The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1847-02-24

became
his Secretary of State. All the springs of intrigue and
diplomacy were Immediately set in motion to resuscitae
the Texas question: and TO renves with all the dangers
and alarms which had 1886 Passing over all the
dangers Of ANNOYANCE from Teyas az nosi NON
holding toTeee by the senator IN 1885, and not foeseen
by him 1919, with all the need for guardianship then
oreshadowed and all the arguments then suggested: all
these Immediately developed themselves and intriguing
agents raversed earth and sea- from Washington Texas
and from London to Mexico passing over all this
belonging 10 a class of evidence not now TO be used,
come at once to the letter of the nth of January
from the Texan minister TO Mr. Upshur the American
Secretary OF State; and the answer TO that latter by Mr.
CALHOUN, OF April 18th OF the same wear They are
both vital in this case; and the first in these words
mn. Yam Zandt 10 Dir. Upshsr
LEGATION OF Texas
Washington January IL, 1874
''SR 1t is known you that arnsee has been pro-
claimed between Mexico and Texas that that arnistice
has been obtained through the intervention of several
powers mutually friendly and that negotiations
pending, having for their object settlement of difficult
ues heretofore existing between the Two countries prop
the United States through you for the OF Tex
as TO THIS county, heseI1e without indicating the nature
be apprehended should treaty of annexation be conclu-
ded, Mexico may think proper terminate the
mstice break of all negotiations for peace and again
of the governments who have been
IN obtaining their cession, if they do throw their nhu
good offices Of mediation, thus losing Texas their friend
ship aud exposing her the unrestrained Of
through you his excellency the Pesiden, d United
States, this inquiry should the President Of Meas aecede
the proposition of xaton would the President OF the
United States after The signing OF the treaty, and before
shall be ratified and receive the final action OF the other
branches of both governments Texas should desire
II, with her consent order such number OF the military
and the United States to necessary
points places upon the territory borders OF Texas
the Gulf of Mexico shall be sufficient protect her
against foreign aggression
rhis communication, well the reply which you may
make, will be considered by me as entirely confidential
not to be embraced in my regular official correspondence TO
my government but enclosed direct the President OF
Texas Tor his information.
with of my great regard, have the honor
TO be, very respectfully, your obedient servant,
'Ion. A. P. UpsHUR. &C."
This letter reveals the true state OF the Texas question
in January lsI4 and the conduct of all parties in rela-
ton to it. Texas and Mexico, weary OF the war,
posing under armlstce, and treating for peace Great
Britain and France acting the noble part OF medators
and endeayoring to make peace Our government
secretly intriguing for annexation, acting the wicked
part OF Observation-Disclosures, and trying to the war
and the of its Vaccinations be unsuccessful
less the United States should be involved in the renewed
hosttes. That was the question and the letter openly
puts 1t to the American Secretary OF State The answer
to that question, IN my opinion, should have been, that
the President OF the United States did know of the
armisce and the peace negotiations at the time that he
proposed to Texas to do an act which would be per-
hdous violation OF those sacred engagements, and bring
upon herself the scourge of renewed invasion and the
stigma of perhdy-tha he would not have made such
proposal for the whole round world, if he had known of
the armstce and the peace negotiahonstha he wished
to the makers, both for the sake OF MeS
and Texas and because Texas could then into
the Union without the least interruption TO our friend
ly, commercial and social relations with our sister
republic OF Mexico and that TO secretly lending the
army and navy OF the United States to Texas to fight
Mexico while we were at peace with her, it would be a
crime against God, and man, and constitution,
for which heads might be brought to the block, pres
dents and their secretaries like constitutional kings and
minister's should be held capitay responsible for capital
crimes This, in my opinion, should have been the
swer But the first part of itthat of the scenter upon
the point of the armistce and the peace negotiations
could not be given point of fact for the Department of
pIvIn
ton-one of them from the agent (Muphy,) in these
words:
"The powers to be given General Henderson be
OF the fullest and complete character that no I'M
Pedlment shall be found requiring further or other powers
missoners of Texas Mexico, treaty negotiation
1nGhng an armiee are SUPPOSED not to hnTe concluded
soon as this negotiation IN relation TO annexation known
to the government of Mexico all negotiation on that and all
that the President of Mexico will instantly commence
tive hosties against Texas which Texas wholly unpre
eminent ofthe United State having invited Texas this
negotiation, viii and before any negotiation is
foot, place sufficient naval force in the Gulf to protect
the coast OF Texas and hold sufficient force of cavalry
other description of mounted troops on the southwestern
the protection OF Texas pending the proposed negotiation
Tor annexation trust my government will at once see the
TO induce this enter heartily into the measure
OF annexation without that my government
likely assa Texas in consequence Of her meeting
and complying with the wishes Of the United States"
Denial of the knowledge OF the existence of the ar
mstice and OF the opening OF negotiations, was therefore,
impossible. Mr. Upshur to whom the letter OF the 18th
Of January was addressed gave it no answer at all Dur
ing the forty days that his life spared he cred
not; and mention this particularly in justice 10 the
ry of gentleman who is Mr. Nelson, the at
tomey general his temporary successor IN the Department
of State did not to the Texan minister in Wash
ingon, but he did Mr. Murphy in Texas, in reply to
his communication to the same effect with the letter
Mr. Nelson's letter Is dated the 18th OF March, and IS In
these words:
If bn