Page:The Green Bag (1889–1914), Volume 15.pdf/137

 104

he recommended the use of any surplus money in the treasury to acquire Texas. In 1844 he had been named for the vice-presi dency by the people of Mississippi, and was called on by the people of Carroll county, Kentucky, to express his views on the admis sion of Texas into the Union. In reply he wrote his famous "Texas letter," which in a degree formed the basis of the policy on which Texas was later admitted. He was a slave holder and defended slavery in the Sen ate, but he advocated the gradual abolition of slavery as a condition of admitting Texas into the Union. It was his theory to make Texas a free State and use her as a safety valve to relieve the South of the negro and the slavery question. He argued that cli matic and other favorable conditions would attract the negro and he would pass into Texas, thence into Mexico, where his color would be no bar to his education and pros perity. The ambassadors from Texas soli cited his bust to adorn the capitol of the State. In the great war waged by Andrew Jack son against the Bank of the United States, Walker stood with the President and ablyadvocated the Independent Treasury Bill, which was but a corollary of the overthrow of the bank. That bill, in short, was for the keeping of government monies by the gov ernment's own officers, a system which still prevails. It was charged and believed by many that Mr. Walker inspired the veto by President Tyler of the bill rechartering the bank. Gertain it is that Walker had the ear of Mr. Tyler, though many things were charged to his prolific brain which he did not do. At the Democratic convention that nomin ated Polk, Walker was instrumental in get ting the two-thirds rule adopted and for his successful service in getting Polk nominated General. He wanted the treasury portfolio, and elected he was slated for Attorney and brought such influence to bear that the

pre-arranged slate was broken, and he was named for that place and became one. of the greatest and most efficient financiers the gov ernment has ever known. His career as Secretary of the Treasury marks an epoch in the management and direction of the nation's revenues. In that administration Walker and Secretary of State Marcy were constant antagonists, and they overshadowed the President and the remainder of the cabinet. Walker's able and elaborate treasury reports so won the attention of the English govern ment that they were ordered printed at the public expense for the instruction of English political economists. His low tariff views were doubtless never unattractive to British statesmen. In preparing these great reports it is said he often worked literally all night surrounded by clerks and helpers, eating a scanty meal in his office and refusing to go home. He was the author of the Tariff Bill of 1846, so often praised, which became the model system of tariff for revenue. He was also the originator of the warehousing sys tem which was adopted the same year and which greatly enlarged and facilitated trade with other nations. When he made his great report on the warehousing system as recom mended by him on Feb. 22, 1847, ten thou sand copies in addition to the usual numbers were ordered to be printed. When Franklin Pierce was elected Presi dent he offered Mr. Walker the Chinese mission with the title of "Commissioner," and in response to a request by the cabinet he prepared a statement as to the needs and policy of this government in that part of the globe. That paper found its way into the hands of the British government, where it was pronounced the most statesmanlike doc ument ever penned on the Chinese question. Private reasons prevented his departure for China. Mr. Walker aspired to be Buchanan's Sec retary of State, and the Senate petitioned the