The daily Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1841-1845, 1845-02-14


r.y.rd 20 the character Of tho population. II 10
false SUMPTION therefore, that 'he dinuoion OF a'
very does itself affect in any way the question oil po'
6tcal bower in The Congress Of the Unon' but thsn
the objection is made 10 the fact thst inc slaves are
enumerated at all Ia estimsting the numDer o. inc
population 10 be entitled TO rePresen'se
IS A BLOW AT rnE Cossrrurios ITSELF, ADD 10 iI'
ORIGINAL CONSTRUCTION. Sir, that question was JUS
cussed and decided by our fathers. ~ cannot NC
opened But look at the pFsociplo on when uie ou
lection Is founded. II the slaves oers ems"c'Ps'.o
the objection would cease Yet II such were .ie
case IA would actually increase me
power of the South in this hail. and could not lessen
The senatorial Yes sir, II slavery were abolished
in the South, that portion Of the Union would nave
ten more representatives here Three-hfths Only OIL inc
slaves embraced in the enumeration. III iroe' .p'
whole would be embraced. Strange fancy ano iaiia
cy indeed that the abolition OF slavery wouiu o'"
sh the political power Of the South II must increase
il in the ratio OF two-6fhs of that whole PoPoauon
Il is true the Increase Of states in the South increases
its political power Ia the Senate as does the
of States in other sections Of the Union theirs IN the
Senate but neither slavery nor the negro race aug
the extent OF that power 80 long, indeed as
slavery exists In STATE the representation oil sueo
State would be far protection against inc aoon-
ton Of slavery ii attempted by Congress- but inns u
an objection which none but abolitlonsts wou'o
raise others who desire to break up the Consutu-
ton and the Union, by encrosching upon the comes,
the North gain by changer Nothing truly IN Po-
litical power Should we then desire TO prevent the
abolition of slavery No. sir. But we leave the IN
sttution 10 hose with whom It exists, and who alone
are responsible for its continuance. II the Union Is
to be extended, let tho compromises IN which was
formed be maintained. Without Them, all efforts 70
preserve or enlarge II will be vain o..
But, sir, let gentlemen who manifest so much APP
prehension in regard to the disturbance oil imaginary
relations Of power, but look at the map, and their
fears will be dlspeiled. SIR, you cannot outnumDer
the Northern States by the Southern, though you
strike through and embrace all the territory between
Texas and the Pacific The domain west Of the
Mississippi, with Oregon, will form double the num-
Der Of States which can be created even with the
CALIFORNIA;. The swell Of population is northward
and westward. Climate, staples, enterprise, and the
past history OF the numerical increase OF population,
and the strides OF advancement with which II rs now
going forward, all demonstrate that the representa-
tive power OF this House ever must be II Is, with
the States that are tree. The relations OF power,
indeed Why, sir, this Constitution originated IN
concessions And one Of these concessions was, that
the little States should stand upon equality with
the great States branch Of the Government, a
branch co-equsl in legislation with the whole repre-
sentative body and IN another department co-equal
with the executive. mean the Senate. Call you not
this a compromise, which commits the Interests oil
New FORK, Pennsy and Ohio, with all their COM
merce population, and wealth. to the decision Of the
Delawarei Sir, If there is to be remodlhcaton of
the compromises, the powerful territorial members Of
the Union will have something 10 say about the CO.
equality 10 power Of communities with limits 50 mar
that citizen ofotber States scarcely stretch
himself in then, without the danger Of violation OF
State rights. SIR, all New England is less in terrific
~ than Virginia Missouri and al no very distant
period, perhaps, may be in population Yet New
England has twelve votes in the Senate, while her
equal in population and territory would have but two
SIR, the croaking notes of complaint come with an I'LL
grace from there The best preservation of the ba-
lance of power will be found in the cultivation OF
feelings such as belong to our character, condition,
| origin and destiny; aud when We forget the Ubga-
tons and duties these impose, our constitution will
exist only in the memory Of the past. .
But, SIR, the gentleman from Pennsylvania, as ell
other opponents of ation insist that II will
involve us in war. When listened 10 his impres-
sse description of its horrors thought of the obser.
walton of young democrat Of Ohio, who sought at
wing assembly in the late contest TO soothe an agi-
ation occasoned by eoquence similar to that of the
gentleman from P-nnsyivania Mr.. Corwin, the
whig orator, was dilating upon the hardshps and
suferngs of war-yes, sir of this very anticipated
war with Mexico. He spoke, too, of the bones OF
our youth bleaching upon the fields OF Texas and the
deserts of Mexico. Wing voters were sad--women
] were sobbiDg. Sir" said the democratic yeoman
TO the speaker, pray suspend your DISCOURSE ull |
quiet the nerves OF this weeping maiden "Madam "
| continued he, "dry your tears; depend upon it. if
your lover be ohg, he will die in the defence
| Of his country
Sir, suppose annexation be war: what then II
! has not disturbed Texas in nine years and unes.
Great Britain, with her aid, stimulates Mexico will
disturb as little and should our commercial enc
my openly or secretly do that who would hesitate
tor one moment as to the duty Of an American Con-
gress' IL II not notorious that Mexico cannot re-
subjugate Texas' "From the battle of San Jacnto y
is The language of Mr.. Webster" "the war was at
an end" 1t is the truth. 1t was spoken by the Sec.
ertary OF State to the minister of Mexico in lS42
Mere predatory incursons Of bandtti and sounding
notes of preparation all the demonstration OF war
which Mexico has made in years past and even wbig
nerves need not trembe at that But sir, were an
hexation out OF the question, hold it the duty of this
government auhortatyely to interpose its injunction,
that the quiet OF this quarter of the continent be
longer disturbed by the continuance of this contro
| versy. 1t should say to Mexico: "This contest
must now cease. You have long exhibited your ut
tel inability to reinstate your authority in Texas and
you cannot be permitted, on the strength of hope
less CLAIM Tor years unenforced, keep our neigh
Dor in state OF agitation by your threats and the de-
predations OF marauders and pirates. The interests
of nations demand peace. So long as you might as.
sert your pretenons with any chance of success or
made an honest effort to try again the fortunes OF act
ual conflict, we were content to let the contest re-
main open. But now 1t must end"
Sir, in my judgment it was The duty of our roy-
ernmenI, long ago. to have held this imperative Ian.
guage to Mexico The laws of nations sanction il.
Annexation demands of us, in truth no more in ie-
| gard TO the war than does our duty without it,
Sir, would give no just cause Of offence 10 Mexi
CO. Her weakness could no, justify, but would ag-
gravate wrong ..,......
But Texas alone has the right of deciding her own
policy and destiny without regard to any power on
earth. She is independent in fact and Of right In
dependent of Mexico, and independent as Mexico
and with government of vastly more stability, and
Commanding immeasurably more respect before the
world She is indeed denomnat,d a revolving prov
ince, simulated by citizens Of own county 10 re-
cede, ana her moral claim to sovereignty is denied
| Sir, how stand the truth and The history In 1924
Texas, with Coahuia, formed of the independent
States of Mexico, which consisted Of a conederacy
whose constitution was almost a transcript Of our
own. She invited emigration from abroad InAuen-
tai inducements were held out by laws to the ct-
| lens Of the United States, who migrated there bv