The Whig standard. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1843-1844, 1844-05-04
ELEGANT EXTRACTS.

Mr. Benton's anti annexation letter is quite an
original in its way We like some of the
Colonel's views very much, and particularly the
conclusion to which his reasonings bring him.
He is unqualifedly opposed 10 Tyler's scheme
for re-annexing himself to the White House,
and thinks that we have right to interfere with
Texas while Mexico refuses to acknowledge her
independence. This is patriotic and honorable ];
and we take pleasure in awarding the need of
praise to his frankness. But we cannot forego
the pleasure of treating our readers to some ex-
tracts from the letter, purely for their literary
celencies, without regard to the views they en-
brace. There is such commendable difidence
and modesty apparent upon the face of these ex-
tracts-such careful yelling OF self-such dearth
of personal pronouns, that they may safely be ia
ken as model for the rising generation of he
roes and statesmen:
"You have judged rightly, gentlemen, in ad-
dressing your communication to me, and propos-
ing to make me the organ of your wishes to the
American Congress, being, as | am, the first op-
ponent of the treaty which dismembered your
territory from Union the first advocate for
it's recovery; the supporter of all prudent meas
ures for that purpose; the enemy of all move
ments which would involve the question in Sec
tional or partisan politics and the finn believer
in the speedy and happy recovery of the dsmem-
bered territory, and the mutilated rivers, il the
question could be kept free from improper con-
nexons, and confined to the patriotic basis of ma
tionaty and honor n
al was not then in politics. and had nothing to
do with public affairs but saw and felt at once
the whole enormty of this gratuitous and unac-
countable sacrifice, and instantly raised my voice
against it in articles published in the st. Louis
papers, and in which were given in advance, all
the national reasons against throwing away the
country, which are now, after lapse of twenty
five years, given by others for getting it back.
was young and ardent then, and had some fire in
me, and not only wrote against the treaty, but
against its authors, and their motives, and even
imprecated aooe upon the heads of the states
men who should continue to favor it." =
erary. which is Justly regarded as among the most
difficult OF execution, and in which success is
properly recompensed with the highest rewards.
The reader shall Judge for himself how far the
towering genius of Col. Benton has overshot or
undershot the mark. Hear him:
"Such sacrifice of great national interests,
so unanimously concurred in by the public au-
thorities, gave the first great shock to my conf
dence in public bodies the treaty of the next
year with the British government for the joint &C.
cupation Of the Oregon, gave me the second great
shock; and the two shocks together, shocked me
30 much that | came into public life, in 1920
with very little concern for my own position
when should chance to find myself standing
solitary and alone upon great national ques
TONS" y
The following paragraphs, in the same modest
vein, are too good to be passed over.
"Thus, while being incontestably the first OPP
ponent to the loss of Texas, and the first advo-
cate for its recovery, | have yet already twice
found it impossible to support propositions for its
admission into our Union; and that may do JUS
tice to my own conduct--may show tina, am not
blind zealot rushing headong to favorite OBJ
ject-but man of head and thought, considering
what he is about, and striking balance between
the rood and evil of an important proposition"