est but deluded Pennsylvanians; who gave that State to the Democratic candidate, who, with the help of a Democratic Congress, broke down the policy which they had supposed they were supporting by voting for him. Some Democratic papers even had the effrontery to represent Mr. Clay as being opposed to the protective policy!

Some of Mr. Clay's Southern friends were in favor of annexation, and feared his election would jeopard that measure. In his answer to a letter from that section, he said: "Personally I could have no objection to the annexation of Texas; but I certainly would be unwilling to see the existing Union dissolved or seriously jeoparded for the sake of acquiring Texas." The Abolitionists, or "third party" men, seized upon the expression, "Personally I could have no objection to annexation," and used it to represent him as favorable to that measure. One-third of the votes given for the Birney electoral ticket, in the State of New York alone, if given for that of the Whigs, would have secured the election of Mr. Clay. Possibly Texas might have been annexed during the next Presidential term, even had Mr. Clay been elected; but it is certain that the unprovoked, unnecessary, disgraceful, aggressive war of conquest against Mexico for the benefit of the Slave Power, would not have

occurred.

Of the electors chosen in November, 170 voted for Polk and Dallas; and 105 for Clay and Frelinghuysen.

The great measure of the next session of Congress, (1844-1845,) was the annexation of Texas. President Tyler again urged it upon Congress. He regarded the recent election as the expression of the will of the people in favor of immediate annexation. In the Senate, Mr. M'Duffie introduced resolutions declaring the rejected treaty to be a "fundamental law of union between the United States and Texas, when the authorities of Texas shall agree to the same.” Mr. Benton gave notice of a bill "to provide for the annexation of Texas to the United States," similar to that introduced by him at the preceding session. This bill advised negotiation for the adjustment of boundaries. the House, C. J. Ingersoll, from the Committee of Foreign Affairs, reported resolutions for annexation, which, after

In

having been amended, were adopted. They provided that questions of boundary that might arise should be laid before Congress. The United States were not to become liable for the debts of Texas; but she was to retain all the public funds, debts, taxes, and dues owing to the Republic; and all vacant lands. And new States not exceeding four, in addition to the State of Texas, might be formed out of the territory thereof; the States to be admitted, with or without Slavery, as the people might desire; but North of 36 degrees and 30 minutes, Slavery was to be prohibited. The resolutions were finally passed, 120 to 98. As classified by Niles, of the 120 who voted in the affirmative, 112 were Democrats, 53 from Free, and 59 from Slave States; the other 8 were Whigs, all from Slave States. Of the 98 who voted in the negative, 28 were Democrats, all from Free States; and 70 were Whigs, 52 from Free, and 18 from Slave States.

Another classification was as follows: The number of Democrats voting was 140; from Free States, 81; from Slave States, 59. Of the 81, 53 were for, and 28 against annexation. The number of Whigs voting was 78; 52 from Free, and 26 from Slave States. Of the latter, 8 were for, and 18 against the bill. The 59 Democrats from the Slave States, all voted for the bill, and the 52 Whigs from the Free States, all voted against it.

The resolutions adopted by the House were amended in the Senate, by adding a resolution, leaving it to the discretion of the President, either to submit the resolutions as an overture to Texas for admission, or to negotiate a treaty for that purpose. The resolutions were ordered to a third reading, 27 to 25, all the Senators being present. The amendment of the Senate was concurred in by the House, 132 to 76. So the triumph of annexation was complete, as it is not probable that either Mr. Tyler or Mr. Polk would have jeoparded the measure by negotiation. It was said, however, that Messrs. Benton and Bagby without whose votes the resolutions would have been lost, voted for them from their confidence that Mr Polk, upon whom it was supposed the choice would devolve, would elect this mode But Mr. Tyler seized upon the last moment of his official exist

ence, to exercise, himself, the power conferred by the resolutions.

The question of annexation, relieved from all doubt as to its constitutionality, and from all apprehensions of diffi culty with Mexico, would probably have received the votes. of nearly all the Democrats in both Houses.

:

CHAPTER VI.

Administration of James K. Polk.

JAMES K. POLK was inaugurated as President, on the 4th of March, 1845. As was naturally expected, the subjects of Slavery and Annexation found a place in his Address. He deprecated interference with certain "domestic institutions" as an "attempt to disturb or destroy the compromises of the Constitution," which must "lead to the most ruinous and disastrous consequences." He regretted, that in some sections of our country, misguided persons had indulged in schemes and agitations; whose object was the destruction of domestic institutions in other sections." These schemes he, as a true Southerner, was pleased to call “moral treason." Respecting the Tariff he said: "Justice and sound policy forbid the Federal Government to foster one branch of industry to the detriment of another, or to cherish the interests of one portion to the injury of another portion of our common country." He congratulated the country on the reunion of Texas to the United States. The annexation was "not to be looked upon as the conquest of a nation seeking to extend her dominions by arms and violence, but as the peaceful acquisition of territory once her own." He also reässerted our title to the country of the Oregon to be 'clear and unquestionable,' "" and pledged himself "to maintain, by all constitutional means, the right of the United States to that portion of our territory."

Mr. Polk chose for his Cabinet: James Buchanan, of Pa., Secretary of State; Robert J. Walker, of Miss., Secretary of the Treasury; Wm. L. Marcy, of N. Y., Secretary of War; George Bancroft, of Mass., Secretary of the Navy; Cave Johnson, of Tenn., Postmaster-General; John Y. Mason, of Va., Attorney-General.

On the 6th of March, six days after the date of the act of annexation, the Mexican Minister protested against the dismemberment of Texas from Mexican territory, and declared the purpose of Mexico to enforce her right to recover the territory; and he gave notice of the termination of his mission, and asked for his passports. On the arrival of the news of annexation at the city of Mexico, diplomatic relations between the two Governments were there also terminated.

Early in the summer, President Jones, of Texas, laid before the Texan Congress a proposition from the Mexican Government, to acknowledge the independence of Texas, upon three conditions: (1.) Texas not to annex herself or become subject to any other country. (2) Limits and other arrangements to be matters of agreement in the final treaty. (3.) Texas to consent to refer the disputed points with regard to territory and other matters, to the arbitration of umpires. But the proposition was rejected; and resolutions were adopted accepting the terms of annexation to the United States. This acceptance was, in July, ratified by the people of Texas in Convention.

Mexico considered annexation an act of war, and declared her intention to resent the injury, and to resort to arms. At the request of the Congress and the people of Texas, our Government sent an army into that territory to defend it against invasion. The army was ordered to take position between the Nueces and the Del Norte. A strong squadron was sent to the coast of Mexico, as a precautionary

measure.

Several installments of the Mexican indemnity were due and claims of more than three millions had been recognized by a treaty, which the Mexican Government had not yet ratified. Mexico having consented to renew diplomatic relations, a Minister, (Mr. Slidell, of Louisiana,) was sent with full power to settle all difficulties. His reception, however, was refused, on the ground of the inadequacy of his special power to treat upon the questions which the Mexican Government intended to make the subject of negotiation. It would recognize him only for the purpose of treating in relation to Texas and the boundary.

Gen. Taylor, having been with his troops at Corpus