The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1856-01-10
Gen. Dun Green and Mr.. Benton.
TO THE EDITOR OF THE HERALD.

ed book which he calls history have not read IT, but
from the extracts given from time time through the
New York Evening Post it woult seem that the chief
purpose of 80 much labor has been calumniate Mr.
Calhoun and that he found it necessary dsparage me-
fearing doubtless that will asst is my present purpose
to do, review his work and vndieate Mr. Cahouns
mory.
In late number Of the Post is given what Mr.. Benton
calls secret history Of the intrigue to defeat the
nomination Of Martin Van Buren, for the Presidency in
1884," in which he sbors to prove that the negotiations
for the annexation of Texas intrigue to defeat
the nomination of Mr. Van Buren, and charges that my
mission England in 1843 and my letter to Mr. Tyler
referred to by Mr. Upshur in hts letter Charge in
Texas proposing the annexation OF Texas we're parts OF
that intrigue. Mr.. Benton says
'Mention has been the fore part Of this chap
ter OF the necessity which felt to obtain something
trcm London to bolster up the accusation OF that o.m
dable abolition plot which Great Britain Matching
in Texas, and the alleged existence of which the
whole Argument Of immediate annexation reposed The
desired estmt had to be got and oracuary given 70
The public being derived from prvate letter from
citizen Of Maryland, then in London" The name OF this
Mary land citizen was not gwen but his responsibility
nd reliability vouched, and the Testimony vouched
for true 1t was to the point in charging upon
the British government, with names and circumstance
macbinatops then in full progress This went back
to Londen, diaey transmitted there by the British
m a. "a AZ M M 70
from the British Secretary OF State ord Aoerdeen) an
indignant prompt, and perempory contradiction. This
cont ADDITION was given in DESPATCH dated december
MIR Benton then refers to treaty annexation and
Mr. Calhoun's despatch to the British Minister comment
ing Lord Aberdeen's declaration that Great Britain
desires and constantly exetiDg herself TO procure the
general abolition of slavery throughout the word and
adds -
IAN hope from the Presidency, from the Texas in
tIigue had tailed-the alternative aspect had be-
ing of Texas and Southern States had become the
OBJECT Neither the exposure Of this object nor the his
tory of the attempted annexation belongs 70 this chapter
separate requi ed for each. And this incl
dent Of the Maryland citizens private letter from Lon
don, Lord Aberdecn's contradiction, and the strange
despatch OF Mr. Calhoun to him. are only mentioned here
links in the chain Of The Presidential intrigue and will
re dismissed with the remark that the Maryland citizen
was afterwards found out, and discovered
to be citizen better known as an inhabitant of
Washington than of Maryland; and that the
private letter intended 10 be for public use, and
raid for out of the contingent fund Of the state Depart
ment anc the writer, whose name name synOnyme
of subsel viency Mr. Calhoun namely, Mr. Duff Green,
the Uni ed States Senate moved by the writer of this
vew Who had been put upon the track by some real pr
vate information and when the Presidents Message
lead In the Senate, disclosing all these facts he used
expression taken from Spanish proverb, which had
currency at the tme AT last the devil is pulled
from under the blanket."'
Comment One of the charges made by Mr.. Benton is
that falsely represented by Mr. Upshur, citizen
of Maryland, when l was, in truth, inhabitant OF
thst my residence falsely stated with view to mis-
lead the public who the author Of the letter Now
IT Is not true as stated by MT Benton that was an IN
habant Of Washington, ard 1t was true, stated by
Mr.. Upshur, that was a citizen Of Maryland.
Mr. Benton charges the negotiations for the annexation
Of Texas intrigue to defeat the nomination OF
Martin Van Buren, for The Presidency in 1874 and that
finding it necessary to get letter from London charg-
ing that treat Britain was engaged in effort abolish
avery in Texas sent there for that purpose, and
wrote the letter. making false charge which was indg
nantly denied by Lord Aberdeen.
