The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1873-09-02
FOR GOVERNOR:
n. J, ADAMS, Of Dallas County.
Remember the Primary Meeting Of
tho Democratic Party, TO be Held ~
each Election Precinct, on the iith OF
october Next.
s----~.s~-~s---s--FHH--1 = -
The AutIssr OF Annexation.

The Authsr OF Annexation.
TO the Editor Of The Dallas Hcrald'
Newspaper articles very often tend to
make ~ the history Of this country
Papers should therefore, be careful ~
giving currency to statements affecting
the history OF the times In which we
live. am forclbly impressed with
this fact on reading, In the Galveston
News Of the 10Th OF August, state
ment to the effect that the late George
N. Saunders, Of New York, was the
author Of the annexation of Texas to
the United States, ---thnt IL 10 say, that
George N. Saunders took the initlatory
steps which led TO the nomination of
James X. Polk for the Presidency,
Folks election, and the consequent an
pexetion of Texas. This IL . brief
statement Of the points made in the
Galveston News.
The statement, unless am woelully
ut fault, ~ not only wrong, but robs II
long-dcceased man of his just merits In
the case cited, and, being one who re-
spects history only In SO far as 1t mar
rates facts for the guidance of those to
come after, beg, as briefly as possible,
from a very distinct memory, to state
the facts.
Tho question of the annexation Of
Texas, early IN 1913, began to he .
second time agitatcd In the United
States. John Tyler was PRECEDENT, and
John G. Calhoun Secretary Of State.
The Democrats had been defeated in
1910 by the election of Harrison over
Van Buren, as President, and John ~
Ter, being elected us Vice President,
succeeded to the Presidency on the
death Of Harrison, April 4, lS4l.
As annexation assumed proportions
IN l84S and in ls4l, both Tyler and
Calhoun favoring the measure, IL was
agreed between Mr.. Van Buren, and his
special friends at Washington, With
Henry Clay and his friends, each of
whom In the beginnlngoflsH seemed
certain of nomination by his party for
the Presidency, that the Texas Ques-
ton should be ignored, and that Clay
aud Van Buren, should run the race in
the fall of 1874, on the old issues
between the Wings and Democrats. IL
was further agreed that both Clay and
Van Buren, should write and publish n
letter, taking this ground and being in
accord on the Texas question, virtu-
ally In opposition for the time being,
to annexatian. Van Buren, went home
10 Kindcrhook and wrote his letter.
Mr.. Clay took a Southern tour, and at
Raleigh, N. G., April IL, 1913 (his birth
day., wrote his celebrated Raleigh let
ter.
II was here that the name of Saun-
ders came In; but 1t was not George N.
Saunders Of New York. BY means.
1t was Romulus M. Saunders, of North
Carolina, then and for many years be-
fore, an able and prominent member
of Congress. He was delegate to the
then ensuing Democratic National Con-
vention at Baltimore. On his way, he
visited General Jackson at the Hermit
tagc, and satisfied him that, as things
stood, Clay would beat Van Buren,
that Van Buren, (Jackson's favorite)
must be thrown overheard, and new
man, thoroughly IN favor of anncxa-
tion, be nominated. Jackson loved
Van Buren, and was slow to yield ne
quiescence. He demanded Of Saunders
to know where a new man could he
found. Saunders was ready and very
promptly replied--"A boy of your
own training, James X. Polkp'
Saunders left with q note written by
the old hero himself, asserting to the
plan. Saunders, then, in order to de,
feat Van Bnrcn, had the two-thirds
rule adopted. Van Buren, actually
polled srespectable majority, but failed
Of two-thirds, and Folks name being
sprung At the opportune moment, went
through a. whirlwind. Polk wns
elected; Texas annexed; wnr with
Mexico followed; California, New
Mexico and Utah added to the Union
and the world now bcholds the consc,
quences, reaching to China, Japan
Hindostan and the islands OF the South
Hea.
Therefore, let not the laurels Of th,
ionS-ieceased North Carolinian b,
e9n1ehed nom his memory to adori
see brow q the lately-deceasel New
!. III. B.