The northern galaxy. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1844-1848, 1844-03-20
MIR. SHADES SPEECH
AT THE WING STATE CONVENTION.
Concluded.

AT THE WING STATE CONVENTION.
Concluded.
Having considered the increment, and its
nl0tlre, | will dwell few moments upon the
effects of aunexation-or rather of an at
tempt at annexation. say attempt, because
| consider absolute GnnerQtion, as entirely out
Of the question. Texas will never be united
to this coniederacy. There are principles Of
repulsionwhich forbid the possibility of union.
There mny be an attempt, either by an abuse
of the treaty making power, or an act of Con-
gress, or both combined. But by whatever
means it may be attempted,-by how many
soever agencies, direct or indirect-the mo-
ment the deed is done. there will be demon
STATIONS Of feeling which the mad-cap NOV
ers of he scheme little dream of. Gov. Gil
mer affects to think that the excitement will
be "salutary." He believes that sit will
bring about better understanding Of our re-
lative rights and obligations. And so do /.
Such an understanding, indeed, as shall reach
the bottom of our Federal Compact-taking
hold of the foundations on which ii rests
sitting thoroughly the whole matter Of the
% compromises of the onstitution''-show-
ing the extent of their violation by the slave
power-exposing the enormous encroach-
ments Of slavery, and its utter incompatibiliIy
with freedom-and, above all. proving, to
demonstration, what is asserted in the Resolu-
ton am considering-that annexation will
" abolsh the old, by the constitution of new
political family and thus break up the founda-
lions of our Federal Union"
This last point has not received the consid-
Grafton it deserves 1t seems to be taken for
granted by many, that the question Of annex.
alton is to be treated like any other question
of mere erpediency. Gov. Gilmer thus treats
it; and holds out to the North and West, the
lure of proft-as though, if the advantages
in that respect could be established, the whole
question would be settled. This is fatal err
ror. There is deeper question than that of
pecuniary profit and loss. Annexation would
be, ipSo fdcto, destruction of the Union
The introduction of "nine States" or one
State, from beyond its present limits-I will
say, from beyond its original limits-makes it
anew political family, organized or attempted
TO be organized upon a new basis-not the ba-
sis of the Constitution-not the basis of the
will Of the family with which the Union is
sought, but upon the basis Of treaty, or an
act Of Congress, which the President and Sen
ate, or Congress have no more right to make
or enact, than they have to declare that these
United States shall be annexed to, and form
part of, the British Empire. 1t would not be
an ordinary violation of the Constitution, to
be corrected by the ordinary process Of judi
cial decision. The disease would not be
functional, but organic. 1t would change the
structure Of our Federal System, or rather
the parties to the Union-so that it would
cease to be the Union formed by the Consti
tuition of 81. In the language of the Reso-
luton, the foundations ofthe Federal Union
would be broken up"
If annexation is TO be affected at all, it
must be the act of the people in the exercise
of their original sovereignty. To form the
new Union, the same process must be gone
through with, that preceded the formation of
the old one. No delegated power under the
old, can be adequate to the formation of the
new.
This reasoning which would be conclusive
in regard to the attempted annexation of any
kind of State to the COnfederacy,is especial
ly so in reference to the attempted addition Of
a Stare State. Slavery is an exotic in the
soil of freedom. 1t was felt to be such when
the Constitution was formed. The ''self evil
dent" truth that 50 all men are created equal
was the soil which brought forth the COnsti-
tuition of our Union, and the Constitutions of
the States that originally composed it. The
preamble even to the Constitution of Virgin-
ia expressly asserted that great truth.
But slavery existed; and, for the sake ofthe
Union, it was suffered to remain; not, how
ever, as cherished element of our system,
but as thing TO be tolerated during the brief
period which it was supposed would limit its
existence. WILLIAM PINKNER spoke the
sentiments of that day when he said, in the
Maryland House of Delegates in 17S9-"IHe
lily and the brambLe may gro,c in social Pror-
inlity, but liberty and starery. delight IN sep
aration." The extension of slavery was not
dreamed of, even within our original limits
much less by the addition of States beyond
those limits; and still less by the addition of
States obtained for the drored purpose of
such extension. The annexation of Texas,
tcih lis slarery, would therefore give the fun
damental violation of the Constitution of
which have spoken, the aggravation of an
attempt to make slavery apermanent element
of power, quarterof century, at least, af-
ter the men of 81 thought it would cease to
be.
But it is said the Constitution expressly pro-
vides that "new States may be admitted by
Congress into the Union" Very true: but
is this TO be taken without limitation! lfthere
had been no territory within our original linn
itsjupon which this provision could take effect,
it would have been conclusive of the question
as to the power to admit new States beyond
those limits. But there was snch territory.
We had the Territory North West Of the riv-
err Ohio, which had been ceded by Virginia;
and in regard to which the Ordinance of 1877
had provided for its admission, as ''not less |
than three, more than five States" Tito the
Union. And new States twas contemplated, |
might be formed out of the existing States,
some of which had large unsettled territories.
Hence it was added to the clause authorizing
the admission of new States" But no new
States shall be formed and created within the