Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1844-02-09


That "the acknowledgment Of a new State as
independent" was always "an act of great deli
cacy and esponslbllily-especially when such
State had forcibly separated itself from another,
of which it had formed part and which still
claims dominion over il !" that ga premature re-
cogniliou under such circumstances is always liza
bic TO no regarded proof Of an unfriendy spirit
to one OF the conending parties" and would be
equivalent, under some circumstances, TO dec
aration Of war;" that the recognitions by us Of
the independence Of the Spanish American States
had been delayed "not only until the ability Of
the new States to protect themselves was fully es-
tablished but until the danger ofheir being again
snhIugated had entirely passed away" that such
was not the condition of Texas in reference TO
Mexico; and that, as The Texan revolution h'd
been effected 10y "emigraEts from the United
States" and the acknowledgment of independence
had been sought by them with an avowed de-
sign TO treat Immediately of It's transfer to the Uni
ted States and It's admission into the Union as one
OF the Federal States, Il too early movement might
subject us, hotceuer uJuSty,(?l to the impula!Ion
OF seeking to establish the claim of our neighbors
TO territory, with view to lis subsequent acqui-
son by ourselves"
Here was conclusive argument against the
recognition either forced from the President by
n conviction of It's concusiyeness or feigned 10 be
satisfactory for the purpose of quielng apprehen.
sons in regard TO the measure.
The message was referred TO the Committee of
Foreign Affairs who, on the 18th Of February,
1887, reported two resolutions to the effect that
=" the Independence Of Texas ought 10 be recog-
nized!" and that ",he Committee of Ways and
Means be instructed 10 provide in the bill for the
civil and diplomatic expenditures of the govern
nent, salary and outfit for such public agent as
the President may determine 10 send to Texas"
February 2lst, the resolutions were taken up, and
on motion, were laid on The table, by vote of 90
to sc; and motion TO reconsider the vote was
lost by vote of l07 to 80.
And now mark what followed. Although the
House had refused to say that the independence
of Texas ought TO be acknow lodged, and had re-
fused to direct the Committee of Ways aud Means
10 report an appropriation for Minister TO that
country, yet, seven days afterwards, when the
public apprehension had been thus nlIayed, there
was suddenly sprung upon the House PROPOSE
ton to amend Ihe civil aud diplomatic appropria-
ton bill by adding an appropriation +" for The out
lit ana salary oil diplomatic agent to be sent 10
the Republic OF Texas whenever the President
nuy receive satisfactory evidence that Texas is
an independent power, and shall deem il expcdi-
enl 10 appoint such minister" Aud what think
you, vas the tate OF this proposition? Though
direct proposition for recognition, and an. appro-
priaon for Il minister was lost week before
by majority OF l2, yet the whole was now reyer-
sed by majority OF 43-tIe amendment being
carried by vote OF ll9 TO 76!
Aud what next? The President notwithstapJ.
ing his conclusive argument, TWO months before,
against the measure; and Notwithstanding the
decided vote, week before, against il and not
outstanding The suddenly reversed vote left the
expediency oil consumnaiing the implied recon-
nltion by the appointment of Minister, entirely
within his dscreton, upon receiuing satisfactory
evidence that Texas was an independent mower
tile PRESIDENT say, notwithstanding all this
suddenly lost his scruples, forgot his own arpu.
lnents and without waiting "to receive" sasiac.
tory evidence, or any evidence instantly perceiy-
ed that Texas an independent power and in
bpcnnp fled Int IL tav
appoint the Minister; and lhereupon, in the yery
same hour in which he signed the bill making the
appropriation, sent nomination Of the minister
to the Senate; and the Senate, in that same hour
passed The vote of confirmation!
Thus carried the recognition of Texan In
dependence! And by some such spring vote
some such Legislative slight ohand, and Execu.
live second sight, will annexation be effected, if
effected at all.
The sudden abandonment by the President. of
ms objections TO recognition, without any change
in the condition OF Texas, or any disayowal ly
her Of all Intention 10 seek " admission into The
Union one OF the Federal States" was of course
regarded by her as an inhalation TO such union
and accordingly, the first acl Of her minister Mr..
Memucan Hunt, was 10 make proposal 10 lbal
effect. AS the Erecutire could not add a new
Stale 10 The Union, he was obliged TO decline the
proposal But 10 the mean time the nppropriaie
machinery had been put in motion, and numerous
petluonS, together with resolutions of State Leg
lsialures, IN favor OF annexation we're laid upon
the tables o! Congress They we've met by
counter resolutions of the Legislatures of YER
mont Massachusetts, Rhode island Ohio and
Michigan, together with the circumstances of
more than one hundred thousand petitioners n.
galnst annexation.
On the 25Ih Of March 1888, all these resolu
lions and memorials were referred 10 the Commit
tee OF Foreign Relations, who the 18th of June
asked TO be discharged from further consideration
| xyn hu m
lion TO recommit the report, with instructions "to
report in full as TO the merits Of The question -
and this was proposed to be amended so as TO in
slruct the committee TO report joint resolution
for annexation whereupon Mr.. ADAMS moved
an amendment, to The effect of nstructing the
committee TO report the following resolutions viz:
" ReSoLred, That the power oil annexing the PEG.
pie OF any independent foreign State TO this In
ion is power not delegated by the Constitution
Of The United States 10 their Congress or 10 any
department OF Their Government, but reserved 10y
the people.
"ReSolred, That any attempt by ACT of Con.
gress, or by treaty, TO annex The Republic of Tex
as TO This Union would be usurpaon of power. |
unlawful and void; and which ii ,co,.ld be The |
right and The duty Of The free People of Un-
| ION 10 resist and annui"
Upon these resolutions Mr.. ADAMS made Il |
speech, which will be long remembered by those
who heard it IN which he exposed and denoun- |
ced, with scathing severity, the whole Texan |
movements and the duplicty OF The administra- |
ton in regard 10 it,
Inc sudden and extraordinary recognition of |
Texan independence, followed by tho responsive |
application Of Texas TO the Union, had aroused
the people TO n sense Of the danger. This wake
lulness OF the public mind suggested to the man.
ayers the eHpedienry OF noi-eommiiiaL policy, |
Tor seasoni and lie Report OF the COMMITTEES
oil Foreign Retailers was The result. MIR. ADAMS
resolutions took tie bull by the horns and his
speech which was continued during fragments of |
LLe morning hour" from the 10Th Of June to The
ION OF july being the close of the session, gave,
Tor the time being an efieclual guietus TO the pro-
Ject Tor annexation. The session closed pending L
Mr. ADAMS speech, and no action was ever had
upon his resolutions; nor do the Journals OF Con-
gress present any trace OF the annexation move
Inent for lhran Vnnra aller