Southport telegraph. [volume] (Southport, W.T. [i.e. Kenosha, Wis.]) 1840-1850, 1844-02-27

Texas, ias free State. could constitutional
| ly be admitted into this Union. do not
deny that, the necessity of the case, the
dread alternative of war, might not, under
the treaty Of making power, compel us to
cede away, or to acquire territory
Whether the provinces Of Louisiana and
Florida were acquired cons,itutionaly or
not | shall not at this late day undertake
TO question. They were admitted, how
ever, by the sovereign propretor's con-
sent, and of them lying around the mouth
of the Mississippi river, threatening with
eternal embarrassment the trade Of the
whole Of the great valley Of the west, no
breach OF violated national faith was in
simulated, no disastrous wals threatened,
and yet able jurists and patriotic statesmen,
denied the constitutionality of the acqusi-
ton, and threatened its ratification with re-
sistance and dissolution.
But where is the necessity for the an
nexation of Texas-even if she desired il
even if Mexico did not denounce war
even if there was no violation Of national
faith even if she was not slave State
where, ask is that overwhelming necessi-
ty which generates power not given by
the Constitution nor anticipated by its
authors? 1t is not territory that we want;
our wide unoccupied domain stretches from
the Mississippi TO the far Pacific; we have
already more land than we are able to de-
fend from savage incurs!on or British usur-
patton. "We want more slave States to
offset the fanatcal free States"
Let the world hear it: you admit, sir,
that we want Texas to extend slavery
among men. Unutterable emotions agitate
my bosom: ask the charter Of my liber-
ty-of your liberty; call upon the Decla-
ration Of American independence upon
which ii is founded, invoke the spirit Of
freedom which in the day of suffering and
threatened despair inspired its utlerance,
as solemn protests against this most un-
holy scheme. Shall we not blush to draw
the veil, which has hardly shielded us from
the contempt and loathing of mankind, for
proclaiming liberty and lpractis ing servi-
tude; shall we no Longer gull them by the
hypocrtical plea Of necessity, the sole de-
fence of tyrants Anew, we incur the
guilt Of slavery, and are ready to do battle
even unto death for its extension-then ex-
punge from yonr annals the declaration of
rights-rcpeal The law Of 20, which makes
the slave trade piracy-down with the glib
bot and bind the laurel upon the brow of
the suspended cui prt-withdraw your fleet
from the coast Of Africa-tell Great Britain
and the world, that you have been acting
solemn farce. when you talked so loudly
Of liberty; that tyranny is the best govern
ment; and slavery is the true st liberty
that now at last, you brgin TO be IN earnest
fifty years cnns,raint wearies the inn
passive muscles of the most wooden face
you give it up-now you hold slavery
sacred at home, and like the oriental pro-
phet of Medina, you are ready to propagate
your faith by fire and sword throughout the
world-that henceforth and forever your
wachword shall be, slavery or DEATH |
care not for the prccedenis OF the past, |
declare that there is no power in the FEEDER
al Constitution by which a slave State can
be admitted into the Union. Slavery can
not exist by the law of nature; it cannot
exist by act of Congress. Slavery did ex-
ist by the laws of the sovereign States, in
the formation Of the Constitution they that
far retained their sovereignty, denying i, to
that extent to the creature Of their united
will-if they vested in Congress the power
to make slave, then they at the sane
time yielded the power to unrnake him.
If then The Congress can ma e a slave
State, they can unmnke Save State; and
if she has tina power, it is her bounden
duty not to add new slave States to the I'M
ion. but to purge it Immediately of this fatal
disease which threatens Death TO the berries
Of the whole country.
They who contend, then, for the adm;s-
sion of the slave State of Texas. are hand
ling two edged sword, it cuts both WAYS,
the assumption Of such power must, there
fore, be abandoned at once and forever
The contemplate jargon that slavery al
ready existing in Texas or other territory
acquired by conquest, purchase, or volun-
tary cession, by municipal law, Congress
may form them into the Union, is unwor-
thy OF consideration; it involves The absur-
dlty o! having the power do through an
agent or indirectly, that which they can
not do directly, or Of themselves. Nothing
bat sovereign power can make siave;the
moment a Stale, once having been indie
pCHNChtt 4'oClI WIN tUic OniOIl, al
that moment lis sovereignty is lost, and
with it falls slavery at the same time. If
lhe State about to be admitted was original
ly part Of the territory of the U. States,
1t never had any sovereignty and Of course
never could have made slave.
repeat once more, that Independent of
Art. oh, rs amendment Of the Constitution.
slavery cannot exist By act OF Cong ress-
but when we find the express language "no
person shall be deprived of life, liberty OF
property, without due process OF law" all
subterluge is at an end-and the learned
and unlearned must unite in one voice,
there is no power under Heaven, willis,
the Constitution remains inviolaia, by which
Texas, as a slave State, can be admitted
into this Union. When gentlemen are
driven from all their strong holds. having
no ground 10 stand upon in making out .
case of necessity they at last come ou
with the old bugbear, which has been sc
often paraded up and down with tin pans
beating and cows horns blowing, when
ever any party ends are to be achieved
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