Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1845-02-18
TO the Editors Of Mc Enquirer:

To the Editors Of The Enquirer:
WASHINGTON, Feb. II, lS45.
COL Polk accompanied by Instantly and many
friends reached this city last evening about half
past eight Col. VIM. y. Butler OF Ky. is among
the number. He was received with great demon
STATIONS of JOY by thousands Of his political
friends who repaired TO the Depot TO await his ar
rival
Mr.. Buchanan occupied the attention OF The Sc
nate today in very able arg ;ment in favor OF
the Texas resolutions from tie House. In the
course of his speech, he declared his willingness to
vote for any proposition that would effect the oh
Jects contemplated BY Brown resolutions, with
out reference to the quarter from whichit orgina-
ted. MIR. Rives has the floor for Tomorrow
found impossible to approacf nearer either door
OF The Senate galleries than Tn feet, so great was
the crowd, and am, therefore, rnableto give you
synopsis of Mr.. Buchanan's speech The House
were all day in Committee Of the Whole on the
bli making an appropriation Tor The support of
the West Point Academy for one year
The arrival of Col Polk, aA exciting as it is
here, hasnoi created tenth ce:sGe stir, among our
tcle in last nights Globe on The subject OF an
ncxa,ion, in which Mr.. Blair has made many pal
pablo mistakes relative to the views and feelings
OF the Democratic party in both House and Senate
BY reference to the article you will perceive he
assumes and publishes 10 the world, that Col
Bcnton's proposition is more acceptable to the
party than the resolutions of The House This
is posittrcly not 50, and is secuted here, by nine
ten,hs of those in favor OF annexation, as gross
and unwarranlabe mistake. | have taken
pains to-day 10 ascertain the correctness Of this
statement, and on consultation with the best in
formed OF our friends both OF the House and Sc
nate, will assure you that not more than five De-
mocratic Senators, besides himself, will vote for
his proposition as il stands now. The whole
Southern Democratic delegation in the House,
with The exception Of two, al most, will refuse TO
sanction il so will the eight Southern Wings
who went with us, as we'll as some twenty West
ern and nine Northern Democrats. Thus you
may see how Mr. Blair has reckoned without
his host, in attempting 10 relieve Mr.. Benton
from his dilemma onAis orn terms, at the expense
OF every principle approved by the party in vo-
ling for Mr.. Browns resolutions.
The Globe anticipates that three more Wings
will sustain MIR. Benton than will vote for The
House resoulions-among these is undoubtedly
recorded Mr.. Barrow Of Louisiana, who hest
tates not 10 declare, that he shall vote for Benton's
plan expressly nth a riew Of destroying all Pros
peel Of annexation. He is in favor OF combining
the bill TO the Trealy-power, and he thinks il
likely 10 do SO from disagreement 10 arise between
the four commissioners who, by these resolutions,
are 10 arrange the terms Of annexation, &c
The other two extra Wings, whose names are
not even guessed At in this city, are in all proba-
bility about 10 sustain Mr. Benton on the same
grounds. His first Resolution provides for the
admission of Texas as Stale, when the terms TO
be agreed on BY Commissioners shall hare been
ratified BY the Governments Of Texas and the Z.
mr. I'll ~, N O ulS IN
be arranged TO be again canvassed either BY the
House and Senate, il the President chooses TO
presen, them, for the ratification" required, in
the form of Joint Resoluons-or 10 the Senate
alone, if presented in The shape OF Treaty; in
which case, the influence Of Abolilionism on the
one hand, and of schemes 10 bear on the prospects
OF some would-be successor or successors OF Col.
Polk on the other hand, must defeat the Treaty..
No man in his senses, who knows aueht OF the
condition of parties in the Senate, can possibly
hope for the passage of any Treaty for annexa-
ton. Notwithstanding the plain language Of
this Resolution, referring the terms for ratfca-
lion 10 one or both Houses Of Congress, Mr.. Blair
assumes, that the passage of Col. Benons pro-
position will be equivalent 10 admission under
anu terms, 10 he hereafter agyced on by Commits
sioners. Suppose this proposition 10 be the true
Jne, is there a Senator or Representative in Con-
gress who would agree 10 bind US 10 accept Texas
on any terms, however disadvantageous TO the
United States? cannot think So In this re-
spect, then, Col. Benton and the Globe will find
themselves without support in their reading OF
his first resolution No part Of the Globes edi-
torial receives more censure than this attempt 10
deny the fact that the question OF slavery, OF
debt, &c, &c, are kept open BY Col. Ben
IONS resolulions-and, at the same time, 10 create
an impression, that the House resolutions do mol
finally settle each and every question involved
Texas conserving. And here again would re-
mark 10 you, that every man from Texas now in
Washington, agrees in opinion, that Milton
Browns resolutions will be more acceptable 10
the Government and people Of that country
that they will prefer 10 pay their own debts, as
other States Of the Union pay theirs, and keep
"the wild lands of the Camanches 10 cede
them, and thus get rid OF the burden OF debt
against which Col. Benton has expended so
many solid columns OF his eloquence. | again
refer 10 this fact because The Globe boldly asserts
without the least attempt TO prove) that Tex
as wishes her debt paid by the United States
on the terms Of Inc late treaty. MIR. Blair de
carcs franz his arm knorledgc, that twenty OF
the twenty-seven Democrats who abandoned the
party on The House resolutions, will vote for Col.
Benion's proposition. This is all true enough.
No attentive observer can doubt that the Editor
sumes TO express their sentiments; and the fact
thai they will sustain Col. BIS position is suii-
cient 10 convince men of common sense that the
one hundred and twelve Democratic representa-.
tives, Ga majority of the whole House, who voted
for Milton Browns proposition will do no such
thing.
You will recollec., that 50 long as these twenty.
seven gentlemen, who are now headed by Colonel
Benton, plead the necessity Of bowling 10 public
opinion al home, in defence of their lale abandon.
nent Of the patty, RETAINED from censurine
their conduct. But must, and will, write you
frankly upon their present position and views, as
it has become so manifest, that many OF them
would destroy the party, rather than tail 10 force
it 10 accept their original terms for acquiring
Texas. IN common with almost every member
Of the House, who voted for Browns resolutions;
can but look on the presen, position OF Col Ben
ton, the Globe, ard many Of the twenty seven, as
calculated, though moi probably intended, to carry
out Oryille Robinson's plan TO "head' Col Polk.
Again, would repeat to you, that have no
fears Of the defeat Of The House Resolutions IN
the Senate, il the true friends ofannexation stand
firm, and treat all attempts TO bro~-beat them with
the contempt they merit. Yours truly.