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any of Them to negotiation upon the sub
iecl. strong, and as | believed, erroneous
representa,ions had been made to them OF
.tste of opinion in the Senate of the United
STATES. favorable TO the ratification of such q
reaty. According 10 these representations,
had been ascertaiued, that a number OF
Senators, varying from thirty FIVE TO forty
two. were ready 10 sanction such a treaty.
| was aware, TOO, that holders of Texas
lands and Texas scrip, and spectators IN
them. were actively engaged in promoting
the object of nexation.-Still did not be-
lieve that any Executive Of the United States
would venture upon so grave and momen-
tous proceeding, not only without any
manifestation Of public opinion 10 favor of II,
but IN direct oppo.Itlon to strong and decided
expressions of public disapprobation. But
j, appears that was mistaken. To the as
tonishment ofthe whole nation we are now
in formed that a treaty of anne xation has been
actually concluded, and is to be submitted to
the Senate for It's consideration. The mo
tives ocmy silence, therefore, no longer re-
main, and | feel it to be my duty to present
an exposition of my views and opinions up
on the question, for what they may be worth,
TO the public consideration. | adopt this





eral replies to the respective communications
which | have received.


regret that | have rot the advantage Oh
a view of the treaty ITSELF so as TO enable me
TO adapt an expression OF my opinion to the
actual conditions and stipulaIons which it
contains. Not posse ssing that opportunity.
am CONSTRAINED 10 treat the question accor-
ding to what presume 10 be the terms of


4 Il. ( 4
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, il would appear IN quite
different light from that in which, | apple
hend. it is now to be regarded


The United States acquired a title TO Tex
as, extending. as believe, to the Rio del
Norte, by the treaty of Louisiana. They
ceded and relinquished that title to Spain by
the treaty of 1919, by which the Sabine was
substituted for the Rio del Norte as our ives
tern boundary This treaty was negotiated
under The administration of Mr.. Monroe
and with the concurrence of his Cabinet. OF
which Messrs Crawford Calhoun s. Writ
| being a majority, all Southern gentlemen.
composed a part. When the treaty was
/ laid before the House of Representatives be
| ing member ofthat body, [ expressed :he
! opinion, which then entertained. and still
| hold that Texas was sacrificed TO the ac
! QUESTION of Florida. We wan;ed Florida ;
| but thought it must. from lis position. inev-
! ably fall iuto our possession; F; that the point
of few years, sooner or later, was cf no
sort of consequence, and that in giving FIVE
millions OF dollars and Texas for it. we gave
more than a just equvalen.. But, if we
made great sacrifice IN the surrender of
| Texas, we ought to take care not to make
! too great a sacrifice in the attempt TO re-ac-
quire 1t.


Ny opinions of the inexpeGiency of the
treaty OF 70 did not prevail The Coun>
try and Congress were satisfied with it, ap-
| propiiatons were made to carry il into ef.
! feet, the line The SABINE was recognized
| by US as onr boundary. In negotiations both
/ with Spain aud Mexico, after Mexico be-
came independent. and measures have been
IN progress to mark the line. from the Sa-
| blne to Red river, and thence to the Pacific


We have thus fairly aienated our little to
| Texas. by solemn national cempects, to the
ful6imen: Of which we stand bound by good
faith and national honor. 1t is thereiof e,
| perfectly idle and ridiculous, if not dishon-
orabIe to talk Of resumlng our title TO Tex
as. as if we had never parted with it, We
can no more do that than Spain can resume
Florida, France. Louisiana, or Great BIZ
ain the thirteen colonies. now composing
part OF the United States


During the administration of Mr. Adams.
Mr. PoiuSett, Minister of the United States


ct Mexico. was Instructed by me- with the


Presidents authority, TO propose re purch


ase of Texas; bat he fol bore even to make


an overture for that purpose Upon his re-
turn to the United States. he informed me at


New Orleans. that his reason for not ma


king it was, that he knew the purchase was


wholly impractica5le, and that he was per-


suaded that If he made the overture. 1t would


have no other effect than TO aeeravate irrita-


tIons already existing upon matters Of dit


ference between thetwo countries.


The events which have since transpired


in Texas are well known. She revolted a.
caiust the Government of Mexico. h,-w 10
: a ms, a, finally fought and won the mem.
oral bic battle OF San Jacinto, annibiiatiuo a
Mexican army. and making a captive OF the
Mexican President. The signal success oI
that Revolution was greatly aided. If moi
wholly achieved by citizens of the Uaiied