USA > Georgia > The bench and bar of Georgia: memoirs and sketches. With an appendix, containing a court roll from 1790-1857, etc., volume II > Part 45
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54
Bedney Franklin, Bedney Franklin, Seaborn Jones, Adam G. Saffold, Yelverton P. King, Gibson Clark, Mark A. Cooper,
DATE OF COMMISSIONS. November 6, 1813. November 10, 1816. September 17, 1817 November 8, 1819. November 8, 1822.
November 12, 1825. November 7, 1828.
Francis H. Cone, William C. Dawson, James A. Meriwether, Herschel V. Johnson, Francis HI. Cone, Robert V. Hardeman, Robert V. Hardeman,
DATE OF COMMISSIONS.
February 22, 1796. January 19, 1799. September 2, 1802. December 3, 1802. November 22, 1804. November 6, 1813.
November 12, 1825. November 7, 1828.
November 12, 1831.
November 11, 1843.
Dickerson W. Walker,
DATE OF COMMISSIONS. November 6, 1813.
373
COURT-ROLL.
SOLICITOR-GENERALS.
Edward Y. Hill, Hamlin Freeman, Richard O. Davidson, Richard O. Davidson, William G. Smith, Nathaniel G. Foster,
Nathaniel G. Foster,
Frederick H. Sanford, Augustus Reese, John M. Ashurst, James L. Brown, George T. Bartlett, Thomas P. Saffold, William A. Loften,
DATE OF COMMISSIONS.
November 12, 1831. November 12, 1834. January 26, 1836. November 11, 1836.
November 13, 1837. March 3, 1838.
November 13, 1838. October 5, 1840.
November 6, 1840.
November 11, 1843.
January 26, 1847. November 8, 1847.
November 8, 1851.
November 10, 1855.
V .- SOUTHERN CIRCUIT : 1819.
JUDGES. Thomas W. Harris, Thomas W. Harris, Thaddeus Goode Holt, Thaddeus G. Holt, Moses Fort, Thaddeus G. Holt, Lott Warren, James Polhill,
Carleton B. Cole, Arthur A. Morgan, Carleton B. Cole, Carleton B. Cole, James J. Scarborough, Augustin H Hansell, Peter E. Love, Peter E. Love,
SOLICITOR-GENERALS Thaddeus G. Holt, Thaddeus G. Holt, Robert Augustus Beall, James N. Bethune, Thomas D. Mitchell, Lott Warren, Thomas Porter, Stephen F. Miller, Robert A. Evans, William W. Wiggins, William W. Wiggins, John Gibson, Peter E. Love, Thaddeus Sturgis, George W. Jordan, Pitt F. D. Scarborough, John S. Wynn, Edward T. Sheftall,
DATE OF COMMISSIONS.
November 8, 1819. November 8, 1822. December 23, 1824. June 14, 1825. November 12, 1825.
November 7, 1828. November 12, 1831. November 12, 1834. April 13, 1836. November 11, 1836.
November 13, 1837. November 12, 1841. November 11, 1845.
November 13, 1849.
November 25, 1852.
November 7, 1853.
DATE OF COMMISSIONS. November 8, 1819. November 8, 1822. December 23, 1824. June 14, 1825. November 12, 1825. November 12, 1826. November 7, 1828. November 12, 1831. November 12, 1834. December 12, 1835. December 18, 1837. November 6, 1840. November 11, 1843. November 17, 1849. May 26, 1851. November 7, 1851. January 30, 1854. November 10, 1855.
374
APPENDIX.
VI .- NORTHERN CIRCUIT: 1822.
JUDGES.
John M. Dooly,
November 8, 1822.
John M. Dooly,
William HI. Crawford,
William H. Crawford,
William H. Crawford,
November 7, 1828.
November 12, 1831.
Garnett Andrews,
September 8, 1834.
Garnett Andrews,
November 13, 1837.
Garnett Andrews,
November 12, 1841.
