The Lancaster gazette. (Lancaster, Ohio) 1846-1852, 1848-08-18
SILVER srlNcs, July :.

Bcnjamia Tappan, Steubenvile, Ohio:
DEAR SR--You letter 0flhe LIST inst.
asks me 10 state what know "ss TO the
way the Texas question was got through
the Senate" comply and will not en-
cumber the narrative with immalerial de-
tails.
Whenihe resolnlionp passed by the House
i Of Representatives for the annexation If
Texas reached the Senate ii was ascer-
tainedtha it wnudfsil in that body. Ben
ton, Bagby. Dix. Haywood. and as un-
derstood. you also, were in opposition to
this naked proposition of Annexation,
which necessarily brought with it the war
in which Texas was engaged with Mex
leo. All had determined to adhere 10
the bill submitted by Col Benton. for the
appointment Of commission to arrange
the terms Of annexation with Texas, aud
10 make this attempt 10 render its access
ion 10 our Union as palstable as possible
TO Mexico, before its contamination. IL
was hoped that this might be effected by
giving, (as has been done in the late trea-
ty Of peace) pecuniary consideration,
fully equivalent in value, for the terrific
ry desired by the United States, and to
which Texas could Justly assert any title.
The Senate had been polled. and it was
ascertained that any two of the Demo-
cratic Senators who Wore opposed To
Browns resolation. which had passed the
House. could defeat 1.-THE whole whig
party preferring annexation by negotia-
tion. upon Col Benton's plan, to that Of
Brown. While the question was thus
pending. met Mr.. Brown, (late Senator
from Tennessee, then a member of the
House, J who suggested thatthe resolution
of the House and the bill of Col. Benton.
preferred by the Senate. mi ght be blend
ed, making the latter an alternative, and
leaving the President elect (who alone
would have timei o consumma,e the meas
ure) to act under one or the other at his
discretion.
| told Mr.. Brown that did not be-
Iieve that tho Democratic Senators op-
posed TO the resolution of the House, and
who had its fate in their hands. would
consent 10 this arrangement, unless they
we're satisfied in advance, by Mr.. Polk,
that the commission and negotiation con-
templated in Col. Benton's plan would be
tried. before that Of direct legislative an
nexation was resorted to. He desired
me To see Col. Benton, and the friends Of
his proposition. submit the suggestions
he had made, and then confer with Mr..
Ill, ,Lat 1n ,r,ot,lI
their views. complied; and after sew
eral interviews with Messrs. Haywood.
Dix. Benton aud others. (Mr. Allen of
Ohio. using his influence in the same d.
rection, finding shat the two plans could
be coupled and carried, if it were under
stood that the pacific project was first to
be tried, consulted the President elect
upon the subject. In the conference
had with Kim, he gave me full assurance
that he would appoint commission. as
contemplated in the bill prepared by
Col. Benton, if passed in conjunction with
the House resolution as all alternative.
In The course of my conversation with Mr..
Polk, | told him that the friends of this
plan were solicitous that the commission
should be filled by distinguished men of
both parties. aud that Col. Benton had
mentioned to me the names of Critten-
den and Wright, as of the class from
whicht should be formed. Mr.. Polk re-
sponded, by declaring with an emphasis,
"that the first men of the country should
fill the commission" communicated
the result of this interview to Messrs.
Benton, Dix, Haywood, &c. The last
two met, on appointment, to adopt the
phraseology of Benton's bill to suit as an
alternative for the Resolution Of the
House and it passed, after very general
understanding of the course which the
measure was to take. Both Mr.. Dix and
Haywood told me they had interviews
with Mr.. Polk on the subject of the COM
muncalion had reported to them from
him, and they were confirmed by his inn
mediate assurance in pursuing the course
which they had resolved on IN conse-
auence of my representation OF his pur-
pose in regard to the point on which their
action depended. After the law was
passed and Mr.. Polk inaugurated, he ap-
Piled to Gen. Dix las | am informed by
the laiter) to urge the Senate TO act on
one Of the suspended cabinet appoint
ments, saying that he wished his admin
stration organized immediately. as he in
tended the immediate recall of the mes
senger understood 10 have been dispatch
ed by Mr.. Tyler and to revoke his or
ders, given in the last moments of his
power, to thwart the designs of Congress
in affording him (Mr. Polk) the means Of
instituting anegntiation with view of
bringing Texns peaceably into the
Union. Your friend,
F. P. BLAIR.
wHo PAYS FoR rHEMl-Some of our Wing