The daily Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1841-1845, 1844-05-27
TO THE HON. THOMAS II. BENTON.
My DEAR STA

the earliest and most ardent advocate Of the
| ion of TeXas-you who stood almost SOLITARY and
alone" in opposition to the Treaty which 30 basey
threw il away--nust feel a, being compelled to
renounce the prize when Is nearly in your grasp
require lille than your own consent to Sc
cure it. Surely such towering msgnsnimity of self
denial must require than Roman frmness.
But let US take briefrevew your chief objections
10 the Treaty, and whether ia the extremity Of
your grief, your Imagination has not exaggerated
their Importance.
In the first place, you object to the present Treaty,
because il does not give precisely the old Spanish
| Texas"-''the Texas of La Sale"
But repeat, that there appears earthly Proba-
bily that we shalt ever be able to this cold
Spanish Texas" and neither nor less than that
The Republic of Texas be expected to cede 10
the valuable portion of her territory including
all her seacoast and ports, and retain the rest. On
the other hand it is not at all probable that Mexico
| will be able 10 reconquer "lhe old Spanish Texas,
and still less likely if she should reconquer it, that
she would be willing to cede it TO us. And If the
Republic of Texas is not likely to be willing, nor that
of Mexico to be either able willing to cede to
the precise species of Texas which you insist on how
| We ever to obtain it,
II seems u me, therefore, that your objection, il
persevered in must be fatal to Annexa alton now at
any time hereafter. And when you con 'ider on the
sther hand that you yourself admit that the question
OF boundary may be opened by treaty, and that
Government has solemnly pledged itself to that Of
Mexico that shalt be opened, csnnOt help think
ing that your very considerable and thoughtful DISPOSE
ton has induced you the force of the OBJ
| If Wa ret he Rap he ofT
give up as much Of it as we please, when adjusting
the boundary but five insist specific portion of
it, We shall no, be able to get that or any portion.
Your second objection is to in,mediate Annex alton.
You enthusiastic for Annex alton in the abstract
but, though your heart is breaking, you compelled
to kick against j, in the concrete.
am almost afraid to say anything which may
tend to deprive the world of the sublime spectacle of
moral ourage and virtue which you are now exhibit
ing. But are you not convinced in your own mind,
thoroughly convinced, that the question is mote or
aeper
All the opponents Of Anne alton, including your
SELF object to the Treaty, that our Government hu.
inflated itself by condescending coax and wheede
the Government OF Texas into its assent to the pro-
position you complain that papers suppressed,
showing that Texas had at first rejected the overture
made by our Government. This objection admits
that the Government Of Texas consented to the mea
with reluctance.
!, that reluctance likely to be diminished by the
modification which the Government and people of
Texas will experience in having their advances rude
ly repulsed in the face of the world, and solemn
and formal treaty rejected' Would they not require
great deal more coaXng before they would consent
49,.
lar humiliation a
We do not need the assurance of the Texan Envoy
that that Government is not likely to renew the
negotiation. II is certain any future event, de-
pending on human agency, be that II the present
Treaty be rejected, the Government Of Texas will
Immediately proceed to establish permanent relations
with other powers, withou, reference to the wishes,
interest welfare of this country, prescn, future
The condition Of the People OF Texas imperiously
demands that they should dose.
Al the same time that the reluctance Of the People
Of Texas to renew the negotiation will be infinitely
increased the power and influence Of the opponents
OF annexation in this country will be augmented by
the defeat Of the present Treaty Its defeat will be
signal triumph to the abolltions,, to the opponents
of the South generally, and to the enemies of De-
mocracy. 1t Is easy TO anticipate their rejoicings
and the moral influence Of the victory which they
will have achieved They eXult already.
And you, pretended advocate OF Anne,ation-a
distinguished leader in the Democratic ranks-and
the representative Of a slave-bolding region-think
yourself bound TO use your utmost abilities and IN
poy all the force Of your eloquence in contributing
to their triumph. You forced by sad but over
ruling necessity to appear on hi. grca, and decisive
/ 49,,
champion, and to receive already their thanks and
congratulations
It's plain to every one acquainted with the present
condition OF parties in this country that the defeat of
the present Treaty, especially il BY the aid of
Democratic votes will inevitably occasion the defeat
Of the Democratic party at the next Presidential
election. II is Democratic measure aud the Whix
party are inoomparaby more united In their OPPOSE
ton TO IT, than the Democratic party in their supper,
oft Every Democratic vote against ii, particularly
from sla'e-hod'ng region, adds strength to the
Wing cause, and excuses the detection Of Southern
Wings. The Hon. Mr.. Barrow, in his address TO his
constituents, just published DIES not hesitate to urg,
as his concluding, and no doubt most forcible argu
ment the consideration that the success of The Treaty
will be equivalent to the defeat Of the Wbio rar,y
After snumerating the principles and views of that
party, he asks his constituents whether. in order IN
obtain Texas, they are willing TO throw overheard
these and the other principles Of the Wing party, and
to toss after them rBr MAN who is their tfucst and
best representative ~
You admit in the abstract, that the annexation Of
Texas would be a measure highly conducive to the
welfare of the nation But you nss. on conditions
highly difficult Of fuldIment, no, to say absolutely
imPrsctcabe; and you thereby seek a, least TO post
pone indefinitely, and place in imminent leonard,
the welfare Of your country.
! You do the same thing with respcc, to the w.ler