Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1845-01-14
DEBATE on TIE TEXAS QUESTION.

that before proceeding 10 address the Commiltee,
he would renew his motion for the preamble,
which he had temporarily Withdrawn on ior-
mer day, SO that the question might again come
nm ON he whole series OF resolutions, together
with the preamble, as he had originally offered
them
Mr.. COLLAMER inquired of tbe Chair whe-
lhcr,he gentleman from Illinois was al liberty 10
renew the motion he had Withdrawn?
The reply of the Chairwas not distinctly heard
nv the reporter but was understood 10 be IN The
affirmative.
MIR. DOUGLASS then proceeded to observe,
that the gentleman who had Just taken his seat,
(Mr. Winthrop had called upon the friends Of
these resolutions TO deal altogether in argument,
and had attempted 10 show, that the duty OF argu-
ing this resolution Law exclusively on those who
had brought il forward, while those who opposed
il were relieved entirely from all obligation TO DO
more than to sit still and cry NO, no, no, 10 what
ever nigh, be proposed. Now, SO far as those on
MIR. is side Of the question were concerned, ne
freely admitted that il was incumbent on them 10
show that the House had power TO do what they
asked il TO do. They claimed That power
a. being in The Constitution. Nor would ne at.
temp, 10 compel gentlemen who shielded them
selves under the idea that they were not required 10
argue the question: 10 do against their tree Will;
for he believed, before all was over, that the
House would be convinced that, on their part,
discretion was the better part Of valor, and mat
they were wise in contenting themselves with
simply saying no, no.
Before he entered into the discussion, he would
say word as 10 the origin OF the Texas ques-
lion. The gentleman from Massachusetts Mr..
Winrhrop) had told The House that this plan ofan-
nexaton had been devised by the President; Pre-
sident not elected by the people; and the gentleman
animadverted on the President oflhe United States
and the Hero OF the Hermitage Tor Their exceed
ing zeal in the cause. But, did not that gentle
man know full WELL that this accidental Pres-
dent Of the United States had not The merit oil
originating this idea? The distinguished gentle
man from Massachusetts near him (Mr Adains)
could assert 4 much better claim To that honor,
founded upon his own act in 1925, AT which time
he ana his Secretary of Stale MIR. Clay) offered
millions of dollars TO secure this very object; and
Mr. d., as an ACT of defence to the honorable
gentleman from Massachusetts denied the whole
merit TO Mr.. Tyler. Ia laugh To him belonged
the credit of having instructed his secretary IN
March, 1925 10 advocate the remuneration OF
Texas; and again, in 1927, the same highly DIS
linguished gentleman, and the same Secretary,
Mr. Clay, attempted the same measure Of re-an-
nexalion second time, and with view to effect
it, proposed to Congress the appropriation OF
millions of dollars. And here let him remark
further, that they proposed this remuneration I'M
der all the facts which The opponents OF the niea-
sure now pleaded as furnishing conclusive ar
gument why the measure could not be carried
consistently with the national honor and good
Iailh. AT that time, both Texas and Mexico
were Jointly revolving provinces OF Spain; The
Independence OF neither had been acknowledged
a Spanish force was under arms in the country,
and Spanish forts were erected within its bounds
the war was continued and seemed likely 10 con-
tnue II was while this state OF things existed,
that the gentleman from Massachusetts and his
Secretary, MIR. Clay, twice attempted TO re-annex
Texas, then a, war, and Join il to The U. States:
thus, according TO their present doctrine, adopting
the war against Spain.
