Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1844-06-28
POLITICAL.
THE LOCO FOCOS AND THE TEXAS
QUESTION.


Mr.. Tappan, n Loco Foco member of the United
States Senate, from the State of Ohio, in present.
ing memorials against Annexation, took occasion
to declare that ga great fraud had been imposed
upon the People Of this Country, in reference to
the disposition of England towards Texas"
Col. Benton, the great idol of that party--the
man who, next only to Van Buren,, may be said to
bear, in his own person. the condensed essence of
Loco Focoism-Col. Benton, in his speech against
Annexation, completely refutes this imputed inter-
ference and entirely knocks from under the Texas
project this portion of its foundation. The proofs
OF the falsity Of the charge Of improper nterfer-
ence in Texan affairs, on the part of England, are
so strongly urged, b. Mr. Benton, that we thinl,
proper, for the information of our readers, to pub
sh an extract from this part of his speech. If tce
had eulogzed Lord Aberdeen half as strongly as
Col Benton has, in this speech, the Bay State DEM
ocrat would have charged it to our British paral-
ties.-BoSton Alias.
"Thus commenced the plan for the immediate an
nexation of Texas to the United States, as the on
y means of saving that country from British DOM
nation, and from the anti-slavery schemes atribu-
ted to her by Mr. Duff Green Unfortunately, it
was not deemed necessary to inquire into the truth
of this gentlemans information, and it was not I'M
til four months afterwards and until after the most
extraordinary efforts TO annexation had been
made by our Government, that it was discovered
that the information given by Mr.. Green was en-
tirely mistaken and unfounded! The British minis.
ter 1.-THE Earl of Aberdeen,) and the Texan charge
in London, (Mr Ashbel Smith,) both of whom were
referred to by Mr. Green, being informed in the
month of November Of the use which had been
made of their names, avaed themselves of the first
opportunity to contradict the whole story to our
minister, Mr.. Everett. This minister Immediately
communicated these important contradictions to our
Government and we find them in the official cor
respondence transmitted to us by Mr.. Everett, I'M
der dates of the Sd and 10th of November, lS43
| OuOtp first from that of the I'd Of Novp,nher
Everett SAYS:
81 had an interview with Lord Aberdeen the
first day of his return to town, having requested it
while he was yet in the country. | had several
matters to bring TO his notice. you will have
from the preceding dispatches forwarded by this
steamer. Having disposed of them, then, in ODE
dience to your Instructions, alluded to the agency
which the British government were supposed to be
exercising to procure the abolition of slavery in
Texas. Lord Aberdeen said he was glad | had
mentioned this subject; for it was one on which he
intended himself to make some observations. His
attention had been called to some suggestions in
the American papers in favor of the annexation of
Texas to the United States, by way of coun-
teractng the designs imputed to England and
he would say that If this measure were undertaken
on any such grounds, it would be wholly without
provocation. England had acknowledged the indie
pendence of Texas, and had treated and would
continue to treat her, as an independent power
HdI LHeiuiIu lOlB DteH pleuReu 10
the abolition Of the slave trade and of slavery, as
far as her influence extended, and in every proper
way, but had no wish to interfere in the internal
concerns OF foreign governments She gave hei
advice, where she thought it would be acceptable,
in favor OF the abolition of slavery, but nothing
more. In reference to Texas, the suggestion thai
England had made, or intended 10 make, the aboli-
ton Of slavery the condition of any treaty arrange
ment with her, was wholly without foundation II
had never been alluded to in that connexion. Gen
eral Hamilton, as commissioner from Texas, had
proposed that England should make or guaranty a
{ loan to Texas, to be used to aid her in obtaining
l from Mexico the recognition of her independence,
) and IN other ways to promote the development OF
her resources and he himself Lord Aberdeen
had at first thought somewhat favorable to the prop
osion, considering Texas fine, promising coun-
try which 1t would be good policy to help through
her temporary embauassments. But on mention
! ing the project TO his colleagues, they deemed it
wholly nexpedient, nor did he himself continue to
give 1t countenance nor the loan, as proposed
by General Hamilton, and at first fayoraby viewed
by himself, in the slightest degree connected with
the abolition of slavery as condition or conse-
3 quence. In the course of the last summer he had
:, been waited upon, as he supposed was aware at
the time, by deputaton of American abolitlonists
D who were DESTROYS of engaging the British govern
ment in some such measure, wiz: of loan, con-
nected with the abolition of slavery) but that he
had given them no countenance whatever; he haC
i informed them that, by every proper means of in
ifuence he would encourage the abolition OF slave
u ry, and that he had recommended the Mexican gov
eminent to interest itself in the matter; but he tolt