Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1841-1853, 1844-05-09

F' tHH HN'
or otherwise. with the con -cnt Of a number 81 voices n
the legislature. less than the whole" IN Nr. Charles
fNkneys daft, u was proposed that "ihe legislature shall
hsve power 10 admit new States into the Union. on tie
-ame terms with the original states. provide twoih RS OF
The nemi eTs present IA h1ih HOUSES agrt c'-leavIng cut
the clause ia respect 10 the character OF the territory. Nr.
Rnd'iph's proposition. containing The restriction cotG e.
mig he power 10 States k.UfuHp afIsipy .Iuia tie linz
Hs 4 he Jtifod Sfefs, va. at one tine adopted ~ Com.
nliice Il the Nhoie. aud IN tha, state, referred with oh.
err To he Committee Of detail. H. a draft Of a con.titu-
ton. reported by that commiliec, the arlicie upon this
subject coutai, cd the follow NJ propositions: 1t. That
ne" : 49,. lawfully constituted or established tci.kin tic
UNITS y ne United STATES. might ic admitted ~ the =
Stature IN tins government. 81. That t. such admission.
TIE consent oi ~two-ihIrds of the members present IA each
House should be necessary. 80. That II a new State
should ari-e within the limits Of any of the present States,
ihe consent vi the legislature Of such States should also
be necessary to ~ admission. tn That # the sdnis-
SION was consented L.. the new States should he admitted
on The same terms with the original States and 9Th.
That The legislature might make conditions with the new
states concerning the pubic debt then sui sisting. The
~, 4h q q oh clauses were stricken out by the votes Of
The convention and after that had been done, the follow
g was adeptd as a substitute for the whole, VIZ New
>thies NAV be- admitted hs The legislature into the Union /;
hut no new state shall be erected within tie limits Of any
81 the present States, without the consent OF the legislt-
ture OF such STATE, as well as Of the general legislature
-l'a'ing out that part of the first clause which related to
the domestic character of the territory and this subsil-
tuie was subsequently, revised and amended. 50 as TO make
II c'ni"rm III It's phra-eolaey To the section as it now
s'ahds IN me c"n-titution. These proceedings show that
the prop sliion TO restrict the power to admit new States
To The territory within The original limits Of the United
States, was disiincty before The convention, once adopted
nv H. and hnahy rejected IN favor Of a clause making he
power III his respect general. Whatever differences of
opihion may eXlst a. tn the propriety Of referring 10 e.
'fancous matter To influence the construction of the con-
stItution where ITS language is explicit. there can certainly
te no objections 10 n resort to such aids to tsi the cor
rcc'ness of differences. having no other basis than supposed
impr"tatiiftles. have not. therefore, been able to bring
my MIND 10 any other satisfactory COncluslOn Than that n
was tbs intention # the convention 10 give the power of
admitting new States TO Congress. with no other limita-
IONS Than those which are specified in that instrument
The language employed. the -pccii cations of certain re-
siricuons, The adoption and subsequent exclusion Of that
which Is now referred to, together with the subsequent and
continue action Of the new government, all seem to COM
uihe u render tins Interpretation Of the constitution the
true enc. Propositions for annexation can certainly be
imagined, OF a character 81 unwise aud improvident as Ia
s'fiks The minds OF allwiih repurnance. But IT we look over
the conceded powers of Congress. we shall also find many
others. the abuse OF which might involve. to an equally
great extent, the ~welhelhg Of tie republic, aud against
which abuse the constitution has prov idcd no other safe
guards than the responsibilities To their constituents aud
10 'he laws oil The land, OF those whose sanction Is neces-
safy to the validity Of an act of Congress. Nor is 1t We
" unreasonable To supp0se that those who based their gov
eminent upon the great principle that it is The right of the
people 10 alter or abolish it. aud to institute new ones. in
such iofms as they may think most likely to effect their
salty and ia oPiness. should feel themselves SECURE in
trusting To their representatives. in the House, in the Sen
ate aud IN the executive chair. the right to admit new
members into the confederacv. with no other restrictions
than those which they have thought proper to specify.
