The Spartan. [volume] (Spartanburg, S.C.) 1843-1852, 1844-07-17

IL has no constitutional power TO take any steps
whatever In relatoR 10 treaties, or to anne xation
unless by ajoint resolution humbly conceive,
therefore. Mr. President, that this charge, which
seems to have so deeply excited the honorable se-
nator, OF an interference on the part Of the execu
1--WE with the privileges of the Senate, is entirely
without foundation. / am at loss to see why IL.
IS that, IN introducing bill ior the annexation of
Texas, ethe honorable senator should direct his
whole argument to the denunca,ion of the defunct
treaty. Why, sir, we have strangled that treaty
it is dead. Why now make war upon the
ghost9 We have, to be sure, many instances in
history to show that a ghost is sometimes more
terrible than living man. Cesar was assassina-
ted in the Roman Senate. Those who slew him
felt perfectly fearless while taking the life of the
living man; but when the ghost Of Caesar appear
ed to the leading conspra,or and in the silence Of
night exclaimed, 81 will meet thee again, at Phil
iPPi!' he was thrown into despair. And, MIR.
President, if the ghost Of this trcaty-if the ghost
OF Texas should present itself here TO haunt the
midnight couch OF any senator, to whom could it
excaitn with more p-opriety than to the honorable
senator from Missouri, 'Et tn Brutc!"
Mr. President, the honorable senator has an
nounced very truly to the Senate that he has been
tor twenty-h years friend of Texas; and he
seems to consider that circumstance as giving him
Prescrptive and exclusive right to dispose of
this r., "hca q,'o".'. -! >'.-;s:.i>:: .
was no: Extensively intended, but which, if it could
be regarded as serious, would be very much so:
he stigmatzed all the advocates of the annexation
OF Texas as neoph ytes-new plants-recent con-
verts-totally incapable of Judging of this great
and vital question. Indeed, sir, the honorable Sc
nator has substantially said: II invite YOU all to
come and take lessons from mel" He said in so
many words: These neophytes had better come
to school to me on the subject of aunexing Texas!
Now, Mr.. President, think heard the honorable
senator once remark, that if God had made him
Tor any special purpose it was to he a schoolmas-
ter And if wanted to learn Spanish, French,
or Italian, don't know of master that would
select in preference to the honorable senator But
really this thing of putting senators to school to
learn grave questions Of craftsmanship after they
have reached the age of forty five or ftv is rather
an awkward business. The honorable senator
must excuse me if, much as l respect his talents
ternational law from him. But he went on to in
innate that we were strangely deficient Of the rca-
son'ng faculties, as excmplfed by some Of the ar
guments which have been maintained on this side
OF the floor; and | understood him to bcseech us
Oh 10 try and exercise some little common sense
and not repeat arguments which were scarcely fit
for misses at boarding school. Why sir this
looks very much like the school-master In earnest.
agree with the honorable senator in the estimate
which he places upon common sense. have al
ways regarded it us the highest faculty Of tho hu-
man mind. The success of all the truly great
men in the world-Washington Frederick the
Great, Wellington, Napoleon, and the lke-will
be found to have been owing almost entirely to
this faculty applied to the great affairs of war and
craftsmanship. Now, as the honorable senator in
Inmates that the advocates Of the annexation of
texas are destitute of this faculty, confess feel
this charge with some sensibity for if l were
sure had not that guiding star Of the mind, there
wing. To be sure. / have heard of very brilliant
men--who have made dazzling display before
the eyes OF nations-who had every kind of sense
but common sense.
But. sir, however powerful a mans imae gina
hon-however brilliant his carcer-if he has not
places its destiny in his hands. regard this,
therefore, as the gravest charge of ALL and should
no sorry to believe that there is portion Of the
Senate OF the United States, majority in the
House OF Representatives, aid three fourths of the
people OF the United States against whom such a
charge may be justly made.
But the honorable senator, in his own exclusive
views OF this subject, seems to have placed him.
sell IN a very solitary a very awkward position
In the great division Of parties what shall we call
the honorable senator, and under what flag shall
we hnd himi Here l have paper in my hand
and 1t Is headed with the common motto Of all the
democratic papers throughout the Union-"Poli
ana feSHs. with an extract from Mr. Folks lot
ter in favor of immediate annexation" and Gene
raj Jackson's celebrated sentiment Of snow or ne
ver.' What sort OF an impression would the hon.
orable senator make at great popular meeting in
the town OF Nashville, in favor of Polk and Tex
as, with the speech which he delivered the other
day! L am really afraid, sir, he will find himself
brought unexpectedly into strange company, and
thrown IN with strange bed fellows. happenet.
to pick up this morning paper, in which 1 frd
the following placard, said to have been tackled =,
a a. courthouse door, in Kentucky. by whig can-
John Brent, coon; has a sickly wife and cie
small children; is very poor, afraid to STEAL too
lazy to work, in favor of the tariff but aeainsl
Texas; would like to be elected to the Legislature.
but am fearful shan't, the State appears to be
going for Butler and Texas"
Nor as the two great parties are rallyng &C.
the approaching campaign, with immediate al
ton as 'n" Of the issues, Il Is be apprshea-
ded that the honorable senator will be thrown our
OF the democratic position he has ably occupied
although he still stands in the front rank on all IT,,
other great principles and measures of the demo
cratic party But on this question of anne xation