The northern galaxy. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1844-1848, 1844-02-28
SPEECH OF MIR. SLADE,
AT THE WING STATE CONVENTION.
Continued.

| LtcSOttcui Hdl we tNe confer M
plated annexation OF Texas to the Union
We regard the movement to that end as orig
mating in purpose to perpetuate the Slave
Power; and deem it our duty to declare that
such annexation, if effected. will be virtual
dissolution of the Union-introducing, as il
will, into the confederacy, parties entirely be-
yond the anticipation of the Constitution
thereby abolishing the old, by the constitu-
ton of new political family, and thus break
ing up the foundations of our federal Union.
The increment for annexation-its purpose,
and It's result, are topics to which l would So
licit brief attention.
The increment is of no recent origin. 1t
was among the first acts of General Jackson's
administration to seek a cession of Texas
from the government Of Mexico. The nego-
citation failed. Texas could not be obtained
by cession; and thenceforward it was to be
obtained by revolt, and annexation. To eff
feet this purpose emigrations were encourag-
ed and increased. Companies were formed
upon the basis of pretended grants of large
tracts of land by the Government of Mexico :;
and rights, in the form of script, were dispos-
ed of to adventures, by agents in New Or
leans, New York, and other cities of the I'm
ion.
In 1888, the movement became so far ma
tured that revolt was proclaimed. Samuel
Houston, formerly Governor of Tennessee,
and subsequently member of Congress from
that State, was its leader, who gave out on
his arrival in Texas, that he was sin the
possession Of the private views of the Presi-
dent of the United States" and openly invi-
ted aid from the United States An invitation
for aid. and disclosure of the purpose Of the
revolt appear in the following extract from
his letter to Gen. Dunlap of Tennessee. Hav-
ing spoken Of the force necessary to- rout the
Mexican troops he says,
"For portion of this force we must look
to the United States. Ii cannot reach us too
soon. There is but one feeling in Texas, in
my opinion; and that is, to establish the in
dependence Of Texas, and TO be attached to
the United States. March as speedily as pos
sible with all the aid you can bring"
Here was an open invitation from the Com
mander-in-C Chief of the Texian forces, for
volunteers to aid in wrestling from Mexico
this portion Of her territory, in order TO amer
IL 10 the United States. The following from
a Mississippi paper, (the Vicksburg Register
will show how this invitation was resp 1nded
| to.
"Ihree hundred men for Terds-Gen.
Dunlap of Tennessee is about to proceed to
Texas with the above number of men. The
whole corps are now at Memphis. Every
man is completely armed, the corps having
been originally raised for the Florida war
This force we have no doubt, will be able to
carry every thing before it,"
Similar responses 30 similar invitations,
were made extensively in the Southern and
western States.
| With the aid thus afforded, the revolution
went on. On the second of March, 1886, the
declaration Of independence was issued; and
on the 18th Of the same month a constitution
was formed. Invitations to embark in the
project Of dismembering Mexico, and annex
ing portion of it to the United States be-
came more open and urgent. The follow
ing from North Carolina Journal is spec
| linen:
"WHo WILL GO TO TExAs1"
"MajorJ. III. Harvey of Lincolton has been
authorized by me, with the consent of Major
Gen Hunt, an agent in the Western counties
! of North Carolina, to receive and enrol vol
unteer emigrants to Texas, and will conduct
such as may wish to emigrate to that Repub-
lie, about the first of October next, at the ex-
pense of the Republic of Texas.
]. p. HENDERSON,
| Brig. General Of the Texian army.
August 10, 1885,"
These efforts to excite the War spirit in
aid Of the Texian revolt were seconded by
Texian Land Jobbers in various parts of the
United States, and by the universal sympa-
thy Of those who wished TO extend and perpet-
ate slavery. Associations were formed. Con-
tributions of money were openly invited and
arms and other munitions Of war purchased
and sent TO Texes. Volunteers for the war
were despatched under the name Of Emil
grants" and heavy guns shipped under the
denomination of "hOllow ware;" while ma
ny of both went without any disguise what
ever.
Flagrantly as the movements were in viola
ton of our laws Of neutrality, no serious eff
fort was made by our public authorities to ar
rest them. Official connivance was, every
where, the order of the day.
Nor was this all. Under pretence of a ne
cessity of restraining the Indians in Texas
from committing hostilites on our frontiers
of which there was no danger-General
Gaines was ordered with portion of the Uni
ted States troops, to march into Texas. He
obeyed, and took post at Nacogdoches, fifty
miIes beyond the line. The character of this
expedition was thus described by an officer Of
that army, in letter dated at Nacogdoches,
and published in the Army and Navy Chroni-
Gle. Referring to the object Of the expedition
he says
alt is to create the impression in Texas
that the Government of the United States
takes part in the controversy. 1t is in fact,
lending to the cause of Texas, all the aid and
support which it can derive from the counte-
nance and apparent support of the United
States, besides placing our troops in situa-
ton to take an actual part in aid of the Tex
ians, in case a reverse of their affairs should
render aid necessary. The pretext of the an
ticipated invasion of the Indians in that quar-
ter, is unsupported by the least probable tes-
timony."
The order for this movement upon the
Mexican territory became the subject of q
] correspondence between the Mexican Minis
Ter, and our government, in which he com
planned of its unfriendly character. "Tht
presence" said he, of body of neutra
troops in the very theatre of the war, canno
, fail to embanass the operations of the Mexi
can army, to favor the Texans indirectly