to transfer the sovereignty Of their adopted
country to that nation which gave most Of them
birth, but to no other As, however, il is custom
airy with all governments to make specific conces-
sions for benefits of equal value, the same Texans
would, when no prospect Of annexation to the Uni-
ted States appeared have been equally willing toI
have given such commercial and political pref
erence as might be done compatiby with deco
rum and sound policy to any other milton which
would have procured for them an honorable peace
The United States could have our sovereignty with
out buying IL: England could never have had i for
any price. Our sovereignty has not, in the present
case, been sold for protection. Independence, which
we had offered TO Us, would have given that and
all that gain by annexation is not equivalent
for what we give, for the eventual advantages we
forcgo by renouncing independence This people
were moved TO the choice they made mainly by the
ties Of blood, which sufficiently strong 10 make
them disregard interest, 10 make them blind TO H.
II this was unwise, uncalculating feeling IL
was certainly an honest one, and can have nothing
to do with mercenary sale Of country. Though,
an have said, England could have found no price
for our sovereignty, there was price for which, at
one time, she might have boughs important advan-
tages to herself and with no dishonor TO us If she
has failed to do so, she has only to blame her own
cold selfish, and ime-serving policy, which deferred
from year to year the mediation that she could at