Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1844-02-23

Why, the truth is, there never should have been
an 81" equilibrium" between freedom and slavery in
this Confederacy; and there never would have
BEEN but for violation of the Constitution in the
addition of slave states from territory not within
our original limits. That has made an equiibri-
| UNI, which did not exist when the Constitution
| was formed-tho proportion OF slave TO Tree
| States, being thon, but us sir to Seren. And who
then thought that slavery would continue TO exist
in any of the States TO the end Of half century,
| or half of half a century from that time? Whit
| CONSERVATION would have siezed the Convention
| that formed the Constitution, had 1t been revealed
TO them that Slavery would survive the first half
century OF our existence, and much more, that the
| seven hundred thousand slaves should, at the ter
| mination of that period, have increased TO fDo
millions and three qudrters--lhe number of slave
states from sir 10 thirteen and the number of Rep
resentdtives upon the SLAVE basis alone TO twenty
| fvel And what would have been the sensation
in Virginia, could ii have been foreseen that, nj
the expiration Of half a century,, Representative
| from that Commonwealth would rise III Inc lial
| of tho House Of Representatives of these United
| States, and Claim an augmentation OF the slave
| power by the acquisition, for that purpose, oil n
snve territory beyond our original limits, large
enough for ali addition of nine states 10 tbs Union
And all this to keep an equilibrium between slave
ny and freedom, to keep slavery from "kiclIing the
beam ito save the Constitution TO preserve the
| Union from vanishing into thin air !" Freedom
may unchecked, spread beyond the Rocky Noun
tans,' and therefore slavery must be permitted to
cross the Sabine, and move onward toward 10 the
| Pacif,c OCEAN.
But forbear; and proceed, 10 another, and la
| ter evidence of the continued aim OF annexation
and the motives by which it is guid9d and govern
| ed. 1t is the letter Of Gov. Gmer TO which
hive already referred, dated ut Washington the
10th Of January, 1913. The importance of the
| letter Of Gov Gilmer us well as the speech OF Mr..
| Wise, is euchanced by their well known relation
| ~ m Ina 10 N o
as Southern men. The letter was written to u
! private individual who according 10 the annun-
citation OF the Baltimore Republican, in publish
ing it, regarded i'll "placng the policy of the an-
nexaton OF Texas TO the United States in very
striking aad imposing point Of ueto" and therefore
communicated it, with the leave Of Governor
Gilmer for publication. a few extracts will suf-
flee TO show it's character. On the subject OF
Strengthening the slave power, it is less bold than
MIR. Wise. Ii was evidently written for publlca :
ton, and sugars the deadly dose, in man
ner to make it as inoffensive as possible to the
people ofthe North.
II "You ask" says the letter. II have expressed
my opinion That lexas will be annexed to the u
nited Stutes. | answer, yes; aud this opinion
has not been adopted without reflection or with
out careful examination of causes which, be-
lleve, are rapidly bringing about this result dc
not know how far these may have had the
sumo impression on others; but | ain persuaded
that the time is not far disunt when they will be
Il let in oil their force. The excitement which you
I aprehend, may arise but ii will be temporary
/ and in the eud salutary."
i f" assume what no one will deny, tIat under
the Jurisdiction OF the United Suites, the lurge and
unusually fertile territory of Texas will be RAPIDLY
peopled; aud an immense accession will be made
to our strength and productive energies. The
strength and productive energies Of Slavery The
settlement OF Texas under these auspices will o.
pen market at home Tor the manufactures, and
agricultural products of all the non slayeholding
states-a market which, otherwise, can only avail
them under the restrictions and disadvantages OIL
foreign competition. The means of supply fol
these States will DO increased in the same
manner"
How ready is Mr. Glmer to urge the grea, ar
gument for the protective policy, when ii can be
used to favor the protection and extension oil
slavery. The annexation Of Texas will "open
market for the manufactures and agriculture
products of the non. sla vholding Stntesw And
here is the bail hrOwn out 10 Northern cupidity
" A home market for manufactures And how
much does this ant.tariff nuifier care for The Ell
couragement and protection of the "manulac,u-
res OF the non-slaveholding States?" Not straw
unless il be connected with additional security io
another species OF manuiactures-of which he
does not speak--fhat manufacture, the price Of
which was asserted us have shown in the Yer
ginia Legislature, eleven years ago, would be rails
sed fifty per cent. upoh the acquisition of Texas
:,
slave breeding States fthis Union monopoly o.
its market for this kind of manufacture but a n
nexalion, alone, can give permanent security to
/ this monopoly.
"But," continues Gov. Gilmer, "you anticipate
objections III regard TO the subject OF slavery
This is, indeed, u subject of extreme deltcucy, bu
it is one on which The annexation of Texas viii
have salutary influence. Some have though
that the proposition would endanger the Union
am of different opinion. believe it will bring
about better understanding OF our relative ri h
and obligations. Slavery is one OF those subjeci
, which the people OF the slave holding States ART
content to leave where the Constitution of thu
Union has le it, They ask for no new concess
ions TO their rights, guaranteed by that insiru
, ment."
The Constitution of the Union, Gov. CLINE
ought to know, left slavery to live us long as
could and to die, as it must in the original States
oil this Union. But there the friends of annexa
ton are not "conteni" to leave il, but would ex
tend it over "the large aud fertile territory of Tex
as" and then add tho extension to this alread,
/ slave ridden Union. And this, asking no new
concessions TO their rights guaranteed by The Con
slution."
would gladly make further extracts from thi
letter; and indeed give it entlre,-but must for
bear. IL is an arllu attempt TO give to annexation
! the character of national measure -importdn
even, TO give pernanence 10 the Union lit ma
a be regarded us a sample of the manner in whic
the North is TO be addressed TO secure its supper
to the measure.
To DO Continued.