Page:Oregon Historical Quarterly vol. 19.djvu/342

 324 LESTER BURRELL SHIPPEE 2. Are you in favor of extending immediately to our citizens in Oregon the protection of the United States through extension of laws, sending of troops, erection of forts, etc. ? 3. Would you, as President, approve and authorize the adoption of measures for settlement and occupation of Oregon such as those introduced by Senator Linn? This open letter was accompanied by a private communica- tion 21 from A. C. Dodge, who was delegate in the House of Representatives from Iowa Territory, in which was stated the fact that the public letter was to elicit a reply intended to affect both the nomination and the election. "Give me as strong a Western Oregon letter," wrote Dodge, "as you can venture to write," and include something to counteract the machinations of the enemy. "Say as much in favor of the grants of land, &c., provided for in Dr. Linn's bill as you may deem expedient." When he received these letters Van Buren wrote his political friends in the Senate to ask what he should do. Silas Wright, who had seen Dodge and Allen, told him it would be better not to reply then, for the letter was not only untimely but badly framed. If Van Buren should receive the nomination, thought Wright, then it might be well to call upon him, "not referring to any particular measure to be taken by our gov- ernment." 22 This letter from Wright was dated 20 May, 1844, just a week before the Democratic national convention assembled, and it was on the same day that Van Buren wrote his letter in which he took a decided stand against immediate annexation of Texas, the only courageous political act, one of his commentators says, that marked his career. Calhoun, who had negotiated the treaty for annexation which the Senate refused to ratify, believed that Texas was by far the most important issue before the country. When he had been approached early in 1844 on the subject of taking the State Departmtent, after the death of Upshur, he wrote, 23 21 Ibid., same date. 22 Wright to Van Buren, Ibid. 23 To * * * (from a draft with corrections in Calhoun's handwriting) Correspondence of Calhoun, 573-4. See also Calhoun to his daughter, 9 Mar. Ibid., 576.