Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1847-09-11
ANOTHER LETTER FROM EX -PRESIDENT TYLER
RELATIVE TO THE ANNEXATION OF TEXAS.
To the Editors Of The Richmond Enquirer.


To the Editors Of the Richmond Enquirer.
The very brief letter under my signature which evoked
by paragraph in the National IateLgencer, and kindly
given place in the columns OF your paper some two months
ago. has my little establishment, called forth public
letter from the pen of Senator Houston of Texas on matters
put in issue by the article which, because OF the great re-
specablity Of the paper in which appeared deemed It
proper TO notice Nothing certainly further from my IN
tenton than have involved the ExPresden now the Se-
from Texas in the necessity of any exposition upon the
subject Whatever doubt existed to his real desire Tor the
annexation of Texas the United States had by previous
publication, either in the form OF speech or ieer- forget
which, is material to emember-been sufficiently clear
ed up by the declaration that he had only coqueed with Eng
land in all that he had done with are now told
produce an impression with the ovecreduous people OF
the United States well those entrusted with the admin
istraon of their affairs that the golden moment for
alton had arrived and permitted to pass could never be
recalled.
Aided by the silence of the Texas press and for aught
know by other and still imposing MEANS Mr. Houston
certainly succeeded in mpressng Gen Jackson-to whom IN
the exuberance of his DEVOTION he ascbes the whole honor
of the the belief that the coquete would
by prompt action very fall into the arms
of another and thus be forever lost the United States
That patriot has descended to the grave under
the full conviction that what he avouched to the American
people in every word and in every letter He was
incapable of giving uteance to what he felt to be unrue
and may safely add that he looked deeply into the deeds
of men, and understood too thoroughly their motives to be
easily deceived He readily others the great stake
in the question of annexaon-a stake which the lead
ing States Of Europe would be quite eager to gain the
United Statesand he possessed full knowledge of the
necessity which would compel Texas to resort to expedents
ito herself from the unhappy condition in which Mr.
Houston describes her have been in ls4 as the President
of Texas himself
These expedients are for the first time promulged to
the world by Mr., Houston, having been deliberately
weighed, considered and adopted by himself The st was
obtain with the United States that falling the
second obtain from Mexico the recognition OF the indie
pendence of Texas and failing both these, the third was
form defensive alliance with foreign Power against
MeYico In IN asst
the President of Texas had spread out before him broad
field for diplomacy could well have been desired his rst
to the United Sateswas very soon
exhausted since Mr.. Reilly who had been instructed to pro-
pose annexation early day of my administration, SO ut
tery failed only withdraw the proposition but TO ac
company the withdrawal with the declaration that Texas would
it. After Mr. Reys failure, the question nau-
rally arises what did the President OF Texas then pur
Did he fold his in apathy did he press on TO
the accomplishment of his second and third expedients Did
he seek interest other Governments in the affairs OF Texas
far induce their nterposon with Mexico, in order to
obtain AM acknowledgment of independence And it. or
not through their nerposon that quasi armsce was at
length obtained AN armstce which, however, opened the
door acknowledgment of Texan independence by Mexico
wider than it had before stood After the failure OF his
first expeden did Mr. Houston stand with his arms folded,
and fall into apopectc slumber 1t not until his Pre-
dena term had the greater part OF its course that the
United States Executive startled by intelligence received from
London and confirmed by the Representative OF Texas at that
Court deemed it necessary institute inquiries through its
accredited organs for the purpose of asceanng the true
condition of things These inquiries developed the active ef
forts made by associated individuals to the umen OF
their ntgues and the extent of the which had
been bestowed upon them by the Ministry of Great Britain,
which publicly and openly avowed the floor OF
the British Parliament, in debate in which Lord Brougham,
whose sentiments fully e-echoed by the British Minis
bore conspicuous part In that debate the Texan was
declared to be the aimpoant question and this not SO
much its account in the abstract in Its bearing and
effect on the condition of the United States.
There noonger any room to doubt but that the
of foreign Powers well of associated companies,
strained in that direction and repeat this place, what
said my former letter. that resolved upon the proposition
for annexation the reades if the only mode " to scat
ter the web of their ntgues either actual contemplated
Notwithstanding however, the authentic information received
by the United States Executive all OF which has been here
tooe in official documents communicated to the public, and
notwithstanding the great interest with which Texas
garded by the distinguished statesmen Of England Mr. Hous
who not content to speak for himself aone but alss for
the whole world would an induce the country to believe that
the British Ministry folded their arms in nacton and that the
Abolition Society of Great Britain reposed in undsurbed
sumber He also strangely forget that the city
OF Mexico was important place the connecting and car
rying on intrigues the city of Austin ITSELF
In taking the initiative not in the least controlled by
the feelings Of the Texan Executive, did any thing which
had proceeded from stimulate to action. Texas was
surrounded by weknown embarassments, exhausted by
long her industry parayzed and her resources almost
annhaed and she had been repeatedly repeed IN her
advances to the Government Of the United States was ma
uray concluded that she would look elsewhere for succo
and for aid The Executive of Texas had tried annexation
and failed il had not obtained recognition of Independence
by Mexico What other expedent remained but to make
the best could with either France England, or
BOTH which, giving breathing time, would enable to re-
pair the energies of the country, and from the state
OF deep depression in which it placed The American
Minister Mr Murphy therefore directed to urge annex
alton the Executive Of Texas. This was accordingly
done, and Mr. Houston his letter. sets forth the terms
which, condition precedent he thought proper to exact
from jealous but devoted friend to the measure
must be permitted say that it would have better concluded
Mr. Houston Of the matter he had seen cause TO
have informed the public that the terms thus exacted were
promptly dsavowed Ivy the Executive. being firmly liked In
Its devotion to the Constitution of the United States and that
constitution nowhere comforting the the President TO
transfer his authority the army navy, or any portion
OF either TO foreign poenate to enter into any alliance
defensive or otherwise without the previous sanction oil the
Senate. This well known to MI Houston as to my
SELL He had filled important stations in the United States
prior to his emigration Texas and believed to be well
acquainted with the limitations and restrictions imposed by
the constitution all its unctionaries. Mr. Houston VIII
pardon me for frankly saying that this arrangement thus
made with Mr.. Murphy, did the time excite suspicion on
my part that he wanted but plausible petex to defeat an
nexation altogether. He will find in that fact independently
OF their personal merits, the secret motive for the APP
poinment of Gen. Howard, who had belonged TO Mr. Hous
tons military family when Governor Of Tennessee, in place
of Mr. Murphy and after the death Of Gen. Howard, Of
Major Donelson from the household Of Gen jackson, who
regarded the idol of Mr. Houstons political worship.
Both these gentlemen well worthy Of their appointments,
and acquitted themselves Of their high duties with ability and
zcui but yet could have been satisfied the time that the
President Of Texas playing the coquee and merely in
dulgng in of innocent Irritation, in order awaken
the jealousy of the people of the United States is quite