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the then condition Of tha; Republic well rs the
probable advantages 10 result TO both from the pro-
posed Annexation were placed before us IN an clab-
ora,c aud able communication. II can scarcely be
necessary say that the application was consider
el with that attention and which were due 10
So grave proposition, and under the full influence
Of feelings OF sincere solcitude for the prosperity
and permanent welfare OF young and neIgilborns
State. whose independence ue had been the hrst 10
nckuow lcdge-ireings which constitute. and SIN
cerely hope will constitute the preva!ing sen
liment o The people OF the tinted States. In conf
ing 10 Inc decision which II became my duty 10
uiake was aided, in addition 10 the other members
of nv Cabinet by the counsel and constitutional ad
vice of two distinguished ,iliZcns OF your own Sec
tion OF the Union of the first order OF Intellect great
experience in public affairs, and whose devotion tu
their own, as we'll as every other section OF tie
Union, above all question. The result OF our
united opinions was announced 20 the Texan Min
isrcr. (Gen. Hunt in commu0lcaiionromi The late
Nlr FORSYTH, the substance oi winch cannot better
express than by Incorporating one or TWO bre ex-
tracts from il in this letter. pom the general sub
jcct my own views, rs we'll as those OF my Cabinet,
were thus stated:


-S So long as Texas shall remain at war; while the
United States al peace with her adversary, Tie
proposition of the Texan Minister Plenipotentiary
necessarily involves the question OF war with that
adversary. The United States are bound 10 Mexico
by treaty of amity and commerce, which will be
scrupuousIy observed on their part so long as II
can be reasonably hoped that Mexico will perform
her duties and respect our rights under It. The
United States might Justly be suspected oi disrc-
gard Of the friendly purposes OF the compact II ti'e
overture of General Hunt were 10 be even reserved
for future consideration, as this would imply dis
position on our part 10 espouse the quarrel OF Texas
with Mexico-a disposition wholly at variance VITA
the spirit of the treav and with The uniform policy
and the obvious welfare Of the United States: -


The inducements mentioned by General Hunt
for tic United States 10 annex Texas 10 their tern
tory are duly appreciated but, powcriul and welsy


rs certainly they they are light when opposed III
The scale ofreaSon treaty Obligations AID respect
ior that integrity OF character by which the United
Safes have sought to Distinguish themselves since
the establishment OF their right to claim place IN
;he great family Of Nations


The iutimaion in General Hunts letter that
Texas might be induced to extend commercial ad-
vantages 10 other nations 10 The prejudice Of the
United States, was thus nulccd


at is presumed, however, that the motives by
which Texas has been governed III making this
overture, will have equal force III lmpelling her TO
preserve, as independent power, the most liberal
commercial relations with the United States. SUCH
disposition will he clcerfully met, in correspond
ing spirit BY this Government. If tie answer which
the undersigned has been directed To give 10 Tie
proposition OF General Hunt should unfortunately
work such change in the sentiments Ci that Hov-
errment as 10 induce an atemptto extend CONNER
cia relations elsewhere, upon terms preludclal TO
the United States this Government will be conso!ed
by the roctitude OF It's intentions, and certainty
that although the hazard Of transient losses may be
incurred by rigid adherence 10 just principles, no
ting prosperity be secured when they are dis
regarded.


That these views were mol altogether satisfactory
to General Hunt, nor probably 10 his Govcrnneni,
has been seen. But think may safely say that


a., I,,s, (rpyp FIt-
mcnt of question Of equal magnitude, been more
decidedly ormorc unanimously approved by the pee
pie of tile United States. The correspondence was,
very suon aler it took place, communicated 10 Con-
gross, and although the public mind was III the time
in Il state OF the highest excitement, and the admin
israti0n daily assailcd through every avenue by
which il was deemed uppr0ucliable, am yet 10 see
the first sentence of complaint upon that point, in
any quarter of the Union Even resolution offered
in the Senate declaring Annexation, "whencvcr II
could he effected consistently ,cih lie pubiic faiM
AMI treaty stipui0tions of he United States, desr
able was ordered 10 be laid upon the table and Il
similar disposition was made in the llousc oi the pa
pcrs upon the subject, which had been reicrlcdsio
the Committee ON Foreign Relations, and ,hat Com
mitlee discharged from the further consideration Of
the matter, upon It's own application. Nor were The
friendly relations then existing between that Repub
lie and the United SIates-io its honor be ii sald-in
any perccptiblc degree impaired by this decision.





becomes nv duty TO consider whether either The
ture OF the question the circumstances oi the case
have o far changed as to justify me in now advising
policy from which then, i'll tie most solemn 'orm,
dIssencd.


In giving TO you, and through you TO the public,
the result OF very careful aud dspassOnatc eXaml-
nation of this grave question, ] should neither do
justice 10 yourself, the patriotic State which you,
in conjunction with others, ARE TO represent IN the
Convention, to The people Of the United States, nor
To my own position il ] filled 10 accompany II with
briei exposition of the grounds upon which have
proceeded. 1t is in that way only that justice can
he doue TO ms intentions; and that is all DESIRE
The annexation ot the territory, and the consequent
assumption bv us OF responsibility 10 protect and
defend lis inhabitants would, respect 10 the
sidcraou 20 which am about 10 refer, stand upon
the same footing with that OF Its admission Us Il
State. The recognition OF Texas as an independent
State was measure which received i'll various aud
appropriate forms, the sanction of every department
oi the Government, whose cooperation was ncccs-
cary TO lis validity, and had my hearty concurrence.
From his act OF our Government, just aad proper in
all respects it was, an inference has, however,
been drawn and brought 10 bear upon The present
question: notonly very far hey its real bearing but
by which its true character is entirely reversed.
MANY persons who enter upon the consideration q!
the subject with the purest intenons and are lnCa-
pable OF knowingly giving false Interpretation 10
any thing connected with H. take IT for granted that
the United States in recognising the Independence
of Texas, declared TO the world, not only that she
was independent IN fact. but also ibat she was such
of right. Acting upon this erroneous construction,
they very naturally conclude that, having gone thus
fur having examined into and passed not only upon
the existence Of her independence, but also upon her
right TO its enjoymen it is now land more especially
after the lapse of several years. tco late 10 hesitate
upon the question OF annexation on the ground O.
any existing controversy upon those psnts.


The fallacy OF this reasoning will be apparent
when it il considered that the usage OF nations TO
acknowledge the Government, de tacto, OF every
country was established for the express purpose 9!
avoiding ell inquiry into, the expression OF any
opinion upon, the question light between the con-
tending parties. They acknowledge no other power
in any country Than that which is IN fact supreme.
They cannot inquire beyond that point without IL
tcrieing with the internal concerns OF other nations
"a practice which all disclaim, and disclaimer
which it has been invarable usage not only 10
make. bu; TO enforce with scrupulous fidelity. To
recognize the Independence OF the Government dc
acto, is also matter Of state necessity for without
it, neither commercial nor diplomatic intercourse be-
tween any such power and the nations oi the world
i L 4