Rutland herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1823-1847, 1844-10-17

sraints Of rigid justice TO the existing mem.
bers ofihe eonf,deracy No fancied benefits
can ever compensate for the Preparation Of
wrong--,he inniction OF injustice under any
circumstances whatever.
Bot It IS att mped 10 obviaie the consti- /
tuition difficulty, by claiming title 10 Texas
ms paii Of the Louisiana purchase, & calling |
the purpos,d measure remuneration. In /
reference 10 this II is sufficient TO say that
by the Treaty Of lsl9 with Spain. after a !
pro,racled neeo, alton with regard TO The
Southern bouudarv OF Louisiana, u was n
greed TO FIX II on the Sabine that the yicl-
ding OF our disputed claim TO Texas enter
I'd into he consideration of the ccsslon 10
us Of Florida and ,ha, the linz thus estnb-
( lshed was subsequ ntlv confirmed nv our
I Treaty OF limits with Mexico The claim to
/ remuneration then. is ms thought upon the
possible inderendeace ofCana laand a treaty
| with her confirming the boundary establish.
I'd byhe treaty ofWashinptonw shed after.
wards claim as our own the territory ceded
by US 10 that arrangement, because it was
embraced within our formerly claimed lin.
It's Who would be willing 10 hazard the
peace or the honor Of the country. upon
lsuch a claim as this 2 And yet such is the
claim for remuneration.
But there is another insurmouniable con-
s,iutional objection. II is found in the par-
yoe of annexation. That purpose is 10 es-
tahlish and perpeluaie slavory--and attempt
to 90 which by Il e general government s Of
itself manifest violation Of the national
compact For where is to be found among
the powers granted in the constitution, the
semblancc ola power to establish or perpet.
uate slavery, any where2 With the ex-
ccp'ion Of the provisions for delivering up
fugitive and the suppression Of in
surrcction and the three fihhs slave repre-
scnta,ion in ono branch of Congress, the
constitution confers on slavery no privilege I;
and imposes no duty, and confers no power
on Congress looking in the rcmotest de-
gree, to its support. 1t was n state institu-
ton before the constitution was formed and
so far MS that constitution is concerned, ii
remains so still-free to live. if il can. bu,
certain 10 die without unconstitutional aid
, for its support That aid it is The purpose Of
annexation to afford.
The onward progress of freedom, under
rs high impulses, is rapidly changing the
balance Of power, and leaving slavery to
, perish; and now the nation is suddenly
called on to come to its rescuc--io infuse
into fresh life and vigor, and 10 prolone
, and Perpeiuate its power. And this at the
, expiration of more than half a century from
the formation of the constitution, when tht
entire nation entertained the belief that slave
: ry couldnot survive the first quarter of a cen
, ury of our national existence.
I 1t is said, indeed, that annexation vii
no, have the effect of charging and sustain
ing the power of slavery. But whoeve
t considers the relation between demand anc
/. supply in the commerce of the world. vii
S be at no loss 10 perceive the connection
: between the consumption Of human energ,
S and human life in the enlarged cultivation
Y of Texas annexed and the increased produc
g ton in our slave breeding States for the sun
. ply of the demand thus created Sucl
Q was the effect of the acquisition of Louis
lana That slavery is destined, with annex
. alton, to recede gradually to the South, I'M
!, al II mel,s away and becomes lost in n mi y
n ture of races somewhere between the line o
n Mason & Dixon and the is,hmus Of Da,ien
o is IA vision of fancy as baseless as the fab
l. ric of dream. Nothing in the past vii
G justify us in believing i, can ever become ;
!. realty.
II To attempt for any purpose, transfer
a nation Of the present, into the new unlol
|. which annexation would create, would
c an insuherable invasion of our rights; bu
If TO attempt il for the purpose of sustaining
n sla very, and subjecting the tenenls of thes
,e mountains TO its prolonged power, is t
= be thought of with no dream of submssio
n. to 1t for an hour. Upon the consuma,io
!. of the threatened measure, do not hesita'
,e TO say tina, j, would be the duty of Vernon
10 10 declare her unalerable determination
n. have no connexion with the new uniol
r. thus formed without her consent, and a gain
X. her will 10 carry out this determinatio
of would not be 10 dissolve the union, but
m refuse TO submit to its dissolution, not
n. nuIlify. put to resist notification.
40 do not undervalue the Union. great
q. value, and would preserve it. But II is tn
ID union of which the present constitution
n the bond. II the question were properl
IN submitted to Vermont whether she wou
70 come into a new union, we would delibe
nj ate upon it 4; but the question whether v
n. will submit 10 be forced into il, under pr
of tence of power to do so which does n
ur exist, IS not to be debated for moment, at
more than we would debate the question
on submission 10 a foreign yoke.
ID. But why,afier all should annexation be d
ad sired by anybody2 What conceivable mott
its is there for ii, having referred to the go'
he OF the whole country2 How is it TO ben
I'D f, the Union 2 Who can assure US, indee
in ofthe capacity of our Union to resist Il
en- strong tendencies to dissolution, OF such I
,o- acquisition What wise& prudent staiesm'
re. will be willing to hazard such an expo