Nathan C. Sayre,
November 11, 1845.
Eli H. Baxter,
November 13, 1849.
William Gibson,
October 14, 1853.
Garnett Andrews,
November 7, 1853.
August, 1855.
November 6, 1855.
SOLICITOR-GENERALS.
DATE OF COMMISSIONS.
John A. Heard,
November 8, 1819.
Micajah Henley,
November 8, 1822.
John B. Stewart,
November 12, 1825.
Benjamin F. Hardeman,
August 10, 1826.
Nathan C. Sayre,
August 26, 1826.
Nathan C. Sayre,
November 12, 1826.
Benjamin F. Hardeman,
November 7, 1828.
Daniel Chandler,
November 12, 1831.
Albert G. Semmes,
November 12, 1834.
Franklin A. Nisbet,
March 28, 1837.
Upton J. Heath, Jr.,
Isaiah T. Irwin,
November 13, 1837. May 9, 1840. November 6, 1840.
Alexander Pope, Gabriel Nash,
November 11, 1843.
Lucius J. Gartrell,
December 19, 1843.
Bernard E. Habersham,
John B. Weems,
July 7, 1847. November 8, 1851.
Thomas M. Daniel,
November 10, 1855.
VII .- FLINT CIRCUIT: 1822.
JUDGES.
Eli S. Shorter,
Charles J. McDonald,
Christopher B. Strong,
November 7, 1828.
Christopher B. Strong,
Angus M. D. King, Angus M. D. King, Edward D. Tracy, John J. Floyd,
James H. Starke,
James H. Starke,
Gilbin J. Greene, Eldridge G. Cabiness,
DATE OF COMMISSIONS. November 8, 1822. November 12, 1825.
November 12, 1831. November 12, 1834. November 13, 1837. November 12, 1841. November 11, 1845. November 13, 1849. November 7, 1853. January 23, 1856. February 6, 1857.
Thomas W. Thomas, Thomas W. Thomas,
DATE OF COMMISSIONS.
November 12, 1825. June 1, 1827. November 10, 1827.
William H. Crawford,
375
COURT-ROLL.
SOLICITOR-GENERALS.
Charles J. McDonald, Benjamin F. Harris, Richard L. Sims, Washington Poe, James H. Starke, James H. Starke, Zachariah Harman,
Augustin S. Wingfield, Samuel Hall, Rufus W. McCune, R. M. Stell, James R. Lyons,
DATE OF COMMISSIONS.
November 10, 1822. November 12, 1825.
November 7, 1828. November 12, 1831.
November 12, 1834.
November 13, 1837.
November 7, 1840. November 11, 1843. January 28, 1845. January 5, 1846. July 5, 1851. November 10, 1856.
VIII .- CHATTAHOOCHEE CIRCUIT: 1826.
JUDGES. Walter T. Colquitt, Walter T. Colquitt, Grigsby E. Thomas, Alfred Iverson, Joseph Sturgis, Marshall J. Wellborn, Joseph Sturgis, Robert B. Alexander,
Robert B. Alexander, Alfred Iverson, Martin J. Crawford, Edmund H. Worrill,
DATE OF COMMISSIONS. December 15, 1826. November 9, 1829. November 10, 1832. November 10, 1835.
December 25, 1837. November 12, 1838. November 11, 1842. January 31, 1846. November 10, 1846.
November 13, 1849.
January 23, 1853.
November 7, 1853.
SOLICITOR-GENERALS.
Samuel A. Bailey, John W. Hooper, James P. H. Campbell, John U. Horne, Henry L. Benning, John H. Watson, Alexander H. Cooper, Uriah G. Mitchell, John L. Lewis, John L. Lewis, John H. Howard, Milton Williams, James L. Pierce, John Campbell, Charles J. Williams, Jack Brown, Thaddeus Oliver,
DATE OF COMMISSIONS. December 15, 1826. December 15, 1829.
November 10, 1832.
