The daily Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1841-1845, 1844-06-25

Ia Senate, June 4, ls44-In secret session on the
treaty for the anneration Of Texas to the United
States
Mr.. WOODBURY. sold
IL understand the substance Of all the objections
to the ratification Of the present treaty, whether ex.
pressed in resolutions or debate, II Is this.
First, that the government OF the United States
does not possess the constitutional right or power 10
purchase Texas and admit her PEOPLE lut0 the Union
Next, that the present government Of Texas slo
has not the RICH. or competency to make such
sion OF her territory and sovereignty. And, finally,
that il is not duty at present To complete the
sion, even we're the right on both sides clear
This seems to me TO be the whole case, when
stripped of details and perplexing appendages.
shall examine these positions separately and trust
with that fairness and dispassonate spirit which be-
longs TO question 20 momenton, TO our own coun-
try, as well as sister republic que ,tou, too, on
which speak as the organ OF no administration or
party, but above and beyond them ALL as an lndepen
dent senator OF an Independent State and trying to
regard her interests, and those of the whole Union
in the long vista of the future, no less than at the
present moment.
Some deny the constitutional power to pyfchas
any territory situated without our original limits
while others deny not only that but The power, at
any time TO admit such territory and inhabitants into
the Union States
Both Of these powers have been exercised in the
cases of buying Louisiana and the Floridas and at
forwards of admitting the three States of Louisiana,
Arkan-as and Missouri carved out Of the former
territory They have, therefore, long been regarded
"a se,eed questions, till the opposition TO them in this
chamber, by the senators from New Jersey Massa-
chusets, and Rhode Island, Nessrs MmIrR, Cno-
ATE, and SIMMONS, has burst forth with such vehe-
mence that it may be well to advert TO few princi-
piles and authorities IN their support
do this the more readily, as the pretence that
such purchase and admission into the Union I'M
constitutional, is the only plausible justification for
the otherwise treaoherous or fanatical cry Of DsU-
MON, which often deafens our ears. That cry
originated on an occasion almost identical with this
when the act for admitting Louisiana as State 10
1911, was pending.
In the debate on that occasion a member from
Massachusetts overlooked with such threats, till he
called TO order for his violence and escaped cen
sure on an appeal from the Speakers decision against
him, only from conviction in OF his opponents
that his threats would prove harmless. II was then
the memorable saying first uttered, which is now
ringing again In from the class Of poll
clans and from the State, but with less point
and elegance in these degenerate days. Mr.. Quincy
said
of this bill passes it is my deliberate opinion that
1t is virtually dissolution Of the Union-that Il will
free the States from their moral obligations and that
as il will then be the right Of ALL so II will be the do.
y Of some definitely TO prepare for separation-smi-
caby II they can, forciby II they must ~ (See Ma
tonal lnicllIgencer, Jan. 49, 1919, and Lambert on
Rules, 7tth page.)'
II Is true that the madness Of faction can threaten
dsunion on the smallest, well as greatest occs-
slOns and may at times venture on IT, unless deferred
by dread OF the halter but II is equally true that
there Is no more real occasion or iu.lic son for il
now, than there was when so much vaporing passed
off barmessly in 1903 and 10 about Louisiana. or
thar there was m the purchase Of Florida IN 1919 or
the admission Of Missouri IN 1892 n those pur.
chases and admissions were constitutional so are
these and IN order TO alay the renewed excitement
on this point, (honest with many, have no doubt
the patience Of the Senate is asked a few minutes
The words Of the 81 section, article 4,h of the
Constitution, are NEW States may be admitted bv
the Congress into the Union This is the whole
that bears on the point under consideration and
broad and explicit enough to cover all cases deemed
The Democratic party Notwithstanding. passed
the bill by vote Of II yeas to IS nays The for.
rser included those sterling Repubicans-tbe Crav-
fords, Macons, Calhouns Bscons, Cults yskes and
even Clays and Roots while the latter were made
up Of the Quincys and Wheatons, and the Hsles and
Wilson's, who then stood at the head of the FEDERAL
ism Of the East The original treaty had been ratl.
fed IN like manner by ~ Republican yeas and 7
Federal nays How is the division Of opinion on this
subject now AT Wing anti-annex alton meeting in
Worcester, Massachusetts,, a resolution was recently
adopted to separate the free States from the
Il annexation prevailed" And ten members of the
House Of Representatives, headed by Messrs. Adams
Giddings, and Slade, issued manifesto. last yea,
declaring that annexation would be identical with
dissolution Of the n.n-(See II in Nile,is Regis
ter, l15th page for May 18th, lsi3)
The Boston Times of the LIST inst which arrived
here this morning, says likewise, the Abotionis,s
passed vote last evening to dissolve the Union.r