State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1831-1836, 1836-06-14
MIR ADAMS REMARKS UPON THE
TEXIAN, INDIAN AND NEGRO
WARS


contains the following sketch of the remarks
of Mr. Adams, respecting which so much
has been SAID
Reported for the Commercial Advertiser.
MrsAdnnls' remarks on the bill to provide
rations for certain inhabitants of Alabama
aud Georgia, &c. delivered in the House of
Representatives on Thursday last
Mr. J. q. Adams complained that there
was no appropriation, no estimate, nor
nothing presented upon which the house
could found its action in reference to the
money which was to be drawn from the
treasury. No one could say how much
money this resolution would call for He
declared his willingness to vote for the
resolution, but upon the ground only that
it was a war power; and he should here
after denomnate all resolutions or bills of
this character as "tomahawk and scalpng
knife laws" So long as gentlemen did
not come to that house and ask for appro
priations to suppress slavery, so long were
they willing to make appropriations. He
held that in the event of a seryile war, and
he would say more emphaticalIy, SER
vile war, combined with an Indian war
n negro war. a Mexican war, or an Euro
pcan war--all of which he deemed TO be
within extreme probability by the end of
twelve months--brought about in conse-
quence of the war raging on our frontier,
and what is now going on in TeXns-we
should only have ourselves 10 blame
What did we see now in Texas. Why,
Americans fighting for the establishment
of slavery within that state where it had
been abolished. He repeated the question,
did not every man who heard him know,
although the house had not seen fit to grant
him the document by which he could es-
tahlish the fact that the war raging in / ex-
Us is war for the restoration of slavery
where it had been abolished? And you,
sir, your own government has given occa-
sion for a man at the head of the Mexican
government to make war in the cause of
human liberty and he might invade your
own territory.
Mr. Adams said lie could not agree to
set aside his right to alude to the subject
Of an English, Mexican, Indian, and negro
war, combined, which was already raging
on our frontier. He could not agree to
smother his ideas on the subject, because
1t had pleased the House to spring the pre-
yious question--and that, too, Immediately
after the gentleman had spoken who intro
duced the resolutions--who had spoken to
the full length OF his tether. lie Mr. A.
wanted merely to speak two minutes, when
the previous question was moved to stop
his mouth, MS it had done these of many
of his friends. If there was any thing
any vote which had ever put down the
freedom of debate in that House, the vote
which prevented him from speaking, was
that one. He wished to have said some
thing i'll relation to the slavery question,
connected rs it was, with many important
sub ects of vital interest to the country
He believed that that ruffian, Santa Anna,
had he not been defeated would have
crossed our borders before this time-and,
with the banner of freedom waving about
him, would now have been proclalming
liberty 10 the negroes of the South, and
carrying into execution the Mexican decree;
while Texas was carrying on war tor
the restoration of slavery, which was the
cause of this war Well, did gentlemen
believe even if this monster were dead, as
is supposed, there were not many others
who could fill his place? If so, they were
greatly mistaken. There were many more,
able and willing to take his place. But
did not gentlemen suppose that this mons
ter, had he lived to come into the United
States, with his banner of freedom, march,
ing with his victorious army, (Which he
might have BEEN would have been satisfied
until he had succeeded in rallying every
Indian -rallying every negro slave, with
the hope and promise of freedom? Did
gentlemen suppose that such a war as that
was to be carried on in the territory of Ar
kansas, and the State of Louisiana, Alaba-
ina, Missouri and Georgia, without great
loss of life, and an expenditure of money !?
Mr. Adams would not allow him TO go
further than that, perhaps not SO far. He
would hope and believe, that before he
would get there that he and his army would
be destroyed. But before this time how
many bills would have passed in this house?
He would ask what would be the amount
or value of the system Of slavery in the
north, as compared with the distress that
would be caused--besides the slaughter Of
men, women and children? How horrible
would it be TO have band of ruffians, of
every color and description, overrunning
the south, whom the Anglo Saxon race
hate and detes! He would ask the house
how many of these resolutions and bills
they would have to pass, upon the princi.
pie they we're about to establish Gentle
men had not heard the worst.
Even should il turn out that Santa Anna
is really dead--has been shot, and he be.
Iieved it Probable-did the house think that
Mexico was not fertile enough to produce
another chief able TO meet our army, at
least as able as those to he found u that
one sent against the Indians? Did honor
able members suppose that that country
was not fertile enough, TOO, to produce
monsters his equal in cruelty? And what
would be the condition Of the south? Did
gentlemen suppose, furthermore, that they
had a contest now only whether Texas
shall become territory of this Union
What is the territory of Texas, admitting
!, independent and free? What is ilP Why
1t has not half the physical power or pop
ulation Of your territory of Michigan; and
M -