State, by the Texan Minister, which, by its boldness, seemed to have startled the Cabinet of Mr. Tyler.* By the terms of this communication, the fear seemed to be entertained by the Texans, that if annexation should be accomplished, the Mexicans would immediately terminate the, armistice, and at once resume hostilities; and the question was distinctly propounded to Mr. Upshur, whether the President, after signing the treaty, and before it was ratified by the other branch of the Government, would order the forces of the United States to protect Texas against foreign aggressions. Mr. Upshur *“SIR: It is known to you that an armistice has been proclaimed between Mexico and Texas; that that armistice has been obtained through the intervention of several great powers, mutually friendly, and that negotiations are now pending, having for their object a settlement of the difficulties heretofore existing between the two countries. A proposition having been likewise submitted by the President of the United States, through you, for the annexation of Texas to this country, therefore, (without indicating the nature of the reply which the President of Texas may direct to be made to this proposition,) I beg leave to suggest that it may be apprehended, should a treaty of annexation be concluded, Mexico may think proper to at once terminate the armistice, break off all negotiation for peace, and again threaten or commence hostilities against Texas; and that some of the other Governments who have been instrumental in obtaining their cession, if they do not throw their influence into the Mexican scale, may altogether withdraw their good offices of mediation, thus losing to Texas their friendship, and exposing her to the unrestrained menaces of Mexico. In view, then, of these things, I desire to submit through you, to his excellency the President of the United States, this inquiry: Should the President of Texas accede to the proposition of annexation, would the President of the United States, after the signing of the treaty, and before it shall be ratified and receive the final action of the other branches of both Governments, in case Texas should desire it, or with her consent, order such number of the military and naval forces of the United States to such necessary points or places upon the territory or borders of Texas or the Gulf of Mexico, as shall be sufficient to protect her against foreign aggression?" never answered it. Mr. Nelson, his temporary successor as Secretary of State, did not answer it to the Texan Minister in Washington, but addressed a letter to Mr. Murphy, in Texas, under date of March 11th, 1844. The terms of this communication did not satisfy the Texan Government, and Mr. Henderson, the newly appointed minister at Washington, from that country, refused to enter into negotiations. Fearful of losing the prize which was almost within their grasp, the administration of Mr. Tyler, on the 11th day of April, 1844, agreed to the demands of the Texan Government.* This was followed on the 12th of April, 1844, by a treaty between the two republics, for the annexation of Texas to the United States, which was rejected by the Senate. During each step of the negotiations the Mexican Government had issued threatening protests, † *“Gentlemen: The letter addressed by Mr. Van Zandt to the late Secretary of State, Mr. Upshur, to which you have called my attention, dated, Washington, 17th January, 1844, has been laid before the President of the United States. "In reply to it, I am directed by the President to say, that the Secretary of the Navy has been instructed to order a strong naval force to concentrate in the Gulf of Mexico, to meet any emergency; and that similar orders have been issued by the Secretary of War, to move the disposable military forces on our south-western frontier, for the same purpose. Should the exigency arise to which you refer in your note to Mr. Upshur, I am further directed by the President to say, that during the pendency of the treaty of annexation, he would deem it his duty to use all the means placed within his power by the Constitution, to protect Texas from all foreign invasion. I have the honor to be, &c."-Letter of the American Secretary of State, Mr. Calhoun, to the Mexican Minister, April 11, 1844. "The Mexican Government will consider equivalent to a declaration of war against the Mexican Republic, the passage of an act for the incor declaring that war would be the inevitable result, if the measure should be consummated. The question which for a time had been delayed by the Senate, was referred to the people in the celebrated contest of 1844, which resulted in the elevation of Mr. Polk to the presidency of the United States. The impetus which had been given at the presidential election to the question of annexation, resulted in the passage by Congress, on the 1st of March, 1845, of a joint resolution for annexing Texas to the United States* upon certain preli porating of Texas into the territory of the United States; the certainty of the fact being sufficient for the proclamation of war, leaving to the civilized world to determine in regard to the justice of the Mexican nation, in a struggle which it has been so far from provoking.”