It was now believed that they had come to an understanding, through the negotiation of friends, to eliminate the Texas question from the campaign of 1844 by defeating the Tyler-Calhoun treaty, and agreeing to a general postponement of the subject, on the ground that immediate annexation would plunge the country into war.

Very soon after the treaty was sent to the Senate by the President, Mr.
Clay published in the "National Intelligencer" his famous Raleigh letter against annexation.

The "Globe" of the same day contained a more guarded communication from Mr.Van Buren, practically taking the same ground.

Considering the widely different characteristics of the two men, the letters were singularly alike in argument and inference.

This fact, in connection with the identical time of publication, strengthened the suspicion, if not the conclusion, that there was a pre-arranged understanding between the eminent authors.
The letter of Mr.Van Buren was fatal to his prospects.