The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1845-10-09
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This charge Of intrigue TO prevent annexation has
been circulated before but II originated IN parti-
4 san feeling at time of great excitement, and was
never accompanied by any respectable evidence of
its truth, it is somewhat surprising that at this late
i day, a respectable meeting in New Hampshire
should reeraie the charge, after so many evidences
Of its falsity have been furnished IN the acts OF the
| Texan Executive and his cabinet to promote and
consummate the measure of annexation. Perhaps
| the distance of New Hampshire from Texas may,
in some measure, account for the opinions
still entertained there They have heard the charge
made but the evidence of its falsehood has not yet
| reached them.
When the overture for annexation was commu-
ncated TO the Texan government, on the part of
the United States, by Major Donelson, on the 3lst
of March last, the Texan government had long been
on terms of friendly national intercourse with the
governments of England and France, whose minis
iers were then residing in Texas
The overture for annexation, however welcome
/ to the government and people of Texas certainly
would not have justified the Texan Executive in
suddenly terminating that intercourse Nor did il
render the residence of a Texan diplomatic agent
/ near their governments any less proper at time
when change was contemplated in the policy Of
Texas, which those governments did not favor, and
an explanation of which was, in the observance of
common courtesy, due to them.
Gen. Terrels nomination not having been con-
frmed by the Senate, Mr.. Ashbel Smith was de-
spatched as minister to those governments; and, in
addition TO the task of strengthening their friendly
dispositions, he was specially instructed to press
upon their attention, that if the people Of Texas
should determine to put an end to the separate ex-
stence of the country, the Executive, so far as de-
pended upon his official action, must and would give
immediate and full effect to their WILL
i The President of Texas had solicited and obtain
ed the good offices of England and France to pro-
cure the recognition of the independence Of Texas
by Mexico, long before the adoption of the joint
resolution by the United States Congress defining the
terms upon which Texas might be admitted into the
Union.
Negotiations for the recognition of the independ
ence of Texas by Mexico and for annexation to
the United States, had long been simultaneously
carried on and these negotiations aimed at the at
tanment of no objects incompatible with each
other Circumstanced as the country then was, the
President would have been most censurable if he
had failed to every honorable means for the
complishment of each and both those objects
: The acceptance of proposition for annexation
necessarily referred itself to the decision of the
ton, not to that of the Executive; and the chief
magistrate having it in his power to present to the
nation such proposition from the United States,
along with recognition Of its independence from
Mexico, was no more at liberty to withhold the one
than the other. The people were entitled to choose
I between the two alternatives.
Impressed by such considerations, when the rep
rescnatives of France and Great Britain renewed
the offer of the good Offices of their governments
with Mexico, for peaceful settlement of the diff
cultes between the two republics, upon the basis of
her acknowledgment of the independence Of Texas,
with the understanding that the latter would main
tain her separate existence, the President placed at
their disposal statement Of conditions preliminary
to treaty of peace. These conditions were subse-
quently acceded to by Mexico, and RENTED to the
Texan government through the diplomatic agents of
France and England. Upon their reception, the
President issued his proclamation to the people Of
Texas, dated 4th of june stating the circumstances
which led TO that understanding with Mexico, and
the principles which influenced him in the transac-
ton From that proclamation, it will be seen, that,
when the prellminaries referred to were placed in
the hands of the British and French minister's the
President declared his readiness to submit them 10 the
people Of Isras for their decision and action as soon
as they were adopted by the government of Mexi-
co. But he at the same time emphatically reminded
those functionares for the special notice of their
governments that he was more than the agent of
the peoples that ne could neither control nor infu
ence their decision; and that his bounden duty was
to carry out their determination constitutioDally
certsined and expressed, be it what it might
The inconsistency, illiberality, and injustice of
charging that any measure of policy adopted or pur
sued by President Jones originated in a spirit of
i hostility to the cause of annexation, is manifest
The good offices of England and France had been
invoked and conceded. The unwillngness Of those
powers to see Texas merge her nationality was UNI
derstood. The President in accepting their invited
intervention--in reminding them that its results
were to be submitted to the decision of the nation
and that to choose between distinct national exist
ence and incorporation with the Union was alone
the prerogatve of the Texan people--in receiving
and presenting for their choice these alternatives as
proered by the United States on the one hand and
by Mexico on the other,-but acted in that spirit of
impartalty and justice which the relations of Texas
with each of those powers required him to assume,
in the faithful discharge of his official obligations
towards the people of Texas
Il By his proclamation, he convened the Congress
i OF Texas in June, and laid before them the two
Il propositions. Congress, who had the right (Which
the President had no decided to reject the Mexican
proposals, and passed resolutions, which the Pres-
dent approved and signed, giving the consent the
existing government to the terms Of annexation
offered.
. The President had previously by proclamation,
recommended (there existing no authority for any
branch OF the government to order it) an election of
delegates by the people, to meet in convention, for
me purpose OF considering the proposition of an
nexation, or any other which might be made con-
corning the nationality of the republic; and should
they Judge i cxpedient and proper to adopt con-
shtutlon to be submitted to the people for ratfca-
ton, with view to the admission of Texas as a
State into the North American Union, &C.
The delegates elected as recommended The
convention met; and in their acts is to be found
signal rebuke TO the caumniators of the President
After framing constitution, although powerful
effort was made to supersede the existing govern
ment by the Presidents enemies, alleging his HOSTILE
ty to annexation, the convention as If forever to
silence the charge of intrigue, hostility &C., placed
that constitution in his hands, for him to Law il be-
fore the people, ordaining that to an officer of his
1 cabinet the votes of the people shall be returned
Upon him they have imposed the duty Of transmit-
ting it TO the President Of the United States and of
receiving from him advice of the final action of the
United States Congress. President Jones is to
order the elections for officers under the State con-
stitution, to call together the State Legislature If
the convention had seen any evidence OF hostility to
the measure of annexation on the part of the Pres
dent, it is certain that body ofso much intelligence
! would not have confded the contamination Of the
measure, so far Texas is concerned, entirely to
him. X
u Drawn numbers Of the Alexandria lottery
- class No. 80, drawn 4th October, 1876
"a, 5, %, SO, 10, IL, 81, SO, 81, IS, 4S, a.