The Whig standard. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1843-1844, 1844-05-18
GOV. CASS AND TEXAS.

Gov CASS AND TEXAS.
After having, as We have understood and be-
lieve, written one or two previous letters on the
subject of annexation, which were not satisfac-
tory to those who desire to bring him forward as
the annexation candidate, Gov. Cass has at length
"come up to the chalk" and qualified himself
for the support Of those whose desire it is to
break down Mr.. Van Buren, rather than 10 de-
feat Mr.. Clay. Perhaps we should speak more
accurately were we to say those whose object is
to break down Mr. Benton, and place the control
of the Democratic party in the Southern or Cal
houn section of it. The surest means to accom-
plsh this is, to get up an issue which is likely. to
Unite the South generally, and then to take +" a
Northern man with Southern principles" and
who will be complete roll Of wax in their hands.
Gov. Cass is just their man, Ambitious to reach
the Presidential chair--an old Federalist profess
ing Democratic doctrines-an Adams and Clay
man while they had patronage to bestow-a Jack
son man as soon as he was elected not before
United States Bank man until it was unsafe
to express his opinions on that subject and then
an anti-bank mamie is ready to take either
track, or run up both sides the creek at once, SO
he can reach the goal OF his ambition. man
SO plastic can be moulded into any shape by those
in whose hands be happens to fall: but those who
thus mould him will find he has not frmness
enough to retain for any. length of time :" the
form and pressure" they give him, and that he
will require constant manipulation and attention.
The following is his letter. Will his friends
publish the others also upon this subject. We
call for them:
DETROIT. May 10, 1914
DEAR SIR In answer 10 your inquiry, whe-
ther am favorable to the immediate annexation
of Texas to the United States, reply that | am
AS you demand my opinion only Of this measure,
and briefly the reasons which influence me, | shall
confne myself to these points.
shall not dwell upon the policy of uniting
cotermlnous countries, situated like ours and
Texas, with no marked geographical feature 10
divide them, and with navigable streams pene-
trating the territories of both nor upon the COM
mon origin of the people who inhabit them, upon
their common language, manners, religion, insti-
tutions, and, in fact, their identity as branch OF
the human family. Nor shall | urge the materia
interests involved in the measure, BY the free in
tercourse it would establish between the various
sections of a vast country, mutually dependent
upon, and supplying one another. These con
siderations are obvious, that they need no eu
citation from me.
But, in military point of view, annexation
strikes me still more important, and my mine
has been the more forclbly impressed with this
idea from reading the able letter of Gen. Jackson
upon this subject, which has Just come under my
observation. With the intuitve sagacitv which
makes part of the character of that great man an,
pure patriot, he has foreseen the use which Eu
ropean enemy might make of Texas in the event
of with the United States. A Judgement
in that country would lay open our whole south
western border to his devastations. We could
establish no fortress, nor occupy any favorable
Poston Tor the immense frontier may, in a vas
many places, be crossed as readily as man
passes IRON one part of his farm to another The
advantages an active enemy would enjoy under
such circumstances, it requires no sagaci,y to
foreleII. y
These considerations recall 70 nv n,oroo,,, !,
article which made its appearance lust before
left Europe, in leading tory periodical in Enc
land, which is understood to speak the senlnepfs
of a powerful party. This is Ffazer's Mapazne
and more nefarious article never issued from
prohigate press. 1t ought to be stereo,yped an,
circulated from one end of our country to tn,
other, TO show the designs which are in agitatio,
against us, and to teach US that our safety in tina
mighty contest which is coming upon us is in
knowledge OF our danger, and 10 determination
py nLon, and by wise forecast to meet il, am
aeieat 1t. The spirit OF this article is sufficiently
indicated by its title, which was, "a war will
the United States blessing to mankind"
cannot refer to 1t at this moment, but must speal
of 1t from recollection. | have often been sur
prised IT has not attracted more attention in on,
country. Its object was to provoke a war with
the United States, and to lay down the plan of q
campaign, which would soonest bring it to for.
tunate conclusion for England. The basis Of
this plan was the organization of the necessary
black force in the West India Islands, and its