"Untitled," Telegraph and Texas Register, July 17, 1839

Summary: The editor responded to the issues of Texas annexation and the slave trade. Quoted a New York paper and Louisiana paper to show how the abolitionists linked annexation with the slave trade while some southerners called for annexing Texas or repealing laws against the slave trade. The editor insisted the two issues were different, with Texans highly against the slave trade but highly supporting annexation. Warned the North that if annexation failed, Texas would spread to the Pacific and bring slavery to all its new territories; therefore, annexing Texas would actually curb the spread of slavery in North America.

We notice in several of our Exchange papers of the Northern States that quite a sensation has been produced upon the subject of the African Slave Trade to this country by way of the Island of Cuba founded upon a rumor which by some means became circulated in this city and published in the Star, was about to become opened. It was seized upon by the Northern Fanatics, with their characteristic avidity, and has been made a new cause of abuse against this country. About the time that intelligence was occupying the attention of the public here, the Louisiana Courier at New Orleans, published an article in which were remarks favorable to re-opening of the slave trade from Africa into the United States. These circumstances have well nigh set some of the Northern Editors beside themselves--They have become lavish in denunciation and seem to have found consolation only in the truism of the New York Mercury, which will be found below, that if Texas does not wish to be annexed to the Union and we do not wish to have them, it is not likely they will be. We will merely add to this very logical deduction, by way of affording them still more comfort--that we have as severe laws against that traffic--that public opinion is as much against it--that we will soon have a naval force afloat which would be as active in suppressing [illegible word] should it be attempted, as in the United States, and that for these reasons it is likely that traffic never will exist here.

"The laws of Texas are severe against the slave trade, and prohibit altogether the introduction of slaves except from the United States, of which the Texians consider themselves essentially a part, although not incorporated into the Union. Consequently, in carrying into effect the nefarious scheme above mentioned, it is necessary to manage adroitly, in order to avoid detection and punishment. We concur with the Texas editor in expressing a confident hope that the American government will take measures to nip the mischief in the bud. If permitted to go on, it will breed a train of evils which at this time may be little anticipated. Already we find a respectable New Orleans paper, the Courier, in view of the actual or expected importation of slaves into Texas from Cuba, demanding that either that republic be admitted into the Union or that the law prohibiting the importation of slaves into the United States from Africa, be repealed! In other words, demanding the admission of Texas or the revival of the slave trade. Says the Courier,

'It is well known to those who have taken the trouble to inquire into the matter, that the slave trade from Africa is more extensive than ever it was. One of the most violent opponents of the trade, a member of the British Parliament, by the name of Baxton, has recently published a work upon the subject in London. In this work, Mr. Baxton gives it as his opinion, that the African trade has derived strength from the very attempts made by the English government to suppress it. he says, and produces facts in support of what he says that the millions of money spent on the English cruisers, and the thousands of valuable lives which have been sacrificed in them to the climate, during the last thisty[sic] two years, have only tended to make the trade more demoralizing and cruel in its tendencies, without at all diminishing the number of slaves carried from Africa to America.

"'If such have been the results produced by the injudicious efforts of the English philanthropists, we may well doubt the policy of the law of congress, which has prohibited the importation of slaves from Africa--a policy that by all we can learn, has no other [illegible word] of them to cause the planter of Louisiana to pay to the Virginia slaver one thousand dollars for a Negro, which now in Cuba, and by and by in Texas may be bought for half the money'

"'It is known to those acquainted with the character of the African that he is more patient and less unruly than the Virginia or Maryland Negro; his very ignorance of many things makes him less dangerous in a community like ours, and his constitution is better suited to our climate. In transporting him from his own country, his position too, in civilization, is bettered, not worsted.

"'The more we examine and reflect on the policy the Texians are likely to pursue in this matter, openly or covertly, the more we are convinced that Texas should be annexed to the Union, or else congress should repeal the law prohibiting the importation of slaves from Africa. Otherwise, the culture of sugar and cotton in Louisiana will suffer greatly by the cheaper labor which planters of Cuba and Texas can and will employ.'

"This is a horrible suggestion if seriously made, and will be frowned down by the American people with few dissenting voices. It is too late in the day to talk of reviving the foreign slave trade. It is bad enough that a domestic slave trade exists among us. That will cease before the foreign slave trade will be revived in this country, or we are no prophets. On no consideration would a majority of the states entertain the idea for a moment. As to the admission of Texas, that is another question, and one which must be determined according to its merits Congress has once decided against the admission. We presume it decided wisely. At the same time we confess we could never see the force of the abolition reasoning on this subject. Texas is already a nation, she already has slaves, and will have more, either from this country or elsewhere. If she were in the Union, she could not get them elsewhere. There would then be no addition to the number of slaves, beyond what resulted from the natural increase. Texas would also be restrained from extending her limits, which she now is not. In a few years, that republic, if not annexed to the United States, will extend to the Pacific Ocean: and slavery will go along with it. On the other hand, if admitted into the Union, its acquisitive propensities will be held in check. On other grounds however, entirely unconnected with slavery, we doubt the expediency of the annexation. Our territory is already too large, and our sectional interests are sufficiently diversified. Until the acknowledgament[sic] of the independence of Texas by Mexico the proposed annexation would be deemed an outrage upon the rights of the latter, and a just cause for war. Beyond all this, we know of no reason to suppose that the Texians, at present, wish to be annexed to the United States. If they do not wish to be so annexed, and we do not wish to have them, it is not likely they will be. Nevertheless, the importation of slaves into the United States will never again be permitted. never, never, never."

Source Copy Consulted: "Untitled," Telegraph and Texas Register, July 17, 1839, p. 3