November 14, 1835. November 17, 1836. November 13, 1839. September 3, 1841. November 11, 1841.
January 29, 1842.
November 10, 1842. June 8, 1843. November 25, 1843. July 18, 1844. November 14, 1844.
November 6, 1847.
January 16, 1852. January 22, 1856.
IX .- CHEROKEE CIRCUIT : 1832.
JUDGES. John W. Hooper, Owen H. Kenan,
DATE OF COMMISSIONS. December 8, 1832. December 8, 1835.
376
APPENDIX.
JUDGES. Turner H. Trippe, George D. Anderson, John A. Jones, Augustus R. Wright, John H. Lumpkin, John W. Hooper, Turner H. Trippe,
SOLICITOR-GENERALS.
William Ezzard, Henry Lightfoot Sims,
John H. Lumpkin, Thomas C. Hackett,
John J. Word, John J. Word, James C. Longstreet,
DATE OF COMMISSIONS. November 12, 1838. November 11, 1842. April 4, 1843. November 11, 1843.
November 18, 1849
July 12, 1850. November 7, 1853.
DATE OF COMMISSIONS. December 8, 1832. December 15, 1835. November 16, 1838. November 11, 1841. November 11, 1847. November 8, 1851.
November 15, 1856
X .- COWETA CIRCUIT : 1833.
JUDGES. Hiram Warner, Hiram Warner,
William Ezzard,
Edward Y. Hill,
Edward Y. Hill,
Edward Y. Hill,
Obadiah Warner,
November 4, 1853.
Orville A. Bull,
February 10, 1855.
Orville A. Bull,
December 6, 1855.
SOLICITOR-GENERALS.
DATE OF COMMISSIONS.
Young J. Long,
December 18, 1833.
George D. Anderson,
December 20, 1836.
Noel B. Knight,
November 13, 1839.
Kinchen L. Harralson,
November 11, 1842.
Augustus C. Ferrell,
November 12, 1845.
Dennis T. Hammond,
September 26, 1847.
Mial M. Tidwell, Logan E. Bleckley,
November 13, 1849. November 12, 1853.
XI .- SOUTH WESTERN CIRCUIT : 1840.
JUDGES. William Taylor, Lott Warren, Lott Warren,
DATE OF COMMISSIONS. December 12, 1840.
Lott Warren,
September 30, 1844. December 12, 1844. November 6, 1847.
William Taylor,
July 24, 1852. November 9, 1852.
William Taylor,
Edwin R. Brown,
January 3, 1853. November 9, 1853.
Wiliam C. Perkins,
Alexander A. Allen,
November 5, 1855.
SOLICITOR-GENERALS. Adam A. Robinson,
DATE OF COMMISSIONS. December 14, 1840.
DATE OF COMMISSIONS. December 18, 1833. December 20, 1836. November 6, 1840. November 6, 1844. November 6, 1847. November 29, 1851.
377
COURT-ROLL.
SOLICITOR-GENERALS. William J. Patterson, William C. Perkins, John Lyon, John W. Evans,
DATE OF COMMISSIONS.
November 11, 1843. November 6, 1847.
November 6, 1851. November 10, 1855.
XII .- MACON CIRCUIT: 1851.
JUDGES. Abner P. Powers, Abner P. Powers, Richard H. Clark,
DATE OF COMMISSIONS. November 28, 1851. December 28, 1855. September 1, 1857.
SOLICITOR-GENERALS. William K. De Graffenreid,
Theodorick W. Montford,
DATE OF COMMISSIONS. December 8, 1851. November 11, 1855.
XIII .- BLUE RIDGE CIRCUIT: 1851.
JUDGES. David Irwin, Joseph E. Brown, Joseph E. Brown,
DATE OF COMMISSIONS. November 8, 1851. October 4, 1855. November 1, 1855.
SOLICITOR-GENERALS. Edward D. Chisolm, William Phillips,
DATE OF COMMISSIONS. January 20, 1852. December 24, 1855.
