The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1850-07-15
REMARKS or MR.. OLDHAM.

On the ReDOyt aud Resolutions adoptod by a
meeting ef the citizens ~ TrdUis county on The
llh II JHHc, 1850, IA reference 10 he rights ~
Teras in .NeT Nerico.
Mr. CHAIRMAN Did the subject before tbe
meeting affect the interest Of Texas alone I
should forihe same reason given by NV venerable
friend Who has preceded me, (Goy. Duyal1 nv
short residence in the State decline making any
remarks. IL would come more appropriately
from some old citizen of Texas. who was here
in her darkest hours, who stood by her in nh her
trials amidst clouds and storms. who aided her
in establishing her Independence, giving her a
form OF government, securing freedom 10 her
people, and enrolling her name upon the eaia-
iogue Of nations, to viudicaic her rights and her
dignity. But il Is subject which interests every
State in the Union. A violation of the rights
of one State by the General Government, is n
violation Of the rights ofthe whole. A submits
sion to outrage by one State NAV be used as
precedent 10 justify IN attack upon another.
And when II il known that IN the great pO-
lltieal contest Of S4i in the United States, upon
the result Of which depended the fate of the
proposition To annex Texas Ia the American
Union, my political friends placed my name
upon the electoral ticket, a. a candidate, ard n
one of the electors Of my State, | east one Of
her votes for Polk and Dallas. and consequently
for the annexation Of Texas, will be- excused
in coming forward 10 disclaim before this meet
ing and in this capitol, all idea Oh the part Of
myself and the political friends with whom
acted, Of admitting Texas otherwise than as she
was, and upon an equal footing with the other
States of the Union, rs free sovereign and indie
pendent We did not seek 90 eurtail her bonn-
daries, or impose upon her onerous conditions
We regarded her people ~ our brothers, nur.
tured and reared up under our institutions, who
had settled in Texas In consequence Of the fat
tering prospects and inducements offered 10 them
by the Mexican Government. We had seen all
those promises aud inducements falsitied and
broken, which aroused the Anglo-American
spirit of the people 10 whom they were made
and broken. We are proud Of the gallant bear
ing they displayed in the field. exulied nj their
victories, and incurred over the fate Of her fall.
EN- sons. II was with doubt aud distrusi az
first, we looked upon the newly risen lone star
in the Southwest: whether II was an rphrmcral
meteor, soon 20 die out or would become fixed
star in the political heavens. NJ the time Of hcT
annexation, all doubts were removed. and the
independence Of Texas fixed and permanent.
We believed that annexation would he mutn-
ally beneficial 10 Texas and the Uniou---thar Il
would bind together by fraterral bonds, people
Of the same blood. language and r,luchinn, en-
tertaining the same views of free government.
and would prevent all the jralousics and con-
ficts that might arise betWera adjoining add ~
dependent nations, These were our motives.
We had no thought Of imposing degrading coH-
ditions upon Texas. Of curtailing her limit. 90
Of despoiling her Of her territory. ! hrlirvc
speak the sentiments 0f every man IN the United
States, who advocated the election u Polk sHa
Dallas and the annexation of TeAn-.
But in that contest. we were opposed hy =
party who were opposed 10 Texas, who q, sirrd
to shut the door in her face, and eNcludc hcr
from an union with her fair sisterhood. Th,y
failed; we were successful and Texas v'as 80
nexed She saw the sympathy ard Mind feeling
that had been expressed towards her by n, suc-
cessful party in the United States, and not duit
rejecting upon the strength Of the opposite party,
and the mutations Of political affairs. agreed 10
che resolutions OF annexation, without exarthtr
the conditions necessary 90 secure her rights un-
der all contingencies. With a noble generosity.
she reposed her interest in the bands Of her
friends, trusting to the magnanimity the AMER
lean people and Government. And can safe.
ly assert, without the fer 81 contradiction, that
during the administration OF President Polk, TIE
rights Of Texas were duly regarded, her bounda-
ries were recognized by Congress, by ths Presi-
dent and his cabinet, and not a single condition
was imposed upon her, Inconsistent with her
rights and her dignity. The confidence which
the people Of Texas reposed in the American
people was not abused or violated by that sd-