Mississippi Democrat. (Carrollton, Miss.) 1844-18??, 1845-01-15

4
The course of Col. Benton on the
Texas question IS denounced in the most
decided terms by almost every democratic |
paper we receive. We have copied in an
other column. an article from the Holly
Springs Guard, as an index Of the pre-
yailing sentiment. The Missouri Legisla-
lure has taken ground for the annexation
on the terms Of the treaty, and instructed
Mr.. Benton accordingly. Upon what pre-
text can he disregard these Instructions
Twelve months since no man occupied
4 moro enviabIe position in the ranks of the
democracy than Mr.. Benton. His course
On the Texas question has struck many
with mute surprise, and is as inexplicableI
as it is objectionable. Not content that
his friends should have fought the late
great battle without him, aye, that they
should have encountered in the strife the
weapons furnished by him to their oppo-
nents, he must needs bring forward again
the same abortion of bill, and go over
again, we suppose, the same ridiculous ex-
hibition Of offended vanity, and malignant,
venomous envy and hatred.
The g great desert prairie extending TO
such an indefinite distance, about which
he harped SO much, and of which he spoke
as seemingly designed by nature as boun-
Diary betw cen the Angl o-Saxons and Span
iards on this continent, is represented, by
the best authority, in an article published
in our last. as having bat little existence in
reality, and likely to be as hard to find as
the famous northeastern boundary, which
has deladed diligent search ofsixty years.
The true boundary line Of Texas, the Rio
Grande del Norte, is a large stream, and
may be traced to its head spring. This has
been looked upon as the true boundary by
the United States, and France, and Spain,
by Jefferson, Jackson, Adams, Houston,
aud the Texan government, by Tyler,
Walker, Calhoun-in short, it was univer-
sally admitted that this was the boundary
of Texas; and it remained for the inven-
tive genius of the mastodon of Missouri to
discover another boundary. According to
his own account, he has been making the
most stupendous efforts for twenty-five
wears last past, come next michaelmas, tc
recover Texas, and to carry out the designs
of munifcent Nature in providing this
g great desert prairie" as the line between
/ the United States and Mexico; but for all
this, we believe it will not be denied thai
he has, within the past twelve months
done more TO prevent the Annexation o
Texas than any other man in the Republic
4 But recently declaiming against British in
trigue and British dictation, he has played
a most important part in the programme o
the British party III tuIs vO~s4..g 80
4 pretext Of hatred Gntolerant and bigoted
of another prominent democrat, he has de
serted his friends, gone over to the enemy
and betrayed the interests of his State ant
country. Let him hasten to make amend
| by retracing his steps.
Il We viii not speak of the concession t
! the crazy fanaticism of Old and New Eng
land, voluntarily offered by the bill intro
duced by Mr.. Benton, as we think it de
serves to be spoken of. Any provision
fcrbidding slavery in any portion of terri
tory between Missouri and the Gulf, 9
south of Missouri, will be fatal to the mea
sure of Annexation. The terms of tn
treaty-Texas to the Rio Grande, with he
debts and her land to pay them-wit
slavery or no slavery, as majority of tn
future inhabitants Of thecountry might de
terminc-was the issue submitted to tn
people; there was no halfway ground
Polk was pledged for g immediate annex;
ton, his opponent against it. Mr.. Bel
, tons speeches were published in the viii
! newspapers, and his arguments used I
their orators, throughout the Union, to 4
purpose. We repeat what can justify hi
a in persisting in his efforts to impede Il
# consummation of this measure, accordir
3 Ito the terms Of the treaty. How can /
il Justify himself in refusing to obey the ii
J, distractions of the Missouri legislature
THE CABINET.
The letter writers are uttering very sal
: rnninet,,ro= az ~ tho fnrnaatinn nc The Z :