The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1845-12-22

lmpeled to that course at that time not by any de
sire to occupy the attention OF the Senate IN any dis
cusson Of the Question: not with the view or i'm
posing the slightest obstacle but because he wisb6t
TO place himself right before that body and the coun
try He awaited himself then, Of the opportunity
OF stating; clearly and distinctly, that at no time
nor under any circumstances; had he ever, for one
moment, entertained the slightest opposition To the
j measure Of anne xation itself On the contrary, all
the inducements, all the feelings that could operate
upoh and actpate faithful public servant, had led
him clearly decidedly and strongly in favor of the
measure. He stated distinctly that for every reason
that could operate upon man, upon citizen, upon
senator, he had been at all times IN favor OF the
annexation of Texas; and he thought that he would
be able to satisfy thu, chamber that he had at least,
to reasonable extent, practically manifested that
disposition beyond doubt. IL was new question
in the history Of the country. The first form ~
which 1t was presented was in the treaty OF 1914.
He voted for it, II rejected by alarge majorityi
and then, for the first time, according TO his knowl-
edge and understanding on The subject il was
brought forward in legislative form. Upon that
point, also he had an equal desire not to be msun-
derstood and he then would state, in the hearing of
that honorable body, and in the hearing OF the
American people, that he did strongly, sincerely,
conscientiously doubt whether the power to admit
foreign states into the Union was vested in Congress-
by the constitution. That doubt he had expressed
on former occasions; and TO that doubt he again
gave expression now. But in regard TO that
doubt with regard to all others that could
cucumber the mind of public man, he could only
| saw that he felt that he was bound to regard the
| views and sentiments entertained by those whom il
was his pride to represent The Legislature OF Ala
| ham, for yenrs hefore he had become one of that
body, (the Senate, land therefore he consoed him
self with the reflection that their instructions were
intended for hin, alonehad instructed their repre-
sentatiyes In the Senate and In the other branch of
the legislature 10 use their best exertions for the
admission of. Texas into The United States Those
instructions he had fulfilled 10 The letter and vet if
he had been instructed nnon n particular mode by
which thai object was 10 he ,ccomplished- as
nopulartv was 10 bim--be would have vacated his
seat in tbat bodv rather Than have advocated that
mode which his Indictment condemned. But that
having been n douhff,i noint ns To the mode in
which this measure was 70 he accomplished, he had
steadily endeavored 10 nnrsue that course to which
the wishes oc his constituents had pointed. In
tSaA tboze who wore tben CHARGED with the ex-
| ecution of the noyera nj His government formed
their opinions as n The proner mode of admitting
Texas Rnt finding that ihat was defective
ano,bcr mode ,,s nronosed md those who
could take the trouble 10 examine both propo.
sitions would find that thai amendment-which he
took that onnortmnv NJ saving he had some agency
ine-nroy;ded M, alone e., ,5e ACKNOWLEDGEMENT Of
The Object bv treaty bt nrovided the legislative
also Al every stage of ne nroceedines on this
question bc ha3 h.on oo,;n o. y, Ie.s, endea vor;no
n nct with those n,bn hsd ,hc measure most nj
hear, when !, came in The fnrn, of a treaty. from
sroiher n,r, ~ ,he oovornr,an, he b,d s,hsenuent
iv resor,ed N tbe aerna,;vs ~ t,kno tbr chances
both nv treaty and Ieg;sIa,iye action So much
with reoard ~ ,bo course ,,h;cb be had taken in
his m.s,or
Marked an, no ,hou ,ysre h., differences IF not-
cal nr;n.,la ~ ,ay;,;.ai ..y;on !, Nd haan hi.
msfor,une n Jf.r fron, sor,e If he most eminent
men On ,be o,har sdo af ,i,n ba,se nd 90 also
he had been called ~ dirsr ,,,b some If he most
10 he mode or accomnI;sh;na he measure And r.
he desired 10 seek renson stronger than ,nv other
The carry;no on, of ,,h;ch would tend 40 10
and establish this JIn;on i would be bv Ia
king oround in d;rect onnos;,;on N one of
the pronos;,;ons ,a;d dournr hv The honorable
senator rom M,.sachnse,,s Hey daared d;s,inc,v
and emnha,;callv NOT onIv from ,b,t cen,Iemnn hui
from alI those who believed that The exlens;on Of
orr territoriaI Limits WAS calculated N imnar the
strength of this Union. On The contrary he he.
eved that nnder he o,ern,;on of his federative
svs,.n, III. nla;o, ca 49,. ~. ,,.., &C., .,,
Stat. M ,,,a,,e, ;r !, ,a.a I,.,a3 an an III. d;s
,ant .houa. r ~ p;s :; -, - -, -, ,aJ;,,.r
n.r 81 s,ren.,h Gnr,;nn fson, ,hs ssc,;nn of ,hs
Union that he rsnresen,ed 1; ,vns not kelv ,ha, he
would he snnnosed ~ objec, N the const,tion If
Teras ~ !, pa stood o" H. ,;m,.;ned nrm.;nle
at variance ,y;,b ,ho,. advanced no ,hn honorshIe
senator from Connec,;cu, In h;s onn;on ,bs Cor.
gress Of the United states. in the admission Of a
new State into The ITn;on had no more mower ~
prohibit slavery on one or another side of given
i;no ,han I, la i, ;,.d;., ~, a.,;,, - ;,,oa;,
~, , :. nav " neiu'.' ''o eo'.on W spin"insT
Jcnhies or the steam engine. states coming INTO
this Union came in on terms of equality with the
original States and the ctiyens were entitled In all
,ha rah,s 20 au a e ~. ,,askaa =, H.,
'''o 'isn'S vi property ina, '.meheu " 'he'"
as citizens OF the United States But nc
,oroore entering on 'hat view or inc SUBJECT.
congress had put one sohtary huty 70 perform.
ne aVaied himself OF that opportunity 70 say that
no one voted more cheerniiy than ne ara FOR the ad-
mission OF Iexas INTO TINS Union Aithough diner
ing win many OF those with whom no was assoc.
ciated IN regard to the mode but as mad been well
sald ny .he senator from Georgla-he meant the
senator iarthcst from nm, Mr. BERRIEN that Is
not now the qoestion-thc deed Is done. Texas has
dsrooed herseif OF her sovereignty: Inc iaith OF
the government OF the United States is pledged we
nave now nothing left 10 DO but to admit or reject
her. ne was prepared-fuily prepared TO admit
her, anu III an rcspects 10 pursue "WhIus her the
same course that ne would with any other member
OF ms great con,eqeraGy OF free states. ;,
Messrs' FAIRFIELD ana COhWlN scveraily