Mr.. Webstcr's Letter,


70 the Citt1ens Of Ho'ee''er, Mass.
~ the Annexation of Texas.
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s;Tsaa5, letter you expressed the belief, that
10 .,r :,;on might probably be presented to Con-
60 nresent session, for the annexation of
I asss a ~ the United States; and you desire to
ltSis " on;nons On the consttutionality of such


sn'R l,,eTits IL, probable effect on the character


na. as..ure action of our government-its tendcn-


Wv n,omoe the cause OF ireedom or to strength


W. rbonds Of slavery; and in general, the con-


O ,nces ~ which may Justly be expected to result


sssa' ,be annexation to the United States of


s'l slayeholding country, not only to Ameri-


&sy:s &s:so,ty. American industry and the continu-


% ~, ~ the Union itself, bat also to the great
~e # human knowled ge, virtue and happiness


sase ~ Tinted States, in Texas, and throughout


be world. - ,o..o-


israd strong hope that no such proposition


IsI .,S he made in Congress- or would proceed


sm syr'1 ,nv other quarter. deem it quite unfortu-


8ya ,hat topic, so certain to produce great ex.


Jaw .snsnt should be added to the other causes,


'...,;,c at the present moment, to create diver


gies Of public opinion.


sI,s A. an intention has recently been manifested,


.,rever. of making the annexation Of Texas to


=. limited States subject of discussion in Con-


ness. lose no time IN answering your letter,


II IN complying with its request. The answer


;.ou,e at hand


II the early part of the year 1887, it was gene


,Iv understood, that a proposition was about to


made to the Government of the United States


y, the annexation Of Texas to the Union. Hav-


mn occasion in March of that year, to address


,o;,;cs meeting in the city Of Ncw-Yo York, upon


r. interesting topics Of the day, could not,


possehtly with my own sense of proprety and


iutr, abstain from full expression Of my sentl-


nsnts on that suject. take liberty to transcribe


NE REMARKS then made by me.


.Cnemn qosin, eXrr-ss opinions the principal


,b cts Of interest the 1t impossible
,,,ook the delicate quss on, wich has arisen hon events
Tdependence mas NO" been by


o.nrnent # the United States the Congress gave the
P,snt hs be used when he saw tit OF opening
hIonac iutscourse with Governments aud the Pre-
GSsp,immedaely IN DE- use of these means.


no objection under the circumstances TO voting
popa,lon be used when the Pr sden' should think the


adcoue and he deemed cerain promptly,
aIlhv lns had aiEesd sivea Cetany ao te


avery short time have stabli shed Governme for them
pis the authority OF the parent state aud winch
Cyerumen 1t generally supposed there is Little pobtbi-


IT. the present moment, OF The parent State being able 10


1gr;i sTR Government is in form COPY Of own s an
inelcan constitutions substantially after the great American
n We all therefore must wish it success; aud there Is
m Ons no wl heartily rejoice than shall, 10 see
ndr ndent community llsent industrious aud iieady
nsads u.s. sprlug,ug up end fsng into happiness, dsa


a power upon own principles of lioefy aud gov


But cauno, be beGissuse gentlemen, that ies ire


.non Is air adv manifested 70 annex Texas the United
States On subject of such mighty magnitude as this ard
IA moment when the pubc aten is dawp 1T, should
e!nyse wanting in candO At did not express my opinion:
ylte all must suppose, that such question it is nposi-
VEL shou!d be viii hout some opinion


say the Gentle me, all lraDknesS that objec-
on think nsurmountsble objac,ions 10 the Aunxa,Ion


Texas tothe United states. When the Constitution was
rnd it is probable that either its trainers or the Peo
|. IN thp
rao, except such then already existed aud sach as
% 5ea In Ted Ssa STATES '' Faen yts 's the adoption Of
Coz stuon however the case OF Louisiana arose LOUIS.
oned om SPAIN the object of this acquisition was
extension of trntory Other great political inter
Louisiana had held the mouths OF the great rivers which rise
Western States and flow into the Gul OF Mexico She
hs Disputed our use OF these rivers already and with
ous that the Commerce Of all the West was IN taugeT OF


etqa yexaton The comman OF these MYERS to the sea
louisiana. But that gus, ION necessarily brought Terri
bat ancient Province.


similar policy aud similar necessity ttGush perhaps
entirely 50 uget lea to te OF
.tion o Texas. The of Texas TO our Territory
mot necessary to the full aud complete enjoyment of all
hrrent iom that Of Louisiana and Florida There oeas
al direction we ought think. for numerous an! powerful
asons, TO be content with our present boundaries.
rss is likely 10 be saveholdnc country; and frankly
rnw nv entire uuwilugness 20 do any thing which shall
i Ga G e d. states to the onion When say that
egard Slavery in itself moral, socia and olteal
VII only use Language wh.c has deem adopted by distn:
ushsd men themselves citizeus of siayehoding States
hail do not hing therefore, favor or encourage MS u her
tension We have Slavery already amongst The on
utulou found II amongst u.s. it snzed IT, and gave II
smn guar mites To the flu extent of these guar i1s "e
Ii, the stphl,ons contaiued the Constitution IN favor OF
he States which already ia the Union ought
b. fulfill and so far as depends shall be fulfilled IN
r,l,
Slavery in the States, is beyond the reac OF oh
m 1t concern OF the states ,rseVeS; ,neS mtn1
power shaf concur therefore, IN no dcl 10 nea
sue 40 menace INDICATION of purpose winch shall inter
m or threaten 10 interfere, with the exclusive authority oi


several States over the subject OF Slavery as II exists
within limits Al thus appears 10 ME 10 De
But When We come to speak OF admitting States, the
subject entirely dlent aspect Our rights ald
oar duties are then both different


THE free States and al the States are then at liberty 70 &C
p or to reject When is pLopo ed to bring new membGs
into his poii,icai patuersip the old me lnbetS have Ts
asay on what terms such IaItners are TO come m ana
What they are TO bring along witt them IN my OPINION e
ay extensive and slave-hodiug country large enough for
lozn half doz States into the Unon ihy oial1n thev
conceive what pnse be eft any part this can
e: 10 derive om such An 10 ohylon ANY
M strong On the general question OF siavery great
'oon Of the community is already strongly excited me
les but has truck Far deepe.-t I'd chor II as artess9
he religious feeling OF the coontfy; t has 'ks tiGus "e
~ The OF "'u ~
conyeIsant human nature and especially has he avery
oaeous of the character OF the people OF ms coah
y who supboses that feeling Of tins knd Is 10 be ua
Hh despsed 1t Will as,ursdy cause ITSELF TO ee respected
my Be ed with II may be made Wiling, oelies
entirely willing fulfil all existing engagements, anu al
sng duties uphold and deead the as II Is
faonh.d with whatever regrets about some po'i:ions
which does actually contain But 10 coerce II INTO silence
10 sadeavo restrain free expressions 10 seek TO com
ss and coane H. as II s aud more hed,eu as Smem Gu


ois Inevitably render -shoud all tins be atIeilS
q know nothing III the Constitution or IA me oh;eh
le which would not be endangered by the whic
NIGHT follow.


see. therefore political necessity for the annexation
nd objections TO it, of strong, aud my Judgment deci
Sse Character


believe il TO be for the interest and happiness OF the
Whole Union 10 remain as il is without dnnution and
Without addition


need hardly say that these opinions remain
entirely NM altnreH