Mr. Clay OH the Texas Question.


RALEIGH, APRIL IL, l944
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private individuals, requesting an expression o


my opinion upon the question of the Annexation


of Texas to the Unite i States. l have forbo NE


to reply to them, because it was not very conven,


ient during the progress of my journey, to do So


and for other reasons. | did not think it proper


unnecessarily to Introduce at present new ele


ment among the other exciting subjects which
agitate and engross the public mind. The rejec.


ton of the overture of Texas, some years ago to


become annexed to the United States, had met with


general acquiescence. Nothing had since occur


red materially to vary the question. l had seen


no evidence Of desire being entertained, on the


part of any considerable portion Of the American


people, that Texas should become an integral part


of the United States. During my sojeuFn in


New Orleans, l had indeed, been greatly sur


priscd, by information which [ received from


Texas, that, in the of last fall, voluntary


overture had proceeded from the Executive ofthe


United States to the Authorties of Texas to con-


clude treaty of Annexation =; and that, in order
to overcome the repugnance felt by any Of them


to a negotiation upon the subject strong and, as


believed, erroneous representations had been made
to them of state of opinion in the Senate Of the
United States favorable the ratification Of such
treaty According to these repre- scntations, it had
been =ascertained that number of Senator's vary
ing from thirty-6ve to forty-two, were ready to
sanction such treaty. I was aware, too, that





culators in them, were actively engaged in pro-
noting the object of annexation. Still, did not
believe that any Executive Of the United States
would venture upon so grave and momentous
proceeding, not only without any general mani
frstation of public opinion in favor of ii, but In
direct opposition to strong and decided expressions
of public dsapprobation But it appears tn
mistaken. To the as,onishment of The whole
nation we are now inform d that treaty of an
hos Ind nd ic
be submitted 10 the Senate for its consideration.
The motives for my silence, therefore, no longer
remain, and feel it TO be my duty TO present
exposition of my views and opinions upon the
question, for what they may be worth, to the pub
lie consideration. | adopt this method as being
more convenient than several replies to The res
pectiVe communications which have received.


regret that have not the advantage Of view
of the treaty itself, to enable me to adapt an
expression OF my opinion to the actual conditions
and stipulatious which it contains. Not possess
ing that opportunity am constrained to treat the
question according to what presume to be the
terms of the treaty If without the loss Of ma
tionaf character, without the hazard Of foreign
war, with the general concurrence of the nation,
without any danger to the integrity Of the Union,
and without giving an unreasonable price for
Texas, the question Of annexation were presented,
1t would appear in quite different light from
that in which, apprehend, it is now to be regard
ed


The United States acquired title to Texas, ex-
ding as l believe, to the Rio del None, by the
p. X # Louisiana. They cedcd and relinquish-
& ..--. ~" 20 Spain by the treaty of l8l9 BY
..'-fc4 - StbIGe substituted for the Rio del
Nohe as our western boundary. This treaty was
negotiated under the Administration of Mr. Mon |
roc, and with the concurrence Of his Cabinet, of
which Messrs. Crawford, Calhoun, and Writ,
being majority, all Southern gentlemen, COM
posed part When the treaty was llid before |
the House of Representatives being member of
that body. l expressed the opinion, which then
entertained, AMI still holl that Texas was sacrific-
cd to the acquisition of Florida. We wanted |
Florida but thought it must, from its position
inevitably fall into our possession; that the point
of few years, sooner or later was of no sort of
consequence, and that in giving FIVE millions of
dollars and Texas for it, we gave more than
Just equivalent But, if we made great sacrifice
in the surrendc: Of Texas, we ought TO take care
not to make too great sacrifice in the ATTEMPT TO
it.


My opinions of the inexpediency of the treaty
of 1919 did not prevail. The country and Con
gress were satisfied with it, appropriations were
made 10 carry into effect the line of the Sabine
was recognised byu US as our boundary, in negotia.
tons both with Spain and Mexico, after Mexico
became independent and measures have been in
actual progress to mark the line from the Sabine
10 Red river, and thence to the Pacific ocean.
We have thus fairly aIienatcd our title TO Texas by
solemn national compacts to the fuIflmrnt of
which we stand bound by good faith and national
honor 1t is therefore, perfectly lille and ridicul
ons, II not dlshonorable, 10 talk Of resumino our
Ltls to Texas as if we had never parted with it.
We can no more do that than Spain can resume
r iorlda, France Louisiana, or Great Britain the
thirteen colonies, composing palt of the
United States


During the administration of Mr. Adams. Mr..
Polnsfit, Minister of the United States at Mexico.
was instructed by me, with the Presdrnt's authori.
~ to propose repurehase of Texas; but he for
bore even to make an overture for that purpose.
Upon his return to the United States. he inform-l
cd me, at New Orleans, that his reason for not
making it was, that he knew the purchase was
wholly lmpracticable, and that he was persuaded
that If ne made the overture, it would have no
other effect than to aggrayae irritations, ALREADY
existing, upon matters of difference between the
two countries


The events which have since transpired in Tex-
as as are we'll known She revolted arains. the
Government of Mexico, few to arms. and finally
fought and won the memorable battle of San Jacin.
TO-, annlhilatng Mexican army and making
captive Of the Mexican President The signal
success, of that Revolution was greatly aided. if
not wholly achieved, by citizens of the IJnited
States who had migrated to Texas. These succors
If they could not always be prevented by the Gov,
ernment of the United States were furnished IL =


