Democratic standard. [volume] (Georgetown, Brown County, Ohio) 1837-1850, 1844-05-21
NEW sERIEs.-VoL. ~. No. 43.

N(AAs = 1--WE Z~s
disregard any feeling Of that character n
the discharge Of Official duties. Yea, &c
we'll as all others, have therefore, at least
some grounds on which 10 form an opin-
ion as to the prob able fidelity with which
these assurances would be observed.
shall add a few words OnaBOtho
aspect Of the qsestion, and then dismiss
the subject. Mexico may carry her per. +.
sistence in refusing 10 acknowledge The .
independence of Texas, abd in destructive i.
but fruiiless efforts 10 TecORquSV that
State, 50 FAR as to produce, 10 eonnOetiO q
with other circumstances DECIDED son, =.
Vic'ion on the part ofa majority Of the
people Of the United States, that the
permanent welfare, ifnOt absolute safety j.
Of ali, make II necessary that the propo.
sed annexation should be effected, be de,
ceDse quences what they may. The
question may be asked what, under such
circumstances, would be the use VOu
would make Of the executive poWeT,M
intrusted to your hsndsf W0uld il BE-
welded TO defeat, or to carry into effect, :
The ascerlained wishes Of our people - 4,
My reply 10 snch suppOsitions is, IhatNI
can conceive Of no public questions, n q.
respect TO which it is more eminontly
proper that the OpiaiOns and wishes OfthO /
people OF the different States should, be
Consulted, and, being ascsTtained, treated p
with greater respect than those Whieh
relate eli her to the admission of new
member into the cOnIederacy, or the ae.
QUESTION of additional territory, with view
10 such result; and that, If any IaPPlieas
ton for annexatiOn, under such ciFcum-
stances, were made 10 me, would feel
it my duty to submit the same 10 Con-
gress for public expression Of their j..
opinion, as well upon the PrOpriety %
annexation, as in regard to the terms upe
on which it should take place. II, afte~
the whole subject had been brought
before the country, aud folly discussed, ~
il now will be, the Senate and HOuss 81
Representatives, a large pOrIisn Of the
former, ,and the whole of the latter having
been chosen by the people after the
question of annexation had been brought
before the country for its mature con-
sideratiOn, should express an opinion in
favor Of annexation, | would hold il to be
my further duty 10 employ the executive
power to carry into full and fair effee e. the
the wishes Of mhjority Of the people Of
the existing States, thus consIiiuIiOnally
and solemnly expressed.
There may, Notwithstanding, bS those,
on both sides Of this great quSS on, WhOsEs
unwilling TO confer their suffrages on OaO
who is not prepared to give them specific
pledges in regard to The course he would
if elected, pursue in respect TO the Vas
rious aspects in which this matter may
hereafter be presented. To ell such I
have only TO say-and do so with tho
greatest sincerity-that | have not the
slightest disposition to question their
rights so 10 regulate their conduct, aud
will be the last to complain Of it's exer.
else. IL there be any one who they be-
Ieve can be more safely inlrusted with
their interest in this or any other of the
great questions Of public policy which
are likely 10 arise in the administration sf
the government, or whose assurance to
his future course are more satisfactory to
them, they will, without doubt, be we'll
warranted in giving him the preference;
and they may be assured that no one will
more cheerfully acquiesce in decision,
made from such motives, than myself
have expressed a willingness t" dis
charge, to the best OF my abilities, the
responsible duties of the high Office in
question, should the democracy Of the
United States be able aAd willing 10 :e-
elect me to the same. But | can take
no step to obtain it by which my ability
10 discharge its duties impartially and
usefuIly TO every portion of our common
country would be impaired: nor can !, in
any extremity, be induced to cast q shade
over the motives Of my past life, BY chan
ges or conc ealments OfOpiniOns matuTely
formed upon a great national question,
for the unworthy purpose of increasing
my chances for political promotion.
l am, sir, very respectfully,
Your friend and ObdieRt servant.
NJ. VAN BUREN,.