The daily Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1841-1845, 1844-12-07
THE N. Y. EVENING POST VS.. AN
NEXATION.

Col Polk is a verdict in favor of immediate An
nexation. The writer himself, is heartily OPP
posed to the measure.
In conserving 10 review an article OF such
consummate ability, and which has been pub
ished in leading Democratic paper, with the
full sanction of its respected editor, whose edi-
torial remarks ON the same subject clearly evnce
his appreciation of the grounds assumed by his
distinguished contributor, we are impelled sole
" by the hope that we may be enabled, in an
unobrusve manner, TO contribute something
towards healing the breach between some OF
our Republican leaders on this momentous ques-
ton. We have no partisan end TO accomplish;
our all is embarked in the same Democratic ship
which bears the party and its fortunes; and we
shall support the administration of any future
President which the party may select, as zeal
ously as we intend TO support that of President
Polk. The object is to arrest, if possible, COLI
sion among the leaders, on the measure of An
nexa,ion-the mass of the party being unani-
mously, or nearly SO, in its favor.
The writer under consideration thus opens
his article:
"One might suppose, if he read only certain
papers and knew little of the Constitution of this
country, that the election just final dec
sion of the people upon the question of annexation"
And then he makes his main issue, in these
words:
I'VE deny that the annexation a question to be de-
cided by the election and deny also, that Il osre to
be considered the decision has been in its apor II is
the wish OF certain set Of politicians to make APP
pear so, undoubtedly. And they have some crcum-
stances to favor them There are the persons inter-
ested in the annexation, and they are many, whose
voices loud just in proportion to their interests,
and who will struggle hard to drown other voices in
their own and then the fraternity Of Office holders
from the President down, keep themselves in counte
nance, by proclaiming that The people have Joined
them. Fortunately tho number of both these classes
is small, compared with the rest of the people,"
We regret that the writer did not confne
himself directly to the points al issue,
and abstain from the agitation all col
lateral subjects Of a nature calculated to
engender ill-ieeling. We shall take care,
however, TO avoid giving just cause Of offence
10 any class of individuals conscienliously op-
posed 10 US in opinion /; and we shall forbear to
repel with indignation the implied charge that
the most jealous advocates of annexation have
other interests in view than the interest Of their
country. We shall also pass over without COM
ment the unmerted insinuation against the
President and the ''fraternry of Office holders"
we will merely remark that the friends of Mr.
Tyler outnumber, in our opinion, the Democra-
tic opponents of Annexation.
The writer then proceeds with his arguments
and postulates:
"Upon what does the opinion rest, that the cleo
tion has been favorable to the annexation Is if up
on ~ idea that the President is himself able to el-
feet ~ Nobody seriously believe that. Is it
upon the idea that he is the leader of bis party and
will bring them to it He is not the leader of his
party, and If he were, the annexation is not party
question, as will be made manifest whenever the
question comes before Congress the people. The
most vehement Texas democrats among US have
been, during the canvass, strenuous in maintaining
that the measure was not a party measure, but
great american nsayure2 Or is 1t upon the idea that
the people have expressed themselves in its favor,
and that Congress must conform 10 that expression"
Certainly the candidate in favor of Annexa-
ton was not elected because he was "himself
able to effect it," But the majority being in
favor of the measure, they desired to have
President who would not defeat their will
He cannot annex Texas Of 'himself:" but a
President opposed 10 the measure, could de-
feat 1t with the Veto. The representatives of
the majority in Congress can carry the measure
and the majority desire TO have President
that will sanction the act.
The President instead OF "bringingn the
party, as "leader to it," is brought forward
by the party to sanction its great measure
This is the obvious reason why the party aban-
doned the leader" who opposed its chief mea-
sure, and elected one who was in favor of it,
That the measure of Annexation is ga great
American measure" all its advocates honestly
believe. That it has become party question,
is the error, the fatal error, Of the Wings, who
made it so, and who, with all that join them,
are doomed to deplore 1t in Punishment from
power. Every Wing press in the Union TEEN
ed with denunciations of the "Texas plot" du-
ring the recent campaign and Colonel Polk
was everywhere denounced by them as the An
nexa,ion candidate. The Post, and two other
Democratic papers, were all that assumed TO de-
ny the charge.
To the inteuogatory at the end of the quota
ton, we answer emphatically, YES The Peo-
pie have most undoubtedly expressed them.
selves in its favor" and expect "that Congress
must conform to that expression" The People
expect this compliance on the part of Congress,
and they expect the President TO sanction the
act
But the writer for the Post as emphatically
denies our assertion, as follows:
First, then, we deny that the question wa, in
volved in the election al all. Certainly, there was
no necessary connection between voting for Presi-
dent who desired TO sec Texas annexed, and voting
for the annexation. The President is not an Empe-
ror his will is not law. lie cannot annex a country
by the breath Of his mouth. He Is but an Executive
magistrate, with powers limited both in ex,ent nd