The Middlebury people's press. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1841-1843, 1842-05-03

ernment. and these were others who had peeh
seized and imprisoned By its orders. Ii there
ever was time which called for GOODNESS oil
head and extended views of policy, this was
cm;nentlv that time. Besides this. how would
Mr.. Thompson stand in the eye Of the Mexi-
can Government in relation 10 his past course
and avoxcd feelings as to the independence OF
Texas and its annexation TO this Unionf These
were we'll known, and could not have very
favorable influence at the court TO which he
had been sent. Mr.. s. need not say how I'M
porsant it was that an envoy appointed 10 con-
duct difficult and delicate negotiations should
be personally acceptable to those who conduct
ed the foreign Government, for in the success
full issue of such negotiations, it was not The
mere force of argument which usually prevail
ed. Ten thousand other causes combined to
produce the final issue, and among these the
belief that the minister was personally friendly
always cxcrted a powerful influence.
Mr.. S. had, therefore. been greatly surprised
at the nomination to Mexico of public man
VINO had always zealously advocated the cause
of Texan independence. Gentlemen in the
South did not appreciate the feeling which per-
vaded the country in reference TO this Texian
question. Throughout more than half the
States of this Union, it was watched with tho
utmost jealousy, and excited the deepest feeling
because it was we'll known that anxious efforts
had long been going on 10 effect the annexation
Of Texas to the United States, and it was as
perfectly understood that the entering wedge
TO the accomplishment of such design was
never applied in the open light of day, but Sc
crelly, and for aught that appeared upon the
surface. that wedge might not only be entered,
but driven up past all hope Of retractIon before
the fact was known at ali. And there were
those in this Union who looked the
more sharply at oil such measures from their
apprehensions as 10 the connexion between
the annexation of Texas and the extension Of
slavery. Whether these persons were imPru-
dent or not, in the course they pursued
whether or not they adopted the best means TO
accomplish their objects, and whether their abb
stract positions were sound or not. still they
we're perpetually on the watch-tower, looking
with eagle eyes at every movement bearing on
the Texan question, and bu! for their unsleep-
ing vigilance, the so-much desired union be-
tween that country and this would have been
effected long ago. Here Mr.. S. referred to
the vast number of petitions which they had
sent up against the annexation. That number
was not so great now, because an impression
had begun to prevail that the danger was now
over. But S. could assure them they were en-
tfrely mistaken. il was not over; very far from
it, and he again thanked the gentleman from
New York for rousing tie attention of the
country TO the subject. What had they seen
during the last yearl Not only did the public
press of the South and Southwest come out
openly for annexation, but several of the states
had passed official resolutions to the same ef-
feet; and when brought into the House of Re-
representatives., how were they tredrcdl Not as
the abolition resolutions even from State Leg
isaures were. They were not only received,
but ordered to be printed, that they might be
considered and acted upon. The same had
been done at the other end Of the Capitol. All
this was done with the intent of forming public
opinion, and so far all was fair. But if
Northern aboliiionist should attempt any means
10 counteract such opinion at the South, by ar
guments however strong and however reason.
able, he must straightway be seized and hung
to n lamp.post. A laugh
Mr.. s. contcnded that it was perfectly leg.
iiimate in an argument respecting the Next
can mission, TO refer 10 these facts as having
an important bearing upon it. He should take
for granted, what he had no doubt was true,
that there was not a majority of that House in
favor of annexation, and that the ardent appeals
Of the gentleman from South Carolina Mr..
Pickens) would not be responded TO. 1t was
the feeling of the nation by calling
up the battles Of Jacinta or the Alamo. The
American People never could be drawn into
any such measure as the annexation Of Texas:
it would be utter ruin 10 the union of the
States. MIR. S. would not give a snap of his
fingers for this Union from the day such a
measure was effected. 1t would be dissolved
ipso fdcto from that moment. He was a friend
to the Union: he desired to see it preserved
and therefore he deprecated scheme that
must dissolve it.
Gentlemen said that this question of annex
alton had nothing 10 do with the mission to
Mexico: but it needed not but glance 10 see
the connection. Before the annexation could
be effected two things we're TO be done. The
first was 10 get The assent of Mexico. Did not
she claim that state as a revolied portion of the
empire? And to him it seemed something
more than mere paper title: it seemed TO
be some thing with much of substance in it;
and in support Of this position he referred to
the recent correspondence of Santa Anna with
Gen. Hamilton. A quit claim must be obtain
cd; and how was this to be donel Mr.. 8.
here referred 10 the long negotiations which
preceded our acquisition Of Florida, and their
termination in the ccssion Of the Territory 20
the Union, on condition Of our paying the
claims Of our own citizens. This arrangement
had been made by the Executive, and,he whole
bargain was substantially consummated before
the People in general knew or understood any
thing Of the matter; and just so it would, in all
probability. be in regard to Texas. The
Board Of Commissioners had actually allowed