The Somerset herald and farmers' and mechanics' register. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 183?-1852, 1847-06-15
THE CAUSE OF THE WAR.
FROM THE NASHVILLE wHIG.

'
The recent speech of Col. Benton. at
St. Louis, is eminentlv characteristic of
It's author, and viii doubtless command
much of the public attention. What he
says with regard TO his course on the Ore
gon question is exceedingly well said, and
being VIGOROUSLY true, IS well calculated
10 elevate him in public estimation. The
whole speech, in fact, is in the authors
best manner, and deserves to be univer-
sally read, as well as by those who may
happen to differ from, as by those who
may chance to agree with, the speaker
His remarks on the subject of the an
nexation of Texas and the existing war
with Mexico should be carefully read
To one passage, in particular, we desire
to call the attention of our readers. Ii is
as follows:
1.-The treaty of annexation was rejected
but annexa ton in another form was still
prosecuted. A resolution for the ad-
mission of Texas as State passed the
House of Representatives an additional
and alternative resolution was added in
the Senate, TO appoint commissioners TO
negotiate for admission, and TO conciliate
and reconcile Mexico, and thereby prevent
the annexation from bringing on war
The expiring administration of Mr.. Tyler
snatched the alternative from the hands
of the President elect-hurried off the
House resolution by midnight messen-
ger-slammed the door of Cancellation in
the face Of Mexico-and inhamed her
pride and resentment to the highest de-
gree. From that time forth every thing
breathed war between the two countries,
which broke out the ensuing year.
"Mr. B. said this was the history of the
loss and gain of Texas, and its sequence,
tie tcGr tcith Merico."
In subsequent part of his speech he
says that 'the rejection Of the Senate's
alternative resolution, and dispatch of the
midnight messenger to Texas with the
absolute resolution of admission, on the
night of the Sd of March, lS45, by the
Tyler Administration, "made The icar. "
Now be this as il may, il will be easy to
show that the entire responsibility of that
proceeding does not rest with Mr.. Cal
houn and the TYLER Administration
They did indeed make the selection be-
tween the two resolutions, and they DIS
patched messenger to Texas with the
absolute resolution of admission, on the
Sd Of March, ls45, but Mr.. Polk came
Immediately into power and had abundent
time TO arrest the proceedings had he
chosen to do so. The selection between
the two resolutions. and the dispatch of
the messenger with the one selected, was
the work of the Tyler Administration
but the presentation of the resolution thus
selected to Texas for her acceptance, was
executed by the express directions of Mr..
Polk himself, as may be seen by reference
to his annual message TO Congress IN De-
cember, ls45. In that message Mr.. Polk
says
sin pursuance of the Joint resolution OF
Congress 'lor annexing Texas to the u
nited States my predecessor, on the third
tlay of March, lS45, elected to submit the
first and second sections ofthat resolution
to the Republic Of Texas, as an overture
on the part of the United States for her
admission as State into our Union
This election | APPROVED; ard according
ly, the Charge d'Affaires of the United
States in Texas, under instructions of the
10th Of March, ls45, presented these sec
tions Of The resolutions for the acceptance
OF that Government"
If, therefore, the selection Of the reso-
luton of admission, and the dispatching
Of il for the acceptance of Texas, made
the war, as Col. Benton SAYS they did,
the responsibility of the proceeding rests
more on Mr.. Polk than OH the Tyler Ad-
ministraIion, because they took the inliia-
tive only, while he had it in his power to
put a complete stop to it, had he chosen
10 do so ; bat approving OF It, ne. on the
10Th OF March, lS45, caused MIR. DoNEL-
SON to be instructed TO carry out and con-
sumate it.