Sentinel of the valley. [volume] (Woodstock, Va) 1841-1848, 1845-03-13

esq the neceSSarleS OF lie, or aftlcleS Oh
course quality and low price, which the
poor and great mass ofour people must
consume. The burdens of government
should, as far as practlcable, be di>trib-
uted justly and equally among all clas-
SEES Of our population. @These general
views, long entertained onthis subject,
! have deemed it proper to reiterate.-
1t is subject upon which conflicting
interests of sections and occupations
are supposed to exist, and spirit OF
mutual concession and compromise in
adjusting its details should be cherish
ed by every part of our widespread
country, as the only means of preser-
wing harmony and cheerful acquies-
ence of all in the operation Of our reve-
nue. laws. Our patriotic citizens in ev-
cry part of the Union will readily sub
NIT to the payment of such taxes as
shall be needed for the support of their
government, whether in peace or in
war, if they are so levied as to distrib-
Ute the burdens as equally as possible
among them.
The republic of Texas has made
known her desire to come into our u
Mon, to form part ofour confederacy,
and enjoy with us the blessings OF a
liberty scared and guaranteed by our
constitution. Texas was once part
of our conntry-was unwisely ceded
away to foreign powers now lnde-
pendent and what possesses an UNI
doubted right to dispose ola part or
her territory, and to merge her sover-.
eighty. as separate and independent
State, is surs. Congratulate my coun-
try that, by an act of the late Congress
Of the United States, the assent of this
government has been given to the reu-
MON; and it onl y remains for the two
countries to agree upon the terms, to
consummate an object SO important to
both.
Iregard the question of annexation
as belonging exclusively to the United
States and Texas. They are inde-
pendent powers, competent to contract;
and foreign nations have no right to in
terfere with them,or to take exceptions
to their reunion. Foreign powers do
not seem to appreciate the true charac-
ter of our government. Our Union is
a confederation of independent States,
whose policy is peace with each other &
all the word. TO enlarge its limits, is
to extend the dominion of peace over
additional territories and increasing
millions. The world has nothing to
fear from military ambition in our gov
eminent. While the chief magistrate
and the popular branch of Congress
are elected for short terms by the suf-
frages ofthose millions who must, in
their own persons, bear all the burdens
and miseries of war, our government
cannot be otherwise than pacific. For
eign powers should, therefore, look on
the annexation of Texas to the United
States, not as the conquest of a nation
seeking to extend her dominions by
arms and violence, but as the peaceful
acquisition of a territory once her own,
by adding another member to our con-
federation, with the consent of that
Enthusiastically diminishing the
chances Of war, and opening to them
new and ever-increasing markets for
their products.
To Texas the reunion is important,
because the strong protecting arm of
our government would be extended O.
yer her, and the vast resources of her
fertile soil and genial climate would be
speedily developed; while the safety of
New Orleans and of our southwestern
frontier against hostile aggression, as
we'll as the interests Of the whole Union
would be promoted by it.
In the earlier stages of our national
existence, the opinion prevailed with
some, that our system Of confederated
States could not operate successfully
over an extended territory, and serious
objections have, at different times, been
made to the enlargement of our boun-
daries. These objections were earn
estly urged when we acquired LOUISE
ana. Experience has shown that they
were not we'll founded. The title of
numerous Indian tribes to vast tracts
of country has been extinguished.-
New States have been admitted into
the Union; new Territories have been
created, and our jurisdiction and laws
extended over them. AS our popula-
ton has expanded, the Unioa has been
cemented and strengthened; as our
boundaries have been enlarged, and
our agricultural population has been
spread over large surface, our fedora.
tive system has acquired additional
strength and security. 1t may well be
doubted whether it would not be in
greater danger of overthrow if our
present population were confined tothe
comparatively narrow limits of the orig
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