"Annexation of Texas," Telegraph and Texas Register, May 5, 1838

Summary: Summarized remarks made by Senator Preston of South Carolina concerning Texas annexation. Much of his remarks are cut off in the text but he basically said that Texas had proven itself independent from Mexico and that the United States claimed Texas as far back as 1803 with the Louisiana Purchase and the Adams-Onis Treaty. Also dismissed abolitionist attacks by saying Texas would have slavery in or out of the Union and annexation would not increase the number of slaves but only spread them over a wider area.

From the New Orleans Picayune.

ANNEXATION OF TEXAS.

in the Senate of the United States on the 24th, Mr. Preston, of S. Carolina, [illegible word] [illegible word] speech upon his resolutions in favor of [illegible word] [illegible word] [illegible word] [illegible word] the battle of San Jacinto, two years [illegible word] [illegible word] [illegible word] [illegible word] the flag of peace had waved in triumph, [illegible word] [illegible word] [illegible word] [illegible word] more quiet than the United States [illegible word] [illegible word] [illegible word] [illegible word] side, or Mexico on the other. All the [illegible word] [illegible word] [illegible word] [illegible word] wishes of that young Republic had been [illegible word] [illegible word] [illegible word] [illegible word] Congress had met--armies had met and [illegible word] [illegible word] [illegible word] [illegible word] courts have exercised their jurisdiction, [illegible word] [illegible word] [illegible word] [illegible word] throughout her borders. By her [illegible word] [illegible word] [illegible word] [illegible word] revolutionary, distracted, torn to pieces [illegible word] [illegible word] [illegible word] [illegible word] wars and full of turmoil and enciteing[sic] [illegible word] [illegible word] [illegible word] [illegible word]

remarks disclaiming any wish for hostilities [illegible word] [illegible word] [illegible word] [illegible word] Preston said he should prove that the [illegible word] [illegible word] [illegible word] [illegible word] belonged to the United States. France [illegible word] [illegible word] [illegible word] [illegible word] Spain re-ceded it back to France, [illegible word] [illegible word] [illegible word] [illegible word] ceded it to the United States. All that originated [illegible word] [illegible word] [illegible word] to France, now, legally belonged to the

United States. France claimed it until its cession of Louisiana to us in 1819. The Rio del Norte was asserted as the true line as long as 1803. Our Commissioners always insisted upon this line until 1819, as belonging to us. Here, Mr. Preston read evidence of the fact, referring to opinions in favor of his argument, expressed by Monroe, Jefferson, Pinckney, Adams and Clay.

The principle argument against annexation was made by the abolitionists, and that, Mr. P. said, was enough to arouse the Southern delegation at once in favor of annexing Texas to us. The number of slaves would not be increased. They would only be spread over a wider surface. Texas, he said, would deal in slavery whether joined to us or independent; and slavery would prevail throughout all those regions upon which Texas had her eye fixed--from the borders of the United States to the shores of the Pacific.

We are curious to see what effect the late news from Houston will produce upon the deliberations of the Senate upon this topic.

Source Copy Consulted: "Annexation of Texas," Telegraph and Texas Register, May 5, 1838, pp. 2-3