Letters of Messrs. Clay, Benton, and Barrow, on the subject of the annexation of Texas to the United States. Page: 1 of 16
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LETTERS
OF
MESSRS. CLAY, BENTON, AND BARROW,
* ON THE SI7BJECT OF THE
ANNEXATION OF TEXAS TO THE UNITED STATES.
MR. CLAY'S LETTER.
RALEIGH, April 1y, 1844.
To the Editors of the National Intelligencer:
GENTLEMEN: Subsequent to my departure from Ashland, in December last, I
received various communications from popular assemblages and private individuals,
requesting an expression of my opinion upon the question of the annexation of Texas
to the United States. I have forborne to reply to them, because it was not very con-
venient, during the progress of my journey, to do so, and for other reasons. I did
not think it proper, unnecessarily, to introduce at present a new element among the
other exciting subjects which agitate and engross the public mind. The rejection
of the overture of Texas, some years ago, to become annexed to the United States,
had met with general acquiescence. Nothing had since occurred materially to vary
the question. I had seen no evidence of a desire being entertained, on the part of
any considerable portion of the American people, that Texas should become an in-
tegral part of the United States. During my sojourn in New Orleans, I had, in-
deed, been greatly surprised, by information which I received from Texas, that, in
the course of last fall, a voluntary overture had proceeded from the Executive of
the United States to the authorities of Texas, to conclude a treaty of annexation;
and that, in order to overcome the repugnance felt by any of them to a negotiation
upon the subject, strong, and, as I believed, erroneous representations had been
made to them of a state of opinion in the Senate of the United States favorable to
the ratification of such a treaty. According to these representations, it had been
ascertained that a number of Senators, varying from thirty-five to forty-two, were
ready to sanction such a treaty. I was aware, too, that holders of Texas lands and
Texas scrip, and speculators in them, were actively engaged in promoting the ob-
ject of annexation. Still, I did not believe that any Executive of the United States
would venture upon so grave and momentous a proceeding, not only without any
general manifestation of public opinion in favor of it, but in direct opposition to
strong and decided expressions'of public disapprobation. But it appears that I was
mistaken. To the astonishment of the whole nation, we are now informed that a treaty
of annexation has been actually concluded, and is to be submitted to the Senate for
its consideration. The motives for my silence, therefore, no longer remain, and I
feel it to be my duty to present an exposition of my views and opinions upon the
question, for what they may be worth, to the public consideration. I adopt this
method, as being more convenient than several replies to the respective communi-
cations which I have received.
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Clay, Henry, 1777-1852; Benton, Thomas Hart, 1782-1858 & Barrow, Alexander, 1801-1846. Letters of Messrs. Clay, Benton, and Barrow, on the subject of the annexation of Texas to the United States., pamphlet, 1844; (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth498595/m1/1/: accessed April 23, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Schreiner University.