Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1841-1853, 1847-06-03
SUBSTANCE OF
mr. Bent0n's Speech

dinner on the part Of his political friends He had declined
the honor OF the dinner in conformity rule which he
sd long iOlowed and as for the speech which would
been expected al the dinner tatle he preferred TO make
under circumstances which would prevent from hear
n VINO chose to do him the honor to listen 10 it, Great
subjects had occupied The public mnd-eyentful questions
had received their sOuton-in The last two thee yeas
OF ms public service all of which no had been called to
act decided and prominent part and each Of
which II was natural for him now to say something.
The Greg IN question Of these. AT time big
WIN all The sal4ms' Of war was now hushed in repose.
ana the country Tranquil and happy under its peaceful settle
ment His own course 10 relation 10 il had been consistent
and uniform from beginning 70 ending He had opposed the
JOINT occupation treaty OF 1878 made he
opposed its renewal in 1928: he had constantly abOed for
its termination since and always held the parallel Of
fornine to be the dividing lane between the Ame
can territory of Oregon and The British territory Of FraZer
river. But the public mind aud especially the mind OF his
own party bad been worked up different view Of
rights. Ffty-our forty, all noue
cry: the British answer to that and although
threat Of war would be no bar 10 rghul demand yet M
answer to wrongful il serious He believed
the whole demand Of The Uni ed States be wrongful
far applied TO Fazers river, which happened 10
through the whole territory forty fOty
nine, and 10 have been discovered by the British in 1893,
and covered by their forts since 1906. The administration
had taken high ground; the party sustained IL: but IL
an occasion which required public man to rise above
party and 10 look 10 his country alone He had resolved 10
do and to go for fOrynne if it should cost him
his political This determination, though
formally promulgated was no secret and was early enough
made known TO his friends, and TO the administration. From
the first explosion Of the question in April Si5-fom the
FIST revebestOn Of the thunder which rolling back
be had made known ais opinions the Secretary OF State
and informed him he should support treaty the line
OF forty-nine the President made one upon that basis
From that determination he had swerved His iends
thought there great danger him in the he Ook
he himself did not think there much. He knew his
constituents had been wrought hityfOuT forty but he
relied upon their equity and intelligence give him fair
hearing and safe deverance. paid them the cOmpi-
rely upon their Justice and intelligence and the
event had not deceived him. The boundary settled at
foy-caoe. The British kept river, and kept
War averted Britain and the United States
remain at he and his constituents at
and long might they all remain
The settlement Of this question. Mr. Bswent to
had cleared away the only remaining the
Two kindred nations IL LETT them not only at peace, out
without remaining quarrel For the FIRST time since the
stamp act Of 1904 the two nations 'wee without
cause Of arT"i For the first time nearly three
tons Of the grand divisions of the Anglo Saxon
race-the mother stock in Great Britain, and its gigantic
progeny in our America-were without cause of dsen-
son and to crown this happy sateto give to peace its
highest ornament and nobies occupaOn and TO friendship
its most enduring cement calamous visitation in part Of
the British empire had called the sympathes OF the
human heart on the side Of naon and all its gratitude
from the other. Ireland furnishes Succor and sympathy
ny to her from the United States and the swelling tide OF
gratitude comes fong back from the whole British empire
This something better than being al with each other
at war for FrszeI's river under the sad deusion that II
part Of Oregon He thanked God he had
instrument in sing this calamity, and pro-
ducng the happy state between the nations and he
thanked has constituents for approving his conduct in going
Tor their future good instead Of their present wishes
The annexation Of Texas and It's sequence the present
war with Mexico, another Of The ge9t subjects
This great DRAMA MI b. said divided itself many acts,
and covered long space Of time tunng all which he had
been an actor IN it, and he hoped consistent and prudent
He considered this drama beginning in 1919, when
Mr. MOnT0es cabinet ceded Texas TO Spain. Ii then
given away and if il had not been given away, there could
have been with Mexico about ttng It hack. He
denounced that treaty many newspsp,
il made and vowed at the time unceang efforts TO get
Texas back Mr. Adamss administration with Mr.. Clay,
Secretary Of State presented the fist opportunity
the eUIt for its recovery MI. Clay member Of the
House Of Representatives, had severely condemned the
treaty which gave Texas. Mr. Adams had opposed
that article of the treaty the council table where the
majority Of Mr. MOnroes cabinet adopted IT, But this
not known to him Mr. until long afterwards. His re
from his publicly known opinions the subject lie and
Mr. Clay then scparied in the division Of po
cal PARTIES but it did prevent them from communing
together the subject Of Texas and Cooperating get
back. They had interview at Tensions HOTEL Wash
iugtOn Among the other ,.~ngs intended by the new
he, Mr. B. cordially concurTed, and promised his faithful
corporation. The administration made the attempt: he
articles to promote the scheme failed.
POintse then Minister Mexico aud favorable TO the
object but could not succeeds and ended the first attempt
70 eeoyer back the great province which the unwise
and justly, and without design to favor inure any man.
.,d a., ~ Igbt before my constituents my own conduct
va, oetwea lies. Mr.. Adams, at the council
800. 'O'ee article which gave Texas away:
&C.,; OA' III 5hse Of Representatives denounced the
st.ss'H. rifey made the FIRST eAoTt TO get il back
ihe next attempt was in General Jackson's time, Mr.
Van Buren, being Secretary Of Slate. A larger sum was
oheteo uan IN The admins w
yer result The negotiation miscanied though zralousiy
su 90 ty President Jackson his Secretary Of State and
NC Aisq1..ei at Mexico He Mr. B.. eO-Operated with
n the newspapers with articles in praise Texas
ana using all the arguments for getting her back which have
since been repeated by others who gave help then Aud
so The second repair Of the treaty
Of 1919, failed.
The mission Of General Memucan Hunt, minister from
Texas the next serious attempt bring Texas into the
Unions but the parties then changed after the
battle Of San Jacnto and Texas herself became the app
cant MIR Van Buren, then Presdent-Mr Forsyth hrs
Secretary Of State and both favor of getting back the
country. But Texas aud Mexico though not fighting had
not made peace they in a state Of war with Tespect
20 each Others and to have admitted Texas into the Union
would have been to have adopted her side and
20 have placed the United States war with Mexico
Neither justice policy permitted this especially as if
let alone they would make peace after while and then
annexation could be effected without breach with Mexico
UpVn this view they acted He, Mt. b. concurrcd with
them, aud did all the people Of the United States
The question of admission Texas then ent to sleep
and wasquietly visiting the end Of the with Mexico
All the old friends 70 the Of the country will
TyleT's experimentation, of friends had cared
nothing about Texas before and Of whom had given her
away when had her, became furious for immediate an
uexaou and the Of 1874 the fruit of
that new and sudden mpatcnce. The friends Of Texas
stood upon their old ground the countries still at war but
actually negotiating for they wanted Texas
permit their ministers, then negotiating under The auspices
of Great Britain and France peace All DELAY was
reiuseo-he treaty was signed, and rejected the
Senate because its ratification would have been immediate
war with Mexico He, Mr.. b., was Of the majority Of
the Senate which rejected the treaty and his
though all in favor Of xation appreciated his motives
and justified his conduct His reelection the Senate
the year the verdict Of the people upon con-
duct and he made them has profound thanks justice
OF that verdict, and the honor Of that election.
The treaty OF annexation rejected bat annexation in
another form was sill pursued. resolution for the sdms-
sim Of Texas State passed the House Of Representa-
additional and alternative resolution added