Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1838-05-03
FROM WASHINGTON.
UNITED STATES SENATE.
49,. On lzaA

AretL ~. iS33.
Mr.. Preston's resolution la favor Of The An
nexaIion u Texss came Up Al oss o'clock ne
the special order.
AR. Preston rose In defence Of The sdopsioo
az the revolution Tie SAID "a wss now ia,t
two years, aiascst 20 q day. that TIE indc-
psndesee of Texas wss DECLARED, by ole Of
The most nsnorsblc battles. upon record -
Since that time The Gag ef Peace had waved
IN triumph. and Texas had been much moro
quiet than the limited States had been upon
One side, or Mexico upon the other. All the
hopes and all the wishes Of Ihsl young Repub-
iic bad beea fully realised. Congress had
met-srmies had met and been disbandod--
courts have exercised their jurisdiction, and
peace had rsigpsd throughout her borders -
! b. her side Was MsxIeo, revolutionary, dis-
irSeiej. torn To pieces. engaged in eivl war,
and fuil oftuvmosl snd exeiismept. s.s--a
Mr.. Prestoa said that his course was pa.
cihe--hs rntertained no feciirE of hostility
towards Mexie0-ke ouid do nothing that
would enirSp this country or NieAieo in " 90
with each other tie would come into no
eoliision. aud would do nothing moro than
what he behaved justice and duty required -
lie would not Interfere with hexico. for DO
other reason than from the fact that she was
now mol 10 siste property 20 assert her
rights. lie would not wish 10 have Texas
with \ war upon her borders, or IL Mexieo
was engaged IN n serious eoaGies with TsxaA-
But no such conflict now existed.
Mr.. Preston said he should prove that the
Territory Of Texas belonged 10 the United
States. Frsace eedtd q % Spain, and spain
rseeded q back In France, and France eeded
Il TO the United states. All that originally
belonged to France now legally belonged To
| the United States France claimed Il until
its eession Of LouIsiaas 10 us In 1870 The
H,o Il a..l. frt., liz
long ago as l605- Our Commissioners az
wSys Insisted upon this line until 1873. ~ be-
longing TO rs. Here Mr.. Preston read evil
dences of the fact Mr.. Monroe, Air. Letter.
son, Mr.. PiDekaey, all asserted that tho United
| States were bounded on the South West By
the Rio del NoFie. The Treaty of 1919 was
the Only disturbing measure in opposition 10
this Extracts were rad from STR Adsms'
and Mr. Gays speeches and reports, estsb.
fishing the fact thstthe Rio del Norts was
a PARTON Of the Territory of the a. Sistesl
The evils OF such eession - Nc had made
| IN resisning this part Of our territory formed
the beHt part Of Mr.. Presion's srgument.-
The argument or those vho opposed The am
nexauOa was that we ought not 10 have Tex
/ as because H would give = prepoudetsne TO
the slave. holding States. That argument
vas enough TO arouse aud alarm the South II
nothing more.
/
had the power aud the right TO receive Texas
"a right and power which was denied by
some. We had The Aa'ns right. Me. p con-
tended, 10 receive Texas - Ms1ico had 10
receive Texas. Could Mexico force Texas
into q compact with her as part Of her ter
ritory, aud could we not treat Wiih Texas a.
4 free SIaiel
II was a matter Of policy to receive Texas,
and to receive her nos whe0 We could. This
was the neat subject discussed By Mr.. Pres
ton with much ability. Hs thought II desira-
bic that Texas should belong to us.
The only sTgumeot (kir. r. coLtsndedl In
opposition to the annexation OF Texas, vas
Slavery, NeEso slavery. This was all. and
the very argument thus brought forward
sgSinsi annexation WAS, he SAID. the slrcngsst
one which should act upon the miads Of
Southern men la favour u nnexaiion. IL
should open the eyes Of every Southern msu.
l Mr.. Preston ss,d he did no, believe that the
acquisition Of Texas would Increase The num-
Der Of slaves. lie believed IL would increase
the number Of slave holders, and Increase the
security OF the South and Southern ibsiiiu-
hous. By not sansxiinE Texas &c did not
lessen the number Of sisses- Texas wonld
deal IN slavery. Her eye anon would rest
unon Mexico. upon California. spoo the shores
OF the Pacific; and from the borders of the
United States 10 the borders Of the PaesGe.
slavery would prevail.
10 ecstinuance, Sir. Preston said be helies-
Ell that the annex alton of Tsxas would es-
t16lI>h law. order, religion. civilization. peace
, and quiet upon IL face Of our county.
The resolution vss thea laid upon the Ia
J BILE upon Mr.. srsston's motion. aud the Sc
nate Went into exeeaiiss session.
/ IA