Proceedings of the Senate and Documents Relative to Texas, from which the Injunction of Secrecy Has Been Removed Page: 20 of 119
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[ 341 ] 20
industry. Hence we have a high interest to keep her as far as possible
from the influences of other countries. Left to herself, we have no reasoa
to fear any rivalry, either in her trade or in the friendly feelings of her
people. The manufacturing industry of the United States is not yet so
prosperous as to relieve the Government from all care to provide proper
means of fostering and extending it. The best and the all-sufficient means
is to provide for it suitable markets for the sale of its products. It has now
attained a degree of excellence which enables it to compete with that of
any other country upon fair and equal terms ; but it cannot sustain itself
if the markets on which it has heretofore relied shall be virtually shut
against it, by the superior advantages offered to the manufacturers of other
countries. Certainly no measure calculated to produce such a result can
be unworthy the serious attention and watchful care of this Government.
Contemplating this anti-slavery movement, if it has been or shall be
made, as part of a system by which England hopes to obtain an influence
over the policy of Texas, we cannot be at a loss to estimate its importance.
Give to England more favorable terms of trade than the United States can
obtain, and her manufactures of all kinds will be thrown into Texas, not
merely for the supply of that country, but with a view to have them smuggled
into the United States. This will be an easy process, and one which
this Government will find it impossible to arrest. Our Southern and Southwestern
States will be filled with the manufactures of England, smuggled
across the Red river and through thie interior waters of Louisiana. Thus
the manufacturing States of our Union will not only lose the market of
Texas itself, but they will also lose, to a great extent, the still more valuable
market of our Southern and Southwestern States. This result is not
only probable, but it is almost certain. It is too important to be contemplated
without very grave concern on the part of this Government.
The effect on the cotton-growing States of our Union, although it will
not be equally disastrous, will yet be very seriously felt. The cotton of
Texas will necessarily be given in exchange for the manufactures of England,
and of course it will take the place, to that extent, of the supplies nowv
furnished to that couitrv bv the United States.
The effect of this state of things upon the revenues of the United States
is not unworthy of consideration. Importations from England will cease
to the extent of the supply which will be smuggled into this country; and
the revenue from customs must be diminished in the same proportion, and,
as a necessary consequence, thie navigating interests of our people will suffer
in no inconsiderable degree.
It is quite certain tlhat the mere emancipation of the slaves of Texas
could not produce these momentous results. It is not in that view that I
press the subject upon your attention. The diplomacy of England has
heretofore been scarcely less successful than her arms, in obtaining for her
the largest share of the commerce of the world. Her movements are generally
begun at a distance, and her approaches are gradual and cautious;
and for that very reason, they rarely fail of success. Doing nothing in the
beginning to excite the suspicions or rouse the jealousy of other nations,
her plans are not often fully developed until it is no longer possible to oppose
them. It is in this view of her policy, that the present supposed
movement becomies important. It is of little consequence to her whether
twelve or fifteen thousand Afiicans in Texas be bond or free ; but it is of
great consequence to her to create a sympathy with that people ; to acquire
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United States. Congress. Senate. Proceedings of the Senate and Documents Relative to Texas, from which the Injunction of Secrecy Has Been Removed, book, 1844; [Washington]. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth2363/m1/20/: accessed April 26, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; .