Ypsilanti sentinel. [volume] (Ypsilanti, Washtenaw Co., Mich.) 1843-1900, 1844-04-25
ANNEXATION OF TEXAS.

Al ANNEXATION OF TEXAS.
We could hope for the SAX" Of Wing
principle, the cause of humanity, and the
perpc,ui,y of the federal Union. that the
project Of the annexation Of Texas, which
10 being 80 industriousIy prosecuted ~
the national executive, will not receive
tho sanction Of the senate. But the Ma
,ional lntelligencer, journal much to DO
| relied on, both for its candor and means OF
information. expresses it, fears. that there
is danger Of it.
Our people here, need no argument to
convince then Of the fatal tendency OF the
measure, but il 10 important to knowion
what principles the measure is to be con-
summaled, it such is to be our aaiional des-
tiny.
Those who are in favour Of the meas.
ure rely mostly upon the argument Of e.
pediency, that u.lsss possessed by 10, tho
territory will be acquired BY Great Brit.
ian, which will give her additional means
Of annoying Us in war, and greater facil-
tiles of competing with us, in the time OF
peace.
This may be true, but If the argument
has any weight, it may be applied with
equal propriety to induce US to acquire al
other territory adjoining, until our gov.
eminent embraces the whole continent.
The first question to be settled is tho
coustitutionality ofthe measure. BY the
tearms Of the confederation Of the states,
has the treaty making power any author.
ity conferred upon it to unite with il. an.
other independent nation. without the con.
sent OF each Of the partners of the copart.
nership? This, we repeat, is the ques.
ton 10 lie settled, and if determined in the
negative is the only question about it. And
il is matter Of surprise 10 US, to bear
and see the speculations that are con.
stantly being made upon il, wiihou. once
adverting to the question wether the con-
stltution authorizes it or not. Il seems
to us, as though that sacred charter If
our rights was 10 be regarded a. "a Lii
Iiputiau tie," when in the way Of favor
tie measure. or as a bug bear, when a
project is desired to be defeated or rom
dered odious. II is time. we think, that
the people Of this country at large, should
begin to use their common sense upon these
subjects, and not commit them rhollyto
politicians, TO be used by them, in game
of ba!tledoor and shu,tlecock.
1t is not contendod that any express
power is granted by the constitution TO
acquire new territory, moi within its boun.
daries, at the time of it's ratification.-
But it is and has been held, 40 in the
Pfecedents established in the purchase of
Louisiana and Florida, that the right 10
incident to, or integrant with tho treaty
making power. This principle We do
not propose TO controvert, at least, if j, 10
not extended beyond tho acquisition of
fractions of the territory OF other states
or Kingdoms. Indeed this would seem
to be necessary for if this power did not
exist, the territory ACQUIRED in war BY 10,
must necessarily be surrendered At the
peace, without any equivalent ON the par,
of our adversary, unless he voluntarily
conceded. But the principle ofacquisition
oftrdeiions even oc territory belonging TO
other governments can only DO justified
on the ground of necessity; because there
is no express authority for il, conferred
by the constitution and because ours is
a government of restricted and qualified
powers.
The union of our nation with smother
independent nation, embracing her treaty
stipulations and entangling alliances"
and mourning her responsibilities, debts,
wars and municipal regulations, is quite
another affair. For this, we shall find
no precedent, unless we refer TO the coun-
tries from which Mr.. Van Buren, bor-
rowed his sub-treasury system.
1t canno. be justified by the plea ofns-
cessity, and it is over-ba.anced by rea-
sons ofexpediency. But suppose for the
sake of argument, that il was not, are we
prepared to demolish the constitution for
the sake of expeclency' Such reason
ing may convince Southern abs.rac,icn
lists and shareholders, but il will NO, sat,
isfy northern fFeemen.
Here we may plant our foot. We
stand upon the Threshold of the constitu-
tion-unon kolv oro,,cJ ~.r......J e.