Staunton spectator, and general advertiser. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 183?-1849, 1845-02-06
CO NJ G. II e S S.
SKETCH OF MIR. ADAMS RENAL


In the House of Representatives, the Joint Resou
luton for the Annexation of Texas
Mr.. ADAMS said he had been most reluctant to
take part iurlhis debate. The inclination of his
heart and mind was TO remain silent 10 the end
under the ample discussion the subject had re-
ceived by SO large portion of the House.
Circumstances, however, applying personally
and peculiarly required him to speak, and it was
with extreme reluctance that he rose at all and
yet as the subject referred to events affecting his
character here, at home and to poster,y, he could
not remain silent.
Some time in The month of July, ls43, he pass
ed from Montreal to Quebec, distance of $50
miles in eleven hours In the course of the even
ing and by the pleasant ight Of the moon in con-
versation with young countryman of his, he re-
marked
"What magnificent river" eyes," was the
reply of his companion, sand it must be ours"
"But for injunction of olden time, .'Thou
shalt rot covet," it might be-" was my answer.
"l es, but nature has given it to us" was the
response sand wo must have it,"
Mr.. A. was reminded of this sentiment by the
demand made here for the annexation of Texas,
and 1t occurs 10 me as the only unansw cradle
argument have not heard in the pending debate
This was principle more appropriate to other
Governments than our own. All other arguments
however, which have been used, said MI A., are
founded upon Imagination and not upon facts
n
I'll this time is upon Joint Resolution for the re-
annexation of Territory. In that Joint Reso!u-
ton was stated the argument for the measure. 1t
was preceded 10y preamble, which contained i'm
agination and not fact. 1t was so in what was
said Of cession and in what was said Of the Fede-
raj Constitution. The fact was assumed that all
that country known as Texas was ceded and con-
veyed to the United States. He denied this, and
the therefore,, which closed the Preamble went for
| nothing.
1t had been assumed as fact thatby the treaty
of 1903, all the country called Texas was ceded
TO us.
That gentleman, (Mr. Douglass of Ii.) with a
genius and emphasis peculiar TO his eloquence,
pointed 10 me as the origin of the proposition to
buy Texas.
So far it was true, but he failed to add that this
purchase to be made by common consent,
whereas now we propose to take the country by
| force. There all the difference between his
proposition and that now proposed that there was
between purchase and burglary. AS Judge he
can understand that. He Mr. A. admitted that
he always was in favor of extending the iurisdic-
ton of the United States to the Rio Del Norte, if
the people owning the territory would consent,
and If Slavery was abolished.
When he made the proposition TO buy Texas,
there no Slavery there. Give us Texas with
the consent of its owners, and without Slaves, and
| will 90 to the Rio Del Norte Tomorrow I'm
happy the country of Mexico now was, by a
civil war, there were no Slaves there, and there
were none when he proposed negotiations for the
annexation of Texas TO the United States
| The treaty was then read to show that the Tex
as claimed now part of the Texas that be-
longed to Louisiana. The people, places, settle
| ments, &c. referred TO to prove this. TWAS
10 Mexico that the proposition was made, and re-
fered by his authority, and by that country it was
refused time and again.
Mr.. Jeferson's authority 9th May, 1902, }
aft tpo, IF ,ici.,, I.
wsa referred to as bearing upon the subject, and
where the Mississippi only was claimed as the
boundary between the two countries. Mr. Madi-
son instructed the Minister to Spain, (Mr Pinck-
ney) on the authority of Mr. Jefferson as Presi.
dent, to guarantee to Spain the Mississippi river
; as the boundary.
If his hour allowed him, Mr. A. said, he should
come to the time when the negotiation was bro
ken oil, IN consequence Of this proposed Missis.
sippi. Further TO show that Texas was not ours
by the Louisiana treaty, Mr.. Adams quoted from
MIR. Jefferson in 1903; where Mr.. ]. said our in.
formation as 10 Louisiana is imperfect The
boundaries are, he said, the highlands of the Mis-.
sissippi. We have some claim to 60 to the Rio
del Norte, and better 10 90 TO the Rediilo, the an
: cient boundaries of Louisiana. And further he
I said. If we push our claim strongly we shall ge
the Floridas!
Where did Mr.. Jefferson say that the claims O
the treaty OF 1903 gave us any claims to Texas
All ud' was SAPeO'eu was tne fIorldaS, anu tina
. only by pushing great claim. Mr.. j. was fur
ther quoted as showing that all this was to b
upon negotiations with the Spanish Government
The negotiation commenced and all the countT,
was involved in it beyond The Mississippi.
Mr. Adams having been referred to, as bein,
connected with the only propositions to acduir
foreign territory, he replied with spirit. He anc
: his State might well have been spared this insi
I dious-he would make no qualification of tn
term--assaut. The citizen of what State is
that is referred tol He, said Mr.. Adams, wh
established the only good claim we had TO Ore
gon. claim il as my own, said Mr.. Adams
The Oregon was discovered by a citizen of Mas
sachusells, and the treaty OF 1919 makes stron
and perfect this claim Of discovery