Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1845-02-11
THE ENQUIRER.
Richmond, February III.
JOHN QUINCY ADAMS.


per quarter because they are deserved. It is in
deed melancholy spectacle, 10 see such a man
as J. @. Adams, who has filled the highest places
in his counlrys service, casting shade over his
past lite, by his gross misrepresentation Of histo-
ry, and his relentless prejudces against the peo-
pie of the South The scourge must, however.
be applied-if not for example TO other desertcrs,
vel because The public interests imperiously de-
mand the truth 10 be told:
"MR. ADAMS AND HIS LATE DISCOVER
les ABOUT TEXAS.
"The House OF Representatives listened, to-day.
to some marvellous matters about Texas that
fell from the mouth Of Mr. Adams, 10 believe
which would render il necessary that it should
disbclieve everything said and done ly the venera
BILE representative from Massachusetts during his
whole public life.
Owe shall number The new positions taken by
Mr.. Adams in relation TO Texas to-day, that the
public may the more distinctly see how the ex
President and ex-Secretary excludes his past life
in these official capacities from forming any part
OF his existing identity The John Quincy
Adams of today was not only not the same, but
directly the reverse Of the John Quincy Adams
the quondam Secretary OF State under Mr.. Mon
roe. and President Of the United States under Mr..
Clay.
a. Mr. Adams, ex-Secreary OF Slale in all
his recorded documentary Stale papers, held that
Texas formed par OF Louisiana, as coded by
France to the United States. He took The en-
phaic and decided ground, in 1878, that Texas
was as much part of the United States as New
| Orleans; he asserted not only The claim OF the
United States but vindicaled its actual possession
| by sending Mr.. Graham with authority, under
| his own hand 10 drive off inruders from the ter
| ritory as far as The Rio del Norte-proca inning
that all between The Mississippi and that river
was part OF The United States; and, Spain not
having ratified the treaty Of 1919, although il was
ratified by the Senate OF The United States, Mr.
Adams, IN letter on the Sd Of May, 1920, writes
10 Mr. Onis the minister of Spain, these peremp-
tory lines: "The amount Of claims of the citizens
Of the United States, which existed al the time
when the treaty was signed, far exceeded that
which the United States consented 10 accept as in
demnity. Their right Of territory was, and yet is,
| 10 The Rio del .No1tc" And he concludes his let
, ter in this emphatic language: III any further
delay 10 the ratification BY his Catholic Majesty
Of the treaty should occur, the United States could
not hereafter accept either Of five millions of dol
lors for the indemnities due 10 their citizens BY
Spain, nor Of the Sabine for the boundary between
the United States and the Spanish territorics.-
Please to accept the assurances ofmy distinguish
cd consideration. "JouN Quincy ADAMS"
NOW, on lnlS udy, john SlulHE| 1udInS &C.
MED every word he had thus uttered on this sub
jec, declared that Texes formed no part OF Lou
isiana, and undertook to prove il; and added, that
long before the treaty of15l9 The Government had
admitted Tor its western boundary, the Sabine :
Mr. Woodbury., in his speech al the last session.
shows that in this, Mr. Adams contradicts all the
statesmen with whom he acted, as well as him
sell:
"'According 10 the opinions OF such juriss and
diplomalists as Jefferson, Madison and Monroe
Of Livingston, Clay and Adams, lin 1879 Tex
as was within the Ii nis of Louisiana when
bought BY us in 1909, as clearly as the island of
New Orleans. | shall not fatigue the Senate
with details on this. But Texas had been dis
years previous TO any Spanish settlement OMAR
bois's History OF Louisiana 1917 1t had been
viewed as the cradle of Louisiana. q jeff. Life
Coz II was in the grant BY Louis TO Crozat, in
l7l2. q Laws, 1897 After coded TO Spain, in
l76l, lis boundaries became uninporani; but
when re.roceded 10, and occupied by, France in
1900 she claimed as formerly, and delivered il 10
us BY her officers in 1904, as extending West of
the Rio del Norte. II was boosted by Don Onis
the Spanish Minister who negotiated the treaty
Of 1919, after his return that BY his ability and
tact it had been procured from us. Mr. Forsyth
10 Adams, July 80, 1920 says that Don Onis en-
deavors TO show that The treaty OF cession Of Flo
rda ought TO be considered as treaty OF exchange
OF Florida for Texas, country more extensive
fertile and valuable. The Spanish Government
itself seems TO have instructed their Minister, that
we might retain il ifno better terms could be pro-
cured. (See Eryinss Exposc.) And Mr.. Gala
Tin, after laborious research before 1910, became
convinced the territory was ours; and our posts
had therefore, as early as lS06, been extended
beyond the Sabine to Nacogdochcs, one ofthe re-
mo,est settlements of much size. q Laws, 437.)
And Galveston itself was temporarily occupied
by us in 1917. ca Stale Papers, 297 See more
fully on this, Marbos's History of louisiana
4 State Papers jeff Lille, CO. 2Fools Hislo.
~ Of Texas, 397, 37G: do. 1874. . Kennedy
445 Cay's Speeches, 81 and 93J
$50 much for contradiction No. |.
"Now for No. 2.
"Mr. Adams admitted that Immediately on
his coming into the Presidency in 1925, and also
in 1927 he had endeavorcd 10 acquire Texas for
the United States But he solemnly assured the
House that he would not have made his propo-
sails had not slavery been abolished in that terri
tory by the Mexican Government lie protested
that nothing could have induced him to purchase
Texas, had slave existed within its confines
Here Mr. Adams again Tell into one of those nm
happy anachronisms which have so distinguished
his diary upon the subject of Texas When Mr.
Adams offered so MANY millions Of dollars for
Texas in 1925 and 1927, their land was land OF
slaves Ii was slavery oil the worst sort-Spanish
slavery 1t was not until 1920, as will be seen
from the following decree, that slavery was abo-
lished by Mexico throughout its whole confines
including Texas:
"ABOLlTION OF SLAVERY.
"s71c President Of the Merieam UMt,d States 10
the Inhabitants Of the Republic greeting:
"'Designing TO signalize, in the year 1929, the
anniversary of our independence by an act of
national justice and bencficence, that may turn 10
the advancement and support of so important a
result that may consolidate more and more pub
lie tranquility; that may cooperate to the ag-
grandiseinent OF the Republic, and return 10 an
unfortunate portion Of its inhabitants those rights
which they hold from nature, and that the people
may be protected by wise and equitable laws, in
conformity with the Both article Of the constitu-
lional acl:
aMaking use Of the extraordinary faculties
which have been granted 10 the Executive, thus
decree:
az. Slavery is forever abolished in the Repub
lie.
"a Consequently, all those individuals who,
until this day, looked upon themselves as slaves,
are Tree.
"'When The financial situation Of the Republic
admits, the pToprielors of slaves shall be indem-
nifed, and the indemnifcaion regulated By law.
"sAnd in order that the present decree may have
its full and entire execution, order it TO be print
ed, published, and circulated TO all those whose
obligation is 10 have il published.
"'Given in the Federal palace ofMexico, on The
9Th of September 1929.
"svICENTE GUERRERO,
"'LAURENZO DE ZAVALA.
[American Annual Register 1920 1880, page l47.]
"This authentic document exhibits Mr.. Adams's
contradiction No. 2; and is another illustration
of the veracity Of Mr.. Adams in manifes!ing
the motives which have controlled his conduct as
a public functionary and if further proof were
wanting 10 establish the utter insincery of his
ouire a territory in which slavery existed, ii is
found in the fact, that the Floridas, when he &C
on;rad them under the Treaty. of 1919 were slave