Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1841-1853, 1844-05-30

rom me ~ lOFA lhOhSN.
Annexation OF Texas The Letters OF
Nr. Van Buren, and slr. Clay.

Annexation Of Texas. The Letters OF
Mr. Van Buren, and Mr. Clay.
There seems 10 be an inclination IN many quarters 10
attribute TO Messrs. Van Buren, and Clay. a concurrence
OF opinions, upon the question OF anneaaiIou. We are
surprised at the prevalence of this impression among per-
sons whom we should not suspect of promulsa,ing IA con
eiusion upon the subject without having read the Two pa
pers aiteuiiveiy. aud vet II is not easy To imagine how The
letters can be construed or even distorted 50 a. 10 convey
n notion OF any thing more than u very limited coinci-
dence of views. Ii Will be made evident by an anal ysIs
of the letters, that the two Statesmen differ essentially IN
the most important aspects of the measure.
The subject Is considered by Mr.. Van Buren, clearly
and definitely under three principal heads 1t. The con
sti,uiionalIiy Of annexation. I'd, The policy Of 'mH'ed'-
ate annexation. Sd, The proprIety and probability OF an
neNauon after an expression Of public opinion upon the
subject. Mr.. Clay includes a consideration ct the same
topics in his communication to The National Intelligent
Ger, although in a somew bat confused aud disarranged
manner. A. To the conslitutioualiiy of the measure Mr.
Clay quotes the opinions of Mr.. Jefferson aud others ia
the negative. upon the annexation # Louisiana. without
expressing any dissent from them ia the present instance,
aud also irm lack Of information or fairness. without
stating that 'ir. Jefferson after fuller invesiisaiion Of the
subject changed hs opinion and approved Of the Treaty
by y hich Louisiana was acqumed.
Mr.. Van Buren, on the Other hand. settles tho question
cons,Iturionally in the affirmative, 10y one of the most
convincing and satisfactory constitutional arguments
which we have read. His letter will remain as i text
book on that subject.
Upon the inexpediency OF immtdiate annexation the
two statesmen agree in the conclusion which they arrive
al, but upon very dIssimiiar grounds. MIR. Clay "d"es
not think il proper, unnecessarily, 10 introduce al present
u 4 hulth dnl'HS INV cHJ III "'J'NA' N'F'
agirate and engros> the public mind lie very properly
aud naturally considered that he has quite as much a. he
can do in looking after his prospects for the Presidency
! lie opposes annexation because II Is idenitral, he say :,
with declaring war against Mexico. and would expose Us
. To a general war with the great European powers, but
principally because Mexico has rot yielded her assent,
! ior SAYS Mr.. Clay "Mexico has proStrrcd all her rghts
orer Teras, and has continued To assert her right 10 re-
r duce Ter0s to oErpiTNcr. c. Mr.. Clay might have
found aud probably did find This sentiment, not 50 well
expressed, perhaps, among the speeches of North The
; British Tory PRIME Minister during our Revolutionary
: War. made in reference Ia our "rcbellIon substitute
c .Norih American Colonies" for Texas, and "Moller
Coun;r," for Mexico, aud Won have the high Tory doc
trine Of the last century rOLGftm. Mr.. Clay copied hhs
"American Systcn," of Protection, alias special rri,leg
rs, from the same fruitful source of ar-locraiic leeisla-
ton. and il would seem thai he l. a. likel, to r,al George
the Third in his notions of lhe rights Of governments, a.
lie unquesiiouably srrpasscs Sir Robert Peel in the advo
cacy of the high Tariff policy Of the BRUSH Landho!d
, els.
T. In reference to the future policy Of ihe United st ties OF
= the subject Of ann xing Tcxa> to c Union, which i IN Tn
"a, sent state Of the que stion b, far The mo-t important piac
teal view Of lhe matter, Mi Van Blu en- Is directly o. pSe'
= t. Mr.. Clay. Nh. Van Buren, in Substance says Il am p
posed to the anncxa'ion OF IcNss At this lime bocause ~ IN
~ plc>cut aspect of tie measure II wouli poh'tly involve Il
~ = war w,h Mexico ant perhaps some If the Europe 4
powers. Such a step ~oushtnot 10 te taken by Any Aucs i.ai
y Siatesman without a full cxpios>i'n of the popular Will. b.
II if after a general ard candid c.nsideia ion of The who'll
measure in all lis hearings it shall lie a proved of by Il.
