The Whig standard. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1843-1844, 1844-06-15
COM NJ UNIC ALTON.
ANNEXATION OF TEXAS.
NO. ".

VIII ehuedvW 70 compress IN THIS article tho
remainder Of what have to state upon the argu-
ments which have been adduced to prove the ne
cessity for Immediate annexation. This necessity
is alleged to have arisen nom the interference u
Great Britain with the subject Of slavery and
Texas, and the bearing which such interference
might have upon that institution in The United
States, and incidentally upon other leading inte-
rests of our country" Now, every honest man.
in public or in private life, will repel, with ndg-
nation. the idea that any circumstances can JUS
tify breach of either national or individual OBJ
legation. But the negotiators of the treaty for
the annexation of Texas appear to have thought
otherwise, and justify their conduct towards Mex
leo upon the plea of necessity. This necessity
was based upon information received by the
"private" communication of /" a citizen of Mary
land" That information has been proved to be
entirely without foundation; the "private" letter
cannot be Jound-the name Of the indiuidual is
u,,kn0Wn. Lord Aberdeen and Mr.. Smith, who
were referred to in confederation of these state
ments Of the "citizen Of Maryland" both en-
phatcally deny the assertions Of this +" citizen"
The person from whom he Immediately received
the information he communicated has been forci-
bly, elected from Texas, and forbidden to return,
and the whole affair has been pronounced "a RI
diculous ons" by the charge dafaires from the
United States to Texas; and yet our Executive
Government goes on to complete the treaty, and
send it TO the Senate for approval, as though the
grounds on which it originated had never been
disputed. The British Government, through the
despatch Of Lord Aberdeen to Mr.. Pakenham.
dated December 26, l643, and which was COM
municated TO Mr.. Upshur by Mr.. Pakenham on
the 18th Of February, 1914. says, " that it deems
it expedient to take measures for stopping at once
| the MISREPRESENTATION which have been circu-
| lated, and the errors into which the Government
| of the United States seems to have fallen on the
subject Of the policy Of Great Britain with re.
spect to Texas" a1'hat policy" says Lord
Aberdeen is clear and simple, and may be stated
in few words. Great Britain has acknowledged
the independence Of Texas. She wishes to see
that independence finally and formally established,
| and generally recognized. especially by Mexico
But that desire does not arise from any motive of
ambition or sef.interest beyond the interest which
| attaches to a desire to extend her commercial
dealings" Great Britain has been forward in
pressing the Government Of Mexico to acknow-
ledge Texas as Independent. But she has no oc-
cult design, nor reference to any peculiar infu-
ence which she wishes to establish in Mexico or
Texas, or ersn NTH reference 10 The slavery which
now exists, and which she desires TO see abol-
ished il Texas" Great Britain desires, and 10
constantly cxerting herself TO procure. the gene
raj abolition Of slavery throughout the world. But
the means which she adopts for this purpose are
or underhand. She desires that her motives may
be understood, and her acts seen by all" Great
Britain wishes to see slavery abolished in Texas
as well as elsewhere, and would rejoice If the
recognition Of that country by Mexico should be
accompanied OH the part of Texas by an engage
ment to abolish slavery eventually throughout
the Republic. 9 1
But notwithstandin this DESIRE Great Britain
will not interfere unduly or with an improper as
sumption OF authority, with either party, in order
TO produce such result. She will counsel, but
not seek to compel or unduly control, either
party. So far as Great Britain is concerned. pro-
uided other Sldles. act Nth equal yJorbsGrGncs.
those Governments (Texas and Mexico) will be
fully at liberty TO make their o,on unfettered ar
engagements Nth each other both In regard 10 The
abolition Of slavery and 10 all other points."
Great Britain does not aoapt to establish any
dominant influence in Texas. Her objects are
barely commercial, and she has thought Of act
ing directly or indirectly, in political sense, on
the United States through Texas" (" Great Br-
tain has never sought in any way to stir up dis
affection or excitement Of any kind, in the United
States. All the States are entitled, az coTnpo-
nent members of the Union, to equal political re-
spect, favor, and forbearance on her, part" "To
this policy she will continue to adhere-she will
not desist from those open and honest efforts
which she has constantly made, for procuring the
abolition Of slavery throughout the world, but she
will neither openly secretly resort to any mea-
sures which can tend to disturb their (the slave
holding States) internal tranquility, or thereby
to affect the prosperity of the American Un'on-
have extracted thus largely from this despatch
Of Lord Aberdeen's SO justly characterized ny
Mr. Benton, in his speech in the Senate. as " no.
ble," /" frank" and "full," because it seems to
be destined to become the great land mark in this
controversy, and because il sweeps from under
| the feet of the advocates Of immediate annexa-
ton. every shadow of support on the plea Of me-
cessity Mr. Calhoun, however, Notwithstanding
this third dsavowal, on the part Of the British
Government, returns to the charge, and in his
letter to Mr.. Pakenham. under date April 18th,
more than seven weeks after the date of Mr.. P.'s
note. enclosing Lord Aberdeen's despatch, ex-
presses his regrets" his concern" his " deep
concern" and his still deeper concern" at cer-
tain avowals which said despatch contains, in re-
la,ion TO the policy Of Great Britain. This reply
Of Mr. Calhoun's is based entirely upon the dis.
courteous assumption that the despatch Of Lord