XIV .- BRUNSWICK CIRCUIT : 1856.
JUDGE. Arthur E. Cochran,
DATE OF COMMISSION. Februáry 8, 1856.
SOLICITOR-GENERAL. William H. Dasher,
DATE OF COMMISSION. February 9, 1856.
XV .- PATAULA CIRCUIT: 1856.
JUDGE. David Kiddoo, David Kiddoo,
DATE OF COMMISSION. February 9, 1856. May 1, 1856.
SOLICITOR-GENERAL. William Harrell,
DATE OF COMMISSION. February 17, 1857.
XVI .- TALLAPOOSA CIRCUIT: 1856.
JUDGE. D. F. Hammond,
DATE OF COMMISSION. February 6, 1857.
SOLICITOR-GENERAL. Herbert Fielder, ·
DATE OF COMMISSION. February 17, 1857.
CITY COURT OF SAVANNAH : 1820.
JUDGES. James M. Wayne, John C. Nicoll, John C. Nicoll,
DATE OF COMMISSIONS. September 1, 1820. March 9, 1824. November 12, 1826.
378
APPENDIX.
JUDGES.
DATE OF COMMISSIONS.
John C. Nicoll, John C. Nicoll,
November 4, 1829.
Charles S. Henry,
November 10, 1832. November 13, 1834.
Charles S. Henry,
December 3, 1835.
John C. Nicoll,
September 11, 1837.
Levi S. D'Lyon,
November 12, 1838.
Levi S. D'Lyon,
November 12, 1841.
William B. Fleming,
November 11, 1844
Edward J. Harden,
November 13, 1845.
Mordecai Sheftall,
November 6, 1847.
Alexander Drysdale,
November 12, 1850.
George Troup Howard,
December 13, 1853.
James S. Millen, -, 1855.
CITY COURT OF AUGUSTA: 1827.
JUDGES.
DATE OF COMMITSIONS.
Robert Raymond Reid,
February 22, 1827.
Robert Raymond Reid,
November 9, 1829.
John P. King,
June 1, 1832.
John W. Wilde,
November 10, 1832. December 3, 1835.
John W. Wilde,
December 19, 1838.
John W. Wilde,
November 25, 1841.
John W. Wilde,
November 15, 1844.
John W. Wilde,
November 12, 1847.
John W. Wilde,
November 5, 1850.
William T. Gould,
February 21, 1851.
William T. Gould,
November 14, 1853.
CITY COURT OF MACON *: 1835.
JUDGES.
Robert A. Beall,
Clifford Anderson,
DATE OF COMMISSIONS. November 10, 1832. 1856.
William L. A. Ellis, City Attorney.
SUPREME COURT. (established in 1845.)
JUDGES.
DATE OF COMMISSIONS. December 24, 1845.
Hiram Warner,
December 24, 1845.
Eugenius A. Nisbet,
December 24, 1845.
Eugenius A. Nisbet,
November 13, 1847.
Hiram Warner, Joseph Henry Lumpkin,
November 8, 1851.
Ebenezer Starnes,
July 8, 1853.
Ebenezer Starnes,
November 19, 1853.
Henry L. Benning,
Charles J. McDonald,
November 26, 1853. January 12, 1856.
NOTE TO THE COURT-ROLL .- In examining the several books of regis- tered commissions in the Secretary of State's Office, much care was necessary to sift out the documents desired, as all varieties of commissions,
* Soon abolished : revived, by popular election, in 1856.
Joseph Henry Lumpkin,
November 13, 1847.
John W. Wilde,
379
FRAGMENTS, BY THE AUTHOR.
civil, military, and special, issued by the Governor, were recorded pro- miscuously until the administration of Gov. Cobb, when a separate book was provided for judicial officers. It is believed, however, that all have been noted that appear in the Secretary's Office. The omissions might have been supplied by referring to the Executive Journal, in which an order is entered for the issuing of every commission ; but the request for such a privilege was not in keeping with the author's ideas of propriety, and was not made,-though he has reason to believe that the Governor would have granted any reasonable facility to accomplish the objects of this work. Among the instances omitted are the commissions to Judge Early and to two or three other judges. A few of the Solicitor-Generals, also, do not appear on the roll, for the same reason. This explanation is deemed necessary to account for the intervals between successive com- missions observable in some of the circuits.
