Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1844-08-23
THE TEXAS QUESTION.

fiat-footed for the annexation Of Texas-slaves,
debt. war and all And what are his reasons for
abandoning his former patriotic ground on this
question: We will state them and endeavor to
the best of our ability to show their fallacy.
L. The expressed sense of the majority is against
admitting Texas on terms that will tend 10
strengthen the institution of slavery Who sup
poses that will make any difference in case Of the
election Of Polk and BALLAST win the Southern
slave holding power or IFS natural ally, Northern
locoiocosm, be deferred one moment from consun-
mating this infamous project, merely because pop
ular feeling is opposed to the increase Of slavery
As well might neghbor tell us that because the
depressed sense Of community is averse 10 the
purloining of public monies, Van Buren's legtreas
urers, il replaced in Office, would not dare TO
Swartwout for that reason. Precious little they or
the party that is trying to bring back their rule,
cares for the will of the people. Let them regain
the power and they would force the scheme upon
the country despite lis lamentations, they did
the Sub Treasury
g 'Three-fnhs Of the soil and climate of Texas
are declared unsuited 10 the existence of slavery.
That may be, and yet not amount TO much. As we
have always understood it, the upland districts in
" unsettled The Texans have thus far turned
their attention to cotton and sugar raising, in which
they employ slaves, and nearly the whole popula-
ton of Texas is centercd in the section fitted for
those products. And this slave holding part will
Immediately exercise its power, and that power rap
idly increase so long the demand for cotton and
sugar holds good. Thus it may be years before the
free portion of Texas, though il be larger,
exercise an equal power with the slave holding por-
ton, much less obtain a preponderance. On the
other hand, there the contagion Of example to in
duce even this unsuitable portion TO take up slave
ry and the certainty-witness Missouri-that the
South would allow restriction to be placed upon
it in regard 10 such a step. Again,-if this argu-
ment is a weighty one, why is the South anxious
for a measure which will tend but TO weaken her
power in Congress- Has not the whole end and
aim Of her policy for years. been to strengthen her
peculiar institution, and to make the undue
power she gains by il. How comes it that she is
of sudden so wonderfully dsinterested' She has
tried to maintain herself she by even de-
pressing the energies OF the North, and preventing
il from much outgrowing her il is strange that
she should now jump at scheme which will (if
neghbor speaks truly go directly TO lessen her
relative power.
3. Its constdntionaty Texas was originally n
part of our Southwest territory So we suppose
if our neghbor had legally and fairly disposed of
lot of land attached to his farm, he has a consiitu
tiona right to possession Of that lot at any
time il may please him, and in defiance OF the pres
cnt owner Again-'She has established her title
TO act independently Of Mexico, even il originally
dependency Of that power But Mexico may be
able to reconquer her, and she has undoubted
right 10 dos so. Should we then annex Texas, we
by every principle of national law espouse her quar-
rel with Mexico, and that too for no reason of our
own. We violate the treaty by which in 1881 we
bound ourselves TO maintain FIRM and ISvIoLA-
BLE PEACE with Mexico and oil her dependencies
Is that constitutional ? Once more: We would
thank neighbor to point us 10 the clause in our
Constitution where an independent foreign power
can be annexed to the United States Ii pcol.
lect aright il is expressly declared that Congress
cannot admit States formed of foreign territory into
our Union and yet that is what the locofocos pro-
pose to do. Is Florida or Louisiana named They
were both colonies, and all nations have right to
dispose OF their colonies. Besides, the acquisition
of Louisiana even was feared TO be demonstrations
al by MIR Jefferson himself.
a. 1--WE do not fear war with England The
English government has thrice officially disavow
ed any design ofinterierng with the affairs of Tex
as, and therefore this 'alarm-cty' Of locofocosm
should go for nothing Her national word is sure
ly entitled TO some consideration, and we are will
ling TO take it, Again-'Mexico ioN not war with
u.s.. She has officially proclaimed that the annex
alton Of Texas will be regarded as declaration Of
war against her; and our government evidently
thought such would be the result when il sent
troops TO the borders of Texas and stationed ma
val force to cruise off Vera Cruz. And, TO say
thing of the horrors and cost of the war, how
should appear before the civilized world in such
4 contest' I'VE TO use the eloquent language of
Hon. Charles Hudson, in recent letter. we, pro-
Tossing to stand on the high and elevated principles
of justice, snatching from sister Republic por-
ton of her territory, in direct violations OF treaty
stipulations I'VE, who claim to be peaceable ma
ton, wantonly engaging in war of conquest -
we, who boast of our freedom, rushing wickedly
into hostilities 10 extend and perpetuate within
own borders that which we ourselves have pro-
nounced PIRACY upon the ocean--SLAVERY and
the SLAVE TRADER
1t is strange that the Democrat editor should
overlook all these things, and consider only the
PedieI,cy and probability, OF war after Pretendingin
the first part of his article that he was governed on
iy by the original and immutabe DEGREES of eter-
nal justice ! Strange is il that The breaking Of
our plighted faith---the direct violation of our
constitution-and foul insult to the Expressed
sense Of Christendom, which, as he truly remarks,
is in favor of peace-should all at once in our
neighbor's political vision, become no invasion of
moral rights and privileges Strange, too, is it
that he regards with silent complaccncy the as
sumption Of a TwEETY-MILLIoE FOREIGN DEBT, at.
ter all the holy horror he has expressed of that
sbObear of his own nartv in We nIion an aka,ifnn