Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1848-03-17
February, lsl7.
Tie Prediction Fulfilled.
(from Shaehford's Lecture on The Mericun
Uur.0

(FrOm ShacIford's Lecture on The Mericun
Vars
About twelve years ago, when the idea Of
the anntXotion VI Texas to the United States
WAS drrided by men Of all parties, as would
be the idea Of the annexation Of Botany Bay
when The politicians were asleep and saw
no signs of the approaching evil,-there pro-
cceded from one who was regarded by them
as 4 mere Dreamer and Theofisi. and was di-
rtcted to stick 10 his trade of preaching from
the pulpit, a word which was a voice Of
prophesy, SO literally has it been fulfilled
AT that time DR.. Claiming wrote his letter
10 Henry Clay son the Annexation Of Tex
as 10 the United States,'' a letter which like
the warning Of all prophets, fell upon deaf
and incredulous cars. In this letter he says,
''By this act, our country will enter upon a
career OF encroachment, war and crime, and
will merit and incur the punishment aud woe
OF wrong-doing. The seizure Of Ieras piW
mt stand alone. 1t will darken our future
history. 1t will be linked by an iron neces-
SHY to long continued deeds Of rapine and
blood. Texas is a country conquered by our
citizens; and the annexation of it to our u
Mon will be The beginning y eonquests, which,
unless arrested and beaten back by a just and
kind Providence, lriH stop only at the 18th
mus Of Ddrten. HenceioTth, we must cease
to cry, peace, peace. Our Eagle riU trhct,
mol gore its appetite on lis first victim; and will
snutl a more tempting quarry, more %alluring
blood i'll every new region which opens
southwark. To annex Texas is 10 declare
perpetual war with Mexico. Texas is the
first step TO Mexico. The moment we plant
our authority on Texas, The boundaries gthese
trO countries wiH become nominal, will bs
little more than lines on the sand Of the sta-
shore. Can Mexico look without alarm OH
the approaches of this ever-growing tide!-
Is she prepared to be passive prey to shrink
and surrender without a struggle! Is she not
strong in her hatred, if not in her iortresses
and skill! Strong enough 10 make tCar q dear
and GiOOdy game? Even were the disposi-
ton of our government most pacific and op-
posed to encroachment, the annexation of
Texas would almost certainly embroil US with
Mexico. Have we counted the cost of es-
tablishing and making perpetual these hos
tile relations with Mexico. Will wars, be-
gun in rapacity, carried on so far from the
centre Of the confederation, and of conse-
quence, HHR checked or controlled bv Con-
gresS, add strength to our institutions, or CO.
ment our union, or exert a healthy moral IN
tluence on rulers or people! What limits can
be set 10 the atrocities OF such conflictsl-
What limits to the treasures which must DO
lavished on such distant bordersl What
limits to the patronage and poper, which such
distant eTTedifionS must accumulate in the
hands Uf tie Erecutipe? Are the blood and
hard earned wealth of the older States TO bs
poured out like water, to protect and revenge
a new people, whose character and condition
will plunge them into perpetual wrongs I"
These words have now become historical
Fact. They contain the whole explanation
Of the war in which we are now engaged
They were based on a knowledge of the es.
sen1ial principles Of human nature, a keen
perception Of the realities Of national charac-
f ter, and proceeded from one who wrote free
from the bias Of party and political ambition,
whose finer instincts were alive to the inhu.
ences at work in the moral world Of causes.