The daily Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1841-1845, 1845-04-02
VIEWS OF THE ANNEXATION oUks-
TlON,

1
jof Commerce, viz'
The state Of the Anaex alton question ~ now very
critical add Interesting. We have heard, through
the Texan press the voice of some Of the great men
Of Texas But we have not yet heard ths voice OF
| the people. Human nature 10 much the same po'n
sides of the Sabine. The great men and me presses
and much of The talent aud wealth OF This counity,
are gcaenlly arrayed, ASH by insu"e'' asa'"'' INC
feelings, opinions, and interests Of Inc people
The public men Of Texas will not be quite 50
great when that nation shall become merged IN The
Union Their Congress will become local Logisia.
ture their President mere Governor, and she VII
have no more Embassies 10 send abroad. h"onp'
are vain however To array the national pride oi the
people against their afiny TO and love for the Anne
mean Union.
The same LEGAL feelings and interests, and the
same personal ambition, which now operate against
Annexation 10 Texas, had well nigh prevented the
adoption Of the Federal Constitution, aud have, 10
some instances threatened It's existence since.
The President Of Texas is opposed to Annexation
upon any terms. Dr. AshbeI Smith, now Secretary
oi State aud late Minister London, indoctri-
mated in the same policy while abroad, and when IN
this city, bis return, declared has hostility 20 the
measure. HeDee, may account for the tone OF the
Government organ OF Texas (the Register on this
subject.
Nne-tenths Of the voters Of Texas still in favor
Of Annexation upon any just and Reasonable terms
upon the best terms that the friends Of Texas were
able to get, for the present Still, the jealous and
perseverng hostility Of the few may effect much.
The best opinion sand have consulted the best
informed the subJect-haI President Jones will be
compelled by public opinion to summon Congress IN
special session and submit 10 them the propositions
of our Government.
If the Congress do not authorize annexation on the
terms of the original JOIN, Resolutions they pass
cate The terms 10 which they will assent, and these
will be made the basis OF Treaty of Articles OF
Annex alion, according to the prosiso of our Act.
Now, as 10 these terms,-lhere are many Il ings TO
be considered by both parties.
The terms of the Joint Resolutions are considered
hard and humlliaing To TEXAS But still II must be
rene bered that they the only terms which we
could get from the late Congress- and that the mo-
menl Texas shall become State she will be treated
with he same kindness and indulgence that we have
ever extended 10 new States. The whole history ct
legislation full of instances Of profuse liberal
iy to new States. They have always got all that
they asked, and even more II We are to be thrown
back upon treaty again, 1t will be uphill busi-
ness The best chance for a speedy and satisfactory
Accomplishment OF the measure, 80 much deslred by
The people Of both Countries by the acceptance OF
the terms of The Joint Resolution.
There are two points upon which Texas may very
properly disagree TO those terms and in regard To
them, our Government WILL no doubt, be disposed to
meet the views Of Texas, by legislation, viz: We
take from Texas one Of her main sources of revenue
the customs-which are pledged for the payment
of her debts and leave her cred tors without redress
This would be discreditable TO Texas, and to the
whole Union OF which she would form part, IL
may be said that all the original States of the Union
gave up 10 the General Government their right TO
impose duties &c, but in consequence Of that con.
cesson, the Stale debts umed and paid by the
General Government With the same propriety,
therefore, we may assume the debt of Texan indie
pendence. IL may be said that leave to Texas
her lands, from the proceeds of which she may pay
her debts, and have a surplus But this will depend
upon the boundaries which may assign to Texas,
and which to be the sub Jet Of negotiation with
Mexico. II Texas is to be restricted within the
row limits which some have assigned to her, she will
have but small and insufficient domain LETT
The question Of boundary is Of itself one of vital in
terest to Texas and she will not be satisfied with any
boundary short of that of The Rio Grande.
Thus much as to the objections which Texas may
ugc 10 the terms of the Joint Resolutions. Now as
TO our own objections to them,-and here will I'M
derake to say that the terms of these resolutions
far as the Union is concerned are mprac,icahle and
absurd and utterly inconsistent with the constitution
al rights and duties of the general government. We
cannot give up to Texas the control Of her public do
main. IL would be as great an anomaly to give
her the power to declare war and involve the Union
in it. Much of that domain is in possession of the
native tribes, and II we left the management Of the
domain to Texas, we might become emtroiled in
expensive wars with those tribes. Treaties are also
to be made with the Indians for the extinguishment
Of their title, their removal &c. The expenses at
tending the management of the land system have
been found to be very great-and taking the whole
period OF the duration Of our government have
amounted to nearly as much the receipts from their
| sale.
Again, Texas, pressed for money to pay the inter-
es, of her debt, may be induced and would be no
doubt, to uDdersell our Louisiana and Florida lands
The Government OF the United States has fixed upon
one dollar and twenty five cents as the minimum price
Of their lands, and how would it do to allow Texas,
| as State, TO undersell usp
This being the state of the matter, neither PARTY
will sgree, finally and permanently, to the terms
proposed We must take the control and Possession
OF the lands OF Texas, and equivalent for them
and for the deprivation of Texas from other sources
revenue, we must pay her debts ;--or what is the
same thlng,--if the word assumption is more odious
IN our estimation than that Of repudiation-le us al.
low her a fair and adequate consideration for her
lands
Such terms would satisfy the Texan people, and
would be approved by They can and must be
carried into effect matter upon what nominal terms
Texas may be annexed.
Should Texas agree to take the Joint Resolutions,
and trust, as she might implicitly do to future legisa
lion 10 remedy their defects, tie work will be accom-
| pl,shed
But there is still another and almost equally easy
mode of attaining the object Let the Texan Con-
gress suggest the conditions upon which she will ac-
cept me JOINT hesolutons, as articles OF annexation
and let our Congress assent 10 those conditions, and
the work will then be complete
| In no other way will annexation be brought about
for years. The proviso of Mr. Benton is too compli-
Gated, and will subject the whole arrangement to le-
dious delays, if not to insuperable difficulties.
When MI Calhoun's instructions shall be made
public, it will be found, presume tina, he relies on
some such mode as | have suggested, and not upon
the appointment of Commissioners to treat with
Texas.
From the New York Journal Of Commerce of .4pril l.