On the 21st day of March, 1789, a commission was issued to the Honor- able Nathaniel Pendleton as Chief-Justice of Georgia; after which no judicial commission appears until that to Judge Houstoun, of the Eastern circuit, in 1792.
To Col. WATKINS, Secretary of State, the author is indebted for many courtesies while he was occupied in searching the archives of the Depart- ment, and also to Mr. Briscoe and Mr. McCombs, the private secretaries of Gov. Johnson.
II.
FRAGMENTS, BY THE AUTHOR.
WITH no design of reproducing his former opinions for partisan effect, or for any selfish purpose whatever disconnected with the merits of the subjects touched upon, the author makes free to in- clude in the appendix to the memoirs a number of articles from his pen, some written while he acted as editor of the Independent Monitor, from March 1, 1840, to October 1, 1847. The Monitor was then published by the late M. D. J. SLADE,* Esq., in Tusca- loosa, Alabama, the former seat of the State Government. Some thirty years ago, Mr. SLADE and SIMRI ROSE, Esq., (the latter still of Macon,) were joint proprietors of the Georgia Messenger, which was subsequently united with the Georgia Journal, under the editorial charge of the late S. T. CHAPMAN, Esq.
The articles selected by the author to be explained briefly as occasion may require are the following :-
* Mr. Slade died in July, 1857.
380
APPENDIX.
1. Annexation of Texas to the United States.
2. Defeat of Henry Clay for the Presidency, 1844.
3. Signs of Revolution in Europe, 1847.
4. Generosity and Justice in Political Warfare.
5. Applying for an Ofice.
6. The Southern Question, 1850.
7. Labor Essential to Happiness.
8. Neutrality in the Presidential Election.
9. Letter to John Livingston, Esq., on "Eminent Americans."
10. Letters to a Young Friend.
11. Review of Gov. Gilmer's Book, ("Georgians.")
12. Letter to B. H. Overby, Esq., on the Governor's Election, 1855.
13. Library of Pamphlets.
To show that he had taken an early part for Texas, even before her independence was achieved at San Jacinto, April 21, 1836, the author submits a circular he prepared, which was published in the Livingston papers (also in letter-form, and extensively ad- dressed to leading men of the South) about the time it bears date. Mr. OCHILTREE, whose name is at the head of the committee, was afterward Attorney-General of Texas, and a judge of the Circuit Court of the Republic.
LIVINGSTON, Alabama, April 7, 1836.
SIR :- By the subjoined resolution, adopted, among others, at a public meeting of the citizens of this town and of the county of Sumter, it is made the duty of the undersigned to obtain early information upon the state of affairs in Texas, so as to enable them to carry out the patriotic and liberal objects of the meeting, in conveying relief to the champions of Liberty who are now gallantly fighting her battles in the province of Texas. The latest accounts from that distressed country have aroused the warmest public feeling in behalf of the noble band of patriots who contend against the bloody despotism of Santa Anna and his ruthless myrmidons. A committee of thirteen gentlemen has been appointed by the meeting to take charge of subscriptions for the benefit of the Texian army; and, as we believe liberal contributions of money will be made by our spirited fellow-citizens, we respectfully ask you to suggest to us, as early as pos- sible, the best mode of applying the sums so raised, whether by a direct remittance of the funds by an agent to Texas, or whether by the purchase of provisions in New Orleans or elsewhere, to be immediately forwarded to such point as will insure their safe and speedy arrival at the head- quarters of the Texian army. Now is the critical and trying hour which may decide the fortunes of these brave men,-a large portion of them citizens of the United States, and all of them our brethren in the cause of freedom. For any suggestions you may be pleased to make in reply we shall feel thankful. Our fellow-citizens anxiously look to the result ; and we hope it will entirely suit your convenience to furnish us some statements on the subject of the war in Texas, that we may supply the
381
ANNEXATION OF TEXAS.
aid in our power at an early day and in such mode as will be of the greatest service.