—Mexican Minister of Foreign Affairs to the American Minister, August 23, 1843. "Such a measure (the annexation of Texas), if carried into effect, cannot be considered by Mexico in any other aspect than as direct aggression. "And he (Almonte) moreover declares, by express order of his Government, that on sanction being given by the Executive of the Union to the incorporating of Texas into the United States, he will consider his mission ended, seeing that, as the Secretary of State will have learned, the Mexican Government is resolved to declare war as soon as it receives information of that fact."-Mexican Minister, at Washington, November 3, 1843. "That Mexico was resolved again to undertake the campaign against Texas, for which he held in readiness a large army."-Proclamation of President Santa Anna, June 12, 1844. * The first resolution provides, that Congress doth consent that the territory properly included within, and rightfully belonging to the Republic of Texas, may be erected into a new State, to be called the State of Texas, with a republican form of Government, to be adopted by the people of said republic, by deputies in convention assembled, with the consent of the existing Government, in order that the same may be admitted as one of the States of the Union. That the foregoing consent of Congress is given upon the condition, that the said State be formed, subject to the adjustment by this Government of all questions of boundary that may arise minary conditions, to which her assent was required. This was done by the Congress, and the Executive of Texas, and by the people in a convention elected for that purpose. The threats which had so often been made by the Mexican Government were put in force, and all diplomatic relations were broken off.* General Almonte, the Mexican Minister at Washington, in March, 1845, demanded his passports and returned to Mexico. What evils will result from this large acquisition of Territory? None. It is the duty of a nation, as far as possible, to throw around itself the elements of protection against the assaults of foreign powers. The advantages resulting from such a course are two-fold. It wins that respect and for with other Governments; and the constitution thereof, with the proper evidence of its adoption by the people of the said Republic of Texas, shall be transmitted to the President of the United States, to be laid before Congress for its final action, on or before the 1st day of January, 1846. The second resolution provides, that if the President of the United States shall, in his judgment and discretion, deem it most advisable, instead of proceeding to submit the first resolution to the Republic of Texas as an overture on the part of the United States for admission, to negotiate with that Republic, then, that a State to be formed out of the present Republic of Texas, with suitable extent and boundaries, and with two Representatives in Congress until the next apportionment of representation, shall be adınitted into the Union by virtue of this act, on an equal footing with the existing States, as soon as the terms and conditions of such admission, and the cession of the remaining Texan territory to the United States shall be agreed upon by the Governments of Texas and the United States, and the sum of $100,000 is hereby appropriated to defray the expenses of missions and negotiations to agree upon the terms of said admission and cession, either by treaty to be submitted to the Senate, or by articles to be submitted to the two Houses of Congress, as the President may direct. * Letter of General Almonte to the American Secretary of State, March 6th, 1845. bearance from foreign Governments, which power seldom fails to produce; and it yields facilities for a prompt and effectual vindication of rights, which the unscrupulous are so ready to infringe. If the interest of a country required the acquisition of contiguous territory, the proper means should most unquestionably be used by its Government to acquire that territory. If our nationality depended upon the forcible possession of any portion of this earth, it would be as justifiable upon the part of the Government to employ the requisite force to accomplish that end, as it would be for a drowning man to thrust his fellow from a plank, which would not support them both. They are both reconcilable upon the principle of "self-preservation being the first law of nature." There have always been found men, however, in this country, opposed to the extension of our territorial limits. Whether the acquisition is made peaceably and by negotiation, or is the result of conquest, their views remain unchangeable. Some base their opposition upon the assumption, that our limits will become so enlarged that a dissolution of the Union will be the result; while others, more selfish and illiberal in their opinions, dread the departure of power from their own contracted sphere. They regard as the greatest calamity which may befall them, the overshadowing influence which the immense territory we have acquired will possess over those small States wherein they are omnipotent. The objections of the latter are unworthy of a moment's consideration. Their motives are |