Thoughts on the proposed annexation of Texas to the United States Page: 3 of 55
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T HOUGHTS
ON THE PROPOSED
ANNEXATION OF TEXAS.
It is now nearly seven years since the question of the annexation
of Texas to the Union was submitted to the Federal government,
and decided in the negative. That decision was based upon
our duties, as a nation, to the Mexican government, and on the
very doubtful nature of the constitutional power; and in making
that disposition of the subject, the admir4tration of Mr. Van
Buren'was fully sustained. In the long list of offences imputed
to that President, and'during all the angry years of partizan warfare
which have since elapsed, the refusal to receive Texas has
never, to our knowledge, been condemned. That the nation at
large acquiesced in the result, cannot be doubted.
The same question is now again presented to the people of
these States, but in a very different manner. What was then the
request of Texas herself, is now the anxious wish of the persons
administering our own government. What was then the solicitation
of a foreign power, has now become the darling measure of
our own politicians.
Upon the magnitude of this subject it is unnecessary to say
any thing. No man familiar with the structure or the history of
this confederacy, with its sectional interests, or its political organization,
can fCil to perceive that it is by far the most important
that has in our day been submitted to the judgment of the
people. Involving, as it does, a material alteration of the Union
itself, raising a most important question of constitutional law,
seriously affecting our amicable relations with foreign powers,
addressing by turns, in different language, the local interest of
every section, awakening earnest desires, arousing angry passions,
and last, absorbing in itself the great conflict between freedom
and slavery, he must be insensible indeed, that needs any
appeal to arouse his attention. No man is worthy the franchise
of the Republic, no man deserves the name of American citizen,
who is not awake to the magnitude of the interest.
* *1 uIv ' u~ r- ^ MtIhahltt Ml'iM it
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Sedgwick, Theodore. Thoughts on the proposed annexation of Texas to the United States, book, January 1, 1844; New-York. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth2387/m1/3/: accessed April 28, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting UNT Libraries Special Collections.