The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1849-07-22


soil track" forgetting what he had Just said before
that was the Vice President at the tme when he well
knew that l was elected for the first time Vice Presi'
dent with Mr. Adams and Of course the vote Of the
assigns.
His next charge is that supported the abolition Of
slavery in State. Among his other traits, Col Benton
Is distinguished for charging others what ne knows
sense Of pfopeiy cautiously abstain from ssang others
for what they know they may in turn themselves be just
ly assailed. Not so with him. He is one Of the few
know they can be assaled for the same thing. They
seem to delight in dragging down others to their own
level and 70 have concealed Joy n thinking that others
BILE that those who are distinguished for 1t are usually
kened to notorious parsonage reproying sin Colonel
the present charge He wen knows how utterly false he
was to you throughout the Texas question: He took.
as has been stated active part to defeat the treaty Of
States He knows that il contained provisions that
counenanced the abolition OF slavery in any portion oil
Texas was strongly urged during the negotiation 70 ~
across Texas to its western boundary, and was informed
that would aid in securing constitutional majority in
knows that he offered proposition to abolish slavery in
one.ha Of the whole of Texas and that by line, not
drawn east and west but north and souih to hem in
the South all sides, by surrounding her with abolition
States He also knows that his friend and supporter on
the occasion, Mr. Hayward, Of North Carolina went still
further and offered resolutions to extend the ordinance
of 1857 not only all Texas but all the Terri
tories lying west of Arkansas and south Of 800 3o with
however, proviso excepting the portion OF Texas
gree of parallel Of latitude The presumption is strong
that in offering his resolutions he acted with his friend
Colonel Benton to whose course he adhered the Tex
as question But. be that as il may, certain is he
mute. He raised voice OF Indignation against meas
ure which proposed to exclude slavery forever from that
away the Indians and losing il TO the South AS bad
the policy Of Mr. Adams and General jackson may be
i 70 9th that they did not Exclude
faithful allies on that vital question The resolutions d
this advantage and yet Colonel Benton raises his
voice in loud denunciaon against me- upon the false
%Ss he app usd @ Silence excluding
you entirely from the territory and Of Texas 10
boot and to extend the principle OF the ordinance OF 81
the whole including Texas and the Terrtories So
much for his own position in reference to the subject OF
the charge.
now remains to show that is, like all his other
charges, destitute OF foundation. He rests his charge
that abolished slavery n Texas the fact that was
then Secretary Of State and that selected the resolution
as passed the House Of Representatives instead of the
amendment originally proposed by him. as the basis on
which to annex Texas Thus far he has departed from
his usual rule, and stated the facts correctly shun no
occasion But is due the President and the members
OF his administration to say that they were unanimous in
favor of the selection made. not only selected it. but
assigned my reasons for making 1t, in adespach to our
then Minister to Texas, Mr.. Donelson. assigned
them, because anticipated that there would be
tempt to undo what done after the expiration of Mr.
Tylers administration This was resolved to prevent
by stating for the selection that could not be
oyerruled The attempt, as suspected. was made. and
the late President has since been aaigned before the
public by two friends and associates OF Col Benton Blair
and Tappan) because he could not be forced to oyerue
what his predecessor had done The following Is an ex
tract from the despatch:
SIT Is deemed necessary state at large the grounds
on which his decision rests Uhe Presidents) twill be
sufficient state briefly that the provisions OF the resou
ton, from the House. simple in sher
character, may be more readily and with less dicG;.,y
contemplated by them mnch less exposed the
"That they simple in their very few
remarks will suffice 70 show According TO the resolution
ha hs Congress n Of Tsse sho be called esstns is
given the provisions contained in il, and the
lie spb%ed 70 he Congress Of he United States for @
approval IN the same manner as when one Of our own
codng to the provisions OF the Senaies amendment the
must then 90 through the slow and troublesome process
carving State out Of part Of It's territory Afterwards
agents or 70 be appointed on our part
aud agree the and conditions which the
territory United States And after all this, and
before the people OF The said State must call convention
the United States for Its approval but which be
and which constitute. the condition. On whico the State .
10 be admitted, shall have been ratified.
and expense carried into effect is plain on the fact thai
details fewer and less complex. II Is obvious that
amendment Of the senate must involve much time and d
fcuty in their execution while to the expense the APP
dona and above that attendant
of the resolution Of the House.
But decisive objection the amendment of the Sen
ate that would endanger the ultimate success OF the
the United States and Texas the and
conditions which the State shall be admitted into our
Union, and the cession Of the remaining territory the
United States Now by whatever the agents con-
Quoting the negotiation may be known-whether they be
called Commissioner, ministers, by any other uuchs
compact agreed by them In behalf Of their respective
government would be treaty. WHISTLER 50 called or desig
mated by other name. The very meaning Of treaty
COLLATION.; and II treaty. las IL clearly would be) must
be submitted TO the Senate for Its approval, and the
hsza I'd receiving the OF twohirds of the members
present. which could hardly be expected Judge
President conclusive for proposing the
ton Of the House instead Of the amendment the Senate
the basis Of annexation"
The above extract will place you in possession OF the
leading reasons for making the selection. Events prove
that the selection judicious. Texas annexed
against every effort oil open enemies and teacherous
friends, both here and there, and The most strenuous e
forts 10 defeat by England and France and by II your
weak and most exposed flank was protected against
danger from without and the vaccinations Of the sbol
tionIsts and their abettors al home II great vic
be al the time That il due the selection made
have the highest authority Mr. Donelson, in his letter
TO me after annexation achieved. sad that any
other course but thai pursued would have defeated H.
But Col. Benton now object. that the House resolution
contained provision 10 extend the Missouri Compromise
line TO the western boundary OF Texas, and asserts that
this extension abolished slavery 10 State; meaning
suppose that IL prevented tue introduction OF slaves in
the portion north oil the line. when al the time there
no settlements slaves II not, seems, the reso
luton Of those who voted Tor IT, and passed it, and
vofe have defe ,fedi