Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1841-1853, 1845-01-09
MIR. Adams and Texas.

Ex-President Adams is well known to be.-and he
has taken good care that the American people should
not be Ignorant that he is, an out-and-out opponent Of
Annexation, not merely on the alleged pro-slavery as
pect of the question, but on the ground that the Uni
ted States never had any shadow of right 10 any part
of Texas beyond the Sabine, and never made claim TO
it.. This is the barthen of ell his denunciations Of
Gen. Jackson, Gov. Polk, and other prominent advo-
Gates of Annexation, and particularly of Dir. C.. J.
lngersoll.
In these assaults, repeated in sundry speeches dur
ing the campaign, the .'old man eloquent has laid
himself open to one Of the most severe and triumph
ant retorts at the hands of one Of the persons assailed,
OF which perhaps It has ever been his fortune to be the
object We allude to the address of Mr.. c. J. Inger-
soil to the public, heretofore noticed in these columns,
In this address which covers more space than VIZ can
devote to a mere personal controversy, Mr.. |. not only
yindicates himself from gross and, even for MIR. Adj
ans, most ~gratuitops personal attacks, but carries the
war gallantly into Africa. Mr.. Adams, II is most
conclusivcly shown, by his own official letter, as Sec
Rotary of State under Mr.. Monroe, forgets that in
ISIS, he was literally ultra In his notions of the right
and title of the United States to every inch of ground
ever claimed or imagined TO be within the bounds OF
Texas-that at that time, whilst the Florida treaty
was under negotiation too, he not only claimed that
" the U. States" extended not to the Sabine, where he
afterwards fixed the boundary,-not to the Colorado
only, where he might have fixed the limit-nor yet to
the Bravo merely, the uttermost claim of modern Tex
as-but north of that river, far beyond the Santa Fe
6h6A u Ac ~ OulIC OElOA tIE
Green Mountains, and quite to Lieut.. Fremonts peak
beyond the South pass in Oregon!
That there may be no mistake about this, we quote
Mr.. Secretary Adams letter of instructions to Mri
Graham, despatched to him secretly by President Mon
roe, 10 prevent any surreptitious occupation of any
part of what Mr.. Adams then called ''the United
States" by French, Spanish or other intruders. We
find it in Mr.. Ingersoll's address, accompanied with
the remark that SIX months afterwards Mr.. A. gave
away all this very country (beyOnd the Sabine) -
Albany Argus.
Mr.. Adams Letter Of Instructions.
2d June, 1918.
George Graham Sir-The landing at Galveston Of a
number Of adventurers, understood 10 lie chiefly French
men, and partly consisting Of those 10 whom lands had
been granted on the Tombigbee, The uncertainty and OBJ
security in which their objects are involved, the character
OF the expedition and lis military array, accompanied 10y
the disavowalOf hostile intentions against any country, and
by the Pretence of a purpose TO form a settlement merely
agricultural, the mystefy with which the whole Transaction
has been surrounded and the false coors which 1t has as
sumed, have suggested 10 the President the expediency Of
obtaining by The means Of a confidential person upon the
spot, such further information as may be useful to the pgtl
lie interest that he should possess, and of observing such
precautions as may be necessary to prevent an encroach-
nent upon the rights of the United States.
1t is known that projects of a wild and extravsgant char
acter, contemplating the invasion Of Mexico, for purposes
of cooperation with the revolutionary party there, were
entertained by some individuals among the French refugees
through the greatest part of the last year. Although the
government received from various sources information Of
the projects, they had never acquired a maturity upon
which it appeared probable that the attempt would be made
to carry them into execution. Their ostensibIe objects
constantly varied, but they were all marked by features Of
absurdity and desperation. In the first the name Of Jo-
seph Bonaparte was implicated, though without positive
I proof that he bad personally lent himself TO it and after
wards, although two notes of remonstrance have been Te-
ceived at this department from the Spanish minister, Onis,
vet more than one indication has reached Us that the ex-
petition was ultimately concerted with him, and was exc
cuied by his consent, if not by his sanction. This concert
in which 1t can SCARCELY be doubted that the object of each
party was to duPe the others, has, however, according TO
all probability, been the immediate occasion Of the occupa-
lion by these persons of Galveston.
The President wishes you TO proceed with all conve-
nient speed TO that place, unless, as is not improbable, you
should, in the progress of the journey, learn that they
have abandoned or been driven from il. Should they hsvs
removed 10 .Mafagorda, or any other place north Of The
Rio BravO, and IcitiH the territory claimed By he Uni
ted States, you will repair thither, without, however, ex-
posing yourself to Be captured by any Spanish military
force. When arrived you will, in a suitable manner,
make known 10 the chief or leader Of the expedition, your
authority from the government of the United States, and
express the surprise with which the President has seen
possession thus taken, without authority from the United
States, OF a place tcifhdn Their ferTTterIGt limits, and up
on Which no LAWFUL settlement can be made 1Vith0uf their
sanction. You will call upon him explicitly TO avow un-
der what national authority they profess 10 act, and take
care that due warning be given to the whole body that The
place as within the United States, 1ShO aclH suffer no per-
mGReHt settlement 10 be made there under any authority
other than their 0svn.
At the same time you will endeavor TO ascertain the
precise and feai obJect OF the expedition tDe NUMBERS OF
the persons already there the sources from which they
have derived the means of defaying the expenses Of their
undertaking; and those from which they expect future aid
and support You will notice especially anything which
may tend decisively TO ascertain whether aHy part of their
funds are supplied by Joseph Bonsparte, or by Mr.. Onis,
or BY both and whether they have any intercourse with
the Viceroy of Mexico. Your own judgment may sug-
gest other objects of inquiry, upon which information may
be desirable, and which you will report to this department.
as you may find convenient occasion. Ii is supposed your
| return NAV be expected IN the course oil three or fOur
months. Your reasonable expenses, together with a COM
pensaIion Of five dollars a day, will be allowed, from the
day of your departure to that of your return
J. Q. A.