The northern galaxy. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1844-1848, 1845-02-26

OF its neighbor for this, it is prepared to as
sumo debt of unknown millions, TO engag
In causeless war with friendly nation, I,
eXasperate aud ALLEVIATE at least one half III
Tree people of this great republic, TO incu
the scorn of the Christian world. What un
heard OF and self sacrificing magnanimity i
this. Gentlemen, who lend befevins cal
TO such professions as these, mus, have great
er confidence than | in the sincerity Of poll
ticiaus.
but the swift progress OF The index Of our
Shrewsbury clock warns me that it is time 10
turn my attention TO the real point at issue.
and TO state openly, what all men know that.
with the origin ators and leading advocates
oil the measure, tits honestly aud simply 4
struggle Tor political power. The annexa-
tion OF Texas is desired by Southern poll
ticians, because the half dozen States 10 be
carved out OF will long serve as counter
poise TO the growing strength of the North.
Ihey expect the system of slavery, with its
Constitutional basis Of representation, TO be
extended over Texas, and are prepared 10
share with that country whatever of good or
evil may accrne from its incorporation into
the American Union. beg not 10 be under
stood as charging upon the whole people of
the South selfish desire to strengthen
themselves at the cost of the North. No
doubt very large portion of that population
honestly believe, that while annexation would
benefit both them and Texas, it would rot
essentially injure the North, and were the
question unmlxed with considerations OF po-
litical pewer, ! should have great respect for
their opinion, however feeble, hollow, and
inconsistent the argument by which their re-
personalities support the measure. But
claim the same charity for those whom re-
present, and expect 10 be believed. when
assert that the people ofthe North oppose
because they consider it ia
grant violation of constitutional law, the law
OF nations, the moral law, fraught with TN
mixed mischief, and productive of no pos
sible good, or. in other words. as unwise. un-
profitable, unjust. The chairman Of the
Committee of Foreign Relations has told US,
that tins is, indeed, cmphaticallv, a Southern
question, matter Of mere local interest. a
question of slavery, a question of boundary,
and nc reminded US, q believe, however. he
limited this Renaissance 10 the Democracy
OF the Norib,) with what macuaniInity the
generous people of the South allowed Afassa-
chusetts and Maine TO settle their boundary
question 10 their own way, and he called up
on his friends to regnite that generosity, by
the South 10 settle this boundary
question, in such manner as 80 silt its own
This is choice rhetoric, and il
is pity to lessen the effect which il niaht
produce, by an examination Of the parallel
ism between the cases. But il is worth while
to notice, that the Northeast boundary dis
pute was question Of the surrender of ter
ritory; this of Texas question its extern
sion, and it is hardly fair - ask us TO repay
the magnanmiiy, which freely suffered us to
ALLEVIATE our territory, s. diminish our political
strength. by conserving to 4 vast addition to
the power and resources four brethren, al
lirect and immediate cost of millions to our
selves, to say nothing of our other objections
10 the scheme. Had it been question or
the acquisition Of Canada, instead oflEe sur
render Of a corder OF Maine. | am not sure
hat our friends would have been quite 50
nigh minded, and | think am warranted in
saying, that if they succeeded in annexinc F,
Texas, their masnanimity i'll regard 10 fur I
her acquisitions Of northern territory, NAV, /.
'ery likely, be soon put to the test.
A gentlcmanfrOm Alabama, who addressed /
he House on this subject at the last session. /
,ut the acquisition Of Texas on the ground of /
'verrulins necessity, rs thus: The Consti- /
alton had guaranteed the institution of sla- D
cry, with all lis incidents. to the South; the }
tights ofslavehOlders were menaced and en- I
lansercd by the machiEatious of Northern .
Iboliiouists, aud the acquisition of Texas
icing the only sufficient means of maintain- ,
ng this most sacred guaranty oftqe COnstitu-
ion, annexation was matter of indispenSs-
lie necessity, and therefore, by the sgprera
er, lawful. Substantially tbs same ground
vas taken by the Corph,eus of Carolinian
in celebrated correspon-
ience. The frankness OF Whit h adm,e,
hough not seeing much caus. to approve its
motives, lis temper, ortiz losic. Itbecomcs,
hen, cSseniialto determine. how Ear annex
alton is indispensable 10 the security Of
Southern Institutions, and ifso how far the
Union is bound by constitutional guarantees
o maintain them. 1t is with no small rsluct-
lnce that enter upon The discussion Of this
ourlh point and do so, only because
Iold il TO be the very gist of:he case, the real
question Of combined duty and expediency,
ipon which the whole controversy, apart
rom the disputed point of constitutional
power, necessarily hinges. lfyou would
persuade usto the sacrifices Of interest ard
ceiling. which the annexation Of Texas ina
plies, you mnst clearly convince us, that
what you declare TO he the very instinct of
self preservation, the supreme law Of nature,
-or you, is also Law Of duty for Us. Ia re-
gard to this question Of security, self preser-
walton il you please, the people ofthe South
ought indeed TO be the best judges of the
actual necessity; and as ] have said upon
mother point, if this were al the question,
with no admixturc Of considerations OF polt-
cal power ana personal ! grandzement their
opinions would be almost conclusive, so far .
rs the matter of fact goes. ] shall not under- .
lake to determine what arc the necessary con
iiiions for the continuance Of the system OF .
domestic slavery bur this say with 20 fear
Of contradiction, that in the present stage OF I
the argument, however gentlemen may find .
it convenient 10 treason by way Of cheating
their own conscienceS, or excusing them
selves 10 their constituents, 10 NcrIhern
man believes that the freside security Of the
South. or the privileges intended 10 be per-
mcuenIy secured to it by the Constitution.
will be Strengthened by the annexation OF
Texas. We all understand, that ifyou should
ever be endangered by the growing strength
of your colored population, you would look
for succour elsewhere than to Texas.
| am bound to admit, that the gentleman
from South Carolina (Mr. HaLMEs) has sta
IL he ,r1upent oronndc1 on the auDarent