The Middlebury people's press. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1841-1843, 1843-05-24

borders, and marched in arms and battle
array upon the territory and against thu
inhabitants of a friendly Government, IL
aid of freebooters and insurgents and tn,
premature recognition of the independence
of Texas, by snap vote, of the heel Of {;
session of Congress, and that too at tht
very session when President Jackson had
by special message, insisted that 18th,
measure would be contrary to the policy
invariably observed by the United States IL
all similar cases, would be liable to the dark
est suspicious, inasmuch as the TEXANS IceTc
almost all emigrants from the United States
AND SOUGHT THE RECOGNITION OF THEIR
INDEPENDENCE WITH THE AVowED PUR-
POSE OF OBTAINING THEIR ANNEXATION TO
THE UNITED STATES :" these occurrences
are too well known and too fresh in the
memory of all to need more than passing
notice. These have become matters OF
| history. For further evidence on all these
and other important points we refer to the
memorable speech Of John Quincy Adams,
delivered in the House of Representatives
during the morning hour in June and July,
1888, and TO his address to his constituents,
delivered at Braintree, September II,
1912.
The open avowaI of the Texans them
selves, the frequent and anxious negotia-
| tions of our own Government. the resolu-
tions of various States of the Union. the
numerous declarations Of members of Con-
gress, the tone of the Southern press, as
well as the direct application of the Tex
ian Government, make it impossible for any
man TO doubt that ANNEXATION and the for
nation of several new slaveholding States
were originally The policy and design of the
slaveholding States aud the Executive OF
| the nation.
The same references will show. very con-
clusively, that the particular objects of this
new acquisition of slave territory were the
perpetuation Of slavery and the continued
ascsndency o slare PolCer.
The following extracts from a report on
that subject adopted by the Legislature oil
Mississippi, from mass Of similar evidence
which might be adduced, will show Nth
tchat uielcs the annexation was then urged {:
But we hasten to suggest the import
ance Of the annexation of Texas 10 this Re-
public, upon grounds somewhat local in
their complexion, but of an import infinite
ly grave and interesting to the people who
inhabit the southern portions of this Confed-
eracy, where it is known that a species Of
domestic slavery is tolerated and protected
by law, whose existence is prohibited by
the legal regulations Of other States Of his
Confederacy; which system Of slavery is
held by all who are familiarly acquainted
with lis practical effects, ~ Of hghiy BEN
efcial influence to the cofu y ,cithin ,ChOsc
limits it is permitted TO es1St.
"The committee feel authorized TO say
that this system is cherished by our con.
s,ituenis as the uery palladium of their pros
perity and haPpine IS; aud, whatever igno.
rant fanatics may elsewhere conjecture, the
Commute are fully assured, upon the most
I diigent observation, and reflection on the
subject, that the South does moi possess with.
in her limits blessing with which the af
fections of her people are so closely en-
twined and so completely enhbred, and
whose value is more highly appreciated
than that Which we are now considering"
alt may not be improper here 10 remark
that, during the last session of Congress
when Senator from Mississippi proposed
the acknowledgment Of Texian independ
ence. it was found. with few exceptions
the members of that body were ready to take
ground upon it as upon the subject OF slave.
| ry itself.
"With all these facts before US, we Do
not hesitate in believing that these feelings
influenced the New England Senators, bu
one voting in favor Of the measure /; and in.
deed Mr.. Webster has been bold enough II
public speech delivered recently in New
York to many thousand citizens, TO declare
that the reason that influenced his opposit-
ion was his adherence 10 slavery in tho
South, and that il might, in the event of It's
recognition, become a slaveholding State
He also spoke of the efforts making i'll favoI
Of abolition and that. being predicated up.
on and aided by the power influence of re-
ligious feeling, it would become irresistible
and overwhelming.
"This language. coming from so disting
uished an individual as Mr.. Webster, so IA
miliar with the feelings of the North, and
entertaining so high respect for public
sentiment in New England, speaks so plain.
ly the voice OF the North as not 10 be mis-.
understood.
1--WE sincerely hope there is enough good
sense and genuine love Of country among
our fellow countrvmen of the Northern
States to secure US final justice on this SUBJ
! jeci yet we cannot consider it safe or e1-
pedient for the people of The South TO entire
ly disregard the efforts of the fanatics and
the opinions of such men as Webster and
others who countenance such dangerous
doctrines"
1.-THE Northern States have no interests
of their own which require any special safe
guards for their defence. save only their do
nestle manufactures and God knows they
have already received protection from Gov.
eminent on a most liberal scale undel
which encouragement they have improved
and fourished beyond example. The South
has very peculiar interests to preserve-in.
teiests already viofeatly assailed and boldly
! threatened.