[3821] [RONALDSON to SWIFT]
South Ninth street, July 29, 1836. Sir: In this morning's Pennsylvania Inquirer, I obser~e that al a meelina, where you presided as chairman, I was appo111ted a member of;committee connected with the affairs of Texas. I am sorry that the person to whom I am indebted for the nomination, overlookerl that courtesy we owe to each other. On occasions such as this, it is proper to inquire of the proposed agent if it would be agreeable for him to accept ~he office. Had such an inquiry been made on the present occasion, there would not have been cause for troubling you or the public with an individual's private reasons for declining the appointment. I have yet to be informed that the projected independence of Texas is to benefit the United States as a nation, or add to the happiness of my fellow citizens; and as to its accession to the United States doing good, that is out of the question. We have already a territory tolerably compact, and quite as large as can be used for many centuries lo come, and which has a diversity of interests sufficient to give occupation to all the skill and patriotism we possess, applicable to the mighty duties of government. And I see in this affair the elements of great injury to one of our important branches of industry. Every reflecting man must see that Texas, whether as an independent slate or an integral part of this union, or cultivating cotton with slaves, the effect must be to bring more rivalship into the selling market, by which prices will be reduced, at the same time the Texian market will increase the price of slaves; and, consequently, the cost of making cotton will be enhanced in the United States, and the planters be subjected to a two-fold loss. My feelings are for the comfort and happiness of the people of this union, and I cannot see that the enhancing the cost of making cotton here, and increasing the quantity grown in other countries, is lo do us good. This is one reason for my not interesting myself in Texian affairs. In the next place, we must recollect that like causes produce like effects. Heretofore our republic has excited in the European powers no fretful jealousies of our acquisitions; innuencing the "balance of power," this Texian affair has in it much of the elements of causing such a ferment; the treaties, quarrels and wars this principle has caused, and their effccts are well known. Let us
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