Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1846-05-01

| Ii will lie seen that he takes ground soine"na
new. iii is certainly very holdD viz: thai Inc 20
vernnen, If The U. States cannot morally ana 10
good faith take The revenues oil le1as fece'e'
from customs, without providing for The BONDS IS
sued by the late Republic, for the payment o.
] which the revenues were solemnly PLEDGED
| said tha, cut OF debt Of ten millions The reVe
nues have been pledged for about TWO injurious
AS MANY Of The citizens Of Virginia are ih'ei'
ested in The securities Of Texas, we have 'housh
ina, ,hev would be pleased TO examine the views
.h,s .nd DISTINGUISHED a citizen of Texas
as Gen. Hamilton:
1Fyom the Austin (Tszas) Ne1c Era
AUSTIN, MARCH %, 1876.
To The Hon. EDWARD BURLEsoH,
| Presidentof The Senate OF me St0te OF lc1as :
S,R-l cannot leave the seat Of Government OF
your State, without returning my most sra'eluI
and respectful Acknowledgements TO the body over
which Won preside for The very distinguished no
nor they have done me, by adopting with an una
nimi,y which greatly enhances lis value, Ieso-
luton expressive Of the gratitude OF lhe people
of Texas for nv early friendship TO the country,
nv defence Of the character of its people IN Inc
Legislature OF South Carolina, and Gas the Senate
is pleased TO saw for my ability and success u
procuring recognition OF your independence py
some of the principal powers OF Europe.
With whatever ability my negotiations may
have been conducted, will not be gully OF the
absurd affecta,ion Of saying that do mol feel mat
have lust claim 10 The residue Of the applause
which YOU have so generously accorded. YES
sir, was your early and fast friend When your
Star rose over the surface OF these veTudhl pidi
ries, full OF the light reflected from your arms
South Carolina had Just emerged out OF Inc lear
Iless struggle, which sngle-handed she Waseo
against the whole Union IN defence u 'ne G1 ~
| s,ituion OF The United States, as e1pounueu y
him who drew the Declaration oil independence,
and those principles OF free trade Wiilcn are a.
once The vital element and Just reward OF nuihah
industry.
Icopfess that flung myself without scarcely
a moments relaxation, from the tolls OF ais'ih-
guished post, which had occupied IN my own
| State, with an ifrepressible enthusiasm 10 your
cause independently The just sympathy leN
in your heroic struggle, could not out venture ~
anticipate that rraat we had COMMENDED lot III
South Carolina was to be realized III me ausP'-
| cous fortunes which were dawnng on your
| country
MY purse, pen and tongue, in the exercise oil
| all the faculty of speech with which God had en-
dowed nae, were dedicated TO your service. NY
arm would not have been wanting Qeeoe as II
NAV have been) if the reaperS whom you seh,
down 10 the harvest OF death, al San Jaeihto hau
| LETT single enemy 10 sub lue or single sar'ano
| 10 be won. But ralor had left nothing Tor amo'-
! ton 10 CLEAN.
or The events connected with my civil ano TO-
reign services 10 The late Republic, am admo-
nished both OF The propriety and deicacy OF my
| being brief. Such as they were, they were rem
dered with fidelity and zeal. Inc recoSni'ion 81
YOUR independence by Great Britain gave you Inc
sovereign faculty OF making the compact OF an
nexation which you have consummated with me
Government of the United States. You, are,
doubtless, aware that many millions OIL your pup
&c domain had been mortgased by the Govern
mept OF Mexico 10 the British bond holders; and
but for The recognition of Great Britain OF your
power 10 contract treaties and form alliances,
some very delicate questions might have risen, or
some new or complicated points oil pnolic law,
which the sword alone could have solved.
And here you will permit Inc 10 offer some
explanation OF an apparent incol sislency that |,
who had been So strenuous an advocate for the
recognition of your sovereignty and indePend-
ence by other nations, should subsequently have
been an ardent champion for their being merged
(at least in qualified sense) in the government
Of this confederacy.
/ have never had an opportunity OF giving this
explanation. viii now DO Il briefly ano e5p.4,
city. On my visi, TO Europe in 1872, after mad
ceased 10 have any official connexion win your
Government satisfied myself, from the course
OF public opinion there that Texas, independent,
would soon become the lulcrum OH which the le-
yer oil European politics would be planted that
out Of the Union The vast preponderance OF i..'>-
pean emigranis coming into her territory
wonld separate her in sympathy and affection
from The people of the United States; thai IN less
than quarter OF century, her interests would
be played against those OF our now common
country, and that she would soon become the
Flanders of the North American States, al once
an object and theatre for the struggles, ambition
and policy OF other States. On my return from
Europe, passing through Washington in the au-
tumn OF 1912, | communicated these views 10
President Tyler, and found they had been anti
cipaled by his own patriotism, saSaciy ana Just
ambition Now that annexation has been con-
summated aud the grave has closed over Inc
bright and unfinished labors OF The amenled and
highly gifted Upshur, ! may say, without viola
ling the semblance OF confidence, that my private
correspondence with that gentleman on this sub
iect would more entirely sustain The opinions
which have thus ven,ured 10 give you hasty
sketch. These opinions may not have belonged
10 the comprehensive views OF statesman who
looks far into fu,uri;y, but | believe they Will
find response in every American bosom
Iu reference 10 the subject Of my pecuniary ne
eo,iations for your Government, have bul lew
words 10 say: Money is undoubtedly very plea
SAINT thing TO possess but IL is rather stale ana
ha subject 10 write about l, Is sufflcient 70 say
thatl never negotiated loan for you, except al
mar. when your paper was at heavy discount in
The stock marke, Of the United States, and what
is far better have in obedience 10 your order,
filed nv accounts with The Comptroller OF your
Treasury, accounting for every farlhins everr re-
ceived My contract with Messrs. Lath'e 8 20;
Of Paris in 1871, has been grossly misrePIIesened
by those who never read that contract II was
financial prolet, drawn as have reason to BE-
lieve, out by James Lafiiie that valiant champion
of liberty, and distinguished Banker, TO convert,
eventually 81 millions Of money certificates into
land warrants, at seven francs per acre. This
measure was defeated BY the perhdy and injustice
of the French Minister Of Finance, without, as
have the best reasons 10 think, consulting his Co
verpment, and believe, with The regret OF the
| enlightened King OF the French, and his highly
accomplished Minister of Foreign Affairs, M.
Guizot OF whom nothing more need be said, than
ha, his great public and private virtues are on
level with his distinguished genius. But enough
! of this subject.
! Il, has given me infinite pain 10 appear before
your Legislature, holding and representing, as |
! do, large claims against your Government. In
reference 10 the former il the interests OF others
were not involved, do not know that, in the SELF
sacrificing affection OF my children, would not
have found justification 50 entirely in harmony
with my own inclination in abstaining from pre-
sentng them. But in reference 10 the claims OF
others, whom induced, in the darkes! hours Of
your fortunes, 10 adventure their money in your
service, have higher duty TO perforn,-a duty
which could not neglect without inhdely 10
them and dishonor 10 myself.
That Texas has both the willingness and the
ability 10 pay every debt, which fair and equi-
table examination can be Justly brought against
her, cannot be doubled BY those who have any
knowledge other intellige II population and OF her
public resources; and as The best means OF meet
ing the Legitimate demands OF her creditors, per-
mi, me (who like yourselves is land holder, free
holder and tax payer in Texas 10 suggest the
policy Of transferring your public lands TO the
Government of the United States upon such terms
as would place the character and credit Of your
State upon lofty grounds, and secure 10 her an i'm
mediate prosperity. The public domain now an