The daily Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1841-1845, 1844-04-27
MR.. CLAY'S LETTER AGAINST ANNEXA
TON"

We copy from the Intellgencer Of his morn
ing the long expected letter from Mr.. Clay, on
the subject of the proposed Annexation Of
Texas.
Having only day or Two ago published Mr..
Clay's arguments, (while Secretary Of Sate,)
in favor of the Annexal ion Of Texas by means
of treaty with Mexico, while Spain no, only
refused to acknowledge Mexico's independence,
bur was actually waging war agains, her,-we
simply submit to our readers the present views
Of MIR. Clay, and leave them to make their own
comments. When we have more space TO dc.
vote 10 the subject han we can now command,
we may, perhaps, enter into particular com
parison of The opinions Of Mr.. Clay in 1925,
with those held by him in 1914.
We would remark, however, that the opera
tons of Mr.. Webster, (now supposed to be iu-
riously asssing the President, in certain New
York papers) in all probability could only be
check mated by some such letter from Mr.. Clay
{. ~ the one under consideration. For ten months
Mr.. w. has been contrvng the ways and
means TO cause himself TO be put up as North
ern candidate for the Presidency. His hatred
of Mr.. Clay is to be no secret. His secret hos
tile operations against the rival whom he fear
ed, and whom he had good cause to fear, to
be exposed. But to such an extent had he
worked upon the prejudices of the People Of
New England, so furious was the storm
which he had succeeded in getting up
against the slave States, thar, had Mr.. Clay hes
iiaied to promulga'e this conciliatory missive,
ii is altogether probable that his Wing enemies
would have prevailed against him in 1914, a.
efectually they did in 1890 Hence we re-
gard this publication rather as a matter Of me-
cessity than choice
What will be the effect Of this letter in the
South and in the Senate-who can predict D
That It has completely demolished the Web
ster conspiracy, we take JOY in believing BY
stroke of the pen, HEsrY CLAY has brought
TO nought the long continued abors of DANIEL
WEBSTER The promised fruits of his speeches,
his letters, his editorial articles, his vouminous
secret correspondence, and his frequent noctur
nal consultations with Mig friends, have been
blasted by the breath Of one ABOVE HIM. his no
litical superior
We are aware that Mr.. Webster hoped and
believed that his treachery TO the Wbio parrv
would be resented openly by the friends of Mr.
Clay-lhat Mr.. Clay himself. in the " blindne,s
Of passion" (the term which Mr. w delight,
to apply 10 him. would go pell-n, H against tho
grounds assumed by him in his letter 70 hi,
friends in New Hampshire. He thought The
fire of Mr. Clsy's wrath would consume the
Wing party, or burn it in two at Mason and
D'ron's line, and that he, DANIEL WEBSTER.
would be run fer the Presidency by the free
States. But now, we venture to predict that
even the friends Of "Anneraiionn will not be
halfso much disappointed and annoyed by thi.
letter from Mr.. Cay,a MIR Webster, the yatelli.
geneer, and the rest Of the consprators. Even
in Massachusetts, MIR. Clay could beat Mr.
Webster 20 to /.
We think, however, the treaty will be RArr
urD. Mr.. Clay has spoken as private citizen
and politician, for party. Grave Senator,
must act as patriots, for the country, for posteri
'y, for history. Subsequent to the publication
OF Mi Claws letter, the ratification cannot in
Jure his prospects in the North; for ba, not hi,
letter completely buried Mr. Webster in hi,
own marshes7