Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1844-02-23

evidences Of it, A Charleston paper observed
" tits not improbable that he president JACK
son) is now examining the proprlely ana pracu
liability Of a retrocesson OF the vast territory OF
Texas; an enterprise loudly demanded by the
welfare of the West and which could not fail to
exercise an important and favorable influence up
ON the future destinies oil the South, by increasing
he votes of The sauehOiding Sdtes in The Senate Of
The United Stdfes."
But the addition Of nine slave s,aies, with the
augmented slave holding votes in Congress, were
moi the only motives disclosed for the acquisition
of Texas. 10 the cravings for more potter was
added lust for the gains OF clare breeding. The
following are samples of the evidence on this
point.
Judge Upshur (now Secretary Of State) said.
in u speech in the Virginia Convention in 1879,
that if Texas should DO obtained, which he strong.
y desired, 1t would raise the price Of Sldpes, and
be great advantage 10 SLAVE holders in that stale
In 1882, Mr.. Ghoson said, in the Virginia Leg
islaure, that the price OF slaves Tell twenty-five
per cent, within Two hours alter the news was re-
ceived OF the passage Of the law Of Louisiana pro-
hibiting the importation of slaves and that he
believed the acquisition Of Texas would raise the
price fifty per cent.
These evidences Of the State of public sent-
ment at the South, show the leading impulse un
der which Texas was flooded with armed emf.
grants" and her revolt from Mexico urged to its
consummation. That consummaton was the tor
mation of Constitution in March 1896. The 9th
section, under the head of " General Provisions"
exhibits the monster which has been so long UNI
dergong the process of incubation. Here it is
"Sec. 8. All persons of color who were slaves
for life previous to their emigration for Texas, and
who are now held in bondage, shall remain in the
like state of seryitude; provided the said slave
shall be the bona fde property Of the person so
holding said slave as aforesaid. Congress shall
pass no law TO prohibit emigrnns from the United
States of America from bringing their slaves into
the Republic with them, and holding them by the
same tenure by which such slaves were held in
the United States; nor shalt the master have power
TO emancipute his or her slave or slaves, without
the consent Of Congress, unless he or she shall
send his or her slave slaves without the limits
Of the Republic. No free person OF African de-
scent, either in whole or in part, shall be permitted
TO reside permanently in the Republic witlou, the
consent of Congress; and the importation or ad.
mission of Africans or negroes into this Repub-
lie, excepting from the United States of Ameri-
ca is forever prohibited and declared to be pira-
Cyl"
Such is The fundamental law Of Texas! Men
reduced again to bondage, WHO had become, of
right, free by the force of Mexican law the free
importation Of slaves from the United States per-
petually secured; emancipation interdicted 10
Congress and TO slave holders, but with the con.
sent OF Congress, or the Punishment Of the einan-
cipated; free Africans forbidden q permanent
residence and monopoly of slave breeding for
the Texan "market' granted to " the United
Staies of .America." constitution worthy of
The Goths and Vandals who overrun The territory
of n friendly republic, in the face of solemn
treaty of" universal peace and true and sincere
friendship" for tho purpose OF overshadowing
her fair fields with the perpetual eclipse ,of slave
ry, and booming her soil 10 its everlasting curse |!
1t is too obvious TO need remark, how precisely
this provision of the Texan Constitution placed
her in position TO become, without the slightest
change of her fundamental law, member of the
slaveholding brotherhood in this confederacy.-
What an appropriate foundation for the nine
slave states as large as Kentucky"
Ii was soon after the PRONUNCIATION OF this Con .
stitulion that the great movement was nude upon
Congress TO obtain recognition Of Texan indie
pendence, which finally resulted as have shown
in smuggling through Congress at the last hour of
General Jackson's administration, an nppropria-
ton for the outfit and salary of minister TO that
country. And then came the formal application
through the Texan Minister for admission into
our Confederacy; with the presentation to Con-
gress of numerous petitions Of slave holders, and
resolutions of the Legislatures of slayeholding
States, in favor oflhe solicited admission.
From among the numerous evidences of the
continued operation at this period, of the motive
for annexation TO which have referred, | select
the following:
The Mobile Advertiser held the following Ian.
guage:
uo DoubH WISH W nave texas duUllltou INTO
the Union flor two reasons; First, to eqlahize The
South Nth the North and, secondly, as u conven.
lent and safe place, calculated, from its peculiar
good soil, and saubrious climate, for SLAVE popu-
iat'on. Interest and political safety both nike
prompt the action and enio.ce the argument"
The following toast was about the same time
given at public meeting Of distinguished men al
Columbia, S. C.:
."TExAs-lf united to our government as
Stale, it will prove an invaluable acquisition to
the Southern States and their Domestic Insliiu-
hons'
From among the resolutions of State Legisla-
lures, at this period, in favor of annexalion take
the following from Mississippi as a specimen:
" RESOLVED, that the annexation of Texas to this
Republic is essential TO the future safety and re-
pose of the Southern States Of this Conederacy."
The report of the Committee who reported this
resolution TO the Legislature contains the follow
ing remarkable passage:
The Northern States have no interest Of their
own which requires any special safeguards for
their defence, save only their domestic manufac.
lures; and God knows they have already receiv-
ed protection from government on most liberal
scale, under which encouragement they have i'm
proved and fourished beyond example. IH,
South has very peculiar Interests TO preserUe
terests already violently assailed, and boldly
threatened. Your Committee are fully persuaded
that this protection to her best interests will be
afforded by the annexation OF Texas. An equi
poise OF influence in the Halls Of Congress will be
secured which will furnish US permanent guar
anty Of protection"
Thus we see protection to slavery claimed as
compensation for protection TO free labor; and
that not by maintaining the right Of the states to
perpetuate slavery within their limits, nor by ac
cording to them the right Of defending it, as hes
they may, against the moral power Of redeemed
and purified Christianity; but by disrnembering
foreign couKTy--introducing into it slavery frOr
our own--making ii perpetual by the constitution
and then adding the whole---Ierritory, slavery
Constitution and all, 10 this Republic!
Such was the scheme, and such the motives
The project then failed of accomplishment bu
as we have seen, was not abandoned; for, ie
nothing has the slave power chung with more
tenacily than this. The purpose Of the grea
movement SO fully described in the Mississippi
Report, mas been, since, more strikiDgly nantes
ted in The speech of MIR. Wise delivered in Con
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