The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1843-11-23
From the 81. Louis Old School Democrat
INSTRUMENTATION.

TEXAS-ANNEX
We present to-day, from the Belleyle (lll)
Advocate. copy Of the resolutions adopted by
the patriotic citizens OF ST. Clair County, and
the substance Of Governor Reynolds speech, in
relation 10 the admission of Texas into the
American Union. We are glad TO see the Peo-
pie OF the West moving on this vitality mpor-
tant subject. Especially are we pleased to see
the citizens of the free States of the West re-
buke The blind tanaticism of the North, aud ten
der 10 their brethren of the South, hearty CO.
operation in an effort to secure the permanency
of their undoubted rights, and an indispensable
protection to their peculiar interests. The libe-
ral-minded and magnanimous portion of the
population of the free States, may be safely
counted upon the side Of "justice 10 the South"
in the coming contest But we may be permit
ted to say that our friends of st. Clair County,
Illinois, entitled TO the especial thanks of the
South for this early, prompt, and decided stand
on this question. Let other portions of the
West follow this noble example at once, and the
demoniac and damning spirit of Abolitionism
will be rebuked, and hushed into silence.
1t is our deliberate conviction that, if the ques-
lion of the annexation of Texas shall be deba-
ted at the ensuing session of Congress, and de-
cided in favor Of AboIitionism, the Union will
be of short duration. The sole purpose which
prompts the South 10 desire the annexation, has
reference to the security of her domestic insti-
tutions. The only argument against this pro-
position is found in the mouths of the Adolf
az Al
these States is refused, the South may read in
the refusal her ultimate doom, unless that doom
be averted by decisive measures. The purchase
and annexation of Louisiana, and the purchase
OF Florida, furnish precedents which overthrow
and overwhelm the arguments arising from pre-
tended constitutional scrup,es. Louisiana and
Florida were as foreign TO the States of this
Union before the purchase, as Texas or Mexico
is now. They were bought, and three States
have been already formed of the territory of
Louisiana. This point cannot certainly admit
of any difficulty. The right to acquire Texas
by purchase, by gift, OF by conquest, is one
which no sensible lawyer or honest politician
will question.
But 1t is said, zoe hare territory enough.
This was one of the arguments urged against
the purchase ofLouisiana 7; aud yet we presume
1t will not be denied that the purchase was judi
cious, polite, and wise. We care not to what
limits our Confederacy may be extended upon
the continent Of North America. A glance at
| the map of the Western hemisphere, will at
once suggest the idea TO a rejecting mind, that
the lime must come, and that speedily, under
the influence of those liberal principles which
characterize the present aye, when the Pacific
on the West, the Atlantic on the East, the fro
zen regions on the North, and the isthmus of
Panama Oh the South, will form the boundaries
Of the North American Union of free States.
For one, we say God speed the hour when these
shall be the bonds of this great, free, and fou-
rishing Republic
But the annexation Of Texas has become ne
cessary to quiet the we-grounded fears of the
South, in reference to Northern interference
| with Southern rights. Those rights are endan-
gered. The annexation of Texas would tend
TO equaze the political power of these two sec
'ions oil The country and quiet all apprehensious.
With the South this question thus assumes
her quiet, her peace, and probably her dearest in
terests. With the North it is a far different
question. 1t involves two comparatively unim-
portant considerations. The one has reference
TO political supremacy the other TO real or
pretended adherence of slavery. This supre-
macy, or preponderance, the North, if honest.
should be willing to see equalized. Her abhor-
renee of the evils of slavery, whether real or
affected, she ought not TO indulge at the expense
OF the happiness, prosperity, and perhaps the
very existence of her Southern brethren.
Hence it will be discovered that whilst with the
South 1t is matter Of infinite importance, with
the North ii is question, the surrender of which
involves no loss or danger. Who, then, should
yield?