The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1843-01-24

content to leave where the Constitution of our Union
iouhd IT, Ihey ask Tor no new concessions to their
rights guaranteed by that instrument they are pre-
pared to make none to prejudices which they must
cease to respect when under the garb Of civil or re
ligious fanaticism they become criminal Are our
countrymen of the non-slaveholding States disposed
TO assume that they will not live in peace with us on
account OF our State Institutions institutions recog-
nlzed and guaranteed by positive provisions of the
Constitution? II this be SO, the it is known
to all the better for all 1t is obvious that the Union
is already dissolved that its burdens are all on one
side its benefits the other when such spirit is
generally eylnced But do not believe that such is
the disposition of the of our fellow citizens o.
the non-slavehodlng States believe that the secu-
ry SO long enjoyed under our Constitution has taught
them as It has u.s. to regard in its spirit and letter
as Indispensable to our future common welfare, and
| to deprecate any revolution, effected by fraud or
force, which shall impair its solem obligations
have not been an nattentye or Indifferent observer
Of events for the last few years To recite them or
to anmadvert on the want of American feeling which
they have sometimes disclosed might only add to pre-
JUDGES already too much exasperated. 1t should be
the first wish of every American to aay an excite
ment which is fast ripening into crime. aver my
belief that there j, no measure which would have a
happier tendency to repudiate feelings unworthy
1 OF cOuntrymen so incompatible with the duties OF
fellow-c:izens, and to establish the supremacy OF
our compact on the permanent foundation of mutual
rights and mutual interests the annexation of Tex
as. The foreign dangers which threatened the nfan-
cy OF our republic are forgotten in the meridian of
| our strength. They no longer exist in force enough
TO BIND us together Our present dangers are
home.
They can be averted only by the agency of some
cause powerful enough to revive the feelings of other
days, to absorb the seshness of sections again in the
more enlarged sentiments Of pride and patroV ISM
lhese sentiments are already extinct in that bosom,
which does not kindle at the contemplation of our
counry's unexampled prosperity and grandeur, as
they are heralded by the duwning future Nations like
individuals, must live up to their destiny, and we
must act the part assigned us by position the
globe. Our federatve Union, in the spirit of its
adoption, is capable Of indefinite extension Space
and numbers will only add to its strength by multi
plying ITS blessings. In any other spirit it would not
have been long preserved, even by the Old Thirteen
II, then, am right in supposng that country
men OF the non-slavehodng States are not disposed
to renounce their union with the elavehoding States
and II have not erred in supposing that like our
selves and all the rest of mankind they can and do
perceive the force of that mysterious power, which
bind individuals in society, and states in union, by
rendering conflicts OF opinion and interest the very
sources of harmony, happiness and strength, do not
aPprehend any evil consequences from the excite
ment which this subject will give rise to.
he action OF no government, state or federal, on
te SUBJECT OF slavery can produce any thing but mis-
Chief Its end, like its origin, is within the compass
only OF those laws which man has neither the wisdom
to perceive nor the power to arrest though he is the
agent in their fufIlment. When the federal cons j.
tuition was adopted slavery existed q believe in all
the States. That it does not exist now in a large
majority OF the original States, owing less to their
philanthropy than their interest. Slave labor is un-
profitable IN grain growing countries. Instances OF
voluntary emancipation frequent in those states
where slave labor is most o6tabe they we're
in grain growing States. The culture of cotton and
sugar the United States has done more withdraw
slavery southwark, than all the expediens which the
wisdom OF This or other generations could devise
1t IS process which does violence to our federal
compact, none to private rights, which hazards ne
Their our social peace the union
England, whose possessions and Jurisdiction extend
over so large portion of the globe whose influence
IS felt every where, will Either possess or contro
lexas, II 1t does not come under the jurisdiction o
the United States The prejudces Of England against
slavery are Phosophcally confined to sympathetic
, meetings. popular harrangues, and neghboury dis
position to see us dissolve union account of l.
If she abolshes il in her West Indies il is only to null
tiply II in her East Indies. 1t is impossible that Mex
leo can ever subjugae Texs Though covering a
much larger extent of territory and numbering many
more people, Mexico is really in no better condition
and not stronger than Texas. There is more pro-
liability OF revolt IN other provinces than Of the re-
conquest Of Texas. The fashions Of dress are not
more capacious IN their changes than are the forms
oil Mexican government. l apprehend IT is destined
Tor some time, to continue in state Of civil chaos
giving no signs of energy, but occasionally spasmodic
convus ons IN body of bgoted priests and mercena-
ny soldiers, whose victims the people have long been
Texas Is recognized by COVE nment, and BY the
most powerful governments of Europe as exempt
from Mexican dominion. Spain is us likely to re-
conquer Mexico itse +, as Mexico Texas 1t is true
Mexico has not formally recognized Texas as one of
the nations of the earth. She still claims the right TO
conquer to dispose Of her Texas then in all pro-
liability, will exist, under some form of government
independent of Mexico. Will she be independent
OF European influences prejudcial TO u.s. fatal to the
/ harmony OF two rival coerminous republics;
! Having acquired Louisiana and Florida we have
an interest and frontier the Gulf of Mexico and
along our interior TO the Pacific which will not per-
NIT us TO close eyes fold our arms with ndif-
ference to the events which few years may disclose
in that qua ter We have already had one question
of boundary with Texas other questions must soon
arise under revenue laws and on other points of
necessary intercourse which il will be difficult 10 adj
Just. The institutions of Texas and her relations
with other governments yet in that CONDITION which
inclines her people, (who are our countrymen) o
unle their destinies with ours This must be done
soon or not at all There are hume Gus tribes of In
dams along both frontiers which can easily become
The cause or the instruments of border wars. Our
own population IS pressing onward to the Pacific !
No power can restrain it. The pi neer from our AT.
antic board, will kinde his fires and erect
his cabin beyond the Rocky mountains and on the !
Gulf OF California. If Mohammed comes not TO the |
noun ain, the mountain will go TO Mohammed |
Every year adds difficulties to our progress in
that direction, progress natural and as inevitable
as the current of the Mississippi These difficulties |
VIII soon "like mountains interposed"-
'Nlake enemies of nations
Which now like kindred drops
Might mngle into one"
THOMAS w on MED