The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1847-09-07
Letter from Ex-President Tyler.
TO the Editors Of the Richmond Enquirer:

kindly given place in the columns of YOUR eaner some
two months ago. has, TO my no little asonshment called
iorh pubic letter from the pen of Senator Houston OF
exas on matters not put IN issue by the article which,
because OF the great responsibility of the paper in which
1t appeared, deemed proper 10 notice Nothing certainly
was farther from my intention than to have involved the
President, now the senator from Texas in the neces
slty OF any exposition upon the subject Whatever doubt
existed as 10 his real desire Tor the annexation of Texas
70 me United States, had by previous publication either
IN the form OF speech letter. forget which, nor il
material to rememberbeen sufficiently cleared up by the
declaration that he only ooquetted nth England in all
mat he had done, with view, now told, TO
produce an Impression with the overcredulous people OF
the United States. well those intrusted with the adj
mInistraton OF their public affairs, that the golden
pass, could never be recalled.
Aided by the silence Of the Teas press and for augh
know by other and still more imposing means, Mr.
Houston certainly succeeded in mpressing Gen Jack son
to whom IN the exubeance of his devotion, he ascrbes
the whole honor of the measurewiih the belief that the
coquee would, unless prevented by prompt action very
soon fall INTO the arms OF another, and thus be forever
lost 10 the United States That time honored patriot has
descended to the grave, under the full conviction that
what he ayouched 10 the American people was true in
every word and IN every letter. He incapable OF
giving uerance to what he felt to be untrue; and may
safely add, that he looked deeply the deeds of
men, and understood too thoroughly motives, to be
easily deceived lie saw, readily Others the great
stake at issue IN the question of anneNaton-a stake
which the leading States of Europe would be quite
eager to gain as the United States and he possessed
full knowledge OF the necessity which would compel
Texas to resort TO expedents to herself from the
unhappy condition in which Mr. Houston describes her
TO have been in ISL the President of Texas himself
Those eXpedens are ROW Tor the first time promulga-
ted TO the world by Mr.. Houston, having been de-
hberaely weighed, considered and adopted by himself
The frs! was to obtain annexation with the United States
that failing the second was to obtain from Mexico the
recognition of the independence of Texas and failing
both these, the third to form defensive alliance
with some foreign power against Mexico In order TO
accomplish the last two of these Objects the President of
Texas had spread before him as broad field for d
pomacy could well have been desired His first
pedent (annexaton to the United Sates) very
exhausted since Mr. Reilly, who had been instructed to
propose annexation at early day of my administration,
utterly failed as not only to withdraw the proposition,
but to accompany the withdrawal with the declaration
that Texas would never renew 1t. After Mr. Reillys
failure the question naturally arises, what course did
the President of Texas then pursue' Did he fold his
arms in apathy, or did he press to the accomplishment
OF his second and third expedents' Did he seek in
erest other governments in the affairs of Texas, far
as to induce their nerposon with Mexico, order to
obtain an acknowledgment of independence and was it
not through their nteposition that quasi armistice
was at length obtained AN armstice which, however,
opened the door TO an acknowledgment of Texan indie
pendence by Mexico wider than it had before stood
After the failure of his first expeiient, did Mr. Houston
stand with his folded and fall into apopectic
sumber' II was not until his presidential term had
the greater part of its course that the United States
ecutive, startled by intelligence received from London
and confirmed by the representative of Texas at that
court deemed it necessary to institute inquiries, through
true condition OF things Those inquiries developed the
active efforts made by associated individuals to insure the
iuhlmen OF Their nirgues and the extent OF the coun
tenance which had been bestowed upon them by the
isry OF Great Britain, which was more publicly and
openly avowed on the floor of the British Parliament in
a debate IN which Lord Brougham, whose sentiments
splcuous part In that debate, the Texan declared
to be the dt-nnportdR question; and this, not much
on ITS own account IN the abstract as in its bearing and
effect on the condition OF the United States.
There was no longer any room TO doubt but that the
eyes OF foreign powers well of associated compa-
MES, were strained in that direction pand repeat this
m Iaftn ot nIyalI
upon the proposition for annexation the readest il not
the only mode, to scatter the web of their nrgues,"
either actual or contemplated. Notwithstanding, how;
ever the authentic information received by the United
States Executive all of which has been heretofore in off
cia documents, communicated to the public and notwth
standing the great interest with which Texas was regard
ed by the distinguished statesmen of England Mr. Hous-
tom who Is not content TO speak for himself alone but
also for the whole world would fegn induce the country
naction and that the Abolition Society of Great Britain
reposed in undisurbed sumber. He seems also most
strangely to forget that the city of Mexico impor
ant place Tor connecting and carrying on intrgues as
he city of Austin itself.
In taking the initiative, not in the least controlled
the feelings of the Texan Executive; did anything
Texas surrounded by well known embarassments, |
exhausted by long war, her industry parayzed, and
ler resources almost annihated; and she had been
repeled In her advances the government of
he United States, it naturally concluded that she
would look elsewhere for and for aid The Exc
;uve of Texas had tried annexation, and failed it had
What other expedient remained, but to make the best
erms it could with either France or England or both
which, giving it breathing time, would enable il 10 repair
he energies OF the country and from the
Of deep depression which placedi The American
Minister (Mr Murphy therefore directed to urge
annexation on the Executive of Texas This was ac-
,ordingy done and Mr.. Houston his letter. sets forth
he terms which, condition precedent he thought it
proper to exact from Jealous but devoted friend
% the measure. must be permitted to say, that it would
nave better concluded Mr. Houstons of the mat
er, ii he had cause to have informed the public
hat the terms thus exacted promptly disavowed by
he Executive, being firmly fixed in its devotion to the
Of the United States, and that constitution
where comforting the power the President to transfer
MS authority over the army or navy, or any portion of
either, foreign poenate, to enter into any allianc
defensive or otherwise, without the previous sane g
)f the Senate. This was as well known TO Mr. .don
on as to myself He had filled important rious-
n the United States prior his emigration stations
md believed TO be well acquaints TO Texas
all its functionaries Mr.. Houston e constitution
frankly saying that this arrangement ~ pardon me oI
Mr. Murphy, did, at the time, excit mus made win
,art that he wanted but plausib suspicion on my
lexation altogether He will e pretext to defeat an
leny of their own personal mr. nd III hat fact ndepen
he appointment of Gen h ms the secret motive foI
.ee ~ nIace Of NJ MY when governor of Tonnes
en Howard NJ Mac ZIP Ay; and, after the death OF
II Con Iacson VIZ ~ Jnelson, from the household
noI;,ical vel regarded the idol of Mr.
we'll worthy of their az .p Both these gentlemen were
selves OF their high du po,n,hehis and acquitted them
a. Texas was nav sed at the time that the President
n course Of nns ~ the coquee, and merely nduglng
a,ons,J ~ he cent Irritation, in order TO awaken the
rnbahI + h people Of the United States it is quite
Z bo stood no, d have selected for the mission Others