the many abhorred them as unprincipled disturbers in the large and happy household; no man of character gave countenance to the unnatural [411] associations of such disgusting doctrines. How altered now the case? The contagion of fanaticism, however absurd, is like the contagion of physical maladies, which communicate by contiguity. It spread first to the ignorant, because they were in nearer contact. When it found a lodgment in the multitude, it met a response in the demagogue of higher standing; then found apologists in the Senate; next, advocates among the most talented, and now the election of President is bending to its influence. When the son proposes to give everything back to the father, he finds that father wedded to this unnatural mother, with whom he never intends to live in friendship. Still, the son insists upon giving back all his wealth to be divided among the offspring of his mother, the young half-bloods, who are taught from their cradle to despise him. The boast of the son is in his father's name: he feels that there should be a common destiny between them, and he makes the wonderful sacrifice of interest a tribute to his pride. He sees his wealth divided among the large family, trusting to the precarious whims of his parent, now under alien influence, not only for justice, but for bread. Texas is a stronger case: from her father she went forth into the world penniless, and now offers her hundred millions of acres and her boundless resources, which is the fruit of her own industry, sweat, and blood.

Are these all the advantages which would result [412] to the United States by such a union? No, indeed! Many others might be enumerated; but, in connexion with the question of southern boundary, I will only notice two, which seem to have been overlooked by most writers upon the subject. 1st. The possession of the shortest and most practicable route to the settlements and commerce of the United States on the Pacific; and, 2dly. A boundary in connexion with the question of the amelioration and ultimate destiny of slavery in the United States. First, The annexation of Texas to the United States, with the Rio Grande as the consequent immediate southwestern boundary, would necessarily, by treaty or conquest, extend to the Sierra Madre, and, as a protection against the northern tribes of Indians, should cross to the Gulf of California about the 28th degree of north latitude. This would be the shortest and most expeditious route from the United States as well to her Oregon settlements as to her other numerous interests on the Pacific.

Taking New-Orleans as the most convenient point of embarcation from the United States, we will find that sixteen hundred miles of steam navigation to the mouth of the Rio Conchoes, upon the Rio Grande, can be made in about the same time, and, taking the year round, with the same facilities, that Cincinnati can upon the Ohio; and from the head of steam navigation upon the Rio Conchoes, across the Sierra de Carcay to steam navigation upon the [413] Rio Hiagui, a distance of three hundred miles by railroad, the port of Guaymas, upon the Gulf of California, could be reached in eight or nine days; saving a distance of four