Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1843-06-02
COMMUNICATIONS

MR. EDITOR \ Gu nave gwen us TIC cllculhr.
signed by J. q, Adams and others, warning us u
gainst the annexation of Texas TO The Union, and
hope it will receive that serious attention which
il deserves Those, who dread such an event.
should take speedy aud active measures to pre-
vent ii. And the Legislatures OF the free states
should express their views in opposition, us fully
as the Legislatures of the slave states do in favor
OF the annexation
The l2h article of tho amendments OF tho
Constitution snys, 1.-THE powers not delegated TO
The Uni!ed States by The Constitution, nor pro-
hibiled 10y it 10 the states are reserved TO the states
respectively, or TO the people" Now II Is per-
fectIy evident that The Constitution gives no pow
or to Congress to buy up foreign possessions; 10
power to lake foreign states into The Union. II
they have so done, they have done II without any
constitutional authority, and the only plelcXt for
SO doing is eXpediency This is always danger
Gus ground, aud should he approached with eau
ton. For il cxpcdency may ride over lie Con-
stuiion in one case, ii may IN all cases. and we
may as well have no written Constitution.
Foreign territory might lie acquired by con-
quest constituonally under the law making pow
err; but not 10y purchase, or compact Our Con-
gress is elected to speculate Tor the nation, but
to make laws, and support the rights OF their con
situents and they lave have no more authority
to aunGx Texas to the Union, than they have to
annex Canada TO the Union state, before JOIN
ming The conIcdcracy, might hive received "A for
eign state, at their request MS constituent part OF
her territory but after Joining she could Iuve no
right so TO do without the consent Of all the con-
tracing states And should Maine take New
brunswick, at the request OF that people, under
her protection, or Louisatl, receive Texas as an
integral purt of her territory the other states
woJld have just ground of complaint aud might
exclude them from The Union. Now If LOulsa-
i'm cannot receive Texas then Louisiana and Al
ALBANIA cannot do it. And II two states cannot do
it in their sovereign capacity, then fiIteer cannot
DO it, The act would have an essential bearing
on the confederation aud might be highly nIurl-
Gus to the rights and interests OF the other states,
aud they would have n right TO protest aud with
draw from the confederation Should tie state
governments the people in the several states au
thorZc their representatives 10 act III Their name,
they might agree to receive foreign state mo
the cOnederacy, the states might express leir
| Willingness TO have Congress do The act. In that
case Congress would act, not under any power
granted by the Constitution, but as the uccredu-
ed agent of the states so that il even one state
refused 10 delegate to them such power, they could
not act for such state, and the state might resist all
such foreign alliance.
! | am not nuIlifier; but am for maintaining
state rights, even all those rights which have not
! been delegated to Congress. Let the federal gov
eminent lave all the powers granted, but nothing
| more, The great fish eat up the little fish. The
! na'lopa government has vast patronage, Will nc.
cumulae power, aud eventually swallow up the
states, ftIey do not watch, resist her aggresslons,
| aud maintain their state rights. Here is extreme
| danger and it the states are not watchiul, tie
national government will, at no distant day, be :
| come consolidated mass.
The question, then, whether Texas shall be an-
nexed to the Union is one on which Congress has
no power to act 1t is usurpalion. This is the
ground which every independent state in the Un-
ion should take and maintain. lfthe South want
| Texas they can request the North to accept that
territory. lf all the states which are parties TO
the compact, agree, they can take into the firm a
mother partner; but if one or more Of the states
refuse, no body can compel them to receive new
party to the compact. # the majority will have
new partners, they must leave the old firm and
form new one They have no right TO compel
sovereign states 10 receive new allies 10 enslave
them; and if they attempt it. the compact is VIC
lated and the injured party may withdraw. Here
the states should take their stand, and maintain
! their sovereign rights at all events.
AN nj n MAN