The North-Carolina standard., 1844-04-10


ton not being one whether this government has
the power, but only how it must be exercised; and
whether only by one of the branches of this gov.
eminent, or by all combined And if the power
vested in Congress by the constitution TO admit
new States does not of itself embrace territory
then constituting part of the Union, as we'll as
all future acquisitions, there is power to admit
new States, except of territory which was part
of the Union when the constitution was formed
but ds this Interpretation cannot prevail without
expeling three States from the Union and forbid
ding the admission of Iowa, it must be conceded
that this power of Congress to admit new States
does extend to future acquisitions. This being
the case, what can be more clear than that Con-
gress may admit State or States ont Of Texas, il
her assent is given, perceive 1t has been, in
form as. obligatory as treaty2 In truth. the
power to annex territory by treaty does not so
so much exist as mere implication from the trea-
!ty-making power, as from the grant to Congress
to admit States out of any territory whatever,
although not then part of the Union; and the
right 10 annex by treaty results mainly as means
of obtaining, when necessary, the assent OF anoth
cr government especially when that assent can
be obtained in no other manner.
| Something like this was done by the annexa-
tion by Congress, of the Florida parishes to the
State of Louisiana, They had been claimed and
remained for many years after the cession of Lou
isiana, in the exclusive occupancy of Spain, when
| the American settlers revolted assembled their
convention, declared their independence, and, by
successful revolution wrested this territory from
the dominion of Spain, and Congress recognized
the acts, and assumed and paid the debts Of the in
surgent convention and the Legislature of Lou
siana after the adoption of her constitution, and
admission into the Union, without this territory,
subsequently, by mere Legislative enactment with
the consent of Congress, annexed it to the State of
Louisiana.
3d. The annexation may be accomplished by
one of the States of the Union, with the sanction
of Congress.-That each of the States possessed
the power to extend her boundaries before the
adoption of the constitution, will not be denied i;
and that the power still exists, is certain unless 1t
is abandoned by the State in forming the govern
ment of the Union. Now, there is no such aban-
donment unless it is found in the following clause
of the constitutions ' No State shall withoutthe
consent of Congress- enter into any agreement or
compact with another State, or with foreign
power" Each State, then, may, with the con-
sent of Congress, L" "enter into any agreement or
compact with another State, with foreign
pOacer" Texas, if not ours, is a foreign power ;
and if she, by law, assents to the reannexa;ion In
whole or in part, to Louisiana, or to Arkansas,
and those States, by law, agree to the annexation,
it is ' an agreement or compact" between a for
eian power and State of the Union, and is clear
ly lawful, with "the consent of Congress" il
would not be treaty, which is the exercise of an
executive power, but compact by law, and pre-
cisely similar to the numerous compacls so called
by which, by acts of Congress and of a State le-
gslature, so many agreements, especially with the
new States, have been made by mere Legislative
enactments Nor need the assent of Congress be
given in advance; il was not so given on the ad-
mission of Tennessee, Arkansas, and Michigan !;
but if given subsequently,, it would ratfy the pre-
vious extension of their boundaries by Louisiana
or Arkansas. There are, then, these three modes,
by any one of which Texas may be reannexed to
the American Union. 1st. By treaty; ed. BY
act of Congress, without treaty; and, Sd. By
the act of State, with the sanction Of Congress-
But, if it be otherwise, and the constitution only
applies to territories then attached to the Union
and delegates ne power for the acquisition of any
other territory, nor prohibits the exercise of the
pre-existing power of each State to extend her
boundaries then there would remain in each State
the reserved right of extension, beyond the con-
troll of Congress. l have not asserted the exist
ence of such right in State; but, if the clauses
quoted do not confer the authority on Congress,
and the remuneration is refused on that ground,
then the annexing power, as right to enlarge
their boundaries, would result to any one of the
States. and, with the consent of Texas, could be
exercised. Perceiving, then, what power results
10 the States, from the denial of the power of an
nexation by Congress, let us agitate no such ques
ton in advance of denial of its own authority
by Congress, but discuss the question on its raer
its alone.
Is it expedient to reannex Texas 10 the Ameri
can Union2 This is the greatest question, since
the adoption of the constitution, presented for
the decision of the American people. Texas was
once our own; and although surrendered by trea-
ty to Spain, the surrender was long resisted by
the American government, and was conceded to
be great sacrifice. This being the case, is it not
clear that when the territory, which we have
most reluctantly surrendered, can be reacquired,
that object should be accomplished Under such
circumstances, to refuse the remuneration is to de-
nv the wisdom of the original purchase, and to
reflect upon the judgment of those who maintain
ed, even at the period of surrender, that it was
great sacrifice of national interests.
Texas, as Mr.. Jefferson declared, was as clear
ly embraced in the purchase by us of Louisiana
as New Orleans itself; and that it a part of
that region is demonstrated by the discovery by
the great Lasalle, of the source and mouth of the
Mississippi and his occupancy for France west of
the Colorado. Our right to Texas, as part of
Louisiana, was asserted and demonstrated by
Presidents Jefferson, Madison, Monroe, and John
Quincy Adams. No one of our Presidents has
ever doubted our title; and Mr.. Clay has ever
maintained it as clear and unquestionabe. Lou
isiana was acquired by a treaty with France. in
1908, by Mr. Jefferson; and in the letter of Mr..