The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1852-03-06


The subject OF Texas ceased to form promi-
nent subject OF interest for the public mind and undoub
eddy Influenced materially the presidential election OF
1874. la his annual message OF that year Mr. Tyler
called the attention OF Congress to the subject of the
annexation OF Texas, by the Joint action OF the egsa-
1--WE departments Mexico threatening 70 leeonqaer'
land was ampering with her interests and the people OF
the United States, from affinity OF blood, and community
Of and character, were pressing Tor her union
To efectuate this, various propositions brought
forward by gentlemen OF the two great parties q me
democratic party IN caucus took place, at which all the
various PROFITS brought forward or discussed.
motion made TO refer all the plans ESQ they were
called 10 committee OF gentlemen OF that party who
had proposed any plan. This motion not
cessiu and by vote, almost unanimously given, Mr.
pare PLAN and the 2ist OF January, 1S45, it was
introduced and accepted by Mr., Douglas (now of the
Senate) as modification OF or substitute for his
month the resolution of MIR. Milton Brown, with
cepted amendment OF MIR Douglas the same the whole
constituting the Identical resolutions substance, from the
democratic committee of oRE-passed the House
and sent TO the Senate On the third day of March,
1s45, message from the President announced that he
had approved and signed certain joint resolutions for
annexng Texas TO the 6nlon," and I" a loud burst OF
plaudits peaed through the House," heraldng new
rising with our constellation.
it to be ours politically and geographically might lead to
war, might be safely admitted, and yet not weaken-but
rather strengthen-he argument for the measure. With
out recurring TO the question in detail adducng the
official opinions of President Jackson it is all summed up
in the announcement Of that policy which has become
historical fact that by sour country has obtained ndem-
nifty for the past and security for the future The commits
sion which has closed its labors in awarding to our
citizens their just demands indicates the first and our
strong position on the Gull and the Pacific nsues the
latter But the questions connected with the annexation oil
Texas and the war with Mexico not without their
intrinsic difficulties; and those difficulties were rendered,
all times in every step OF the progress OF events, more
perpexng and embarrassing by the tactics OF party
that combined in lis elements OF opposition every phase
of the human mind, and every incentive to action
talents and cunning, patriotism and ambition, holiness
and dupicy, philanthropy and false senmentaty, in
tegrty and venaly-and all subseraient to and concen
traed upon the Of party. Official dispatches OF
the advance of the Mexican forces had reached our cap
ta and their contents had become known to the whole
country. On the Goth of April. ls45, despatch from
General Taylor, sent by express, made known the TACT
officially I" that Arsta had taken the command OF the
Mexican army, and had sgnfed to hum that hossies had
days before that he had called the
errors OF Texas and Louisiana Tor Volunteers large
law passed authorizing the President volunteers
The italics placed here because the official language
OF General Taylor and communicated on the llth OF
May by the President to Congress The effect was cleo
trical the positive and negative powers OF party were
excited once the positive measures OF the democratic
party for their country and their brave army sur
rounded by dangers the negative conduct OF the oppo-
sition would have permitted that country to have been
crcumscribed in its limits, and that army driven back TO
any boundary that did not affect their existence party
The COMMITTEES on Military Affairs, on the morning Of
the 18th Of May simply proposed to take up its stale bill
of the 9th of january which had been brought forward
pending the Oregon controversy This was the fact as
intended and stated in conversation preceding the
session oil the House When SO announced, MT. Boyd,
with decisive energy, secuted the measure unjust fee
be and emporzing, and, sitting down in his seat prompt
y drew up the preamble and first section OF the bill,
which subsequently, became 80 conspicuous and bene-
which it contained that "by the act Of the republic Of
Mexico state of existed between that government
and the United States" crippled the wing party through
the whole subsequent action OF Congress this subject
Mr. Boyd prepared this at the moment and shown
TO several members, OF whom, reading it with care
two three times, drew up similar formula embracing
the language in part, and the idea throughout OF Mr.
Boyd and. getting the floor, offered TO the House On
the presentation, however, of Mr. Boyds it adopted.
and made the basis OF all the subsequent movements OF
the democratic arty and of the action Of the House
this subject The history OF that war is written in letters
of eugence The statesmen who guided and the soldiers
who won the battles, by their heroic bearing, have
achieved fame for themselves and important benefits for
their country and the world at large The end perhaps,
might have been accomplished at less sacrifice OF treasure
and OF life, had not the laurel blossoms OF ambition
CURED more crimson to give them deeper and more gor
gcous dye.
iusous in history While he strictly sustained
the creed OF his party, unlike General Jackson he had
not that personal character and commanding influence
which concentrated the energies OF that party on his
and while this felt in carrying the
with Mexico, had been previously visible in the diff
cules which surrounded the negotiations OF the govern
men and the legislation OF Congress on the Oregon con-
troversy. There has never been question of more do
mestc interest than the settlement OF the title and bound
airy OF Oregon. party which conceived that an import
ant measure, in some degree, had been abandoned; a
people-the population of the Westwho thought their
rights had been surrendered country that felt the dar-
ing OF battle and the confidence of victory ancient
foe and felt its spirit nsued and its pride offended and
a large commercial influence which always fears and
shuns the disastrous effects OF wara these passions,
preudices, and interests combining with party views and
national considerations made the delicate question more
complex and difficult OF solution. In the diversity of
views and variety OF propositions which presented
the public mind became bewdered, and Congress seemed
incapable OF any conclusion. The thread which led
from the intricate OF this labyrinth spun by
the hand OF Linn Boyd and without giving the prolix
details of the congressional contest will suffice to
VOL, p los, Life of Senator Douglas y
"The joint resolution, in the form in which il finally
passed the House, offered amendment by Mr..
Linn Boyd, OF Kentucky, gentleman whose unusually
quiescent course challenges but little OF public observa
ton, but whose influence his party, in regard TO
some OF the late and most important measures OF its poll
icy. has been exemplfed in a not less signal
than complimentary. He seems to possess effective,
but unpreending faculty OF uniting dscordan opinions
and concentrating them upon general result not sur
passed by that OF member in the ranks OF the demo-
cratic party" compliment most justly earned by the
exhibition of those very qualities In the Texan ques-
and last not least in the Compromise, which the Union
now stands solid and secure.
The contest between the democratic party and the
wing party has PROFESSIONALLY on each side two prnc-
pal phases. On the democratic side, the protection of
individual rights and the preservation Of the sovereignty
OF States the other the ACKNOWLEDGMENT OF individuals
and the consolidation OF the central power These prom
nent features will strike the general attention. upon any
impartial review OF our political history and either