Sentinel of the valley. [volume] (Woodstock, Va) 1841-1848, 1845-02-06

a constitutional minority of the Senate joined
with the majority of the House Of Representa-
tives to effect what could not be done by the
constitutional form of treaty. Mr.. d, READ
the letter of Mr.. Jefferson to w. c Nicholas
to sustain his views. Mr.. d. was and ever
had been for the acquisition of Texas-but he
thought it could be done by treaty alone
He was for guarding the Constitution from
violation.
Mr.. Wallace should decline voting, as he
thought it an illegal assumption Of power, for
the Legislature to instruct our Senators IN
Congress.
Mr.. Cooke thought, with Mr.. Wallace, that
this House was departing from its legitimate
sphere of action, i'll meddling with Federal
politics. He should, however, vote for the
substitute of Mr.. Daniel of R. c., and against
the Senate's resolutions.
Mr.. Broaddus of Caroline, sustained Mr..
Daniels substitute, on pretty much the same
grounds. Mr.. B. read another letter from
Mr.. Jefferson, to support his positions.
In reply to question by Mr.. Gordon, Mr.
Daniel of r. c., said that Congress might add
nit new States out of territory belonging to
the United States-but could not admit States
out Of foreign territory. That could be done
alone by treaty.
MIR. Broadus of Culpeper thought the 2eo-
business, and not to control the action of the
Senators IN Washington. The substitute OF
Mir. Daniel opened constitutional discussion as
| TO the mode of annexing; he was therefore op
posed. He sustained the sub titute Of Air
I'oer, as free from objection and ought TO SUIT
ali parties Mr.. b. read and explained said
substitute.
Mr. Leaile protested against the idea bold
y advanced, that the Legislature Of Virginia
should not express their opinion as to the pro-
prety of annexing Texas, so intimately con-
nected with the prosperity of Virginia. MIR.
L. was surprised to hear the gentleman from
Caroline and Powhatan avow the very same
sentiments which had been avowed by the
Federasts on the acquisition of Louisiana viz:
that the State Legislatures had so right to
express their sentiments on great political
questioos Mr. l.. repealed the slur of the
gentleman from Caroline, and maintained,
that the Wings had made it a party question.
Before Mr.. Clsy's Raleigh letter, they, in the
South, had all been for annexation Last
Summer, gentlemen who opposed annexation
by Treaty, contended that a joint resolution
was the only mode-now they say that Urea.
ty is the only legal mode. He doubted the
sincerity of gentlemen, who protested to be
IN favor OF annexation and yet embarrass the
question by unusual and unnecessary amend
ments. He wished gentlemen to come out
boldly, and say whether they thought the an.
nexation of Texas would faint the national
honor, instead of nsinuatng such result
Let them openly explain their objections. so
that we might meet them 1t is but right and
just to our Senators themselves, to express
our opinions-to say, whether. in our opinion,
tn e resolutions which had just passed the low
er House of Congress, and now before the
violated fho al bonar
proceeded to sustain the right of Congress,by
joint resolution,to admit Texas. Why should
we resort TO two acts, viz: admitting territory
by Treaty, and then admitting the States by
Congress, when the Constitution expressly
authnrized such admission by single act
II the measure be defeated, the responsib ility
must rest upon gentlemen here, who clog the
naked measure with useless amendments
MIR. Cooke said that, if he were to take his
stand with the Federalists, he should 90 over
to the modern Federalists, with whom the gen
tleman from Goochland acted
Mr.. Daniel of Richmond City, by general
consent, withdrew his substitute, so as to offer
it as an amendment to Mr.. Tolers substitute.
Mr. Edmunds of Halifax hoped that mem
bers acting with him would vote for Mr.. Dan
iels substitute, so as to leave final selection
between the latter and the Senate's resolution.
Mr.. E.. analysed Mr.. Toler's substitute, as it
left to our Senators the discretion to decide up
on questions, which this Legislature, coming
from all parts of Virginia, could best decide
When Massachusetts and Connecticut had, in |
advance of the action of Congress, taken such |
bold and designating grounds against our do |
mestc institutions, it was right and proper that |
the Legislature of Virginia should express their |
solemn convictions, and not leave it to the two !
r.. n
Daniels arguments, and contended that Con-
yress had full power to admit Texas. Under
the old Confederation, there were two modes
BY which foreign territory might be admitted,
viz: LIST, by the Treaty making power; and
IDLY, by an express grant Of power to admit
Canada and other foreign colonies-there then
'elng only one Congress. In the new Congress
If 1857, the Treaty making power was trans
erred to the President and the Senate; and by
hat power, a large territory, including Flori-
Ia, SC. had been admitted. But, until the
ldoption of the clause 60 Congress may admit
lew States into the Union,'' in the new Con
titution, new States could not be admitted
Those words, according to the construction of
kr. Madison, were intended to authorize the
omission of new States, whether in or out of
he original limits of the u. S. The gentle
nan from Richmond City had conceded, that
oreign territory might be admitted by the war
making power, and was not Congress war
making power? Mr.. E. went on to show the
'ower necessarily incident to Congress, as
power, to make contracts; and
he power to s'admit new States into the ;
Jnion," necessarily carried with it the power
o admit foreign territory. 1t is well known,
hat two-thirds of the Senate cannot be OBJ
aimed to admit Texas. If we restrict the mode
o the Treaty making power, it is tantamount
Q saying, that Texas never shall be annexed.
lie urged gentlemen to look at this practical
lew. Mr.. f.. drew vivid picture of the con-
ition of things, if the denunciations of the
Northern Legislatures be consulted, and slave
y be confined to its present narrow limits.
Mr.. Taylor of Norfolk Borough went first
or the great good of Virginia, and should sup {
ort the substitute of Mr.. Toler. If Texas be |
nnexed at once, there would be vast drain
slaves, and emigration of whites, to the great
hurry of Virgisia. Mr.. T. read a letter from
len. Jackson to President Monroe, to show
nat Texas was not now necessary to us in a
Military point of view. Mr. T. had no desire
, strengthen South Carolina in her notions of
Southern Confederacy. Did gentlemen de-