Boon's Lick times. [volume] (Fayette, Mo.) 1840-1848, 1848-09-09

Sdhouh eo duiiiltiuS iehds into tne Union
and placing the United States in state Of
war with Mexico.
Knowing that my esteemed friend F.
P. Blair had taken a deep interest in the
subject while it was before Congress. ad-
dressed note TO him, requesting state.
ment Of his recollections of the way the
Texas question was got through the Senate.
The following is his answer. l am. sir,
yours, BENJAMIN TAPPAN.
SILVER SPRING, July 7, 1913.
Hon. Benz. Tappan, Stubenvile Ohio:
Dear Sir-Your letter of the lst in
slant asks me to state what | know "as to
the way the Texas question was got thro'
the Senate" l comply and will not en-.
cumber the narrative with immaterial de.
tails.
When the resolution passed by the
House of Representatives for the annexa.
ton of Texas reached the Senate it was
ascertained that it would fail in that body.
Benton. Bagby, Dix, Haywood, and, as
unde rstood you also, we're absolute in op.
position to the naked proposition of annex
alton, which necessarily brought with it
the war in which Texas was engaged with
Mexico. All had determined 10 adhere to
the bill submitted by Col. Benton, for the
appointment of commission to arrange
the terms of annexation with Texas, and
to make the attempt TO render its access
sion to our Union as palatable as possible
to Mexico before its contamination. 1t
was hoped that this point might be effected
by giving Gas has been done in the late trea.
ty of peace) a pecuniary consideration,
fully equivalent in value, for the territory
desired by the United States, and to which
Texas could justly assert any title. The
Senate had been polled, and it was ascer-
tanned that any two Of the Democratic Sen
ators who were opposed to Browns reso-
luton, which had passed the House could
defeat 1.-THE whole Wing party prefer,
ring annexation by negotiation upon Col.
Benton's plan, TO that of Brown. While
the question was thus pending, met Mr..
Brown. Qate Gov. Of Tennessee, then a
member of the House,) who suggested that
the resolution of the House and the bill Of
Col. Benton. preferred by the Senate might
be blended, making the latter an alterna-
tive, and leaving the President elect (who
alone would have time 10 consummate the
measure) to act under the one or the other
at his discretion.
told Mr.. Brown that did not believe
that the democratic Senators opposed TO
the resolution of the House, and who had
its fate in their hands, would consent TO this
arrangement unless they were satisfied in
advance by Mr.. Polk that the commission
and negotiation contemplated in Col. Ben
toms plan would be tried before that of d.
rect legislative annexation was resorled TO.
He desired me 10 see Col. Benton and the
friends Of his proposition, submit the sug-
gestions he had made, and then confer
with Mr.. Polk to know whether he would
NEE, their views. l complied; and after
several interviews with Messrs. Haywood,
Dix, Benton, and others, (Mr. Allen, of
tion) finding that the two plans could be
coupled and carried if il were understood
that the pacific project was first to be tried,
| consulted the President elect on the sub
ect. In the conference ] had with him
he gave me full assurance that he would
appoint q commission as contemplated in
The bill prepared by Col. Benton, if passed
in conjunction with the House bill as ar
alternative. In the course of my CONVEX
sation with Mr.. Polk, l told him that the
friends of this plan were solicilous that the
commission should be filled by distinguished
men of both parties, and that Col. Bentor
had mentioned TO me the names of Critten
den and Wright as of the class from which
it should be formed. Mr.. Polk Responded
by declaring with an emphasis that thu
first men of the country should fill the com
mission"
4 communicated the result of this inter
view to Messrs. Benton, Dix, Haywood
etc. The two last met, on appointment
!, to adapt the phraseology Of Benton's bi
: 10 suit as an alternative for the resoluto
e of the House, and i, was passed, after We
r ry general understanding Of the cours
). which the measure was to take. Bot
j. Messrs. Dix and Haywood told me The
II had interviews with Mr.. Polk on the sui
il ject. of the communication l had reporte
}. to them from him, and they were confrme
G by his immediate assurance inpursuing II