Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1844-09-13
MIR. CLAY AND ANNEXATION.

The Loco Foco papers are max ing a studi-
ed effort TO misrepresent the language and
sentiments of Mr.. CLAY on the Texas ques-
ton, and to persuade their readers that the
opinions expressed by Mr.. c. in his Alabama
letter are totally inconsistent and irreconcile-
able with those of his Raleigh letter in April
last. There can be no more effcclual refuta-
ton of this impudently false charge than is
offered by the letters themselves, and we have
therefore published the two IN juxta- position
in to-day's paper We have omitted the
first portion of the Raleigh letter, which le-
lates to the cesson and settlement of Texas,
its revolt from Mexico, &c, as unnecessary
to the comparison. In tins preface, howcv-
or, Mr.. CLAY uses the following language -
| regret that have not the advantage ola view Of
the treaty itself, so 10 enable adapt an en-
precision o my opinion TO the actual conditions and
| sllpnlatons which 1t contains Not possessing that
opportunity, am constrained to treat the question
according TO what presume to be the terms Of the
treaty. II, ,ritiom the loss of National Character
'rittom The hasard IF Ebreign var, toit he gene
raj concurrence ofhe Nation, ,rthon amy doneer Ia
| The THion and rub0u ririHg unreasonable prize
for Tcrds The question Enumeration preseHied
il ,roud appear in qtife djftrent Hght from that in
triich, dpPretend, il is nolo to be regarded.
In his Alabama letter, which Loco Foco-
ism pretends to think inconsistent with the
one from Raleigh, Mr.. CLAY, referring TO the
circumstances under which the latter was
written, savs:-
"Under such circumstances could not but regard
the Annexation OF Texas, at this time, as romprom-
ing the honor OF my country involving 1t IN war IN
| which the syupathies Of all Christendom would be
against and endangcrng the integrity of the Union.
| IMough hen and stW beiierc that National dis
honor forcicn ,rar and distraction and diriSiop at
home mere loo great sacrifices to make for the acqui-
sition Of IerdS
These two extracts shows what indeed the
letter as a whole, establish beyond cavl, that
Mr.. CLAY occupies now precisely the same
position on the Texas question that he did in
April last, to wit: that beHering Anneration
to inroice National Dishon0r, Foreign ~ a,
and Domcstic distraction and diuision, HE Is
UTTERLY OPPOSED TO IT. They show too
with equal disinctness, that Mr.. CLAY wH
nercr tend his sanction to the projcct until il
can be effected, to use his own language
"miN0m diShoaor, mithom rar, wiN tin
common consem Of the Union and upon JUS
and fair terms.'
What stronger or more satisfactory pledge
than this could we ask or expect! And how
dIileren, Mr.. Claws position on the qnes
ton from Mr.. poIK's The latter nomna
ted for the express purpose of carrying
through the Texas plot goes for immedi
ate annexalion," war with Mexico, the sane
ton of Texas slavery and the assumption o
Texas debts, without consulting the wishe
of the North. at the risk of the dissolution o
the Union and with the certainty of Nationa
. Dishonor. Mr.. CLAY, on the contrary, re
. garding all these as tao GREAT sacrifices {
, mahe far the dcq"iSition Of ItraS," stern
4 sets his face against "A project which compro
. units the National Honor, involves US in a
unjust and unchrIStiin war, endaneerS the in
. tcgrty Of the Union, and destroys, at on
q blow, the peace, prosperity and rrpntaio
- Of the American Republic. -Iibany Ert
, Jour.