The Lancaster gazette. (Lancaster, Ohio) 1846-1852, 1848-08-18
Tcxas Annex aiion---Sccrci History.

"uuSC hdpPdH Idte DeHdtOf III OOil-
gress from Ohio, has published letter in
the New York Evening Post, explaining
his vote for the Annexation Of Texas,
whereby that measure was secured. He
had violently opposedto annexation,
and made public the Treaty. in violation
Of the injunction Of secrecy. The letter
Of Judge TaPpan. and the one to him
from +. P. Blair. which are appended
hereto, throw some light on the means
used to bring about annexation. and the
bad faith of Mr.. Polk, though it fails to
excuse Messrs. Tappan. Dix, Niles. &C..
for the part they took in annexing Texas
as Slave State to the Union.
THE LETTERS.
STEUBENvnLE. July 81, 1S4S.
To the Ed,tOr offhe Eoening Post:
DEAR Sir: Since The admission of Tex.
as into the Union was consummaled, i have
thought with you that my vote on that
measure required explanation. l was
in favor Of receiving that State into the
Union as soon as it could be done on fsiI
and just terms, and with the consent of
Mexico; and believed, from all could
learn, that this might be accomplished at
less expense than il would cost to wage
a war of one years duration for obtain
ing it. So disposed. | not only voted
against Mr.. Tyler's Treaty of annexation
because it was exceptionablein in its terms,
but in violation of rule of the Senate,
from an imperative sense ofpublc duty;
had published it and the correspondence
with which it was accompanied. because
it appeared to me that the whole affair
afforded evidence Of daring conspiracy
to divide the Union by arraying the Free
and Slave States against each other-ev.
idence which considerations entirely para
mount to all Senatorial formulas, requii ed
to be Immediately divulged.
The inquiry is very natural one
how men who desired the admission of
Texas and voted against the treaty of
annexation. could afterwards vote for the
resolution in the House of Representa-
tives by Mr. Milton Brown, which was
more exceptionable in its terms than the
treaty. Now that the war with Mexico
is euded, and the public interest cannot
be injured by answering this inquiry.
give you the following statement, premis,
NC that the pnhlic history of this transac-
Ition is in the Congressional Globe. vol
XIV, page 353 to 362, and the Congress
Globe of February "a, lS47
When the Joint resolution declaring
the terms on which Congress will admit
Texas into the Union as State" was
before the Senate. it was soon found that
number of the Democratic members
who were favorable To the admission of
Texas would vote against that resolution.
was ore of them. In this State of the
matter it was proposed that, instead Of
rejecting the House resolution, we should
amend it by adding, as an alternative
proposition. the substance of Mr.. Ben.
toms bill to obtain Texas by negotiation
| had strong objections TO this plan, for |
did not see the necessity or propriety Of
passing the House resolution either with
or without the proposed amendments;
but it was urged that the session was so
near its close that the measure would be
defeated if we substituted Mr.. BenIon's
plan for the other, Whereas if we made
it an additional article it would readily
pass the House in that form. This rea-
soning did not satisfy me, but finding that
my friends we're all satisfied with the
proposed arrangement, | acceded to it,
provided that could have satisfactory
assurances that the plan proposed in such
amendment would be the only one used
and submitted to Texas.
Mr.. Polk was in the city; it was un-
derstood that he was very anxious that
Congress should act on the subject before
he came into office; it was also understood
that the proposition to amend the House
resolution, originated with Mr.. Polk. 1t
had been suggested that if we did so
amend the resolution, Mr.. Calhoun would
send of the House resolution to Texas,
and so endeavor to forestall the action Of
Mr. Polk, but Mr.. McDufiie. his friend
having met this suggestion by the declar-
alton that he would not have the "audac.
ity" to DO such thing, it was no more
thought of. One difficulty remained,
and that was the danger of putting it in
the power of Mr. Polk to submit the
House resolution to Texas. We under
stood, indeed, that he intended to sub
nit the Senate proposition to that Gov
ernment, but without being satisfied that
he would do This, Iwould not vote for the
resolution. and it was well ascertained
that without my vote it could not pass
Mr.. Haywood, who had voted with me,
and was opposed to the House resolu-
ton, undertook To converse with Mr..
Polk on the subject. and did SO. He af-
terward told me that he was authorized
by Mr.. Polk, to say to myself and other
Senators, that if we would pass the reso-
luton with the amendment proposed to
be made, he would not use the House
resolution. but submit tho Senate amend
ment as the sole proposition to Texas;
upon this assurance voted for the amend
ment moved by Mr.. Walker, containing
the substance of Mr.. Benton's bill, and
voted for the resolution as it now stands
on the statute book.
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