Mississippi Democrat. (Carrollton, Miss.) 1844-18??, 1845-02-05
39oIttfCaI.
EXTRACT FROM THE SPEECH or
ROBERT DALE OWEN, Of Indiana,
In the House of Representatives, January :.
l845, oIE the Annexation Of Texas

In the House of Representatives, January :,
l845, OLE the Annexation of Texas.
Slavery is not the true difficulty. Ia f
replying to the arguments of the abolition /
lists, We are not at the bottom of the ques-
tion. We have not penetrated to the
depths of the opposition against annexa-
tion. We have not yet touched the ar
gument, the strongest, the deepest-seated
in the minds of its opponents. Late indi-
cations distinctly reveal II to US. In the
columns of the leading metropolitan whig
iournal-the most moderate and respected
organ of the party-in the leader of the
National lntelligencer, under date the 18Th
December last, | find the following:
"Deprecating any extension Of the territory
Of the United States beyond its present limits
as an evil, in itself of great magnitude: Pre-
testing against it, under any circumstances for
the sake OF the interests OF the States Of the
Union, both old and new, which are, in cur
opinion, deeply involved IN it," SC
pray you to note that. ask you 10
observe distinctly how the matter stands.
1t avails not to argue, with our opponents,
| the question of right to annex. Ii i idle
to substantiate 10 them, from the pages Of
international law, or the dictates Of com
mon sense, the legal independence OF
Texas. These outworks carried, there +
a barrier beyond; towering far above them;
standing untouched, if they were leveIled
to the ground. It is not an extension Of
our national domain on its southwestern
frontier, it is ANY extension, which our
opponents deprecate. 1t is not Texas, a
such, tley reject; they would reject equal
ly a country in any other latitude, peo-
pied by any other race, bearing any other
name. They protest not against annex
alton, for that it may increase and Perpe
, tuate slavery; they protest against n, as
in 1903 they protested against the Pur-
chase of Louisiana, "under ANY Cir
cumstances.
Is the whig party wrong IN this, their
great objectionl As wings, am not pre-
pared to assert that they are.
Rome, in The heyday of her power, I'D
ded province TO province; and this exten
sion of her territory but seemed 10 hasten
her decline and fall. The mad ambitior
, of Alexander sufficed 10 conquer half I
! world; yet, within year after his death
: the overgrown empire purchased by th'
blood of millions fell to pieces. It seemed
from its own weight. Are these 10 be bel
, as beacon-lights fol Us, IN the present June
; ture2 If ours be a government like tia
, of Rome under the empire, like that of tn
Macedonian conqueror, undoubtedly YES
, If it is fated gradually TO approach such
!, character, still, undoubtedly YES. Or i
. like Mexico, we are at last settle down up
i on Centralism; if the rights of the State
are to be stolen peacemeal, and the cen
:. trail power here invested with their spOIls
= if this city Of Washington IS to dispense
. as did the mistress of the world from he
4 seven hills, all laws TO govern our land
: nay, without proceeding so far, II all d0u5
1 full powers in the constitution are to be a:
:, sumed as lawful; If the sphere OF tedeFl
. legislation is to be gradually increased;
we are to interfere with commerce, favO
- ing under the name OF protection, one So
- ton of our country, by taxing the industr
of another; if, closely connected with o.
, government, there is to be a central n,
- -ney power, stronger in these days, az
a therefore more dangerous 10 liberty, TIA
: a standing army; ii the checks which Il
a wisdom Of revolutionary days incorpora
- ed IN our constitution, to arrest the
haste of party, in Its flush of power;
u these restricting checks are TO be swe
n away; in a word, If the progress of o.
!, federal policy is to be from the less to 4
;, more of legislation; then reject Texu
:, abandon Oregon, add not, BY treaty, Of
II acre more of Indian lands. Nav! If 81
=, is 10 be our policy, our Union Is far l
= large already; 1t ought never to have be
M permitted 10 overpass the Alleghanies.
ID But will such be the progress of leg
lation among usl Ought it 10 BET In (
% having out, from age to age, the story
~ the ceaseless struggle between the Pr
me leges of the few and the Rights OF I
many, forth from every page, blaZon
n, on the experience Of every nation, shin
no forth the great truth, that overmuch legs
II ton has been the curse Of mankind; a
ya that law has become, (alas, how few |
~ exceptions! a weapon of aggression
-, Their than an egis Of defence. As
IN read, we feel that the protection OF /
~. vernment has been overpaid for b. II
,rk termeddlings, and that the people mi
-. well, in The words Of the Cynic phllo
pher, tell the Alexanders of the world Il
the only favor they asked OF them Was
to 10 stand out of their sunshine!
es, Men are not wise and good enough
nto dispense with law. Would that d
len were Government, like medicine, i
ing us necessary evil. There Is suct
On thing as the depotism of anarchy; an
ely king is not indispensable to reign OF