The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1844-08-19
Great Rally of the PeOple"Daniel
Webster on Annexation,

On the 9th inst there Tremendous rally Of
the People of Western Massachusetts at Springfield,
II is estimated that there on the ground TWEEN
TY TO THIRTY thousand people. Among other
speakers Daniel Webster. Ne copy from the
Atlas the following notice of his remarks:
''The eloquent address of Mr. Choate was followed
up by AN admirable review of the grounds that had
been occupied by the several Speakers by the Hon.
Daniel Webster, who occupied half an hour conin-
ing his remarks principally 10 the tariff and the
nexaon of Texas. lie concurred with MIR Choate
in believing that the election of Polk carried with it
ofnccessy, not merely the imminent danger, but the
inevitable certainty, Of the annexation Of Texas To
that measure his opposition not based upon
violations of treaty and the like. 1t was the same
whether Mexico objected TO the admission or whether
she was in favor of it, 1t was founded on the great
and everlasting objection 10 the extension Of African
slavery. The object OF annexation was TO extend and
perpetuate slavery, and to strengthen the political
power orits advocates in this country. This could
not be denied. 1t was too clearly and distinctly a
vowed by its advocates. 1t could even be shown
from the official documents of our own Government
1t has been openly uvowed by some, who have been
most urgent for the annexation of Texas, that there
danger it might become free country, and we
were even threatened with dissolution Of the Union if
Texas not admitted.
He spoke Of the throwing overheard Of Van Buren,
and the nomination Of Polk, the ground Of annex
alton, as ofthe most humiliang surrenders of
principle he had ever known a party guilty Of He
insisted that it solely upon tho grounds of annex
alton, and upon nothing else, that this had been eff
fected. Polk and Annexation of Texas were one
and the same thing; they were the Castor and Pol
lux Of Loco Focoism; if one appeared the other was
sure to. The election of Polk and the annexation
ofIexas, therefore, he regarded as SYNONYMOUS. He
regarded this question IA in the history Of
human slavery and human liberty; i, was a question
whether the progress of public opinion in favor of hu-
man liberty and of the abolition ofsIavery throughout
the world should be arrested.
Mr. Webster, spoke with much effect of the fatal
effects of liberty patysm and the divided action of
men entertaining similar views, He hoped that there
would be a united action, well as united feeling,
the part of those who opposed to the annex
alton of Texas. Every vote for Polk was n d.
rect vote given for annexation, and every
vote not given, given for any body except Henry
Clay was the same half vote for Polk and an
nexaton; and every who gave either a whole
vote or hara vote for Polk and the perpetuation OF
negro slavery, must be answerabe to his conscience
and the country for the consequences.
| 1t is insult to understanding to tell us that
Mr. Polk is not opposed TO the Tariff Ikno,c that he
is. ten years with him IN Congress, and had
| l been called upon to select man most decidedly
opposed to the Tariff, should have chosen james
| K. Polk; and those who nominated him knew this as
wcll as do. If our principles are wrong abandon