New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1852-07-14
Henry A. Wise and John Tyler.

Henry A. Wise and John Tyler.
Hon. Henry A. Wise is much greater
man than he has hitherto had the credit OF
being. 1t has hitherto been supposed that
the annexation of Texas during the Tyler
Administration was the result of deep
and widespread plot, at the head OF which
was Mr.. Calhoun, and which embraced all
the leading Southern politicians. But, no;
it appears now from Wise's own statement
that he was the head and front of that Of
tense, and that it was at the behest OF him
and some half a dozen others, who at
the time were the object of the curses,
both loud and deep, of TIE Democracy, that
that whole party wheeled into line for
POLK and the Lone Star''-the Northern
unterrified as well as their Southern mas
tiers. 1t must be pleasant recollection
for them
At time when all the old pillars of their
party were in full activity, they were un-
consciously drilled by John Tyler's Corpo-
RAILS Guard, with Henry A. Wise and Ca
leb Cushing for fuglemen.
But to the statement in question. We
find it in a letter to a Committee of gentle
men, who waited upon Mr.. Wise with a
request for copy of the speech delivered
by him before the recent Virginia State
Loco Foco Convention. 1t runs as follows:
Gen Jackson was a man of nerve but when he threw
the sword into the scale of finance and hurled the
Of the Executive, he was the Jupiter Oympuso of ma.
ton, and had Senate at bis heels" John Tyler
alone with bis God la the midnight hour, with but
corporals guard of six to give him cheering counte
nance while other men, in his place would have been
sweating drops of agony, he wreathed In the smiles
OF conscious duty TO his county and her constitution
II be was tacc II only TO his friends II he lacked
IL the understanding of the head than made
up in the understanding of the heart better heart
never warmed the human bosom, and the blunder OF
his foes that they greatly moderated his intellect
Where would have beenOur Democratic principles had
he net had both the head and the heart TO crush the
chmeras of the Nationals, who were eager 10 riot In
very Bacchana Of Federalism! He raised the droop
ing head of Democracy, down-trodden by Van Buren,
desrructyes and saved ii from utter demolition By the
Goths who were let into the capital 10y the act OF ex
peiDg the prior invaders The desructyes had 10 be
expelled he aided to do it, and then the punderers OF
the copQuerng camp had t. be epused which too, he
did and right valiantly."
Thus was Democracy purified and restored. But the
Of the South was 10 be saved the Union wasto
be balanced Texas was still to be annexed This could
not be done until after the settlement Of the NOrtheas-
ern boundary had, alone and In secret Kept my eye
on the Texas question. Communicated with but lew
Senator Hunter of the first 70 whom impaired
the movement He now has the letter from me snow
ing the GATE Ct my developments. The President
was not ready for the question the Cabinet In.
Guiding Hugh s. Legare, of South Carolina, was OPP
posed 70 it ! had no coddjutors, and the Cabinet
had to be changed before could have any In place
Of inilue Events turned up to enable Mr. Tyler
to bring the lamented Upshur into the Navy Depart
NEXT He was prevailed on by me to accept the post
ard would not have accepted II but for the service he
could render In the Of annexation The lamented
Thomas w Gimer, Francis Mallory, George Profit Mr..
Irving, Of Pennsylvania, Mr.. Cushing OF Massachusetts,
and myself were the Guard Gilmer had an Intimate
friend in VIM L. Marcy, of New Yors, and had Assem-
tal bid in the friendship OF James Buchanan, OF Pennsyl
yana These were the principle men of the North, and
the active agents from the South, who cooperaed d.
rcctly end Indirectly with Mr.. L pshur and Mr. Wick.
life IN the Cabinet MIR. Tyers aud Mr.. Websters
friends thought It best for them to separate alter the
Nuithe IN issues were disposed of Mr.. Webster was
lot the man settle the Southwestern question. He
retired, parting with Mr.. Tyler on terms Of the most
cordial confidence and respect The great Legare had
been snaehed from bis seat 10 the tomb Upshur was
called 10 the Secfearyship OF State Glmer to the Navy
ard then commenced the negotiation Ia earnest and
with effect.
The Texas legation wm able all the time and vas
finally represented with remarkable ability by Vansant
The work accomplished, when the terrible explo
sion of the Peace Maker blasted our hopes for mo-
melt IN the fall of Upshur and Gmer. Virginia wept
when they fell and well she might for mighty fell
But truth assert when now publish TO the world
the fact, that the whole plan of annexation was con-
pete and required only the execution OF mere FORMS
when the iron entered HE head and side OF Upshur IL
was his pOrk Those who give Mr.. Calhoun the credit,
do Injustice 10 Upshur. Mr. Calhoun found everything
ed for his signature he had only toreceive expla
nations hch IN part be sought from me- lie knew hat
had caused him 10 be brought into the Cabinet The
morning after the death of Upshur and Gilmer ! had
caused Mr. McDuie TO write TO him at once, and Mr..
Tyler tent bis 10 the Senate before an answer
was received from him. A higher compliment was
never paid to man, and no deserved 1t more than
he, who was like Michael Angeles dome 10 the
heavens without the scafolding Of thought Nothing
due bis memory would take from IT. but he had too
much reputation of his to need any righfuly be-
longing TO his friend and immediate predecessor VINO
had prepared ard finished, with master nand, tue
whole work by the time Mr. Calhoun came In. Others
are Intimate with these facts besides myself
This was the browning act of MIR Tylers Admnistra-
ton he had no pdJfy-nothng but guard, OF which
had the honor the proudest OF my life, - be caledtne
captain but he had the sblest Cabinet which had ever
cOUnseed the Executive from the days Of Washington,
10 the present time; his measures were thrown upon
their merits for their defense he wisely welded the
conservative power Of the veto TO defend the Constu
ton without other law than the act OF organization Of
the Treasury Department and the resolution OF 1916 be
brought order out Of the chsos of the finances sunk
the Van Buren, debt Of forty millions, and revived pub
lie credit lsayed US from mOneyed monopOes and po
ltiesl appropriation and waste of the public domain
gave amity with Englabd snd fixed our national bOun
osries IN the North preparatory to the serousssues
with that power in the Northwest and fully opened mp
the way progress for the Democracy the continent
snd the world by securing the only acquisition
OF territory which could restore the equilibrium Of the
Union and base it the confidence and affections of
the South. And In party view, he popularized
Democratic measures, In spite of a ruthless majority Of
Federalism in both houses of Congress TO point the
way the Of both the election and administra
ton of Mr.. Polk, who worthy and tiumphantly fol
lowed In the footsteps OF his policy Mr.. Folks was
but the continuation Of the policy of Mr. Tyler.
IL The Rochester AMERICAN fathers this