The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1844-06-03
THE FREEMAN ON ANNEXATION.

'''"''SN"
papers Well, sir, thcro il not criminal in the
world who could not say that other men have been as
crimina, as he-but would that DO good de-
| fence The fact that Messrs. Clay and Van Bnren
ngree in one point has led TO the loose assertion Of
general agreement between them; but OF whnt weight
are such assertions agant the letters them iefres Lot
the Freeman publish them, and then its readers VIII
see for themselves Let II show that Mr. Clay not
only is against annexation nop, but that he expresses
his opinion against il upon grounds which VIII JoIerer
be rs strong as they now are Let 1t show that Mr
Van Buren, is commtted-by his own language, and
by the admissions Of his rendsto so FOR annexation
rs soon as n majority Of Congress shall be for it,
These are the facts; and to mslend the North--to
conceal the facts from the opponents of annexation
is to help annexation. BY the course it has COM
menccd, the Freeman is helping that accursed plot,
and helping it more efficiently, too than were it TO
come out MS an open advocate of it.. BY keeping its
renders in the darlt-by leading them TO oppose Mr.
Clay, upon whose election the defeat Of annexation
depends-by romenting divisions and TINS aiding at
the North the supporters ofAnrtn Van Buren,, who
| is pledged for onneXation--this is.caed Green
Mountain freeman is doing the work of the sayeoc-
! racy.
In contrast to the miserable misrepresentation of
the Freeman we glvo our readers the following from
paper which is an anti slavery paper. 1t is from
! the editor of the National Anti-Slavery Standard -;
! 81 have read about five columns Of his ivan Blu.
rens1 letter with admiration or its ability, and with
hearty in the soundness and business of
that portion. Hut hisame and impotent conclusion
SO Inconsistent with his professions aud with his adj
! mirahe arguments, shocked and disguised me-
when this period Of definite action arrives saws he,
/ lh 10 considerations now taken into view may have
lost the weight they at present possess in the estma
ton Of the public, and others not regarded Of
any value, may in the meantime arise affect
erny, if not to change, tho whole aspect Of the sub
ecl'
"This leaves a wide margin. Every thing is re-
ierred to nnblic opinion an nlalblo test of right
and wrong But this is not all ;the writer undertakes
TO lead public opinion into disregard of all that he
Ind so deliberately urged lie tells the country that
the condition on which all his imposing and solemn
objections may be set inside, is such persistence
the part Of Mexico TO Texas shal'producc
II conviction of majority of the people that the per-
manenI welfare, il not absolute safety OF all, nuke it
necessary that The proposed annexation should take
place, DC Inc consequences lohat they may lie had
before said Nothing is true more extensively
known than that Texas wrested from Mexico
through the insrumenlnity OF citizens of the United
States Equally true is it that this done ia direct
contravention of the best efforts of Govern
mont to prevent our citizens from engaging in this
terprise
But why does Mr. Van Buren, assert and expose the
tifcalion for emitting 10 fulfil trcnty obligations
toward Mexico, by restraining citizens or foreign
ers going from our territory, (lnr there many
SUCH from making war upon her Now he deems
this Justification or he would not alledge it. But if i
be justification now, it will be two three, five,
or ten years hence; and awless citizens, foreign ad
vcnturers and treebooters, may during those periods
Justhuhly, 1--WE continuing unGbie 10 restrain them.
certainly we should under MIR Van Burcn,) carry
against Mexico in conjunction with the Tex
ans, and thus produce that very state Of things, viz
the persistence Of Mexico which Mr. Van Buren, tells
might and would justify annexation at all hnzards.
If this he not plain and palpablc attempt TO pcvert
public opinion, seduce citizens FROM their duty,
and to encourage acknowledged crime against n
neighborly and friendly State, know what it is.
If it be not the most contemplate dupcity and jesu
tsm Then there is no such thing moral distinctions.
and virtue is but u name
Tho conclusion of the whole matter is, that if a
majority Of the people should become cOnpHced that
they want Texas, and Mexico should persist in
claiming it, though compelled TO that 'pesistance'
by our own wrong and majority of Congress
should concur with the people in the onvction that it
is necessary or convenient for to have itwhy then
says MIR Van Buren,, if in charge Of the responsible
duties of President should hold to BIO my duty
employ the Executive power to carry into full and
fair effect the wishes Of ajory of the people of
the existing Staes thus constitutionaly and solemn
y expressed In plain English, choose mo President
with view of getting Texas, choose Congress with
the same view, and wo will get it for you, BE THE
CONSEQUENCES WHAT THEY MAY
| look upon Cny's letter as satisfactory. lie is
not afraid stakeholder he is, name SLAVERY
while Van Buren, eschews it, as he would pest
house. Clay tells the nation, and the world that to
annex Texas, will be to engage in a war for the
propagation Of slavery l admit, that while | like |
the statesman as he appears in this letter, should
have been glad TO have more ofhe phanthropst
and reiormer; STILL cannot deny that upon the whole
the letter appears to me satisfactory. 1t is not as
carefully written Van Buren's but il is the height
of heaven above it in honesty. I lately declared in
the Lberator that if Mr. Van Buren, came out against
annexation, would support him sooner than would |
Mr. Clay If he either for or uncommitted against
it. did not then know but that both were in favor
oft. feared they were. IF the declarations now
before had been reversed, and Clay had been for
and Van Buren, against annexation | should have
cheerfully redeemed the pledge thus given, and
which, may add, my conduct has for many years
given" '' f .. .It.
We leave the Freeman to defend ITSELF and TO
answer the standard-ifit can; while to all honest
anti slavery men say-here is a leading man of
your ranks who had determined to oppose Mr. Clay
and support Mr. Van Buren,, in case the first was rot
committed against annexation and the latter was
their positions are reversed, and he supports Clay