Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1843-05-19
ANNEXATION OF TEXAS,

We lay before our readers, an Address to the
People of the Free States Of the Union, on the
subject of the project to annex Tenxas to the u.
States, signed by John Quincy Adams and twelve
other members of the present Congress-whch
address was published in the National lntegen-
Ger OF Thursday last. Strong evidence is here ad.
duced OF settled purpose, in certain quarters, OF
annexing Texas TO this country that, TOO,
Tor the avowed object Of establishing and extend
ing the Institution Of domestic slavery, and per
petuaiing it, and entailing IL as permanent evil
upon our posterity forever. We hope that the
reasonable fears entertained by the signers of the
address have somewha, exaggerated the nnticipa-
ted dangers and that the determination of the
states, In which slavery exists TO carry out this
project, is not so general, as Is unprecedented We
hope there is no firm and settled purpose enter
tanned in any quarter, to risk the safety of this
Union upon the question OF the annexation to it
OF any foreign territory or foreign people. IT. such
mad project should he seriously brought before
Congress aud seriously advocated and supported
there, II must he met with instant and unceasng
opposition from the Representatives OF the Free
STATES
The People Of This Commonwealth more
particularly those Of the Districts in which mem
hers OF the next Congress are yet TO be elected,
VIII not fail to perceive that, in carrying on this
project OF the annexation OF Texas great reliance
Is placed on the support and cooperation of the
NpIlllcIU lAnEOIbCfe. 10 the 0Otyn-taccS oil the
North--he Northern men with Southern prlnc.
pies they look with confidence, for support in
nus gfcnt aud overwhelming project, so far TO
extend and perpeiuue slavery as to render it a
permanent and irretnediabIe curse TO our country
aud our posteriiy, through nil future generations.
Let all those who havea quick sense OF the i'm =
pending EVIL be cautious, not only against voting
Tor those who are likely 10 give their assent to
this stlipendous fraud upon the Free States, but
also to avoid any course which is likely to prevent
the election of those who are well known to be
hostile TO It's contamination. The subject Is one
ct the utmost Importance to our coun,ry--and 1t
well deserves the serious consid Grafton of Judi
eious and rejecting minds. Boston Alias
TO THE PEOPLE OF THE FREE STATES OF THE
We, tho undersigned, in closing our duties to
our constituents and our country, members of
the 9th Congress, feel bound to call your attention
very brief, to the project, long ente rtained by
portion Of the people of these United States, still
perinaciousy adhered TO, and intended TO be
consummaled-the annexation Of Terus 10 This
Union. In the press of business incident TO the
last days OF session of Congress, we have not
lime, did we deem il necessary, to enter upon a
detailed statement Of the reasons which force up
on our minds the conviction that this pro eci is
by no m'onS abandoned; that large portion OF the
country interested in the continuance of domes-
TIC slavery and the slave trade in these United
States have solemhy and unalterably determined
That shaH be speedily carried into erecuiion, and
that, by this admission of a new slave Territory
and slave StaIes, The undue ascendency Of The Stare
holding p'icer IN The government shall be secured
and ripefed beyond all redemption. That it was
with these views and intentions that settlements
were effected in the province by The citizens Of
the United Suites, difficulties fomenled with the
Mexican Government, arevot brought about, and
an independent Government declared, cannot non
admit Of doubt; mud that, hitherto, all attempts
of Mexico 10 reduce her revolted province TO ODE
dience have proved unsuccessful is to be ai,ribu.
ed 10 the unlawful aid and assistance of designing
and Interested individuals in the United States;
and the direct and indirect cooperation of our own
Government i0iM similar vie,os, is not the less
certain and demonstrabIe.
The open and repeated enlistment Of troops in
several States Of this Union in favor OF the Texan
Revolution; the intrusion OF an American army
by order OF the President, far into The Territory
OF the Mexican Government, at moment critical
Tor The late OF the insurgents, under the pretence
OF preventing Mexican soldiers ioinenting Indian
disturbances, but in reality in aid of, and acting in
singular concert and coincidence with, the army
of the revolutionists; the entire neglect Of our
government TO adopt any efficient measures to
prevent the most unwarranable expressions of
bodies OF our own citizens, enlisted, organized,
ana oillcered within our own borders, and march
ed IN arms AMI battle array upon the territory
and against the inhabitants of a friendly Govern
nent, IN aid of ireeboOters and insurgents; and
The premature recognition oil the independence of
IeHas, by snap vote, at the heel OF session of
congress, and that TOO ct the very session when
President Jackson had, by special msssage, insis
'ed that "lhe measure would lie contrary to the
pohcy invariably observed by the United States in
all similar cases, would be marked with great IN
justice to Mexico, and peculiarly iiHbe to the
darkest suspicious, indsmtich as The Terians ,osre
almost all emigranis from the United States. AND
SOUGHT THE RECOGNITION OF THEIR INDEpEN-
DENcE WITH THE AvOwED PURPOSE OF OBJ
TANNING THEIR ANNEXATION TO THE UNITED
STATES these occurrences too well known
ana 100 fresh IN Tie memory of oil TO need more
than passing notice. These have become mat
tiers OF history. For further evidence on all these
ana other Important points we refer to the MEM
orahle speech Of John Quincy Adams, delivered
IN Ihe House OF Representatives during the NOR
ming hour in June aud July, 1888, and to his I'D
dress 10 his constituents, delivered at Brantree,
September IL, 1912
The open avowal OF the Texans themselves
the frequent and ANXIOUS negotiations OF our own
Government, the resolutions of various states of
the Union, the numerous declarations of members
OF Congress, The lone Of the Southern press, as
well as The direct application of the Texan Gov
ernlnenI, make II impossible for any man 10 doubt
that ANNEXATION and the formation of several
new sluveholdlng states were originally the policy
and design of the slaveholding States and the Elk.
eculive OF The nation
The same references will show very conclu.
sively, that the particular objects of this new ac-
qn's,lon u save Ierrno!y were the psrpsfuation
Of slavery and The continued aseendency of The
siaue poioeT.
The following extracts from report on that
subject adopted by the Legislature OF Mississippi,
from a mass of similar evidence which might he
adduced, will show pih whai views the annexa.
lion was then urged:
the annexation OF Texas 10 this Republic; upon
grounds somewhat local in their complexion, but
of an import infinitely grave and interesting to the
people who inhabit the Southern portion OF this
Coniederacy, where it is known that a species of
domestic slavery is tolerated and projected by law,
whose existence is prohibited by the legal regula-
tons OF other states Of this confeGsracy; which
system OF slavery is held by all who are Familiarity
aclnaned with lis practical effects 10 be nfhirAhl