Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1844-10-25

submitted to, until the action Of the appro-
pirate judicial tribunal could reach and rem
! edy the evil. But this is case which no
judicial power can reach. The foreign
state once admitted, and the mischief is
done, irrecovabIy; and resistance on the
part of the injured states becomes the only
remedy, though it may involve the hazard
of forever quenching the watch-ires Of our
liberty and union in blood.
The right to annex is claimed TO rest on
the grant of power in the constitution to
admit new states into the union. IL there
limits upon which this power could operate,
the right to admit states from beyond them
would seem necessarily to have been EN-
braced in the general grant of power But
such territory existed, large and ample
The advocates of annexation would seem,
therefore, to be thrown upon the necessity
of furnishing evidence of intention, quite
beyond any thing that can be found in the
general language--"New States may be adj
mitted by the Congress into this Union. -
which, if allowed the latitude contended for,
would leave no limit to the exercise of the
power, short Of the entire habitabe globe.
That the trainers Of the constitution had in
their contemplation provision admitting
such latitude, is incredible, and it is e.
qually so that if they had such intention,
they should have failed to express it, in Lam
guoge suited to the grant of power of such
fearful magnitude as that of efecting, by
simple act of Congress, an essential change
in the relations of the constituent members
of the coniederacy and this, too, while
Congress is invested with no power to
change even line Of the constitution
which can only be done by The solemn act
of three lourths Of the states Of this union.
Ardent minds may have glowing visions
OF greatness, and glory and good TO man, in
prospect of the boundless exercise of the
claimed power; but 1t is for the sober and
thoughtful, and wise and truly benevolent,
TO check such anticipations, and chasten
such desires, by submitting them to the re-
straints of rigid justice to the existing men,
hers of the confederacy. No fancied bene-
fits can ever compensate for the preparation
of wrong-the infection of injustice, under
any circumstances whatever.
But it is attempted to obviate the consii-
tutionaI difficulty, by claiming title TO Texas
as part Of the Louisiana purchase, and call
ing the proposed measure re-annexation.-I
In reference to this it is sufficient TO say
that by the treaty of 1919 with Spain, after
a protracted negotiation with regard TO the
Southern boundary of Louisiana, it was
agreed to fix it on the Sabine that the
yielding of our disputed claim to Texas en-
tered into the consideration Of the cession
TO us of Florida; and that the line thus es-
tablished was subsequently confirmed by
our Treaty of limits with Mexico. The
claim to remuneration, then, is as though,
upon the possible independence Of Canada,
and treaty with her confirming the boun-
dairy, established by the treaty Of Washing
ton we should afterwards claim as our own.
the territory ceded by ms in that arrange
ment, because II was embraced wItmn our
formerly claimed limits. Who would be
the country, upon such claim as this p
And yet such is the claim for Remuneration.
But there is another insurmountable
constitutional objection. 1t is found in the
purpose Of annexation. That purpose is to
establish and perpetuate slavery-any at
tempt to do which by the General Govern
ment is, of itself, manifest violation of the
national compact. For where is to be found
among the powers granted in the constitu-
ton, the sembance of power to establish
or perpetuate slavery, any wherel With
the exception of the provisions for deliver
ing up fugitves, and the suppression of in
surrecton, and the three ffihs slave repre-
sentation in one branch Of Congress, the
constitution confers on slavery no privilege
and imposes no duty, and confers no power
-. IL. 4.
gree, to IFS support 1t was state institu-
ton before the constitution was formed, and
SO far as that constitution is concerned, il |
remains so still-free to live, if il can, but
certain to die without unconstitutional aid
for its support. That aid it is the purpose
OF annexation TO afford.
The onward progress of freedom, under
its high impulses, is rapidly changing the
balance Of power, and leaving slavery 10
perish and now the nation is suddenly call
ed OH 10 come TO its rescue-to save il from
infuse into it fresh life and Wig
or, and 10 proong and perpetuaie itslpower.
And this at the expiration of more than half
a century from the formation Of the consti-
tuition, when the entire nation entertained
the belief that slavery could not survive the
first quarter Of century of our national
existence.
1t is said, indeed, that annexation will not
have the effect of charging and sustaining
the power Of slavery But whoever consid-
ers the relation between demand and supply
in the commerce Of the world, will be at no
loss TO perceive the connection between the
consumption of human energy and human
life in the enlarged cultivation of Texas an
nexed, and the increased production in our
slave breeding states for the supply of the