Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1836-05-27
OUR RELATIONS TO TEXAS AND Ella
VERY,

AS we have had occasion, 10 reference to
the struggle now going on in Texas, to as
sumo ground very different from that taken
by most OF our friends in other parts Of the
country-and by many presses in New
England, with winch W. generally agree
on topics Of national interest-we deem it
duty to ourselves and them, to express
more fully than we have hitherto done, our
opinions on the precise relations OF the par
ties to this great contest. Topics of the
gravest import are involved in this question;
and in its final adjustment we shall proba.
bly, find the source Of more excitement and
agitation than have ever before disturbed
the country.
1t is hardly necessary for US, we presume,
to disclaim, utterly, any sympathy with the
chieftaln who now wears the iron crown of
Mexico. AS far as his rise was one of VIC.
lent usurpation, and as far as his dominion
is one of military rigor and civil cruelty,
we entertain towards him detestation as
deep, as sincere, and as incorporating
as can be cherished by any other lover Of
human rights and popular liberty. The
ties ofa common origin and common Ian
guage bind us TO the people of Texas. To
the exten. in which they are an oppressed
people, struggling against powerful op>
pressor, they have a claim upon our SYM
pathes. But in estimating our national
relations-in taking broad view of our
position with respect to Texas and Mexico
we must look at the origin of the rcvolu
ton, and the results to be accomplished by
the ultimate success ofthe Texans.
And here we cannot conceal or palliate
the fact that The proposed end of the revo
luton Is the RE-EsTABLIsHMENT OF SLAVE
Rr in Texas, and its ultimate union with
this country in the relation ola SLAVE HOLD
ING STATE. And TO this extent wo will
not deny that our feelings and principles
are with the government of Mexico: and
we should much prefer that Texas should
occupy her present position rs the province
OF spanish empire, than that she should
be annexed to an Anglo Saxon republic,
to perpetuate scourge and curse upon
this Garden of the World. Here is the
whole matter in controversy; and while we
can readily perceive why such an issue
should cause the very general excitement
for Texas, that prevails in the Southern
States, we are surprised that it can be
contemplated otherwise than with the most
serious solicitude by citizens of the non
saveholding States.
GA this point we would not be misunder.
stood. Our friends are aware ofthe opin
IONS we have uniformly expressed with ref
eTence to this interesting and important
subject of slavery. They know that during
the agitations Of the last summer, TOUCHING
the question Of abolition we were the
FIRST PRESS in New England TO direct pyb
lie attention to the vast interests it involved,
ana to call Tor an expression of public sen,
tlment IN relation to it. No Journal in the
country--north or south of the Potomac
mas laoored more earnestly, more zeaouslv
win more sincere or ardent endeayor--to
MAINTAIN lbe constitutional lighls of the
South, or to exhibit the disastrous conso.
quences ofdny the least interierences with
her domestic relations. Our course has
been uniform and decided on this subject
and even the Southern presses have
borne frequent and gratifying testimony to
the temper in which we have pursued if
But the affairs Of Texas introduce an en-.
tirely new element into this matter; thew
raise an entirely new questions; and while
we still maintain that the people of The
North have no right--none whatever,--to
interfere with the existing institutions OF
the Southern Sates,--they have a deer
moral interest in the general question OF
slavery, and high civl! duty incumbent, on
them with reference to the precise question
now involved in the contest of Texas with
Mexica.
Suppose that the people of the English
West India possessions, like ourselves Of
Anglo Saxon descent and speaking com,
mon languagc-had taken umbruge at the