Analyze this primary source by answering these questions in 2–5 sentences each:

1. Why did Phillips and his associates oppose the US annexation of Texas?
2. What criticisms did they make of slavery? How did their opinions about slavery resemble or differ from those of Fillmore and George Watterston?
3. How far were they willing to go to oppose annexation or slavery? What were they willing to sacrifice?
4. What does this letter tell us about newspapers (“the Press”) in the 1840s? What role did newspapers play in politics?