III was under this view of the constitution that the
purcha'o of l.nuisiiu in 1903, only fifteen years after
me adoption of The constitution. promising the incorpo-
ration Of the ceded territory into the Union. and the
admis-Inn, as soon as possible. OF the inhabitants to The
enjoyment Of all The rights. advantages. aud immunItles
OF the crizens If the United States. was ratified. con-
hrned, aud finally executed by every branch of The federal
government whose cooperation j. required by the consti-
'u'i'n' . Is true that MIR. Jefferson. IN the interval
between the negotiation and submission Of The treaty TO
TIE senate. threw out the opinion that the cons tuition
nae made no provision for our holding foreign territory.
hr i"r incorporating foreign States into the Union. The
iaet oi his approving the treaty. and the laws necessary
To ITS execution. must. however, be regarded as conclusive
PROOF that. upon looking further into the matter. his
opinion Wis changed. Tie attempt To convince him If
ms er'or was made by his friend. Governor Nicholas. as
appears hy Nr ], llers MS letter tn him; aud have little
doubt that. If his letters to- Breckenridge aud Nicho.as
had been published IN his life time, or his attention. been
IA any other wav directed To their contents. he would.
rom ms haliiuai career in such matters. have avowed the
chaI &c, and explained the grounds on which II was based.
Ii IS equally true that the acceptance Of the cession. as
well as The admission Of the state, became party ques-
tons, and were contested with partisan warmth. on The
vital importance of that great acquisition to the safety.
prosperity, aud honor Of the whole Union, there can,
however. Low be no diversity of opinion. But the coun-
o,.s of the nation. il the course of time. ceased to Ice a;
all divided upon the question Of constitutional power To
accept a eess'on OF foreign territory. with a view TO lis
ultimate admission into the Union. In 1919 the
' '''f w Wv tTrtb w u hWt ''o i''ihis
containing 'hc usual stipulation for ultimate incorporation
into the Union. " a ratified; and, upon the cali of the
names OF tie Senators present. II appeared that every
ore voted Tor the ratification. Upon the question Of
constitutional power. so far as that case went. the Senate
oil The tnited states had. ther.fre. become unanimous.
Certainly n" remarks are necessary To show ihat. there
can te no possible difference produced in the constitutional
question ~ the relsive positions of the territory com
p'l>'ng LOUISIANA. the Floridas. and Texas, ia respect to
the old United States.
have gone thus fully and minuielv into this matter
rs well from a deep sense Of the vast importance of the
question. as from n sincere desire To satisfy those OF nv
ile'd s VIII" may differ from me on this point. aud whose
opinions hold in the highest respect. that have not
welded my assent hastily or unadviss dy To The views I
have here taken Of the subject.
Having fhus given YOU my views upon the constitution.
al question, | will. with the same frankness. answer The
remaining portsn of your inquiries. w: the e~xpediency
II immediately anneNitg Texas tn the United States. or
50 soon a s her consent TO such annexation nay be OBJ
tanned.
have already referred 10 an application for the accom-
Pii>hnent ct the same object that W rs made tn this gov
by Texas. while ! was President. The history
81 the Texan revolution. aud The then condition Of that
republic, rs we'll rs the probable advantages 10 result To
both from the proposed annexation. were placed before U.
IN an elaborate and abe communications. 1t can scarcely
be necessary 10 say that the application was console, ed
with that attention and are which were due tn : o grave a
proposition, and under the full influence of fee lngs OF stn-
sollciiude for the prosperity and permanent welfare
OF a young AMI neighb0ring Safe. whose independence
we had htcp tie first To- acknowledge-tselngs which con-
stltuie. aud sincerely hope. ever will constitute. The pre-
vaIling senuurn: # the peo lie o. ~. United States. In
To the decision which II became my duty TO make,
] was aided. in addition To other members f my cabinet
By the counsel aud constitutional advice of two dis,in-
citizens of your section of the Union. Il the frs,
order of intellect. great exuertenCe ln public all tlfs. and