The daily Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1841-1845, 1843-11-23
BRITISH OPERATIONS IN TEXAS.


We referred, in brief article, on Monday,
TO the contents of some incomplete files OF Texas
papers which We have lately received. On re-
curing 10 them again we perceive strong indi-
cations Of the nature of the " other means be-
sides urging the negotiation" alluded 10 by
Lord Aberdeen in Parliament, when questioned
us 10 the progress of The schemes OF the BRUSH
Government for procuring the abolition oil sia-
very in Texas. The Texas papers opposed TO
the administration of President Houston seem
wholly al a loss 10 divine the objects Of the Sc
cret negotiations on foot between the two Gov
ernments. Some OF them openly charge the
Executive with reasonable designs; others re-
gard the project of abolition as too rash to be
attempted, whatever the secret ~ishes Of the
administration may be. The Houston Tele-
graph, a well conducted paper, and the oldest
L-E~~s, in Ta.as, atate. tha, thoro is no
evidence to show that President Houston has in
any manner encouraged the British Government
TO prosecute their schemes OF abolition, but
says-"lhe secrecy, however, that has been OBJ
served in these negotiations renders every one
engaged in them liable to suspicion" Secrecy
III ucROttutlOHs Is, " Ut SuItJ Hot new 'H'HSy
or suspicious in itself, even under Republican
Government; but there is something suspicious
in the fact that, ia a matter of so much interest
to the People, the administration studiousy
withholds assurances which might tranqullize
the public mind without giving publicity 10 any
of the details, or even objects, of the negotiation
The Galveston Civilian, in an article of some
length setting forth the reasons of its disbelief
in the alleged scheme Of abolition, says" when
Gen. Henderson, as the representative OF Texas,
first presented 10 The Government OF Great Brl-
tain our claims for recognition as an ndepen-
dent nation, he was assured that it was not the
policy Of that Government to recognise any new
State in which the institution of slavery was
tolerated and such was the decided manner in
which the subject was pressed upon him, that
he came home, displeased with the treatm, nj
he had received" The question suggests itself
what occasioned the sudden departure from
settled policy, so decidedly expressed2 The
policy Of Government like that Of Great Bri-
tain is not so easily changed, though its opinions
may vary as to the means most likely 10 further
its policy and il is not Government which
abandons its views whenever it does not hap
pen to succeed in first attempt.
That General Houston is grossly venal or
treacherous as 10 be willing to sell himself, or
his country, or ,ha, the People of Texas would
permit him 10 sell his country, for 80 much cash
in hand, paid by the British Government, we
are far from believing But be has personal
views and interests which he might readily dis
SET uSdef ' s VII n 81 vel is OWN own
consequence would increase, in proportion TO
the increased consequence and prosperity which
his present country might derive from an init
mate, though secret, connection with so power
full nation as Great Britain and he may think
that his personal consequence would be much
diminished by the annexation of Texas to this
country. The Aartery and promises of The Br
fish Government, through their agents, may de-
lude him, and he has quite influence enough
with the People Of Texa, 10 delude them, and
convince them that by yielding 10 The views of
Great Britain, their country would prosper more
rapidly than by maintaining rigid ndepend-
ence. or by annexation 10 the Unit, States.
But the real sentiments of Presiden, Houston
and those connected with him in the Admins
tration, as well as the progress of British inhu-
ence, are clearly seen in the character Of the
editorial and other articles which appear in the
Administration presses. In I" the National Vim
dlcator," new paper established at Washin
ton, the present seat Of Government, as The or
gan of the Administration, we find long arti- |
Gle, the temper aud design of which appears
even in the first sentence Of IL: 1.-THE Tele. |
graph is not free from the miserable prejudice |
usually the od,pring Of ignorance aud the bias
VI early educaton-againste every thing English |
which has so long characterized large portion |
of the people, and been fostered by demagogues
and their presses in the United Stalesn In
the course Of the article which is a abored at
tempt 10 prejudice the people Of Texas against
the United States and in favor Of Great Britain,
the writer makes the following statement:
"The United State. Government has repeatedly.
during the last year, notified Mexico that the war
against Texas must be conducted upon the mos,
strict rules observed by civilized nations especially
concerns the taking and treatment Of prisoners.
Alter this solemn declaration, the town of Ahtonio
was entered, and private citizens, both Of Texas and
the United States, carried away and reduced to sa
very. Yet what action has been taken on the mat
ter by the Uniied States None, far as the pub
llc may be allowed 10 judge from circumstances-
Would such declarations have been allowed TO sleep
IN TINS manner by France or Emf lands A nation
which IS so slow and unwilling 10 redress wronos |
and insults TO itself the United States is not likely
to be more prompt in requiring that justice shall be
done TO Others "
We subjoin an editorial article of the same
character from "lhe Ciizen,n paper reccnly
established at Houston in Support NJ Tho "A |
m'nistralion. We have marked the allusion of
The writer TO the "long and extended frontier
both on the East and West" Of Texas, as indi.
eating one of the temptations likely to be strong
" nrnsenied 10 The nennln md 1,l.....-.--- Ill