Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1830-1846, 1837-08-03
NEWPORT, July o., 1887.

retary' &c.
NEWPORT, July o., 1887.
WV. NJ. CnAcE, Esq. Cor. Sec'ry. &c.
Sir-l have received your letter Of the 18th
lnst., containing number Of questions ad-
dressed to me by vote OF the Executive
Committee of the Rhode Island State Anti.
Slavery Society, in consequence, AS you state,
Of "the situation in which | am placed as
candidate for the snffrages Of the people of
Rhode Island, to represent them in Congress-"
You will ob!ige me by informing the gen
tlemcn who compose the committee, that
though fee no difficulty in replying to the
intcrrogatories they propose, it would have
given me more pleasure to have received
such communication from them,or from any
others of my fellow citizens, i'm their individu-
al capacities,as citizens and freemen, to whom
every candidate for their suffrages feels him.
self bound fully to declare his political senti-
ments, upon the slightest intnation of their
wishes to know them, without putting them
to the necessity of adopting any unusual mode
Of examination.
My opinions (so far as l have been able
satisfactorily to form and mature them) upon
the subjects presented, | shall, on all occa-
slons, cheerfully express to any Of my fellow
citizens, who think them deserving inquiry,
and shall express them with eqnal planness,
and with equal freedom from all influence of
personal consequences, whether | am, or am
not candidate for an office.
Upon one of the subjects presented in your
letter, viz : the annexiDg Of Texas to the Un-
ion, can have no hesitation or doubt what
ever. ] am firmly convinced that Congress
does not possess the power to add to this Un.
ion any foreign State or Country.
II 1t could annex Texas.it could annex Gu
ba, or any. or all Of the West India Islands.
1t could annex the Russias, or Turkey or the
Barbary States, and as many other nations
rs 1t pleased; or rather it could annex the
United States to foreign nations, and transfer
into their hands and control the Constitution
and Government framed by the people of the
United States for their own felf COVE rnment.
am equally clear in the opinion, that if Con-
gress had the power, the annexation of Tex
as would be not merely inexpedient but ruin
ous to our country. 1t has long been the o.
pinion Of many Of our wisest statesmen, that
our empire is already too extensive to be long
kept together under the mild sway Ct Re-
publican Government. And should new
states, beyond the present limits Of the Uni
ted States be added to them,the Union would
crumble to pieces like a rope of sand or the
whole, in its state of disunion and imbecity,
would be seized upon by the iron hand of des.
potsm.
But this is not all. If there be any who
look wishfnlly to such an event rs the annex
alton of Texas to the Union, it can only be
with view TO that extensive territory as fur
nishing vent and market for the overflow
ing slave population Of the slave holding
States, or to the illicit introduction of slaves
from Cuba. Such projects, to say nothing
Of their political tendencies, in reference TO
the United States, are abhorrent to every mo-
raj principle, and revolving to every feeling
Of humanity.
\ With respect to the abolition of slavery in
the District Of Columbia, my opinion is, that
Congress has, under the Constitution, the
right to abolish slavery in that District
Whether it would be proper and expedent
to exercise the right at this time, so as imme-
diately to prohibit the inhabitants Of the Dis
trict from the holding of slaves, according to
the tenor Of the petitions, ! should be un-
willing now to decide. 1t would be prcsump-
tuous in me to express positive, confident
opinion upon such a subject, until and unless
| am called upon to act on it, III should be
placed in that situation, ! would endcavor to
obtain all the light coutupon the subject,
and with that guide should act according to
the dictates Of my conscience and the con-
vctions of my best judgment. With respect
to the other object of the petitions, viz the
supprcssng of the slave trade carried on in
the District, which was long ago brought to
the notice Of Congress by the late Mr.. John
Randolph, have no hesitation in saying tina,
Congress ought TO take immediate measures
to suppress it.
1t is just and lasting reproach to the
Country, that such state Of things should be
suffered to exist,under the eye of the Govern
ment, within its appropriate Territory. and
where its constitutional power is fully ads-
! quate to its redress.
AS to the only remaining subject Of your in
quiries, whether ] believe "that Congress
should sustain unabridged the right Of the
| people to petition for the abolition Of slavery
and the slave trade in the District of Colum.
bia'--l reply, that the Constitution secures
the right fthe people peaceably to assemble
aud to petition the Government for the re-
dress OF grievances; and, moreover, that the
right OF the people 10 petition their own Go.
vernment and public scr.snts is an inherent
1gh', which no constitutional provision can
add strength TO, or take away. 1 believe that
the right of petilioning OIL the subject refer.
red to IN your inquiries, as well as Ill other
subjects, which fall within the scope of tho
right to petition, should be sustained una
bridged by Congress.
z am very respectfully, Sir, your ob't ser.
al want. n IN NC'rnN