The daily Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1841-1845, 1844-08-29

even Ill to pave the unmentionable placs with II
MIR. Adams,o MIR Clay, believed that Spain had an,
claim on Mexico, which ii would be necessary TO
quiet" il would have been proper TO open neeotia-
lions simultaneously with Mexico ami Spain, or give
simultaneous Instructions respecting the matter 10
our min sters in those countries. II is very question
able whether, " IL negotiation had been eommen
ced or if treaty had been signed, and Spain had
| protested /" Mr. Adams would have thought himself
bound to do more " TO accommodate the matter"
with Span than Mr.. Tyler was disposed to do to ac-
com nodate the matter with Mexico, Surely he
would not, Spain had refused TO be quoted or com
fured, have unsigned the treaty restored the pro
vino and demanded back the purchase money from
Mexico That she would have p oested, is certain >
because she had protested most strongly and repeat
edy,--while Mr.. Adams Secretary Of State,
and during his Presidency, at the very moment when
he was making this attempt, even against tn,
recognition of the independence Of Mexico. Still
more strongly would she have protested against our
obtaining from it a cession Of territory.
MIR. Clay speaks as if solitary attempt to obtain
a cession Of Texas had been abandoned out OF defer
ence 10 Spain from scruples Of conscience. There
| were in fact, two attempts made by Mr. Adams and
himself TO obtain the territory, in 1925 and the
other in l627--both of them without any ntmation
of the design to Spain, or any ausion whatever TO
her supposed rights. This fact proves that the at
tempt was finally abandoned not through any doubts
whatever its legality xpedency but from want
of skill good fortune il the negotiation he two
successive attempts, failures as they were are all
| sufficient to commit both Messrs. Adams and Clay,
in the face of the world both to the policy of the
acquisition and it, legality and nothing has since oc
Cured to diminish either the the other, but on
the contrary, time has added to both. 81 defy hu-
man ingenuity" says Mr.. Buchanan in his speech on
the late treaty "to point out difference between
The cases | have cited under the Administrations oil
Mr. Adams and General Jackson and the present
case that would operate in favor Of the treaty
now before us. Had we then purchased from Mexl-
co. this would have been done without the consent OF
the inhabitants of Texas; but now we can obtain
Texas by the unanimous consent Of its free, sove-
reign, and independent people"
Mr.. Clay, in his struggle to extrcate himself, is
even reduced to the necessity of borrowing the mere
shadow of an argumen, from his friend and connec-
lion, Mr.. Benton. The representative of Spain in
Mexico, he says, had gone so far to stipu-
a
dence of Mexico, although that convention not
rat fed by Spain " This alludes to the convention
lorted by lurbide, from the vanquished Spanish
General ODaryju-a wholly unauthorized act on
the part of the lauer-which was promptly disavow-
ed by the Spanish Government. Surely it is in
mere desperation that such an argument as this is
resorted TO; while to oppose it, in the case Of Mex
leo and Texas, we have the fact that Santa Anna,
not merely the representative, but the head OF the
Mexican Government, not only acknowledged the
independence Of Texas, but in letter TO General
Jackson, expressed his conviction, as military man.
that the reconquest by Mexico was imprac,icable
conviction of which time has demonstrated tue
curacy.
There is another point in Mr.. Clay's letter which
should not be overlooked. He reiterates his belief
that the annexation of Texas, now, would be mex
pedient because ga considerable and respectable
portion of the Confederacy" is opposed TO it, There
probably never a national measure, pregnant
with important consequences, which was not OPP
p sed by considerable and respectable portion Of
the Confederacy. The acquisition of Louisiana was
violently opposed. Mr.. Clay carried his American
system in opposition TO large and respectable por-
non Of the Confederacy. He is urging his " old
fashioned Bank in the face Of similar opposition.
1t is true that section Of the country threatens
disunon if Texas should be annexed but then Ono-
Their section threatens dsunion il it De not annexed
Such threats are equally contemplate and unworthy
Of notice on either side They acquire importance
only from the Difference which such men as MIR.
Clay occasionally fnd it convenient to pay to them
But how is opposition to be overcome, if every
man. particularly influential public men-wat for it
to die out, and refuse, from prudential motives, TO
lend support to measure calculated to promote the
welfare Of the country, and TO which their own eo-
quence might win an overwhelming body of adhe-
ren,sl Mr.. Clays influence might have secured the
approval Of the late treaty by the Senate and have
gone far, very far, TO quiet the powerful opposition
10 the displayed in a certain section OF the
country.
But then he might have put in jeopardy his own
chances for the Presidency, and have augmented the
chances Of competitor. "Ay there's the rub."-
This is the true secret of the inconsistency for which
so nImsy apology is now rendered His course
with respect 10 :" Mr.. Tyers abominable treaty"
| as been governed altogether by his views upon the
Presidency-by motives precisely the same as those
TO which he ascrbes the negotiation Of the treaty by
Mr.. Tyler, and TO which, in fact, he had imputed
every act Of Mr. Tyler since the first Bank Veto
1t is for another generation, perhaps, TO determine
whose motives have been the least pure, and whose
conduct the most "abomnable ~ the most corruptan
the least patriotic the man who would deliberately
defeat measure calculated, he now confesses, to
promote the welfare Of the nation, in order that he
may preserve unimpared his chances of personal
sdvsncement--or the man who sought to achieve a
great national benefit, with an honest wish to place
It as shield between himself and the ncessant, un-
mitigsted and unmanly calumny and abuse in which
Mr.. Clay himself led the way.
The solemn declaration OF Mexico that she