, 1844-11-30

hdenily believed that 3 majority OF
the members of that session was in
favor Of this system Of election by
districts; and if it had not been for
the extraordinary legislation of Con-
grsss on his subject at the extra SEES
sion Of that body, in which they in
directly commended the States to
district themselves in order to elect
their members to Congress, NO doubt
is entertained but that the State
would have been dIstricted by the
last General Assembly.
Since the passage of that act,
which was deemed invalid by the last
General Assembly, two elections
have been held in this State, for men,
bers to Congress, each of which was
held under the law of this State by
general ticket. The House of Rep
resen,atives Of the United States
viewed the act of the previous Con-
gress, in the same light in which it
was viewed by the General Assembly
OF this State, and our members TO
Congress were declared duly elected.
This may be CONSIDER red as settling
the question, and no reasonable doubt
can now be entertained but that the
members to Congress, elected at the
last August elecuon. are entitled TO
their seals. Indeed, all parties in
this State have acquiesced IN the de.
cislon OF the House OF Representa-
tlves, by voting for members to the
next Congress. which many Of our
citizens refused to do, previous TO the
adjustment OF the question by the
House OF Representatives. Even il
thus decision should be reversed by
the next House of Representatives,
of which there is litils or no proba.
bilIty, IT could not he made TO have a
Retrospective ~eiisct, without viola.
ting every principle OF law and JUS
tIcc.
But the time has come when an OPP
portunIlv is again "if~rsd the people
OF this State, through the legislature,
10 act on this subject, and in rs much
a, the command OF Congress has been
set aside, there Is DO reason why the
present system OF election should be
continued, especially as it IS believ.
cd that there Is a decided majority O.
the people of the State in favor o.
the district system of sIscting ouT
members to Congress.
In view therefore Of all the facts
connected with this subject. | pre-
sumo you will consider it 10 be your
duty 10 lay of the State into five E.
quail districts, as nearly as may be-
for the purpose Of el.ctIng, in future,
our Representatives to Congress.
The subject of the annexation o.
the Republic of Texas to the United
States ma. for sone time excited
deep interest ameHg the people oil this
State, and il is believed that sn over
whslming majority desires 10 see thai
object sccoT plIshed.
The Stale Of Missouri Is peculiar
Iy interested in the successful result
Of thus measure. If Texas be ad
united into Inc Union, it becomes n
once TO US a border Slate, and our re
~lations assumed, in consequence, ar
intimate and friendly character. Ou1
connection with IL toe, Is rendered
still more cl"se by it's numbering a
mong its inhabitants, many who wer,
once the citizens si u State. Ia
commercial point of vie W, in the grea
and increasing market it would atferc
for the agricultural and mechanical
products of our labor. and i the ex
change OF commodities that Voull
result from this trade. 1t is highly de
sirable that Texas should become
part of our Union.
If on the other hand its admission
into our confederacv should not TAX
place. the Consequence 10 us woul'
be per,lous. perhaps disastrous. Th'
General Government has located. oI
our borders. and those OF Arkansas
immense hordes Of Indians; who's
warriors, at this time mou TO Rear
" forty thousand, and in the limits o
Texas there are computed to be a
f bout twenty thousand more.
In the event Of a war with Texas
either as a principal or an ally,
r would be an easy thing to precIpitat
on Il territory a fearful number G
3 these savages. A s%ervile war to
t could easily he excited among us, an,
f when is added to these. the bleckad
f of the mouth of the Mississippi
2 whereby all Our products reach thei
destination. the evil would becom
a intoIerasle. And asa field too, where
D bv IN invasion Of u soil. by a TO
elgn enemy, could be rendered s
: easy. as to be used at discretion, tn
p ACQUISITION of Texas becomes 10 US