The northern galaxy. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1844-1848, 1844-04-24
LETTER FROM THE HON WILL.
LIAM SLADE.

SIR u hnd myself called on
by you. in the Voice, to answer the FOIL
owing questions
"Is not Henry Clay as much in favor Of
the annexation of Texas as was Andrew
Jacksonl Has he at any time, since he
proposed the annexation, 10, or near the
'year 1926, given the public to understand
that his views have, at all, changed on
this subject7 Ifhe has. will you furnish
me with documentary evidence Of such
change, that may present it TO our read
'ersl If you can find no such evidence.
can you and other Wings of Vermont,
consistently support Henry Clay as
candidate for President Of the United
States, while you virtually say, the an
'nexaion Of Texas would dissolve the I'm.
ion ? would like reply 10 the forego-
ing questions next week. if convenient.
but if not, then soon thereafter"
As you desire a speedy answer to these
questions, you shall have it. though | am.
just now. very much occupied otherwise
shall necessarily be brief.
/ do not take 1t for granted, because
Mr. Clay was, in 1920, of the opinion
that the limits Of Louisiana extended to
the Rio del Norte, so as to embrace the
territory Of Texas. instead of being res
ircied to the Sabine, the limit agreed on
in the Treaty with Spain Of 1919. that he
is. there ore.now.in favor of "annsration. "
If you think that the latter is fairly inter-
able from The former, your power of s:ri-
ding from premises TO conclusions far ex-
ceeds mine. should like 10 see by what
process you arrive at the conclusion
Where the western limit of louisiana
should be, was IN IS20,an open question,
for the treaty of 1919 was not finally rat
fled until Feb. 1921. The ratification
fixed the Sabine rs the boundary and
that was confirmed by treaty between
the United States and Mexico, in 1898,
under which the line has been actually
run. and marked. There il is; and to
that line Mexico now claims, Shy treaty
stipulation"
The question is. therefore, q new one,
Annexation would involve n violation Of
our treaty with Mexico, who still claims
Texas. and gives US to understand that
she will consider our taking possession it
as an act of hostiIlties. War with Mex
leo. therefore. involving we know not
what other wars, will be the certain con.
sequence. And there is another aspect
to the question:-it is, whether. after our
citizens have emigrnted TO Texas "as a
part of Mexicc," and revolted from its
government and sustained The revolt by
aid from the United States with the
shameful connivance ofits public author.
iiies--we shall now seek 10 annex to the
United States the territory thus attempted
TO be wrested from Mexico-and seek TO
do it, not BY an arrangement with Next.
CO. but with the revolters? And then. to
take Texas with her debt of snme one
hundred millions, and the still heavier
loaG Of disgrace in the eyes OF all chrisien-
dom.
Such is the conclusion to which Won
jump from 1891 say jump, for do
not see how you Can bridge the mighty
chasm. And yet upon the strength of a
presumption thus founded, you call on me
for documentary evidence" that Mr.
Clay is NOT in favor of annexation.
When you will show that an arrange
ment with Spain in 1920, TO give effect to
our claim that louisiana embraced within
IFS hmlfS what is now Texas, would have
been then, what Enumeration would be
non, then will admit The proprlety of
calling for documentary evidence" I'm.
I'll this is done, | must answer your guess
on-"Is not Henry Clay as much in favor
of the annexation of Texas as was An
drew Jackson p in the negative, and call
upon you. in turn, for evidence that he is.
Thus far you rest on presumption, which,
You will allow me to say is altogether to
slight for such superstructure.
As you rely on presumption, will take
the liberty to say that tnlnk tho presump.
tons are the other way-and that they
are not slight ones--fo: tho following
reasons First,
Because the great body of the wing
party in tho free States are decidediy hos.
tile 10 annexation" Ii is perfectly man.
fest that 80 power of party can ever
bring them into the measure. Is Mr.
Clay going, in the face of this sentiment,
to throw himself into the Texas move.
ment | say emphatically-No.
?. Because the leading wing papers in
the flee States have taken strong ground
against it. may mention among them.
the Boston Atlas, Boston Daily Advertis-
er, Boston Merchaniile Journal, N. Ha-
ven Herald, N. Y. Commercial Adv. N.
Y. American. N. Y. Exp, ess, The Tri.
bune, Albany Ev Jour-, Albany Daily Ad-
vertiser, North American, and U. S. Ga
zette, Philadelphia. | added all the
Wing papers in our own State; indeed |
night say the whole northern Wing press, |
with scarce an exception.
8. Because, even in the slaveholdinp
States. there are strong manifestations |
If the Wing press against annexation. A.
nong the most important is the NATION.
IL lNTELLIeENcER, which circuIates
through the whole country, south as well
IS north. 1t is most decided against the
there is the Potomack Adj
extract from which happens To