The daily Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1841-1845, 1845-02-06

cussion in the House Of Representative, during
which every objection that could be urged against
the Joint Resolution now before the Senate was
promptly and triumphanrly dispelled, il would
surely be poor freak Of mind thoroughly OBJ
fused, TO suppose, for single moment, that this
amputated yemin, this spawn OF a conglomera-
ton Of detection and treachey, should swallow
up everything that has been devised in good
faith and sincerity, like another Aaron's rod
If Colonel Benton was an absolute monarch,
of course his word would be the law. and every
body under his control would bow to his dcta-
zion. But in this land of liberty. Legislators can
only acquire controlling influence by superior
craftsmanship. And when, perchance, pub
lie man attempts TO carry his point in spite OF
the dictates of wisdom, in opposition TO the
convictions of the People, and in defiance oil
the action of the popular branch of Congress
he is no statesman-he is mere political bully.
We give ''Col. Benton's bill" in this number of
our paper, and all his remarks, as reported by
him for the Globe, that our readers may Judge
for themselves 10 what extent he merits the rep
rotation Of the sincere advocates of immediate
annexation. He says that, although he has
curtailed his project Of some Of its details, he
does not abandon them, but expects President
Polk 10 join them together again, and be gov
erned by their guidance. In short, "by one
speech" Colonel Benton "kills the measure OF
immediate annexation" as il has been adopted
in the House proposes TO admit, by solemn
enactment, 90 be in full force from its passase,)
foreign State into the Union, before the territory
of which il is TO be composed shall be acquired !;
and, at a subsequent period, (and after the State
is admitted into the Union,) he prescrlbes the
manner in which negotiations shall be opened,
for the purpose Of endeavoring to acquire the
teniioryl
We would most resp ectfuly but at the same
time most emphatically, beg leave TO state that
| from all the information we have been enabled
TO obtain, Colonel Polk is truly and heartily in
favor Of the Annexation of Texas to this Union )
and that, in the event Of the rejection Of the
measure which has passed the House, and all
other measures which may be proposed during
this Congress, he will undoubtedly, if it should
\ fortunately be not too late, endeayor by negotla-
ton, and by ali other constitutional means IN
his power, to effect its contamination. And
we are as thoroughly convinced that Col. Polk
has sufficiently studied the Constitution OF his
country and so far succeeded in comprehend
ing the duties and powers Of the Executive
branch of the Government, as TO dispense with
the instructions and admonitions contained IN
/ 40 n, al. 10
gislative enactment to permit or enable the Ex-
ecutive to open negotiations with any foreign
power; and il is equally certain that, in giving
instructions TO our diplomatic agents, the Presl-
dent is empowered by the Constitution to act
without the instructions of the Senate. When
he concludes treaty, then the Senate may act
independently Of him. But this bob-tailed
tn ing seeks to establish a precedent of egisla-
tive dictation
The expressed purpose of Col Benton's
| Elsus ndtttru, is to defeat the immediate re-ac-
QUESTION of the territory of Texas its ultimate
design is 10 ignite a political volcano, which is
to enable its authors 10 control the pa
tronage of the new Administration, or
to overwhelm it, during its entire existence,
with incessant belchngs of red-hot lava Col.
Benton declared las, May, 1--WE have it on good
auihorty,) he "would rather see the Democrat
ic party sunk fifty fathoms in hell, than that any
other man than Mr.. Van Buren, should be nom
mated" During the campaign his weight was
added, with other prominent anti-annexationists,
to sink it and since the triumph of the De-
mocracy, on the strength of the Texas question,
he has declared in the presence of member of
the Missouri Legislature, that " if Col. Polk
should dare to say immediate Annexation once,
he would make the Presidential chair too hot to
hold him." And now we see his plan devel-
oped and although it is an insignificant affair
IN the estimation of others, it will serve him as
a pretext and means to utter his predetermined
anathemas.
If Texas must be acquired by negotiation,
why did Col. Benton oppose the treaty acquiring
it in that manner? He had sworn vengeance
against Messrs. Tyler and Calhoun, and he
made vow to subject them to the modification
and disgrace of seeing the work done over again,
by other hands, under his (Col B.'s) dictation
| If he is in favor of annexing Texas immediate
ly, and at the same time resorting to negotiation
(f other modes should taiD why not pass the
measure from the House, and in the event of its
insufficiency and rejection by Texas, leave the
negotiation las the Constitution does) to the
discretion of the President 2 Col Polk is as
anxious for Annexation as Col Benton, and will
have Constitutional advisers Of sufficient calibre
to dispense with the instructions in "Col Ben
toms bill" But who knoWs that the measure
from the House, now before the Senate, would
be rejected by Texas? General Lamar, now
in this city, and formerly President of Texas
says it would be accepted.
L.. L