Staunton spectator, and general advertiser. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 183?-1849, 1844-05-16
From the Baltimore American.
TEXAS-MR. VAN BUREN'S LETTER

We noticed briefly in MONDAYS American
the letter from Mr.. Van Buren, to the Hon. w |
Ill. Hammet, OF the House of Representatives,
on the subject of the annexation of Texas TO
the United States, published i'm the Globe off
saturday, and occupying over six columns off
that paper.
IL is out OF our power to publish the whole
letier.-At any time it would be difficult TO
ma room Tor such mass of matter at this
particular time II is impossible. Nor indeed
is there any very urgent reason to call for the
whole eplsile. For it is written in a very diff
fuse style, with circumlocutions, and involved
sentences containing little definite meaning.
nothing at least being really said which might
not nave been said in one-fith Of the space
occupied by the letter. Something over five
columns and half are taken up with remarks
gong TO show that under present circumstan-
ces 1t would be meXpedient though not un-
constitutional TO annex Texas TO the United
states and the residue of the letter goes on
10 intimate that as present circumstances NAV
not iast long, 1t may become expcdent at
| some time or another to annex Texas to the
United States.
Upon the whole Mr.. Van Buren, is opposed
TO annexation. lie refers to the application
Tor admission in the Union made by Texas
during his own administration, and quotes
from one OF Mr.. Forsyih's official papers the
following passage, which expresses in a few
words what IS uselessly diffnsed over several
Columns, constituting in fact the essential
Polut oil the whole matter $50 long as
eXas shall remain at war;" says Mr.. For
syth, "whIle the United States are at peace
with her adversary, the proposition Of the
eXian minister pleni potentary necessarily in
VolVes the question of war with that adyersa-
~" Upon this ground the application OF
l eXas Tor admission into the Union was re-
Jected under Mr. Van Buren's administration
l ne same ground remains upon which the
PROJECT of annexation should be rejected
now.
AT the end OF the five columns and upwards.
MIR: Van Buren,, having replied Gin the fullest
ana irankest manner" to the questions pro-
pounded to him, says-.'l might here close
this letter"-yet adds
"But being sincerely anxious TO pu, Won. and
others occupying the same position, in possession
OF my views and opinions upon the whole sinh
ject, as far they can with proprietv he now
formed and expressed, l will 90 few steps far
her." "
III may be proper here to remark that Mr.
iiamme!t made his inquiries ''as an unpledged
delegate 10 the National Conventions and
desired that MIR. Van Buren's answer might be
received IN time for the opinions expressed
IN 1t TO be fully known before the action OF!
the Convention.
Mr. Van Buren, in going "a few steps far
ther' proceeds to consider the question as one
affecting the foreign relations of the country,
and as such liable 10 be affected by the course
| OF foreign nations towards us. He saws:
"When the period for definilive action shall
nave arrived, the considerations now taken into
view may have lost the weight they at present
possess In the estimation of the public and others
not now regarded as Of any value, may, in the
mean time arise to affect, materially, if not to
change, the whole aspect Of the subject. The
present condition Of the relations between Next
co and Texas may soon be so far changed as to
weaken, and perhaps TO obviate entirely, the oh
Jec;Ions against the immediate annexation of the
after to the United States, which have here sci
forth, and TO place the question on different
grounds. Should such state of tlipos arise.
and be found in charge Of the responsible du-
TIES OF President, you may be assured that
would meet the question, If then presented to me-
WIN sincere desire TO promote The result which
believed best calculated to advance the perma-
nent welfare Of the whole country"
| Another extract referring to another posi-
BILE contingency, and ntimating what his
course would be if required to act in an execu-