We are, most respectfully, your fellow-citizens,
WILLIAM B. OCHILTREE,
JOHN D. SMITH, STEPHEN F. MILLER,
PLEASANT N. WILSON,
ROBERT H. DALTON,
Committee.
April 6, 1886.
Resolved, That Wm. B. Ochiltree, John D. Smith, Stephen F. Miller, Pleasant N. Wilson, Esquires, and Doct. R. H. Dalton, be appointed a committee to procure early information upon the state of the army in Texas, and to report through the public papers the result of their in- quiries, and that the committee correspond with distinguished citizens, in such quarters of the country as they may decm proper, in relation to the subject, all the facts thus collected to be laid before the several committees raised by this meeting, without delay.
When the Texas question was likely to become an issue in the Presidential canvass of 1844, the author frankly espoused the measure in advance of the Whig press generally.
I .- ANNEXATION OF TEXAS.
(From the Monitor, April 10, 1844.)
The subject of annexing Texas to the United States is entitled to great consideration. We see nothing in it which should excite the North. Slavery already exists in Texas. The mere fact that it shall form a part of our territory will not increase slavery. If the Northern people think otherwise, they are most unreasonable. Their abuse of the proposed annexation is gratuitous and overbearing. The threat that some of them make-to dissolve the Union rather than see Texas admitted into our family of States with the institution of domestic slavery-is more the ravings of madness than the dictate of reason or humanity. We are as indulgent as any need be in matters of opinion or duty; but we see no justification for such violence on the part of the North, or non-slaveholding States. If Texas should come into the Union, (as we trust it may, upon terms satisfactory to all,) the ac- quisition to our national strength and prosperity will be vast. No re- public or country will be found elsewhere affording such abundant means of comfort, independence, and happiness.
But our design at present is mainly to glance at the action of Congress in years past relative to Texas. The first step we shall notice appears on the Journal of the Senate of the United States, June 18, 1836, p. 448 :-
"Mr. CLAY, from the Committee on Foreign Relations, to whom were referred the several memorials praying the recognition of the indepen- dence of Texas, made a report, accompanied by the following resolu- tion :-
"Resolved, That the independence of Texas ought to be acknowledged
382
APPENDIX.
by the United States whenever satisfactory information shall be received that it has in successful operation a civil Government capable of perform- ing the duties and fulfilling the obligations of an independent power."
With his usual promptness, President Jackson inquired into the condition of Texas through official agents. On the 1st of July, 1836, (Journal, p. 516,) Mr. PRESTON submitted the following resolution as an amendment to that reported by Mr. Clay :-
"Resolved, That the Senate has seen with satisfaction that the Presi- dent has adopted measures to ascertain the political, military, and civil condition of Texas."
The vote was then taken on both resolutions together, and they were unanimously adopted. On the 22d of December, 1836, Gen. Jackson communicated to Congress the substance of the information he had obtained in relation to the Government of Texas, which was of the most favorable character. On the 12th of January, 1837, (Senate Journal, p. 110,) Mr. WALKER submitted the following resolution :---
"Resolved, That, the State of Texas having established and maintained" an independent Government capable of performing those duties, foreign and domestic, which appertain to independent Governments, and it ap- pearing that there is no longer any reasonable prospect of the successful prosecution of the war by Mexico against said State, it is expedient and proper, and in conformity with the laws of nations and with the practice of this Government in like cases, that the independent political existence of said State be acknowledged by the Government of the United States."
