"Secret Negotiations," Telegraph and Texas Register, October 11, 1843

Summary: The editor responded to the speeches of British statesmen concerning the latter's efforts toward the abolition of slavery in Texas. The editor considered such a move pernicious and believed neither President Houston nor his government gave any encouragement for it. Said that abolition in Texas would mean the ruin of the country because Texas got most of its population from the Southern States, and thus would lose emigration from that area if slavery were abolished. Finally, he asserted that Texas would reject British plans for mediation between Texas and Mexico if Britain continued to agitate for abolition.

The speeches of Lord Brougham and Lord Aberdeen, which we publish today, throw some light upon the secret negociations that have been so long pending, relative to the mediation of Great Britain between Texas and Mexico. We have repeatedly expressed our suspicions that the British government was secretly endeavoring to effect the abolition of slavery in Texas, and the positive evidence now furnished in the speech of Lord Aberdeen, will, we trust, awaken the statesmen of Texas to a true sense of the danger that threatens our servile institutions. This is a momentous question, that involves the best interests of our citizens, and every patriot should rouse at once, and by the most positive and decisive action put an effectual stop to the intrigues of the abolitionists. We consider it due to President Houston to state, that we have no evidence, nor even the shadow of evidence, that he has in any manner, even by word or act, encouraged the British Ministry to prosecute their schemes of abolition. On the contrary we have evidence that the person to whom Lord Brougham alludes in his speech as having come from Texas, and who is probably now the main instigator of this measure, has been the political opponent of President Houston, and has never been in his confidence. The secrecy however that has been observed in these negociations, renders every one engaged in conducting them liable to suspicion. We hope that the President and every person connected with him in the administration of the government will soon be enabled to show to the people, that he or they have not in the least abused the confidence reposed in them. For our country we regret that this subject has been agitated. While it continues in agitation, it will prove more injurious to Texas, than the war with Mexico, for all emigration from the Southern States will be effectually suspended.

It is from those States that the chief emigration to Texas must be derived. The climate and soil of Texas is similar to the the[sic] climate and soil of those States; the productions are similar, and the inhabitants of those States find the removal to Texas attended with as little inconvenience, as a removal from one town to another in the same State. But if the question of abolition is to be agitated here, all the emigration from those States must cease; for slavery is so interwoven into the whole political and even social system of those States, that the very habits and customs of the people are in a manner riveted to the system, and its abolition would involve them in incalculable difficulties and embarrassments. It is for this reason, that the tide of emigration has never turned from the slave States towards the free States, but has invariably set towards the slave holding States of the West. Virginians, Carolinians, Georgians, &c emigrate to Missouri, Arkansas, Mississippi, Louisiana, Alabama, &c. but not to Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, or Wisconsin. The reason is obvious, in the one case they can take with them their slaves, and avail themselves of the profits of their industry; in the other, they are compelled to depend upon their own industry, or the profits of hired labor. If Texas is made a free State it will be shunned by Southerners. We need not however, here, expatiate upon the evils that will result from this source for there is little reason to apprehend that the people of Texas can be induced to entertain for a moment the proposition for making it a free State. But much injury may result if even the proposition for the abolition of slavery is entertained even for a few weeks or months. It is fortunate that the measures of the British government have been in debate over this early; for the members of Congress who are seen to assemble in the legislative halls, will have an opportunity of assertaining the opinions of their constituents upon this important question. If they act in accordance with those opinions, we are confident that a solemn resolution of Congress will at an early day be adopted, that will convince Lord Aberdeen and the British Ministry that all overtures to effect the abolition of slavery in Texas made by Great Britain, will be promptly rejected; and that if abolition is to be the price of British mediation, Texas, although duly grateful for the favors Great Britain has already obtained for her, will respectfully, but positively decline the proffered mediation.

Source Copy Consulted: "Secret Negotiations," Telegraph and Texas Register, October 11, 1843, p. 2