The St. Landry whig., 1844-10-10
%PoEITICAE HISTORY.
THOMAS II. BENTON.


We do not take our pen 10 prove that this gen.
tleman has turned Wing, but merely to show,
that, o~flate, he is forced to give countenance to
Wing doctrines and Wing candidates, in prefer
ence to those ofhis own party. Hear what he
says In relation to our candidate, in a Circular,
signed by himself, and published in the Missouri
Intelligencer:
The principles which would govern Mr..
Clay's administration, if elected, are Nell known
to the nation. They have been displayed upon
the floor of Congress for the last seventeen
years. They constitute a system of American
policy, based on the Agriculture and Manufac-
ture OF his W country-upon interior as well
as foreign commerce-upon internal as well
as sea-board itnprovement-upon the indepen.
dence of the New World, and close commercial
alliance with South America and Mexico. Itis
SAID that others would pursue the same system
we answer, that the founder Of a system is the
natural executor of his own work that the most
eilclent protector of American Iron, Lead.
Hemp, Wool and Cotton, would be the most tri.
umphant champion ofthe new Tariff: the safest
friend to Internal Commerce would be the
Statesman who has proclaimed the Mississippi
TO be the sea of the West the most jealous pro.
moter OF Internal Improvements would be the
PRESIDENT, who has triumped over the President
who opposed the construction of National Roads
ana canals the most successful applicant for
treaties with Mexico and South America would
be the most eloquent advocate of their own indie
pendence..'
The commanding talents, hoblt character and
purely American principles, of HENax Cray,
are constantly extorti1As 1Fom his most determin-
ed opponents, that juice which they SO richly
merit.
We have always viewed Mr.. Benton ID The
head and front of the Locofoco army, and one
who is competent to lead such Il party, with
honor to HIMSELF ifnot to his country. He has,
however, become entirely too honest for that par
ty, and the leaders are endeavorine to "dis.
mount" him, and ''horse' another in his stead.
Now, as Mr.. Benton believes Mr.. Clayin eve.
ry way qualified to fill the Presidential chair.
and as he said in his Boonville speech. ..thouph
in favor of two terms" yet he was "~reioiced to
see that Mr., Polk had voluntarily made a pledge
to run but one" why we think he shows clear.
" his predictions for Mr.. Clay noay, and ofsome
other gentleman after his term; for, che for one,
was in favor of seeing the Democratic candi.
date for ls4s taken from the North /"
But, on this Texas hobby, we want to let Mr..
Benton say a few words. We quote from his
Boonvllle speeches, delivered the 7th and 9Th
of july
Mich Of the first part ofhis speech was taken
up IN establishing tho positions which he had
maintained upon the negotiation of the first trea.
", by which Texas was lost to us through the in.
strumcntallty ofMr. Calhoun and other Southern
members OF Mr.. Munroe's cabinet. He read
the bill introduced by him at the last session of
Congress, giving. authority to the President to
open negotiations Avith Mexico and Texas fortbe
adjustment OF boundaries and the acquisition of
le1as. and proceeded to explain and defend it.
Let those who want Texas Nth the Union, he
salSts go for the bill let those who want Texns
mithout the Union adhere TO the dead treaty 81
MIR. Benton proceeded
'Disunion was a primary object ofthe treaty
an intrigue for the Presidency was its secondary
object land speculation and stock .iobbinp were
auxiliary objects and the four objects topetber
brought it onward at the time and in the man.
ner IN which 1t came forward, just forty DAYS he.
fore the Baltimore Convention. and 1T the exact
moment to mix with the Presidential election.
and to make dissension, discord. and mischief
between the North and the South.
The treaty assumed ten millions of debt and
confirmed all the land claims under the laws of
le1as. The treaty correspondence claimed two
hundred millions of acres of land in Texas. Of
which two thirds were represented as vacant
and claimed as a fund out of which the delhi as.
sumed was to be paid. Vain and impotent N.
tempt at deception! Open and fraudulent il.
tempt to assume a bubble debt fortb benefit If
stockJobbers, without any adequate consideration
cIher to Texas or The United States! Texas in
ail ITS proper extent-in its whole length and
oreadth, from the Sabine to the west Of the Nne.
ces, and from The Gulf of Mexico 10 the Rcd
rlVer-contains but 10000 square miles. equal
70 - millions of acres, and to getihe remainder
o. The quantity Of 200millions Of acres they have
to count the.wild country under the d-omi,ion ~
Gamanche Indians, and the left bank Of Inc R;o
Grande from head to mouth, all OF which i m.
aer Mexican dominion, and a great part Of which
mas been settled and granted above two hundred
years. tits nonsense to talk of Texas possess.
ing vacant land. Efthere is any thing vacant.
II Is because il is not worth having. Texas -
sell has been settled at San Antonio. Nacoojo
cneS, and other places, above one hundred wears
and has been under the dominion Of three differ.
emf Governments, each of (which has been grant.