The Arkansas banner., 1844-05-29

the Federal Government, an abandonment of the most solemn obligations imposed by the guarantee which the States, in adopting the Constitution, entered upon to protect each other against whatever might endanger their safety, whether from without or within. Act ing in obedience 10 this obligation, on which our federal system of Government rests, the President directs me to inform you that treaty has been concluded between the Uni ted States and Texas, for the annexation of the latter to the former as part of its terri tory, which will be submitted without delay to the Senate for sapproial. This step has been taken as the most eileetual, if not the only means of guarding against the threaten ed danger, and securing their permanent peace and welfare.
 lt Is well known that Texas has long de- sired to be annexed to this Union: that her people, at the time ol the adoption ol her Constitution, expressed, by uu almost unani- nous vote, her desire to that effect; and that she has never ceased to desire t'as the most certain means of promoting her safety and prosperity. The United States have hereto fore declined to meet her wishes, butthe time has now arrived when they can no longer refuse consistently with their own security and peace, and the sacred obligation imposed by their constitutional compact for mutual defence and protection. Nor are they III any way responsible for the circumstances which have imposed t4is obligation on them They had no agency in bringing about the state ot things which has terminated in the separa- ton of Texas from Mexico. It was the Span lsh Government and Mexico herself which invited and offered high inducements to our citizens to colohize Texas. That from the diversity of character, habits, religion, and political opinions, necessarily led to the sepa- ration, without the interference of the United States ill any manner whatever. l. is true, the United States, at an early period recogni- zed the independence of Texas; but, in doing so, il IS we'll known they hn-LActed in con lormity with an established principle 10 re- cognise the Government de tacto. They had previously actedon thesame principle in ree- renee to Mexico herself, and the other Go- vernments which have risen on the former dominions of Spain on this Continent
 They are equally without responsibility for that state of things, already adverted to as the immediate cause of imposing on them, in seli-delence, the obligation of adopting the measure they have They remained passlve, so long as the policy on the part of Great Britain, which has led to its adoption, had no immediate bearing OH their peace and safety While they conceded to Great Britain the right of adopting whatever policy she might deem best, in reference to the African race with her own possessions, they, on their part, claim the same right for themselves.- The policy she has adopted in reference 10 the portion of that race, in her dominions. may be humane and wise; bat it does noliol- low, if 1t prove so with her, that 1t would be so in reference to the United States and other countries, whose situation differs from hers. But, whether it would be or not, il belongs to each to judge and determine for tself-
 Wlth us, It IS a question to be decided. not by the Federal Government, butby each mem
 Der of this Union for itself, according to its
 own views of it's domestic policy, and with
 out any right on the part of the Federal Go vemment to interfere in any manner what
 ever. Its rights and duties are limited to pro-
 teeting, under the guarantees of the Censti-
 tution, each member of this Union, in what
 ever policy 1t may adopt ill reference to the 1 portion within its respective limits large
 number of the States has decided, that it is neither wise nor humane to change the rela-
 ton which has existed, from their first set-
 tlement, between the two races, while others,
 where the African is less numerous, have adopted the opposite policy.
 It belongs not to the Government 10 ques-
 ton whether the former have decided wisely
 or not: and if 1t did, the undersigned would
 not regard this as the proper occasion to dis
 cuss the subject. He does not, however,
 deem Il irrevalent 10 state, that if the expe-
 rence of more than half century is to de-
 eide, 1t would be neither humane nor wise
 in them to change their policy. The census
 and other authentic documents show that, iu
 all instances in whichthe States have changed
 the former relation between the two races
 the condition of the African, instead of being
 improved, has become worse. They hay,
 been invariably sunk into vice, and pauper ism, accompanied by the bodily and menia
 inllictions incident thereto-deafness, blind ness, insanity, and idiocy, to a degree with [ out example: while in all other States whicl r have retained the ancient relations, they hay, , improved greatly in every respect--in mum Der, comfort, intelligence, and morals-a r the following lacls, taken from such sources
 will serve to illustrate:
 [ The number of deaf and dumb, blind , idots, and insane, of the negroes in the State that have changed the ancient relation be tween the races, is out of every 96; whilt in the States adhering to il, it is out 0 f every 672-that IS, 7 to in favor of the lat ter, as compared with the former.
 The number of whites, deaf and dumb 9 blind, idiots and insane, in the States tha i, have changed the relation, Is in every 56l ] being nearly GOO to l against the free black 5 ill the same States.
 , The number of negroes who are deaf an 2 dumb, blind, dots and insane, paupers an 2 in prison, in the States have changed, i !, out of l5l; or 22 to l against the former 3 as compared with latter.
 ] Taking the two extremes of North ani l South-in the State of Maine, the number 0 - nepr0es returned as deaf and dumb. blind in