- Gilpin Henry D.
- Bancroft George
- Neely
- Wise
- Wise
I read a series of 12 Letters printed in the Boston Atlas, addressed to
me on the subject of the annexation of Texas to the United States; well
written, though I know not by whom; well reasoned, and conclusive
against the measure; but without avail; for it is now apparent that it
will be consummated, and is written in the book of Fate— The only
insurmountable objection against it, the perfidious robbery and
dismemberment of Mexico is lost in the Anarchy and civil War into which
precisely at this moment Mexico has fallen— She cannot maintain her own
identity— She is falling to pieces, and if Texas were restored to her
she could not hold it— The opposition is now confined to the mere mode
of making the acquisition, and the question of power will be finally
decided by the Will— The Constitution is a menstruous rag, and the Union
is sinking into a military monarchy to be rent asunder like the Empire
of Alexander or the kingdoms
of Ephraim and Judah— At the house even while a quorum was forming, the
question was taken on M’Kay’s
motion to cease debate in Committee of the whole on the state of the
Union, on the civil and diplomatic appropriation Bill, and take it out
of Committee at 2. O’Clock to-morrow, and it was carried— Slidell then moved a reconsideration of
the vote yesterday rejecting Pratt’s bill appropriating 20000, and 8000 dollars, for
refurnishing, and repairing the Presidents house and outhouses and
surrounding grounds whereupon the debate of yesterday was rekindled for
another term of two hours or more—the vote was reconsidered—the bill
redebated, and after abortive motions for the previous question, and to
lay the bill on the table, it was again rejected by yeas and nays 75 to
77. many of the whigs not voting at-all.— The house then went into
Committee of the whole on the state of the Union, Saunders in the Chair on the civil
and diplomatic bill, which was debated till past 5. when the Committee
rose, and the house adjourned.— As I was walking home, I met Mr Gilpin
and Mr
Bancroft, who turned and walked with me to my house and
came in and sat down a few minutes. Gilpin was Van Buren’s attorney General, the
last half year of his term. Bancroft was his collector at Boston—
Three of the
boys of the juvenile literary Society came this Evening
and took their book.