The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1852-01-29
For the Southern Press.
To the Public.

sailed. however humble his position in society,
is justified in indicating his character. When
he has made extraordinary sacrifices that he may
transmit an untarnished name to his children,
and his vindication is intimately connected with
the preservation Of the public morals, and the
maintenance of public liberty, it becomes his
imperious duty to do so. Under such circum-
stances, the undersigned replies to the Wash
ington Union Of Sunday last.
Major DoNELsoN there asserts that ] was
Kissed out of the Democratic party, and insinu-
ates that he interviewed to save me from disgrace
in Texas. No one knows better than Major
DoNELsoN that did more than any other living
man to place General JACKSON in power--that
could have retained his favor, if had become a
party to the combinations formed by some OF
his chosen partsans to plumber the treasury and
perpetuate his dynasty through Mr. VAN buren,
No one knows better than Major DoNELsoK that
after had ceased to visit General JACKSON, he
himself came TO me with assurances from Gen.
JACKSON Of respect and confidence, and urged
me to visit him; and that my reply was, that
well understood General JACKsoN's motive
that his purpose was to get up competition in
subservency between me and BLAIR, and that
had deliberated well and resolved upon my
course. He knows that few days after this
refused to take General JAcKsoN's hand, prof
fered to me in the presence of the greater part
of both houses of Congress, because had re-
solved that the world should know that had
repudiated him, instead of his repudiating me.
Msjor DoNELsoN knows that ! was then the
printer to Congress-, and that refused to take
his proffered hand, well knowing that | would
thereby provoke the bitter hostility of General
JACKSON and his partisans; and yet he dares to
say, that | who did this, and relinquished the
best office in the gift of the government was
Kissed out OF the party So much for that
now rs to the matter in Texas.
1t is well known that it was upon information
derived from me in London that Mr.. TYLER
opened the negotiation for the annexation of
Texas When he came into office, Mr. TYLER
sent for me, and requested me to name some
office, saying that it WAS his desire to serve me.
My reply was that my own private affairs would
exclusively occupy my time, and that therefore
could accept no Office within his gift. Being
called to London, he gave me confidential
mission, in ne discharge of which | saw Earl
RlpuoN, Sir ROBERT PEEL and Lord ABERDEEN.
a-certained that Sir ROBERT PEELs govern
ment were negotiating with persons in Texas
for the emancipation of the slaves then in Texas,
with the avowed purpose of.thereby promoting
the abolition of slavery in the United States. ]
wrote series of letters, some of which were
published in the London Morning Chronicle,
some in the London Times some in the Globe,
and other papers, the purpose and tendency of
which were to counteract this policy of the
British government. In furtherance of the same
object, went to Paris and labored for several
months, preparing series of letters, which were
published in the Paris Journal Of Commerce,
and General CAsss did me the honor to ack-
nowledge in his official correspondence with
the State Department the aid which | gave him
in negotiations with the French government.
| returned to London, and finding Sir ROB-
ERT PEEL's government resolved to persevere in
their efforts to abolish slavery in the United
States, and becoming conviced that he intended
to abolish slavery in Texas, ard seize upon New
Mexico, California and Oregon, and thus estab-
lish places Of refuge accessible to our runaway
slaves, saw that the acquisition of Texas,
New Mexico and California were indispensable
to the preservation of peace with England. had
ascertaiaed that the Mexican government, with
view doubtless to protect them against the
! United States, had given the British creditors q
mortgage on Texas, California and New Mexico
| Sonora, Sinaloea and Chihuahua had been
told that the Queen had said to Lord MEL
BOURNE, that whenever he would say that the
Wings could maintain themselves in power, she
wSad authorize him to form new cabinet; and
hdS.ng heard that Lord JOHN RUSSELL and 9th.
crs, were to constitute the new government,
saw Lord JOHN RUSSELL and four other mem.
bers of his cabinet, and urged upon them the
certainty of rupture between that government
and ours, if Sir ROBERT PEEL's wishes were
persisted in. Lord JOHN RUSSELL authorized
me to say to the President, that one of the first
acts of his government would be to place the
| 4 -. Al. ~
upon the most friendly basis; and with view
that he might be better informed upon questions
between that government and this, Mr.. MAYEs,
then a member of Parliament, and since Under.
Secretary of State to Lord JOHN RUSSELL, in
vited me to spend some time with him at his
residence near London. In these conversations
| was told that the Wing administration would
prefer rich customers to poor colonies, and that
therefore they would gladly adjust, upon terms
acceptable to the United States both the Texas
and the Oregon questions.
The information which had thus obtained was
communicated to Mr.. CALHOUN, as well as to Mr..
TYLER and shortly after Gov. SHANNON was sent
to Mexico Mr.. CALHOUN requested me to bear
him dispatches, authorizing him to negotiate
with Mexico for the acquisition Of Texas, New
Mexico, and California. The Mexican govern
ment was in a state of revolution, and Mr..
SHANNoN's negotiation was defeated by the in.
fluence of the British minister. After consnlta-
ton with Dir. SHANNON, it was deemed best for
me to return to Texas, and, if possible, induce
the government of Texas TO assume the attitude
of active hostities; believing that Mexico,
knowing, as she then did, that Texas would be
backed by the UDied States, would negotiate
came to Texas. consulted many of her most
influential citizens, and among them, Doctor
JONES, then President. The plan of operations
were agreed on, the bill was prepared, and would
have been introduced into the Texan Congress
on the next day, had not Captain ELLIOTT, the
agent of the British government, arrived. He
saw Doctor JONES, and an arrangement was en-
te ed into, by which he pledged his services to
obtain from Mexico an acknowledgment Of the
Independence of Texas, under certain pledges
and restrictions. In the morning, | was sur
prised to hear that Dr. JONES had created a great
excitement by charging that had, on The pre-
vious day, given him such offence that he had
revoked my exequator as consul at Galveston.
He knew, and so did Major DosELsoS, that the
appointment had been given for a temporary
purpose, and that cared not pinch Of snuff
for his exequator. Instead Of seeking Major