Sentinel of the valley. [volume] (Woodstock, Va) 1841-1848, 1844-10-17

pies and policy Of the party whose candidate
he is. Laughter They want Bank. He
IS fJr Bank. They desire to distribute the
proceeds of the public lands. 9'hat Is an es-
seatiai part Of his policy. And 50 on 10 the
end CT the enumeration. But our opponents
sometimes ask Us, who ia this James K. Polk
that you have made your candidate? That
question is most rapidly being answered, and
indeed now is very seldom asked among u.s.
But permit me 10 say, that my personal ac-
quantance with that gentleman. commenced
in 1927, when first had the honor to take a
seat in the congress Of the United States.
from the free and generous votes Of the democ-
racy Of Jefferson and Oswego, and Lewis and
ST Lawrence, who if they had been then fair
5 @aathee pol3tieiaas--as they have Shown to day
they are mott should never have enioyed that
honor. He was then a prominent member Of
the House Of Representatives from Tennessee
Very soon in that body, which should at least
collect respectable portion Of the talent Of The
Union, he passed to the head of the comlnittee
Of ways and means--the most responsible body.
Il few years, he was elevated to the Spea-
ker's chair, where he presided for four years
following man there, man Of all the tai
ents, character and fame Of even Mr. Clay
himself During all this period Gov. Polk
was the confidential friend, the stern and I'M
bending advocate Of the Measures, and policy
OF Presidents Jackson aud Van Buren,. For
twelve or thirteen years he was as faithful to
democratic measures and principles as any
man who represented any section Of the coun-
try. He was called from thence, to take the
highest office in his state. II not as mach
known as many men in our country. he has
not thrown himself forward, nor have his
friends been very free 10 throw his name for
ward, when Offices were to be distributed
But does he, under this successful trial, the
less deserve our confidence and our warm and
united support? Cheers.
There is another subject on which | feel
bound to speak a word---a question which
sprung up during the last session Of Congress.
allude to the proposition to annex Texas to
the territory of this Republic. Twas called on
officially to act on that great national PROPOSE
ton. Il is not my purpose to discuss the mat
Ter before you, because one who is to follow
me, and who has paid more attention to the
subject than have, will 90 it ample Justice
But to you am bound to account tor my Off
cial action On that great question. fatit mt
duty to vote as a senator, and did vote, against
the ratification of the Treaty for TIE annexa-
ton. It has been supposed by some, that
gave that vote from an unyicldng opinion that
annexation neYer should take place. That is
not 50. have made up no such opinion
For the treaty could not vote, and one Of the
reasons was that believed then. as now. if
we propose 10 take that country into our con-
federacy, at the time and under the then exist
ing relations between Mexico and Texas. it
was our duty as enc Of the civilized nations of
the earth, to 90 frankly, honestly, openly, to
Mexico, and avow cur wishes End designs
to offer to negotiate with her in reference to
any claim she might have, and to make honor
able tenders. believe the honor, the faith
and standing of this Union imperously de-
manded this course. Again, | believed that
the Treaty, from the boundaries that must be
implied from it, if Mexico would not treat
with US, embraced country to which Texas
had no clainl-over which she had never as
serted jurisdiction, and which she had no right
to cede. On this point should give you a
brief explanation.
The treaty cedod Texas by name, without
any effort to describe a boundary The Con-
gress of Texas had passed an act declaring by
metes and bounds what was Texas within their
power and jurisdiction. 1t appeared to me
then, if Mexico should tell US, '.we d0n't know
you've have no treaty to make with you''-
and we were left to take possession by force.
we must take the country as Texas had coded
it to us-and in doing that OF forfeiting our
own honor, we must do injustice to Mexico,
and take large portion Of New-Mexico, the
people of which have never been under the
jurisdiction Of Texas This to me. was an in
ho ~ror aC,,IJ not rJooo he
in that position. Again, the record sent with
the treaty-the correspondence between our
negotiators, and the Texas commissioners, and
the British minster-was any thing but ac-
cabtable to me. That correspondence did not
present the true reason why that country
should be annexed to the Union, if it should
be annexed. It was, as all recollect, put on
the assumed ground that it was necessary to
strengthen, defend and perpetrate the institu
ton Of slavery in tie country. On this sub
ject speak with entire frankness. To say
that | am not a FRIEND to the institution Of
slavery as an individual, would be to offend
you. For no man living here in our society,
can in his heart cherish an institution of that
sort as a matter of principle, 1t is a libel on
man to suppose so. Yet the institution exists
among us. It existed in our state when the
federal constitution was formed. The c0nven-
ton of '67-the wisest body of men, unques-
tionably, that ever has assembled for civil pur-
poses within the history of the world, made
the compromises which enabled them to form
the Union. Without it the Union never
would have existed. What ware they2 To
leave the existence, the measure and manage
ment of slavery exclusively to each state for
itself We most wisely and gradually abol-
lshed it with US. Other states, whether from
choice or compulsion it does net become me to
say, have not advanced so rapidly. But there
is not one provision in that sacred instrument,
which would less willingly disturb 1t is to
me as sacred as any of the others-and whilst
live, so far as my voice and action is concern
ed, the guardianship and disposition Of it shall
be left to those among whom it exists, without
interference from me- God knows consider
it deep enough misfortune on them, and am
not disposed to increase the evil. Still when