The Port-Gibson correspondent., 1844-05-04

PotseI Wulcns unuer our constitutions, IS
purely an excepiive poweS1 could annex
Sterri,oFy and YET that The executive and
bolh houses of Congress combined, could
not. Then, if France or Spain had for
ever refused TO cede to as Louisiana OF
New Orleans could we never 40, moi
even BY conquest in war--haye occupi.
ed and annexed them by act Of Con-
gressf Congress, theh, hayingthe un-
doubled power TO annex territory, and
admit new States, and Texas having as
.sented 10 advance, may be either admit.
fed At once, as Territory, or State, or
States, or Congress may provide for the
prospective admission of one or more
States from Texas, as has often hereto,
fore been done as TO other new States,
the whole question of annexation not be-
ing one whether this government has
the power, but only how it must be ex-
ercised; and whether only by one ofthe
branches of this government, or by all
combined. And ifthe power vested In
Congress by the Constitution to admit
new States, does not Of itself embrace
territory then constituting part Of the
Union, as we'll as all, future acquisions,
there is no power 10 admit new States ex.
cept out of territory which was par,
of the Union when the Constitution was
formed; but as this Interpretation cannot
prevail without expelling three States
from the Union, and forbiding the adj
mission Of Iowa, it must be conceded
that this power Of Congress to admit
new States, does not extend 10 future
acquisitions. This being the case, what
can be m,re clear than that Congress
NAV admit a new State or States out OF
Texas, ifher assent isgiVen, as we per,
ceiye il has been, in form as obligatory
as a treaty? In truth, the power to an
mex territory by treaty does not so
much exist as a mere implication from
the treaty making power, as from the
grant 10 Congress 10 admit new States
out of any territory whatever, although
not then part Of The Union; and the
right TO annex by treaty results mainly
as means Of obtaining, when necessa>
~. the assent Of another government,
when that assent can be obs
tanned in no other manner.
Something like this was done by the
annexation, by Congress, Of the Florida
parishes 10 the State Of Louisiana
They had been claimed, and remained
for many years after the cession Of Lou
isana, in the exclusive occupancy Of
Spain, when the American settlers res
volled, assembled their convention, de-
clared their independence, and by sue.
cessfuI revolution wrested this territory
from the dominion Of Spain, and Com
gress recognised The acts, and assumed
and paid the debls Of the iisurgeni con,
vention; and the legislature Of LOUISIANA,
after tho adoption Of her constitution,
and admission into the Union, without
his territory subsequently,, By nero
legislative enactment, with the consent
of Congress, annexed il 10 the Stale oil
Louisiana.
81. The annexation may be aecom-
pllshed by one Of the States Of the In
on, with the sanction Of Congress
That each Of the States possessed the
1ower to extend her boundaries before
he adoption ofthe constitution, will not
% denied and that tho power still ex-
sis is certain, unless j; is abandoned BY
he State in forming the government Of
he Union. Now, there is no such aban-
5onment; unless tits found in. the follow
ing clause Of the constitution: aNo
State shall, without the consent Of
Congress, enter into any agreement or
compact with another State, Or with q
foreign power" Each State then. may,
With the consent Of Congress. 'senter in>
o any any agreement or compact with.
smother State, or with foreign power"
Texas, il not ohts; is . foreign pOweriI
lid II she, BY law, assents 10 the rean.
iexation, in whole Or in part, TO Louis.
ana, or TO Arkansas, and those States,