Lynchburg Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1829-185?, 1848-08-10
31olttiral aud Douurstlr.
4 CHAPTER OF SECRET HISTORY.
From! The .Nsp York Ercn;ny poa

Congress 10 adopt such method Of ann-xing rex.sas
would avoid the danger Of with Mexico and sat
sly ev"ry part OF he Union. The plan Of Mr. Benton
proposing 10 arrange by negotiation The terms on hch
IeAas should be admitted into thu Union had these OBJ
Iecis IN view If il had been adopted, should have
acquired Texas without war, bluotshed or national
debt. The Denacrac Senators who SUPP orted it had
1t IN their power to compel Congress adopt their meth
Cd or hone How they were induced consent 10
measure which pu il in the power of the President 10
annex Texas and The is related in the letters
lhey Were betrayed into the step. seems by an ac.
OF The grossest p-ridy, which dis.lusrd in the Ie;
tiers OF Mr.. Iappan and MIR Blair, which we publish
To-day.
We think, for our part. that this fraud shoulJ have
oeeh aisci' Srd The moment II cunstinnla ted the
moment that MIR Polk, after his solemn prpmses-af
Ter al ms preehceS Of haste to recall Mr. Tye1s Gland
estine Messenger, and to revoke the er Of which he
was The bearer, declared in his annual message that he
had ratified Mr. Flyers proc, ednes and Confirmed lis
oner to annex Texas and the war 4 REGARD TO their
own reputation it seems u.s. should have led them 10
make frank aud full disclosure If lie t1eacery and du
piciy 0y which they We're made involuntary accompli-
ces IN the guilt Of pTecpating the country into war
They seem, On their part. IA have ,h1nnh, ILL.,,
wise.
The only important port, however, is The the truth
OF the narrative. Mr.. 1appln and Mr. Blair AGREE in
us circumstances, and. If testimony were needed
mere are other Senators who if they ever speak on the
subject, will tell the story. We are sorry f,r tn,
Pre- em,nence IN tckery which it gives Mr.. Polk over
At Tyler IN all future histories Of the annexation II
lezas tbs story # promise solemny given and deIb
eTateiy violated, will form part
LETTERS OF MESSRS TAPPAN AND
BLAIR.
STEUBzNvILLE, July q, ls49
10 the Editor Of the Erening Post:
Dear Sir: Since the admission Of Texas in q the Ivni
on was consul nmated. have thought with YOU. tina,
vote on Il at rpnuirnd ynl7 I
favor CT ec,ivn, .ha State into the Union as soon a.
could be done ai! and Just terms and with the
consent Of Mexico; and believed, from all could
learn that this might he accomplished at fss exren.a
man 1t would cost 70 wage Of years duration
for obtaining il. 50 disposed had no, ONLY voted a.
gainst Mr. Iyeis Treaty Of annexation be, ause it was
sxceponabe IN lis terms, but in violation of rule Of tn
SENATE. from an Imperative sense Of public duty had
published IT, and the correspondence with which it was
accompanied because Il appeared 10 thai tie olole
aDdu Gt"rded erdece Of during conspiracy to doids
the Uon, by a'raying the free and situe States arain
each otsr evidence " hcs considerations entirely para
mount to all Senatorial formulas required t, be inn. ed.
a,ely divulged,
lie inquiry is very natural one low men who de-
sired the admission OF Texas and voted against tho res
y OF annexation, could afterwards vote for hcresoution
brought into the House Of Representatives bv Mr. Mil
nh brown which was mora exceptionahie in its terms
than the treaty. Now that the war with NIexco is en-
ued ana Inc public interest cannot be injured ~ answer
Ing this inquiry, give yn iae following statement IRE
missing that me public history this transaction is ia The
CongFtssona! Globe, vol. H. page 38 10 3G3 and Con
gresohl Globe of February 24th, I847
VI hen the "joint resolution declaring the terms on
which Congress will admit Texas into the Cnnn a.
State. was b.ore the nate, it was soon found that
number of The Democratic members who favorable
TO the admission Of Texas would against that resou
ton was one ef them IL this stage Of tile matter ii
was proposed that instead Of rejecting The House re:ou
hO1JH n J,x
propositin the substance Of .N. Bcntcms bill 10 obtain
Teas by negotiating had strong objections to this
PAN Tor DID not zee the necessity prupe.y Of pass
ing the House resolution either with Or witaout the nro
posed amendments but ii urged that the session was
50 near its close that the measure would be defeated if
we substituted Mr. Bentons pan for the other whereas
II We made II an additional article it would readily pass
the House in that form This soninu did not satisfy
me- but binding that my friends all satisfied with
such proposed arrangement | accedrd 10 t-provided
that could have satisfactory assurance that the plan
proposed IN such amendment would lie the only one used
and submitted to Texas
Mr. Polk was ia IT,, city il was understood tina,
he was very anxious Congress should act on the subject
before he came into office; it also understood that
The proposition to amend the House res lution opina ted
with Mr. Polk 1t had been suggested that, if we did
50 amend the resolution. Mr.. Calhoun would send off
the House resolution to Texas and 50 endeavor to fore
sta the actor Of Mir Pulk but Mr. McDuffie his friend
having met this suggestion by the declaration that Il,
would not have the ''audacity' to do such thing il
was no muTe thought Of. Ons diff ,uty remained and
that was the danger of putting it into he mower Of Mr.
FOLK to submit the House resolution to Texas. We
understood indeed, that he intended to submit the Sen
ale proposition TO that GJyernmen!; but without being
Sfled that he ud do this would not vote for the re-
solution. and 1t well ascerained that without my
vote 1t could not PASS. Mr.. Haywood, who had voted
with me. and opposed to The House resolution, I'm
dertouk to with Mr.. Polk on the subject and
did Sole afterwards told me that he was authorized
by Mr. Polk to say myself and other Senator's that,
if we could pass the resolution with the amendment pro
posed 10 be made, he would submit the Senate amend
nent as the sole proposition 10 Texas. Upnn this
surance voted for the amendment moved bv Mr.. Wal
ker containing substance of Mr. Benion's bill, and
voted for the resolution it stands the statute
book.
1t i, matter Of history that Mr. Calhoun did have the
'audacty" ID send off a special messenger with the
House resolution to Texas the Sd March, few min
before he of Office and that Mr. Pok adop
ted and confirmed this act Of Nj. Cahonl's admit
ting Texas into the Union. and placing the Z. States
in a state Of tcith .Merico.
Knowing that my esteemed friend F.P Blair had
taken deep interest in this subject while il was before
Congress, addressed 10 him requesting state
nlen of his recollection Of the way the Texas question
through The Senate. The following is his an
swcr.
49, - BENJAMIN TApPAN.