American people. l shall deem il my du'y.If elcc'ed. 10 en-
pl v the Executive power TO carry into full and tan cntc
sc their wishes, swim piairly ard sOl,mnly expressed
ny Nh Clay on TIL cent'ay avs, a .in,laT l'qGeSt las he
" bt4ott tt'NS ~ ''N"" 49, 49, -'E'-
nm cured materially TO vary The question. Mexico las PIE
he served all her rights over Texas aud We, Asserts he, rig,
- Mexico are identical. and he is not willing TO involve tn
I'D country in a fO eign war for The object of acquiring T'Na
or He does Lot think Texls ought T. be received into the u
ION in decided OBJ osition u the wishes Of a considerable an
he res; eciaalc portion Of The Confcici acy. Mr.. Clay tina =
IN annexation Inexpedicnt now and at any time hfchn,e Mex
-, CO has not given her consent; because II would produce dl
NV cord and distraction in the Confcderacy because IT wou
Or be obtaining territory for the purpose Of strengthening OF
ld part Of the Union against The other and thereby tend 10
pre- ] .ofut. of tho NM, Thus AZ vll le seen that ~
ice Clay has declared himself irrcconcileably HUSTLE to ne H'a
his urc in any aspect; aud he has done 30 upon grounds VIII"
only exist m The heated imagin ,tions Of fanatics. III the ui
-" ii feais of alalmist>, and The selfish Vi VS. of the IN ic "a
row minded and short sighted poiti II Of the mercantile 81
W. engaged IN foleisn commerce.
am Cumpaled ~ 18th Mr. Van Buten'> calm, comprehensive n
ich julci Us views u;on the great quest ~, Mr. Clay lei
ov. mu, I appear T. even his most partial ficid' in notify
Fps di~sdv ntagc. The former cv.nces the sasao',y' ''toi a
I'm. rc>isht Of a a'c>man. White the Ia ter disclo,cs I
nee ha>ty aud confused opinions. the premature aid unnan
49,; fears of a dem ,gogue. joined 10 the cant about patriotism a
80 the time-seiving policy peculiar to that Description q -
W. sons.
ich II Mr. Van Buren, is placed in the Presidential Chair /
ich country. and the whole comfy, may safely rely uPr
ter. wie, liberal and tiuly naiIonal adjustment OF this dclc.
no aud important question. With Mr.. Clay it will he left,
a.. we have seen from his letter. to the contioi Of sec''nal p
nv JUDGES, of imagined dangers ami soidid calculations.
;"t Ne wi.h to pu' a question or two TO MI Clay and the
"A Of ms f lends who concur with him IN thinking that Mex
"has preserved all her rishts over TcXa>.' What we a
les. is Necessary to convince an actual and iightful Govenme
m according to The general principles which should com
American Statesmen in such matters , j. it not a Cove
vas men, omanaiiug hom a maloIi y If the pc pie. ard wheel
ach sOc :" "'"t". IN 10 c,c,oo T,tcss
and nv p" a. 49, nl.lo l.c,t,n H.
sea ~ ( the na'ur- and o ganizafion # = velnneut IS "a
has n W can he sy that y, xico has .iIc>ctVcd all her ugh
upv over a ter iioty iIom which her armies have been i~
q ivcn aud over a people That has UNANIMOUSLY i''us'"
g.d sul mt To het LAY r """p' 'i
an nv "'fu''u = ",' ''"' q NV .
=, never get l.. She has possession oi the sol >he ha> i ~
a consiiiuf ION and "a Sod laws. she ha> elected public "
ne &C. : 10 administer them and ha> an amy suihci.tt - "a
any force hat can lie aitaigntd against ht ~ her only
ta.onist. What motc can any democIs'lc Statesman rep
To c Institute sovereignty WI he wait i"r tc h"ioN
N a maltv If IN ADMISSION from M,Xcn. that Sic l. DO To-
ness drfo - 10 a""it s'n W" :"
- V"N co,4.t a,L,,,I .d I'm,
p NJ a,o.., f,o :, ,,nt,c7 NJ "a az orant. - obstinate an.
c,r,l.s. - that xhch has Santa ANA al It's head, II l.
We tanount 10 d, afinr that the idea Of auncXing Texas l.
Union ,hA!l be indefinitely postponed.
4 Of
From The v. Y PD>t, My l..