Southport telegraph. [volume] (Southport, W.T. [i.e. Kenosha, Wis.]) 1840-1850, 1845-01-27
Congressional Synopsis.
Correspondence of the N. Y. Evening Post.
w ASuYNcroN lon 9Th 1914

VASHiNSTON, Jun. Otn 1914.
Immediately after the organization Of
the House for business, i, resolved itself in
10 Committee Of the Whole on tho state of
the Union, Mr.. Hopkins, Of Virginia, in
the chair.
Mr.. Winthrop of Massachusetts,, being
entitled to the floor. arose and said, that
we have constitution Of limited and pre-
else powers. He called upon the friends
Of the measure under consider ration, to
point out the clause Of that instrument
which would justify the contamination Of
this measure. Ii was alleged that he repre-
sented an anti-slavery feein on the floor of
Congress, and by ar,fully Identifying south
ern wing representatives with this feeling,
he thought it was designed to render them
odlous with their constituents, and to sub
slitute in their stead on this floor, others
who were more favorable to the project.
He said, for himself, he did no, hesitate to
avow, even if he could find no other OBJ.
lection, that he opposed the measure because
he was convinced it would tend to perpe,u.
ate and enlarge the sphere of slavery: this
he said, would operate as a conclusive OBJ
lection on mis- own mind against the mea-
sure; but the total want Of constitutional
power, and what he esteemed to be q dis
honorable breach Of our treaty obligations
with Mexico, he would usage as the chief
ground Of his opposition 10 the perfection
of this project. lie was among those, he
said, who denied the total absence of all
constitutional light in this government to
annex TO the Union a foreign territory
short Of the general assent Of the people
Of the Union.
Mr.. Douglass, Of Illinois, mex, obtained
the floor, and said, the gentleman last up
(Mr. Winthrop had stated that the project
Of annexation owed its origin to the dcs-
peration of an expiring and accidental Pre-
sident. This he took the liberty Of deny
ing; The merit Of originating this measure
did not belong TO Mr.. Tyler; bu, dated as
far back US 1929, when n gentleman from
Massachusetts T. Mr.. Adams instructed his
Secretary Of State mr.. Clay to offer to
Mexico one million Of dollars for this iden-
teal territory; and that, too, while that
country was actually engaged in war with
Span-a revolutionary war-a war Of &C.
quisiton-of conquest-of this very terri
tory now sought to be annexed. Snbse-
quently, in 1927, the same gentleman,
through the same secretary, again sought
its acquisition by purchase; and afterwards
by General Jackson and Mr.. Van Buren,
while Spanish force actually was in pos.
session Of Tampico, FIVE millions Of dollars
were offered for this territory, and the &C
ceptance OF the money urged as a M ms
Of carrying on this war against Spain
These facts, he said, he quoted from public
documents, and he thought they could moi
be dispute and they carried the origin oil
this measure many years previous to the
advent Of Mr.. Tyler's power. The an
neXaton, he said. was claimed under the
provisions Of the treaty with France r
1903; it is true, he SAID subsequent trea
ty had alienated this territory to foreign
--disgracefully alienated it-anc
consequently, we could not claim Texas
under this treaty; nevertheless, although
we could not make this claim, we could
not relieve ourselves from the obligations
it imposes; the inhabitants of that country,
he said, had guaranteed to them their civil
and religious rights under that treaty, and
they now claimed the fulfImeni OF tina;
guaranty.
Their ultimate admission into the union,
was also provided for by the treaty, on
terms equal with those Of the other inhab-
itants OF the United States, were guaranteed
by this treaty, and their rights and this I'D
mission into the Union, were now demanded
by those claiming rights and privileges IN.
der that treaty.
Mr.. Clinghman Of North Carolina and
Buncomb, spoke at random during his hour
When the committee rose and reported
and the House I'D ourned.
In the Senate. Mr.. Albertson presented
the resolutions OF the state Of New Hamp
shire, instructing the Senators and reqncs.
ting their representatives in Congress. 10
vote for the immediate annexation Of Tex
as to the United States.
Mr.. Woodbury. also presented resolu
tons from the same legislature in favor OF
reducing the tariff, and against the imprs
onmen. of Governor Dorr, by the au,hori-
ties Of Rhode Island.
Mr.. Dickinson, Of N. Y, presented n
memorial from q Society Of Friends,
against the annexation of Texas to the
reading Of which Mr. Merrick objected,
es it appeared to treat Of the subject Of sla
very After some discussion in which
Messrs. Forster OF N. Y. Dickinson, Mer-
rick, Buchanan and Crlt,enden, participa-
ted. Mr. Merrick's motion was lost, the
memorial read and referred TO the commit
tee on foreign relations
The speeches Of Messrs Winthrop and
Douglass were very credhabIe efforts, aug
men,a,ive and dignifed, but Mr.. Cling
man's harangue was q wandering talk,
which, in the columns of a country news
paper would have been justly st;gmatised
as "scurrilous." He even descended so
low, as TO call the members Of the Empire
Club of your city. gang Of thieves.
pickpockets and murderers, and drew
largely upon the criminal calendar Of New
York TO sustain. his charge He enter
tanned his hearers with short biography
of Capt. Rynders, "Blll Ford" and Sow
eral other individuals. (some Of whom he
associated with Capt Tyler whose hislo-
ry WIS equally germane TO the highly i'm
portan, matter under discussion, nnd ended
by q very moving aposirophe TO whig pin