The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1847-12-01

aud nations, is always interesting; and often,
In their progress, when observed win care, IL
may be found that causes, trivial IN themselves
control the destiny of men, parties' anu ma
tions.
Mr. Van Buren's letter against the annexation
of Texas lost him the Presidential nomination
at Baltimore; and Mr. Clay's letter on inc 50 ii5
subject, lost him the Presidency oil tue ohi'ea
II NAV be remembered that before Mr., Clay
wrote his letter against the annexation Oh IeAds'
Mr.. Webster had preceded him by speech
taking and No geb ,ss ANN uuenee
Mr.. Claw BY many it has been thought that 1t
had. Again, soon as Mr.. Clay visited ,he
Atlantic cities for health, Mr. Webster took ms
in which he declares against the war and against
acquisition of territory, but thinks the Bay oil
Sau Francisco might be purchased.
Mr. Clay follows, by making also speech In
Kentucky taking precisely the same g,ouGa t, as
but thinks the Bay of San Francisco might De
purchased, but that he would not continue the
war an hour for the harbor. So, twice mas WI.
Clay mounted behind Mr.. Webster on MS own owl
hobbies. Why has this been SO; 1t has oeen ask-
ed. 1t has been said that Mr. Clay feeis lowatus rus
the South, after not receiving their VOTES III MS
repeated contests, as did Mr. Adams tor similar
reasons-not exactly indifference, pat S,a,as
have voted generally for others, and that MS only
hope of success is from the North
The South and the West, without whose aid
no man can be chosen = Presldenri were generaiiys
California is more popular question with the
people than the annexation of Texas-in the for
mer the slave question, practically, cannot arise;
not another slave can be added to the present
number in the Union Not so OF Texas; 1T was
a neIghboring nation, in which slavery existed,
and by its annexation the number of the slaves
of the Union was increased.
The question of the anne xation of California,
must be more popular question IN the North
than the annexation of Texas-because the
North is commercial, and the CALIFORNIA; open
boundless prospect for commercial and manufac-
turing enterprise. And it is strange that it never
occurred to Mr.. Webster nor to Mr.. Clay, that
the people of the West, who do not travel many
thousand miles by sea, would like land COM
munication with the Bay of San Francisco?
1t has been said that Mr.. Webster's speech and
Mr.. Clay's letter against the acquisition of Tex
as, defeated the wing party at the last election.
Will not the people consider that they have more
wllfuly erred IN their recent speeches
1t has been said of the Bourbons that they
never forgot anything. This is the opinion OF
many in relation to some OF the whlg leaders
and editors.
1t is now believed by many wings that. Mr..
Clay is so far behind the age in which he lives,
that he can never rally majority OF the people
of the United States. And 1t IS evident that he
will have to make several speeches more 10 ex-
plain some OF his POSITIONS III his recent LeAihs-
ton speech.
will now mention but one. He avows that
the United States should assume and pay the
debts of Texas.
Mr. Clay voted for Benton's resolutions, deny
ing the power of Congress to assume the DEBTS OF
the States. How is this to be explained and re-
conciled? Again, Mr.. Clay Is for assuming the
debts of Texas, and Texas 20 retain her public
domain. He is for simple and uncondltional
assumption. Why not assume the debts OF all the
States of the Union, well as the debts ofTexas!
The old thirteen may say we have given up our
public domai in trust to the general government;
Texas has not, and we have, therefore, more
equitable claims upon national generosity than
Texas. The grounds of morality and law upon
which it has been placed by Mr.. Clay are unite
nable, as 1t was coalition precedent to the In,
corporation of Texas as State, that the United
States should, in event, be responsible for her
debts or liabilities. Besides, Texas has retained
entire her vast and valuable public domain.
Can Mr.. Clay expect to unite the wing party
upon such doctrine We doubt IT..
When Texas sent an agent to the U. ). Bank,
to negotiate a loan of several millions, | am IN
formed that Mr.. Biddle agreed at night to the
proposition made; twas supposed that the dlrec-
tors would ratlfy It IN the morning; information
to that effect reached Gen. Combs and Mr.. Irwin,
son-in-law of Mr.. Clay, and they, bought large
lv of Texas securities, then much deprecated.
The next day. for the first time, the directors re-
fused to ratify the arrangement made by Mr..
Bidde. The speculation failed.
1t has been thought strange by many how IT
should have happened that General Combs, who,
when last in Washington, was an avowed friend
OF General Taylor for the presidency, should
have signed secret circular disparagng his po-
pularity tor the presidency, and why Mr.. Clay
should have so warm a zeal for the payment OF
the debts of Texas by the general government
without requiring her public domain and why
he so wholly forgets that there were other States
indebted, as well as the State Of Texas.
It was thought by most persons, that after the
signal defeat of Mr.. Clay by Mr.. Polk, and after
the friends of Mr.. Clay in New York and New
Orleans had raised fund of many thousand dol
lars to relieve his necessities that he would have
remained in repose at Ashland. His visit to the
Atlantic had no other effect than to lose the
wings the governor in Maryland and also in
Pennsylvania The candidates in those States
were, for the most part, friendly to Gen Taylor.
Mr.. Clay's visit was charged as being political,
and the democrats asserted that he would be the
wing candidate for the presidency They made
their own issues-a chill was thrown over the
whigs and in Pennsylvania many would not vote
for the gubernatorial candidate, lest it might be
charged as giving countenance to Mr. Clay as a
presidential candidate.
We will, at another time, resume our sketches,
and end for the present by expressing our belief
that Mr.. Clay's course has alarmed the wings,
and has given comfort to the administration, and
that the whins of the Union cannot be rallied
upon Mr.. Clay's limited platform:
A TAYLOR MAN