Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1847-01-21
RETRosPECTIVE--No.3 8.
From the Vernon, Patriot of Dec. 81, 1876.
II Is ALL PROPER.

time to be extremely careful to say nothing OF
Mr. Wilmot's amendment passed by the House
Of Representatives at the last session of Con-
gress, in favor of which every democratic mem.
Der from New England present-all but one
voted; declaring that slavery should never exist
in any of the territory acquired from Mexico; a
gainst which two of its own party from New
England voted and which was killed IN the Sen
ale by member gifts own party from New Eng
land.
The contrast between the Patriot and the
Waterman, in the late fierce contest, has been
in nothing more striking than in the facts that ice
relied wholly upon principles and stubborn facts,
while il rocked with balderdash, blockguardsm,
personalities and pettifoggery. In the address
which was distributed to the freemen of the dis
trict, and republishcd in our paper Of the 3lsi
ut. we did fully explain the Wilmot provso, and
gave Mr.. Peck the benefit of the Patriots argu- |
ment on that subject, by copying nearly the whole
of it--ccrtainly all that was material. II this
was not "proper' and fair, we know not what is
at any rate, it was degree ofpropricty and fair
ness infinitely beyond that to which the editor Of
the Patriot has yet attained. He did not correct
the fasehood published in reference TO Senator
Davis; he did not tell his readers Of the votes,
which the very ocofocos who voted for Wilmoi's
provso, gave 10 favor of the annexation and ad
mission of Texas; he did not tell his readers
that they were in favor of including the vast RIO
Grande territory ,ciihin Teras, and therefore as
Save Territory; yea, on the contrary, ne did
most unfairly and falsely intimate, In the extract
upon which we are commenting, that all this was
Mr.. CALHouN's POLICY simply-just as though
Polk and the locofoco party had not endorsed and
adopted the whole of it Such was the course
of the editor who undertakes to lecture us upon
the matter of propriety. We would not change
places with him, in the estimation of any decent
man even of his own party.
Now to more official facts. We aimed TO take
our stand upon the highest and falrest ground III
this conest-upon the public documents. From
these we proved that the preservation and extern
sion of SLAVERY we're at the bottom of the An
nexaton scheme and in SO doing, we quoted
Mr.. Calhoun. We anticipated that the Patriot
would play the pettfogger; we erpcrted that 1t
would attempt to hide Folks guilt in the skirts
of Mr. Calhoun or John Tyler and therefore, IN
our paper of the 3lst ut. we took pains TO say,
that the Calhoun treaty ,cas got up during John
Tyler's day, but that POLK stepped into his shoes,
assumed his responsibilities, and carried out the
Annexation scheme. This was the irhole truth,
fairly stated-Ond nothing but the truth Since
we have hitherto sustained ali the material posi-
tons which have been taken, by direct appeals
TO the official documents, we will do in this
instance. This controversy for slavery is but
begun, and it is desirable TO have the material
facts well settled in the minds of the people.
March !, l945, Congress passed the resolutions
of annexation, and on the Sd Of the same month
(Tylers last day. we find President TYLER act
ing in this way, through his Secretary OF State: :
Mr.. CalhoupIo Mr.. Donelson
DEPARTMENT or STATE,
NO.. Al Washington, March 3, IS45,
SIR: herewith transmit to you copy of the
Joint resolutions adopted by Congress for the an
neXation of Texas to the United States.
You will perceive that they consist OF two dis
tinct parts the one, embraced in the first and
second sections, being the original resolution as
it passed the House OF Representatives the 9TH
er, included in the third and last, being the a.
mendment made by the Senate, and subsequent
" adopted by the House. The former contains
Texas into our Union the latter gives dscre-
tionary power to the President, if he should deem
il advisable, to enter into negotiations with the
republic, as prescribed in the section itself, in
stead of submitting to its acceptance or rejec-
ton the proposals contained in the former.
The President [Tyler] has deliberately con-
sidercd the subject, and is of opinion that it
would not be advisable to enter into the negotl-
atoms authorized by the amendment of the Sen
ate and you are, accordingly, instructed to pre-
sent to the government of Texas, as the basis Of
its admission, the proposals contained in the res
olu,ion as it came from the House of Represen-
tatives. Il -
have the honor to be, with high respect, sir,
your obedient servant, J. &. CALHOUN.
A. J. DoNELsoN, Esq. &c. &c.
March 4, Is45, President Polk came in, and
ordered the merit despatch upon this subject, which
was made out by his Secretary of State. We
quote:
Mr.. Buchanan 10 Mr.. Doneison
DEPARTMENT OF STATE, ]
mo. 5. Washington, March 10, lS45.
SIR You will have received, ere this can reach
you, the despatch of Mr.. Calhoun, the late Sec
rotary of State, of the third instant, instructing
| you !" to present to the government of Texas, as
the basis of It's admission, the proposals contain
Gu III ltc llOuSc OF
Representatives" President Tyler having thus
determined TO adopt the two first of the series OF
resolutions instead of the alternative presented
by the third it became the duty of the President
! Polk to devote his attention to this important
question at as early moment as possible. This
has been done; and his deliberations have result
ted in a clear and firm conviction that it would
be ineypedent to reverse the decision OF his pre-
decessor = y y
In every aspect in which the President Polk
has viewed this subject, he believes that the par
amount question of admission can be best set
tied, and the just rights of Texas can be best Sc
cured, by her acceptance, without qualification
of terms and conditions proposed by the first two
resolutions; and he therefore confidently expects
that you will exert your well-known ability and
energy TO secure this suspicious result by every
honorable means within your power. go
am, sir, very respectfully, your obedient ser
want, JAMES BUCHANAN,
A. J. DoNELsoN, Esq &c. sc.
1t will thus be seen that Polk and BUCHANAN
shouldercd TYLER's and CALHouN's policy, an,
carried il out to the full length-sweepng til,
vast territory on the Rio Grande, and plungin.
the nation into war for the requirement ofGurtbe