No vote was taken on its adoption until 1st of March, (Journal, 311,) when 23 Senators voted in the affirmative and 10 in the negative. The next day, Mr. Ruggles moved to reconsider the vote, which motion was lost by a tie,-24 to 24.
We have not traced the action of the House of Representatives on Mr. Walker's resolution. It is sufficient to say that it was adopted, and be- came binding on the Government. The independence of Texas, as a nation, was fully acknowledged. The Senate Journal, p. 110, under date of January 4, 1838, shows :-
" Mr. Preston submitted the following resolution for consideration :-
" Whereas, the just and true boundary of the United States, under the treaty of Louisiana, extended on the southwest to the Rio Grande del Norte, which river continued to be the true boundary-line until the terri- tory west of the Sabine was surrendered to Spain by the treaty of 1819; and whereas, such surrender of a portion of the territory of the United States is of evil precedent and questionable constitutionality ; and whereas, many weighty considerations of policy make it expedient to re-establish the said true boundary and to annex to the United States the territory occupied by the State of Texas, with the consent of the said State :-
" Be it therefore Resolved, That, with the consent previously had, and whenever it can be effected consistently with the public faith and treaty- stipulations of the United States, it is desirable and expedient to reannex said territory to the United States."
After delaying the subject until June 14, 1838, (Journal, p. 470,) a motion was made by Mr. Norvell to lay Mr. Prestou's resolution on the table, -- which prevailed by a vote of 24 to 14.
Thus terminated the question. Before then, however, the Government of Texas had applied for annexation to the United States, and President Van Buren refused to entertain the proposition, on the ground that it
383
THE TEXAS QUESTION.
would be equivalent to a declaration of war against Mexico, with whom we were at peace under treaty-stipulations.
We shall not quarrel with the refinements of diplomacy ; but it seems odd that, after the United States had acknowledged Texas to be an inde- pendent nation, with all the faculties of self-government, the offer should have been rejected for fear of giving offence to Mexico ! After Texas set up herself, and was recognised as an independent power by the United States, the pretensions of Mexico to the territory of Texas were entitled to no more weight than those of France or Great Britain. If Mexico had been aggrieved at all, it was by acknowledging that Texas had no superior, which of course excluded the right of Mexico to interfere with her separate organization. As Governments acting for themselves, each independent of all the rest, it was certainly the privilege of the United States to treat with Texas on a matter-the right of soil-which concerned themselves alone.
In this attitude the parties stand. If Texas comes into the Union, there will possibly be four or five new States formed out of the territory thus acquired. Be it little or much, four States or ten, we are willing, for the sake of harmony, to compromise with the North, and divide Texas into two equal parts, in one of which slavery shall be retained, and excluded from the other. If this will not suit, strength must decide. Texas will be annexed to some Government ; and it would be folly in the people of the United States to let her pass into the hands of a European power. There is not such another beautiful portion of the globe as Texas. It is too great a prize to slip through our fingers. We believe the people of the South and West, as well as a large number at the North, under- stand their true interests well enough to contend for the prize. Once gained, it will form a happy era in our national and social condition.
(From the Monitor, April 17, 1844. )
ANOTHER DOOR FOR TEXAS .- It is reported at Washington that, if the treaty for annexation fails, Texas will apply for admission into the Union on the ground that the territory of Texas of right belongs to the United States, and that it contains the necessary population to form a new State. We hope that some method will be adopted, honorable and just to all parties, by which our country may soon acquire Texas.
Much has been said, in certain quarters, in derogation of the President, for his efforts to accomplish this great national object. It is alleged that he has humiliated his Government by inviting that of Texas to negotiation. Admit this to be true, (which has not yet been proved,) and he stands perfectly justified. Had all his acts been imbued with as much wisdom and propriety, he would have occupied a more enviable position. When a subject interests two Governments, or is deemed important by either, a step must be taken, or it never can be opened. Texas had once applied for annexation, and had been repulsed. If the President was convinced- as no doubt he was-that this country would be greatly benefited, it was his duty to propose the negotiation.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.