Mr. %. derived these facts from official docu-
mentS printed in the collection Of Stale Papers;
and standing on these authentic sources of in
formation he denied 10 Mr.. Tyler the credit OF
originating this Texas hobby with view TO make
popularity Tor himself, and he denied il also in
behalf Of General Jackson and his Secretary,
Mr.. Van Buren, in 1920 These parties, Is
well as the gentleman from Massachusetts and
his Secretary, Mr.. Clay, might Justly put in
their claims Tor portion OF the glory When
President Jackson appointed Mr. Van Buren,
his Secretary of State, one OF his first acts was
10 follow in the footsteps Of his i!lns.rious pre-
decessor by attempting TO carry The same mea-
sure of remuneration, and Mr.. Van Buren, gave
instructions 10 our Minister TO negotiate con-
tract with Mexico for that object, and TO offer
her as an inducemenl fire millions OF dollars
and lei gentlemen look at the reasons put forth by
Mr. Van Buren, in those instructions He told
Mr.. Poinsett that war then existed between Spain
and Mexico; that Mexico was without revenue
and greatly in want of money and the offer OF
such sum was likely 10 be strong induce
lnenl with her because she would thereby be
enabled 10 prosecute her war against Spain with
more vigor ard success. Al that very time Spanish
troops were still in Mexico. Again. in 1899, Pre-
sident Jackson AMI his Secretary OF Stat, Mr..
Livingston, renewed the same negotiation; and,
in 1895 Gen. Jackson and his Secretary, Mr.
Forsyth renewed the attempt again Yet, in the
face OF these documents, the committee had been
Tod by the gentleman from Massachusetts, (Mr
Winthrop that the whole thing was scheme
got up nv President not elected BY the people
Possibly, however Mr. D. might do the gentle
man injustice and accuse him falsely; for per-
haps he referred, when speaking OF President
moi elected by the people, 10 his lln>irious col
league IA taught Now if he did, Mr.. d.
thought i, very unjust 10 make such reflections,
and such mputa,ions ought 10 be resisted and re-
PEELED But if the gentleman did not refer 10 his
colleague, but to Mr.. Tyler then his position was
mol sustained by facts and the assertion ought not
10 have been made.
But now TO another point which had been al
luIed 10 by The gentleman who had just taken his
scat, as well rs BY the gentleman over The way
from Pennsylvania, yesterday, namely, as 10 the
Western boundary of the original province Of
Louisiana, on which depended the question
whether the measure now proposed was the
annexation Of Texas, OF the remuneration OF
Texas As to the result, 10 be sure the diff
ference was entirely immaerial, any further
than the truth OF the case was concerned
How stood the facts? If gentlemen would look
at communication made BY the distinguish
cd gentleman from Massachusetts on his right
Sttata Vly
Onis in 1917, they would find il declared that
the first settlement between The Sabine and The
Del Norle in 1866, was made by La Sale under
the French Government, and that those settle
menis in connection with others made by La
Sale and Henepin formed the basis Of French
Louisiana. The province continued. in posses
sion of the French Government Till i.62, wien
il was transferred 10 Spain. II cou.;nnci 10 b.
held by Spain I'LL 1900, when il was reicocsded
10 France, who held il ill 1903 when j, was Il
nally ceded 10 the United States. IL w.s very
irue that in all these several cessions of lhcpto
vince no specific boundaries were designated
but il was equally true, that in the treaty oilS0O
Louisiana was cedcd back 10 France with The
extent Of boundaries originally pertaining 10 it.
and that in the treaty Of 1903, under which ii
passed 10 the United States, the same bounds
were referred TO- Now, then. if we could Tell
what The original boundary OF Louisiana was
we COuu leIl WIietuci 1cAd~ WltuLH VI
out Louisiana when Louisiana became ours, and
so could settle The point whether lis junction 10
The United States would be annexation or rc.an-
nexation
And here Mr.. D., Standing on the authority Of
the gentleman from Massachusetts, (Mr. Adams
asserted that France had always claimed the
Rio del Nore as the Southwest boundary of her
province of Louisiana; and while Spain held
It in her possession, there was valid reason TO be-
olo nt,1,j n tale FIR I uhn
was seosrapher 10 the King OF Spain, made a
map OF Louisiana, and on that map marked the
Rio del Norte as one boundary of The province
And, moreover, geographical work, published
in Spain during The same period, 50 stated the
tact. This showed very clearly that the Rio del
Norte was understood TO be The Southwest limit Of
Louisiana under the treaty of 1900, by which