The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1846-02-25

10 iaT IRON being unanimous. III the slave Statei
are very anxious for il, in order 10 subject to .
system OF customs duties, by which they are bound
country whose commercial competition they dread
and above oil, to secure to themselves by the &C.
QUESTION OF an ally, prepondeTanee in the confed-
| eracy, the other States would by a natural eonse-
quenee, view it with extreme repugnance; and
though It behooves us not 10 medde with that in
tefnal contention, the consideration on which il
rests Is certainly not OF nature to make US lean to
the side OF the partsans Of the anne Naton Our di.
rect information from Texas seems, besides. TO
prove that the majority Of the Texan people are
contrary 10 H. and that the thought Of it is energeti-
eaily rejected ny the existing government Ii is,
therefore, only by the aid Of violence more or less
aVowed, or more or less disguised that il could be
accomplished and, ] repeat il, it would ia no re-
speet suit US To accept such change without oppo.
sition."
W. GUisOi 10 " Pag.Ot.
"Feb. 10, 1874
SIR have received the despatches Won have
addressed me unto No. Sc, and the date Of the 2sth
December last.
"What President Tyler's message has disclosed
respecting the projects Of the federal government
regarding the annexation OF Texas 10 the United
States, and what you have written TO me about il.
could not fail To attract my serious attention That
OF the London cabinet ~ not less excited as 10 this
question, you will find by the accompan wing COW
Of a despatch addressed the 29th of January
TO Count de st. Aulaire, IN consequence Of a com
municarion made to me by Lord Aberdeen. through
The medium of Lord Cowley. This communication
referred To the opposition which the English govern
men proposed Offering oany project incorporating
Texas with the confederucy's territory as we'll as 10
the instructions TO be Forwarded TO Mr.. Pakenham
Lord Aberdeen having wished to know whether we
had the same intentions, i have desired Count de
ST. AulaIre TO inform him that you would receive
similar instructions.
"The last reports from the French legation in
Texas, whilst informing me Of the efforts Of the
Washington government, and It's representatives at
Austin, TO forward annexation, represented Presi-
dent Houston energetically opposed to any AZ
rangement Of that description, and protesting that
nothing Of the kind should take place 80 long as he
should direct affairs. The language held here by
Mr.. Ashbe Smith 10 not less explicit Neverthe-
less behooyes us to know whether both faithfully
express the opinion and wishes Of Texas, and
whether the question Of the anne Ration TO the States
Of the confedcracy, ii hgated in the Texan Con-
gress would not be afirmatiycly resolved on there.
That annexation would be lawfully UNSUITABLE, but
only IN the event Of Its being voluntary and not the
result Of violence on the part Of the United States;
and with us, as well as with England, 1t is, above
all, on the resistance OF the majority Of the Texan
people 10 the accomp ishment Of snch project that
the opposition we should manifest would be found
ed. But shall add that, even should the anneXa-
ton be voluntary and freely assented TO on the part
Of Texas, considerations, both political and com
mercId, would not permit US TO view it with indf-
ference; and that under all circumstances VIC must
wish that that country remain Independent.
ain political point OF view, a real interest of
equilibrium is connected with the preservation Of
that independence The annexation OF Texas, by
extending the United States territory to the Rio
Grande would produce the immediate conso quence
Of bringing them in contact with Mexico--tha is TO
say, afford them the means Of invading and en-
croachlng upon that country whenever they pleased
Now, cannot suit to that barrier fall; every
thing lends us desire that confederacy as DOW
erful as that Of the United States remain at dis
lance from the Mexican frontier by the interposi-
ton of State, also formed il is true, of an Anglo
Saxon race but still, and for long time to come
feeble enough not to justify the same fears whilst
it would still sufficiently fulfil its destination Of OPP
posing the invasions OF that confederacy.
"ln commercial point Of view we have also
reasons for desiring the maintenance OF the indie
pendence of Texas. Futurily has chances which
we must not lose Blight Of; and, from this moment
we might find in the Texas coonlsts a progressive
element of expectation, and, above ali, a real ALI
menr for our direct navi gation-an advantage which
we have not, and can scarcely expect from the
United States.
Lastly, sir, for the very reason that France has
been the first of the European powers 10 acknow-
edge the independence Of Texas, and to connect it.
self with that republic by treaty Of unity and
merce, does it not, it were, behoove our dignity to
see that what we have so soemnIy acknowledged
be respected and preserved
From all these considerations mus, be nat
uraIIy opposed to any project tending to the alb
sorption of Texas by the United States. know
not what the tenor may be of the Instructions sent
from London to Mr.. Pakenham, and consequently
how far the English cabinet intends carrying the
manifestation and consequences of its opposit on;
but | say enough as concerns us not to let you be
mistaken the attitude you to assume and the
language you are to hold. We manifest our oppos-
ton to any violent and forced annexation of Texas
to the United States, and even should that republic
spontaneously pronounce itself, the newspapers
announce, you would still have to express yourself in
such way as to make it known and well recorded
by the federal government, that we cannot behold
with Indifference such occurrence and that in the
event Of lis taking place. we could not dispense with
very expressly making every lawful reserve as to
the alterations that would result in the position and
advantages our treaty with the Texan republic has
yielded us in that country. !, however, conhde in
your judgment and experience, and you will, be-
sides, be enabled to come to an understanding with
Mr. Pakenham us to this object, which is common
to the two legations"