Mississippi Democrat. (Carrollton, Miss.) 1844-18??, 1845-02-05
l1oIttfeaI.
EXTRACT FROM THE SPEECH OF
ROBERT DALE OWEN, Of Indiana,
In the House of Representatives, January 8.
1915, on the Annexation Of Texas.

| slavery is not The true dllhculty, In
replying TO the arguments of The abolition.
lists, we are not at the bottom of the ques.
ton. We have not penetrated TO the
depths of the opposition against annexa.
ton. We have not yet touched the ar
gumentj 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 wing
journal-the most moderate and respected
organ of the party--in the leader of the
National lntelligencer, under date the ! 3h
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: pro.
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 our
opinion, deeply involved in it,n &c.
pray you to note that. | ask you to
observe distinctly how the matter stands.
1t ayuils not to argue, with our opponents,
the question Of right to annex. II is idle
to substantiate 10 them, from the pages of
international law, or the dictates Of com.
mon sense, the legal independence of
Texas. These outworlls carried, there is
ii barrier beyond; towering far above them;
standing untouched, if they were levelled
to the ground. 1t is not an extension of
our national domain GU its southwestern
frontier, it is ANY extension, which our
opponents deprecate. II is not Texas, as
such, they reject; they would reject equal
ly 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 it, as
in 1903 they protested against the pur-
chase of Louisiana, "under ANY cir.
cumstances."
Is the wing party wrong in this, their
great obiectionl As wings, am not pre-
pared TO assert that they are.
Rome, in the heydoy of her mower, ad.
ded province 10 province; and this extern
sion of her territory but seemed 10 hasten
her decline and fall. The mad ambition
Of Alexander sufiiced TO conquer half a
world; yet, within year after his death,
the oyergrown empire purchased by the
blood of millions fell to pieces, it seemed,
from its own weight. Are these 10 be held
as beacon-lights fol us, in the present juno.
ture3 If ours be government like that
of Rome under the empire, like that Of the
Macedonian conqueror, undoubtedly yes.
If il is iated gradually 10 approach such a
character, still, undoubtedly yes Or If,
like Mexico, we are at last settle down up.
on Cohtralism; if the rights Of the States
are TO be stolen peacemeal, and the cen
trial power here invested with their spois (;
if this city Of Washington is 10 dispense,
as did the mistress of the world from her
seven hills, all laws TO govern our land ;
nay, without proceeding SO far, il all doubt
full powers in the constitution are TO BE- as
sumed as lawful; if the sphere Of federal
Legislation is to be gradually increased; if
we are to interfere with commerce, favor
ing under the name OF protection, one sec
ton Of our country, by taxing the industry
of another; if, closely connected with our
government, there is 10 be central mo.
ney power, stronger in these days, and
therefore more dangerous 10 liberty, than
a standing army; il the checks which the
wisdom Of revolutionary days incorporate
ed IN our constitution, to arrest the hot
haste OF party, in its flush Of power; if
these restricting checks are to be swept
away; in word, if the progress of our
federal policy is TO be from the less to the
more of legislation; then reject Texas,
abandon Oregon, add not, By treaty, one
acre more Of Indian lands. Nay! il such
is 10 be our policy, oar Union is far too
large already; it ought never to have been
permitted TO overpass the AlIeghanies.
But will such lie the progress Of egis-
lation among usl Ought it 10 be2 In fol-
having out, from age 10 age, the story Of
the ceaseless struggle between the Privi-
leges Of the few and the Rights Of tho
many, forth from every page, blazoned
on the experience Of every nation, shines
forth the great truth, that overmuch legsla-
ton has been the curse Of mankind; and
that law has become, (alas, how few the
exceptons a weapon Of aggression IA.
Their than an Bgis Of defence. As we
read, we feel that the protection Of go
vernmeni has been overpaid for by It's m.
termeddings, and thai The people might
well, in the words of the Cynic phloso
pher, tell the Alexanders Of the world that
the only favor they asked Of them was
10 stand out Of their sunshine!
Men are not wise and good enough to
dispense with law. Would that they
were Government, like medi,i inc, is 10
US a necessary evil. There is such a
thing as the depolism Of anarchy; and a
king Is not indispensable to reign OF Ter.
rof. The practical question IL, how ma.
! ny Of the sybilline leaves oil legislation