Now by refer to the letter ITSELF 1t will be seen
that my purpose in going to London was to induce the
British government to make treaty, and that the in-
Texan minister and Others after reached London thus
utterly disprovng Mr. Benon's charge, that went to
Loncon for the purpose,
As the appropriate to these allegations
send you for publication copy OF the letter ITSELF
prepared with few remarks necessary to proper
Outstanding Ct IT.
When after the death OF General Harrison Mr.. Tyler
came into the Presidency, he advised to declare in
inaugural address that he would not be candidate
for the Presidency He did me the honor TO consult
the subject I urged him not to do so, upon the
GROUND that instead of giving him strength, it would
weaken his administration, because it would be taken as
admission that be believed he could not elected
and that he instead Of beng the President OF the United
States woula be held ard esteemed to be the part
Fan Of Mr.. Clay that this would not only degrade
hl but the Office the influence and digrity OF which IL
was his duty to maintain.
There vas great app che nson of with Eugland,
and was TO London under belief thai could OBJ
tain to the British public through the press, and
thus in the adjustment of the northeastern boundary
ard other questions then pending between the two
venments. A special object to induce the British
government 10 modify their corn laws
Upon resching London wrote series Of letters winch
published in the Morning Chronicle. then weEt
to Paris, where wrote for the journal q Commerce tne
Bounaparst paper) series OF essays Intended to aid
General Cass in his effort defeat the ratification by
France of the Quintupe treaty. From thence to
LONDON and, by request Of the editor Of the loncon
Times wrote sci les Of essays which were published in
that paper,he information given IN which, led to An
acquaintance with Mr. C0bden Mr.. villiers, Mr. Hume,
and other r uental members Of Parliament and also Of
whose request prepared statement relative to the
and POLITICAL condition Of the United States which
he cid the honor to submit to Sir who
after lerus it, requested to me, and advised that
should confer with Lord Aberdeen and the President of the
Board OF Trade did Lord Aberdeen and the result
OF nv conference with him that he authorized
FAY to the President that he willing make treaty
placing the commerce between the two countries on the
basis Of reciprocity, the best mode OF modifying their
Bavirg done this went to Paris, and through the
cooperation Of General Cass prevailed on NJ Guizot to
would unite with England and the United States in
treaty Of commercial reciprocity Lord Aberdeen was OF
opinion that the negotiation had better be he'd in Lon
don; and although Mr. Webster, mised by the hopes in
spired by the tariff OF 1872 first opposed to it, he
ate, wards eded his assent and an application was
mace to Congress, through member from Philadelphia
tor an opliaton which the opposition Of Mr. Benton
and the faction to which he belonged defea ed That
appropriation having ailed again went to London in
1S43 hoping induce the British government to te.d
commissioners 10 Washington, empowered to make a
treaty, it understood France would do. When
reached LEMON the landed interest bad taken the alarm
at what apprehended would be the effect of the
repeal of the duty Canadian wheat and the Carlton
Club had notified Sir Robert Feel that they would resist
any further modification Of the laws. This
m.nt believe prevented his sending commissioners to
Washington. 1t will thus be seen that, although Mr..
Benton says that Presidential Message read in the
Senate disclosing that had gone to London for the
pose of writing the letter about British intrgues in
Texas it Is not possible that any such message could
have been sent to the Senate The statement is abso-
lutely and nalciousy false The information to the
movement in relation to Texas obtained in London
and chiefly from the Texan Minister who told that he
would make like communication to Mr. Calhoun which
believe he did
Mr. Benton says that my statements Indignantly
denied by Lord Aberdeen Now my statement was that
Mr. Andrews there agent Of the aooltionists
of Texas and that he proposed to negotiate loan
pledge Of Texan bonds and that told by the Texan
Minister that Lord Aberdeen had been spoken and
that he would favor guarantee o. the interest the
loan upon conoon that the funds used to abolish
slavery in Texas
do not recoect what the precise language
Of Lord AbeIdeens despatch referred to by Mr. Benton
but he himself admits that he said " Great Britain de-
snd is constantly exerug herself to the
ger eral abolition of slavery throughout the WORLD aud
with this declaration of the fixed purpose of England
planned her policy is by her subsequent conduct in
and her present Russia IL requires the