"Untitled," Telegraph and Texas Register, January 27, 1837

Summary: The editor put forth three major grounds for the annexation of Texas in response to a rival newspapers' opposition to it. He mainly asked the president and Congress to act fairly on the question in regards to past precedents and free from sectional animosities. Based on those criteria, he cannot imagine why annexation should not occur.

Views of the United States Telegraph, relative to Gen. Gaines, the recognition of our independence, and the annexation of Texas to the United States. These views are given in conclusion of comments made on an editorial of the United States Gazette, which paper, anticipating the wishes of Texas, and the important question resulting, has taken an early start in the opposition against our annexation.

First. In regard to Gen. Gaines and his instructions, we have desired to await the judgment of the court of enquiry, and the views of the president, as expected in his annual message to congress. This course seemed to be dictated by all the considerations springing from a sense of justice to individuals, and regard for the national character.--This may appear to the Gazette as "lagging in the rear of opinion,"--but we feel it to be a dictate of common justice. It is wiser and better to lag behind, and do right, than to rush before and do wrong--whether the question involve the character of individuals or governments.

Secondly. We desired to place the recognition of the independence of Texas upon the grounds heretofore regarded as controlling in their influence upon the action of the government. We wish no new theories--no novel principles--no green precedents. We cordially concur with Mr. Webster, in the views expressed in regard to the subject of the last session. We put the recognition of the independence of Texas on the same grounds with the recognition of the independence of other countries. We ask that the principles and the precedents shall prevail, which were recognized and settled by the government of the United States in relation to Mexico itself, and the southern republics. Does the Gazette desire new principles to suit the present case? If so, will it favor us with the reasons.

Thirdly. We have viewed the proposed annexation of Texas to the Union as a question to be determined upon its own merits, free from sectional jealousies of every kind. We have deprecated the introduction of matters foreign to the merits of the question, and obviously calculated to foster local feelings, and to inflame popular prejudices. For this reason we have condemned the reckless madness of Mr. Adams and the course of sundry papers infected with his monomania. The question, if it should ever come up for consideration, must be determined upon its own merits. We again tell the Gazette that the people of the south will never submit to the establishment of a precedent which excludes them from the benefits of the union because they are slave holders. This cannot be expected of them. It would be an excess of weakness and folly not to be expected from an intelligent and brave people. We have put this question, like the others, upon its own intrinsic merits. We want no new principles or precedents--no new fashioned doctrines--to suit the sickly prejudices of the times. We look to the past for the rules of public conduct. The cases of Louisiana and Florida are in point. We appeal to them, and to the long established course of government in regard to the acquisition of territory north west of the Ohio. We make no distinction between the sections, and we will admit of none. We look to the whole country, and not a part; and we place the slaveholding and the non-slaveholding interests upon the same footing. He who would build up any wall of demarcation between them, must expect his labors to be interrupted.

Source Copy Consulted: "Untitled," Telegraph and Texas Register, January 27, 1837, p. 4