Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, IA [i.e. Ind.]) 1839-1854, 1844-06-14

Mr.. POLk-ANNEXAT
| Tho reader will recoIlect that sometime in
March last, a meeting was held in the city of
Cincinnati, to express their opposition to the an
notation of Texas to the United States-that a
committee was appointed to inquire of several
politicians their opinions in regard to the matter.
Among the many other gentlemen addressed by
said committee, James X. Polk, the nominee
of the late loco convention for President Of the
United States. In the response of Mr.. Polk. We
find the following emphatic declaration
"Ihsve hesitation in declaring that IN faror
Of The immediate of 7e1as tn the territory
md gorernment of the United States entertain no
doubts the pocer erpedieney Of the remuneration
This is plain and unequivocal. We have al
ready expressed our uncompromising opposition
to the sentiments of the above declaration, and
shall from time to time i've our reasons for that
opposition. In the first place, we regard it as
contrary to the spirit and letter of tho Constltu-
ton. That instrument was formed by COM
promise, made with great labor and with pat
riotic desire to obtain and maintain confederacy
of all the States. The south claimed the right
to import slavos-the north opposed it. The fol-
lowing section of the Constitution is the result of
the compromise:
Sec g. The m gra,on importation Of such persons
any States existing shall think proper 70 adj
mit, shall be prohibited by the Congress PRIOR to the
year 1857
The persons hero spoken Of wore slaves, and
tho effect Of this clause was to permit the slave
trade till 1903. After that time arrived, Con-
gross prohibited it in every direction, and affixed
to it TIE PENALTIES CT PIRACY. Would not the an
ncxation of Texas to tho United States, with her
slaves be an importation of slaves in the spirit OF
the Constitution 1t certainly would. This
clause Of the Constitution, induced the members
of the Convention to submit to it, believing that
by it tho importation of slaves would be put an
end 70, and hence too they consented to the slave
representation and that compromise would III
all probability never have been made. if the
south had hold out for the importation of savos
for an unlimited time, and underlined means.
If Texas wcro admitted into tho Union, would
not her slaves be free We believe by law of
/ Congress all slaves free who are brought
into tho United States from foreign country at-
! 1908. Is not Toxas foreign country Is It
rot acknowledged to be such by the United States,
and by England, and France
| If this be not true, suppose Texas were admit
ted. won Id the white of that country claim
representation in Congress for their slaves of
:. -fiftlls ;" They certainly would. Thon
would not this be violation Of the compromise
/ of the constitution If it not unconstItu-
tional, it would be inoxpcdicnt and unjust. Tho
concession was great when made to apply to the
southern States who had assisted in achieving our
Independence but to now concodc 1t to the cltl-
| zcns of a foreign country would be an outrag 60
to which not now and mover Will be Will
| ling to submit. We have in our recollection
man who absconded from this country for a crlmo
which by our laws is punishable with imprison-
mcnt in the ponitentiary. He fed to Texas. and
/ it is now said that he is owner of at least fifty
slaves. Should Texas be admitted rs Is wished.
| this man would have much weight in electing
n President of the United States, THIRTY :.
honest men in this country. We do not place 50
high an estimate upon that scoundrels judgment
as to concodc to him that power. That right was
conceded to the south. and so long as tho consti-
tuition remains in force. VIC are willing to abide
it.