The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1844-01-15

English armed vessels 10 the coasts of Mexico and
Texas. Should This sURMIsE prors weil-founded, we
think Il not Improbable that the intimatom given in
late Texan papers, that considerable American fleet
was expected IN their waters, was based upon cor.
rect iniormation."
II will be observed that the Iatelgeneer puts especial
emphasis on the word surmise" as if it were mpor-
tant to be observed What could the suggestion un-
der The circumstances be, but su,nse We are not
IN The secrets of the British Charge, of the Mexi
can Government, and can only judge Of the motives
by which they actuated and the objects they have
IN view by their acts, and the circumstances and pro-
liabilities OF the The conclusion TO which we
came, IN the matter in point, toas therefore, sur
mise but 1t was surmise backed by good and pro-
oabie reasons, which the htetigencer did fit 10
gave 10 It's readers, but which publication in its
columns only three days previous went 10 corrobo-
rate IN quite remarkable manner. We expressed
the opinion that the pretended misunderstanding was
! Intended 'manly"to afford plausible pretext '.tor
the introduction, IN unusual numbers of English armed
vessels to The coasts # .uerico and Teras ~ this was in
our paper of the 3Oth November quoted the Intel
lgencer of the 18th December. In the latter paper
oil the 9Th, the following paragraph occupied promi
nent place in the editorial column:
| "IWpo, AM British Naral .Mopement-The Halifax
Post Of the 2Sth November, states that Vice Admi-
raj Sir Charles Adams departed from that port aoM
fleet on the Goth for Central America and remarks
that the business the fleet is on, is of deep Importance.
Some old difficulties alluded to- as ,oeH as the more
recent contempt shocn the British flag al parry at sctich
the BRITISH Minister present. and what is probably
more grieVous than all the rest, the restrictions of
Santa Anna, injurious TO British trade Sir Charles
thinks TO DO something by way OF remedy"
Now, Notwithstanding this coIroboratng circum-
stance, coming in aid of what we before believed to
be good reasons for the opinion expressed, may
turn outlat our 'surmise was not well founded. 1t
may turn out that MIR. Doyle the British Charge in
Mexico is 80 sensitive to the hunor of his flag that
the accidental display, at Mexican festival Of Bri-
itch nrJnn InTk q
against Texas, was serious offence that the
humbIest apologies could not paciy him; that Great
Britain mas no more magnanlmty than to be bent up
Oh threshibg her ancient protege for SO tnhing and
| unlntentl nal an offence; and that Santa Anna is
indeed reposiDg ut his country seat while with
England ho, ers his borders! But suppose this do
turn out TO be the case still submit to the Intei-
gencer whether it treated the ques ton fairly in sup
pressing the reasons which given for contrary
opinion and pronouncing them mere surmise and
CONJECTURE when its own columns contained so re-
Gently record Of facts which precisely matched and
corIoborated that opinion.
And here, well any where we NAV take occa
sion to repeat remark which made at the time of
fepuDih lng the last quoted paragraph from the In
elhgencer, viz that while that paper rdicued and
censured in no measured terms the temperate and
guarded allusion of the President in his annual mes
sage to the recent DEGREES of the Mexican dictator re-
stnctIng the trade of foreigners in that Republic
informs It's readers, without word of comment or
dsapprobation ihato reform those trade regulations
and for other more trivial and unus ifob.e causes
Great Britain had despatched feet with hostile in
tent to the coasts of Mexico
AT the same time that the Mteligencer pretends to
ueat as entitled to no weight The positive evidences
which have transpred of the intention of Britain t.
eHect the abolition OF slavery in Texas, and reduce
that State to a certain-or rather observation-disclosures
OF dependency, it is ready enough to catch at and
magnify me Importance of any thing which may lead
Its iders to an opposite belief. Hence the following
puhiicatIon, made in the editorial columns of the In
gencer about the time as the articles before
alluded to.
$ President Houston, in late speech at Calves
'on' used 'he following strong language;
My Countrymen: One question In relation to
England. What has Eng and DONE And there is no
that Texas wants peace, be attained by the inter
yenton OF three great Powers England MAS assured
us mat we Lave her most friendly dspdsition aud
and. There is no condition men...o.eu Abolition,
or any thing OF the EAIiu, Is wholly unknown to the
arct...'es OF the Government. They have right to
advise, If they choose, and 10 reject There is no
thing compulsory on their part. England is in nowise
making claims or asserting anything right, which
Is incompatible with the interests of this countryn
" This contradicts explicitly the charge of cou-
sion between the Governments of EnglandIand Texas
on the subject OF the abolition of slavery as the price
of British allianccn
who can read this quotation, and not see that Pre-
sident Houston purposely shules of and avoids the
true question: whether England is or is not pressing
her abolition dogmas upon Texas Who can discover
any thing erpict' in his remarks Ye, see what the
InteHgencer would wiring from them an explicit
denial OF collision between Eneand and Texas
on the subject of the abol ton of slavery in Texas
as the price Of British alliance" This charge was
never made-at least was only invented in order TO
furnish the ground work of a contradiction. The
first time IT saw the light as far as we are aware
was IN Texan Administration journal, which stated
1T, for the purpose Of saying the authority of Cap
tain Elliott British Charge in Texas that II was not
| true. 1t was started with view TO lead off on a
false scent; and the nteigencer gives it and its
contradiction currency with (apparently, at least the
same purpose.
1t is not at all likely that England has made il a
condition" with Texas that in order to secure her
irlenoly ohces, slavery must be abolished in the
Republic. skillul angler does not make it a condi-
ton with fishes that he shall have his gs hooked be.
fore he allowed TO nhble at the bait nor bird
catcher that his game shall agree to be killed and
cooked, fore he is allowed TO put his feet into the
net Nevertheless, the hook is baifed and the line
thrown; the net also is spread, and if are not mis-
taken IN the character of the Ielgencer there are
not lacking decoys
Such denials that of Captain Elliot, and this of
houston, seized with 50 much relish by the TaieAi-
gencer, as they do not meet the question fairly and
plainly serve only to confirm the charges which are
really made
Here we are disposed to stop. But the TnteLigen.
Ger Of subs quent dates exposes the same feelings that
we think We have air a y detected in IT, still stronger
and more p, rceptbly. We pass over its article apollo
geiic of the Mex can Government and Minister who
have twice threatened war with this country on the
strength OF newspaper publ cations and DISCUSSIONS
and over other articles which are worthy of comment,
because we have reader material.
The Inteiiigenor of the 18th ut. has forced upon
ITS notice the conversation Heretofore quoted in our
sheet between distinguished peer Of the realm and
the Chief of the Foreign Office in the British Para-
nent, on The subject OF Texas and slavery; and
temp,s, In the face of the disclosures made by those
functonaes, TO mant3in the assertion that no official
action has been taken, or is Contemplated by G. eat
Biitin TO effect changes in the domestic policy of
Texas. In this fifort, the hteHigencer does not
hesitate TO suppress The truth II, indeed, that phrase is
not too mild one TO describe what it is guilty Of
In the first place, the Iateiigencer pronou ces the