Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1896-12-23

certainly afford the fullest satisfaction
to our own country. and perfect
guarantee to all other nations Of the
justice and prudence of the measures
which might be adopted.
In making these suggestions it is
not my purpose to relieve myself from
the responsibility expressing my own
opinions of the course the interests of
our country prescribe and its honor
permits US to follow"
His own opinion was against recog
milton; and that opinion was expressed
with Gen. Jacksons accustomed vigor;
but. having expressed it, he ended his
message with these truly patriotic
words:
Having thus discharged my duty
by presenting with simplicity and
directnesS the views which. after much
reflection. | have been led to take of
this important subject, ! have only to
add the expression of my confidence
| that. if Congress shall differ with me
upon it. their judgment will be the
result of dispassionate, prudent. and
wise deliberation; with the assurance
that during the short time | shall con-
shall promptly and cordially unite with
you in such measures as may be
deemed best fitted to increase the pros
perity and perpetuate the peace of our
| favored country. Andrew Jackson.
washington. Dec. 81 1886
on Wednesday, March L.. 1891, ac-
cordingly. the Senate adopted this
| resolution recognizing the independ-
ence of Texas:
Resolved That the state of Texas
having established and maintained an
| independent government capable of
performing those duties. foreign and
domestic, which appertain to indie
pendent governments. and ii appearing
| that there is no longer any reasonable
prospect of the successful prosecution
of the war by Mexico against such
state. it is expedient and proper, and
in conformity with the laws of nations
and the practice of this government in
like cases. that the Independent politi-
cal existence of said state be acknoWl-
edged by the government of the United
States"
We especially invite the attention of
the Hon. Richard Olney, and of ali
others concerned, to the fact that the
adoption of this resolution by Congress
constituted the recognition of Texas by
the United States government. and
that the date of the adoption of this
resolution was the date of our ac
acknowledgement of Texan independence.
Gen. Jackson signed it. in spite of his
own views on the subject; but if he had
vetoed the resolution. and it had then
hiC TpXaS wOll11
have been recognized all the same.
In one particular. however. Andrew
Jackson was outrageously mistaken.
In yielding precedence to Congress in
the matter of recognizing Texas. he
expressed the opinion that no dispute
would ever arise between the executive
and the legislature in regard to the ex
ercise of the power of recognition.
None had ever occurred before; none
would occur i'll the future, he thought.
inaSmuch as the only safe course. and.
where the possibility of war was in
volved the only course consistent with
the spirit of the constitution. was the
submission of the question to Congress-
as the war-declaring power. Andrew
Jackson did not deem it possible that
| just go years from that day an eXecu-
tive officer of the United States would
be found denying the right of Congress
to exercise this same power, defying
Congress to exercise it, and with APP
parently studied insolence threatening
to nullify any law by which Congress
| might attempt to exercise it.
In other words. Andrew Jackson did
not foresee Grover Cleveland's theory
of executive paramountcy: and his
mind was incapable of conceiving the
Hon. Richard Olney's assurance in set
Ting offhand in his own favor and in
sarcastic terms a difficult question of
const itutional Interpretation which has