The Arkansas banner., 1845-06-25

E would have become of annexation we Atrust now, that the question of annexation IS anearly or quite settled, and the "Onon not E Edissoiredy that the people will look we'll to A the Dretensions of those who are soliciting Etheir votes. The events that are every day Mdeveloped. all tend to establish the fact, that Blast fall was a most critical time, in relation z to annexation, and that he Mat aUaS not heart H and soul acith aS Men, acaS against US.
 B THE LETTER.
 a FoRT HILL, 10th May, 1S45. GENTLEMEN From some delay in the mail, did not receive, until few days since, Hyour letter of the 2lst April, informing me Hthat at a democratic meeting held in the city aof Mobile on the l4th of the same month, syou were appointed committee to express Athe cordial appreciation of the meeting of E my public conduct; their gratitude for my E Hservices, and to offer on the part of the mee- Htng, such other manifestations of their res M pect and esteem as you might think proper. ,a will not attemptto express the deep grat- @ude feel for the warm appreciation of my npubic conduct and services expressed by the Mmeeting in their resolutions, and the very ac- x Acceptable manner in which you have performed athe duty entrusted to you.
 a In performing it, you have alluded with S Mparticular appreciation to my conduct and Aservices in reference to State Rights, and du- Bring the period filled, for a short time, the Estate Department under the late administra- aton.
 To no part of my public life do l look Aback with greater pleasure, than that devoted a5to expounding and maintaining the relations 'Ibetween the Federal and State Governments. Ion which the doctrine ofState Rights depend. ,s1 and it is a great consolation for me to think
 Nit has not been in vain.
 A Ina federal Government regarded in its Hfederative character, in which States, and eAnot individuals, are its constituents, is the rH most remarkable ever formed; and promises ,aif carried out honestly and fairly as such, a -9higher degree of prosperity and happiness,
 athan has ever fallen to the lot of any people
 MOn the other hand, regarded as national eaGovernment, in which individuals and not Estates are the constituents, 1t has nothing lnovel or remarkable about it. Instead of a fHgreat Federal Republic, as 1t is, it would be
 in that character huge, unwieldly democ- taracy, destined to be torn into fragments by rahostle and conflicting interests, and 10 termi- ejnate in convulsions. Such being my con ,dyicton, felt it to be my duty to maintain
 Ahe Federal character of the Government s3against the national or consultative, at any ,asacriice and hazard, and shall continue to eAdo so, so long as it shall please the author ol n4my being to spare my life
 ra The services rendered during the period
 M filled the State Department, were performed II dunder great difficulties and endorsements "a N othng, indeed, but the magnitude of the -aquestions involved in the negotiations in ref oAerence to Texas and Oregon, with the diff
 Iticulties and embawassments encircling them. Hand the unanimous call of the country to lHtake charge of the negotiations, could have
 ainduced me to leave my retirement and re- tHturn 10 public life. Besides those that were
 Hintrinsic, there were many that were of an
 HeXtraneous character.
 Fl Among others, the administration was lit-
 Merally without party in Congress and very lHfeebly supported by the people; and the
 APresidential question was pending, which ex-
 Experience had taught me, overrued in a great x E3measure all others.
 The negotiation in reference to Texas. lM first claimed my attention, because it was the
 H most pressing and could not be delayed with
 aout hazard. In order to avoid the difficult atles and endorsements which I apprehen- oMded from the presidential election, resolved
 Ito keep entirely aloof from the party politics
 Hof the day, and especially from questions re- ta latlng to the election, and 10 use my effor -ato induce the candidates not to commit them- lA selves against annexation. had little appre- tlhension that MT. Van Buren would, as a grea B majority of his friends, with Gen. Jackson
 Eat their head, had declared for it. The po- -asition of MT. Clay was different. The mas. S3 ses of his friends in the north opposed it ,a which feared would sway him. In orde X to prevent it if possible, I saw some of hi. Hmost prominent friends, with whom I was tss on friendly terms, and used every argumen a could with them, to exert their influence
 a to prevent him from coming ont against it. k It was all in vain. His letter in opposi lStion soon after appeared, and MT. Van Blu
 Mren's followed shortly after, most unexpec- N tedlv to me.
 B Their effect was great Mir. CIay's friends Es WCIC tSdiiiSt lt dlIOSL tO q Illdil. al
 Mthough the great body of them in the Yves Bland south, were strongly disposed to sup ,N port it, and not few of the prominent, open. 'Aly committed in it's favor.
 A It was different with MT. Van Buren's- aThe great body of his supporters remained { firm in its support; but an active, influential ,!a land not an inconsderable number adhered te K his course. Indeed, the stand taken by the |Aselected candidates of the two great parties Swith the influence of the presidential ques. lation and the feebleness of the administration Ain Congress and the country, seemed, for 6 'N Ntime, to render the prospect of success al. ,Amost hopeless.
 X To these causes of opposition there mus Mbe taken into consideration another, to real ,Aise the difficulties and endorsements tha eI stood in the way of the success of the meas laure. Ialude to abolition. It may indeed, sbe truly regarded as the main spring which .aput the other in motion.