Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1845-01-17
CONGRESSIONAL.
DEBATE on THE TENAS QUESTION

on the state ot the Union, and having uhuer coh-
siieraton the Joint resolution reported by Inc
Committee on Foreign Affairs Tor The annexation
Of Texas to the United States
MIR. YANCEY commenced expressing his
regret tina, between the great political parties
which divided our people, and which must ever
exis, under free and popular Government ami
mosites had been SO long engendered, and prelu-
dices become so deeply seated, that what might
otherwise have proved blessing 10 the Govern
ment, by tending TO guard and preserve It's puri-
", had in fact proved its bane. Instead OF csti-
mating measures according 10 their bearings up
on the best interests of the country at large, there
were but TOO many who Judged OF them SIMPLY
according 10 their probable effects on The party 10
which each belonged. That spirit, he lamenied
to see, had crept into this Hall, and ne could not
but give expression to his deep and unieigned re-
gret that the gentleman from Ohio over the way
(Mr. Vinton, distinguished as he was in the po
session of such keen and searching intellect, en-
ightcned by so brilliant wit, and graced by
every accomplishment which could give lusre
10 public station, should have lent himself to
lower the character OF an American Representa-
tive which he was so well Qualified 10 adoln.-
The consequence OF the prevalence OF the spirit
10 which he had alluded was, that We were fast
becoming five had not already become, nation
of partizans. 1t was under the influence OF con-
vicions like these that he had leoced al the fact
that now, at length, great question had present.
ed itself, question of such momentUus mag
nitude, and of such pure and noble assoca-
lions, as were calculated 10 elevate the soul,
10 warm every patriot heart, and 10 crush
beneath its unparalleled importance all the
contemplate Vaccinations OF partizans-of men
capable of knowing Of feeling, and approaching
nothing but the mere bubbles which were ever
found 10 float in the wake of party. Such ques-
lion was this of The annexation of Texas; a
question so purely American, and addressing it.
self SO directly TO the honor and 10 the interests
Of the entire Republic, that all party ieuds
shrunk al its approach. Like that mysterious
star which led the shepherds OF old 10 the
birth place of the Saviour of the world, this
question was now eliminating over The Re-
public calling ON all who loved their country 10
lay aside their wranglings, and arise and abe
cause whose spirit and whose tendencies were
"peace on earth and good will 10 men," Mr.. Y.
thanked God, that there were still among us men
whose hearts leaped and fiuttered at the waving
of banner on which their country's honor was
Inscribed, and who, like the ancient Jews, when
their sacred trumpet sounded TO arms arose and
forgetting all party distinctions aud party inter
eSts, girded themselves for their countIys cause.
Not 50 the member from North Carolina With
him the momentous associations OF this question;
its bearing on the interests OF our entire country,
on its commercial, agricultural and manufacture
ing prosperity its effects, for veal or for woe, on
the present and on The tuure-effects which were
now agitating patriot hearts upon two continents
had not in them sufficient worth or dignity 10
draw his mind from the question whether a GER
tain Captain Rynders was or was not welcomed
al the Presidential mansion; whether he did not
dine with distinguished politician in \. York.
and whether the sailors of the ship North Caro-
lima voted in the city OF New York and not in
Brooklyn. Such were the gentlemanS views Of
h;cb on;to f;p NJ
and which, more than any question which had
been started among us for half century, was cal
culaed to string the nerves and agitate the bosom
Of every honest man.
We were all, said Mr.. Y, in the habit Of es-
mating the character of person whom we had
never seen, BY reading his productions and by
hearing from others what he said and did. Mr..
Y, on such grounds, had formed an estimate OF
this gentleman; and he must confess that for HIM
self, he was not much surprised ii the dimensions
OF intellect and qualities Of heart which he now
found the gentleman to possess In that part of
The Union which Mr. Y had the honor TO repre-
sent, that Representative was every where view
ed as the betrayer of his country. He was look
ed on by every one as a renegade recreant 10 the
principles aud the interest Of that portion OF The
Union. With this estimate Of him beforehand
even Mr.. Y himself was astonished when that
gentleman got up TO taunt his brothers OF the
South because their strenuous ehoi and earnest
and continued exertons had not been able TO pre-
vent the repeal of that rule of this House which
prohibited the presentation Of abolition petitions
The motives which he attributed to their con-
duct on that subject were such as could have
been found only in the heart OF him who, alter
betraying those who had trusted him and going
over 10 the ranks OF The enemy. turned and flouled
the colors OF that enemy in The face Of his own
friends. Mr.. y. knew that such had been the
H., az
men of the South respecting this gentleman but
he must confess his surprise when he rose in this
House and Dragged of what he termed the dis
honesty and rascality OF the State he had the no
nor TO represent
Mr.. CLINGMAN here rose and wished 10
explain.
Mr.. YANCEY: No, Sir want no explana-
tons. Explanations eisetrhcre.
II was mol tor Mr. Y. 10 decide on the true cha
racter Of such conduct the people OF North Caro-
lima would decide that question. But surely IL
might have been supposed that every honorable
heart would have paused and would have shrunk
back within itself before il could consent 10 drag
the disgrace of his own native State before the
world The unwelcome task, il it musl be per-
formed should at least have been left for other
hands. And well might North Carolina, thus
wounded and sored by her native son, eSclaim
with the falling Cesar "Ei IL Brute" Mr. Y.
should not undertake 10 pronounce what conduct
like this deserved bu the Bible, if the gentleman
ever read that book might teach him the fate OF
the man who forgot what was due 10 himself and
his family Let him look at the Patriarch Noah,
BETRAYED in an ungarded hour and lying exposed
in his tent One of his sons saw his parents
shame, and went forth and ridculed the spectacle
before his brothers, but those brothers look mantle
and without daring TO turn their eyes OF 10 look
lor. 10Th nj
walked up backwards and cast the mante--the
broad mantle Of filial charty-to cover his in
dignity from the world. The old man at length
awokc from his wine and heard what his Younger
son had DONE aud, gifted with the spirit of prophe
CIV by God himself, pronounced upon him curse
which has come down upon him, and upon his
seed, and upon his seeds seed, TO this very hour
witnessing and proving 10 all men The ,rnh OF the
Scriptures "a servant OF servants shall he be-
and shall dwell inthe tents OF Japhet and Of Ham"
The fulfilment was even now before all men, in
the continuance under bondage, by the command
Of Almighty God himself, Of a large and hume
iuus race dwelling in the tents of Japhet on This
western shore. Oh, had the departing spirit of
The pure the wise, the patriotic Macon been no
vering in these Halls and among these stately pill
lars, and here had heard son of North Carolina
utter language such as had fallen from that Re-
preventative, he might have stopped an instant 10
gaze in establishment, but full quickly would have
descended in sorrow 10 the sepulchre
Mr. Y. said he should be pardoned it, in Ia
king these views CT the subject which the Repre-
sentative from North Carolina had discussed or
rather had avoided, and cf the character which
he had attempted TO give 10 debate otherwise
emnently dignifed and worthy OF that Hall,
he should not follow him into the dark purlieus
OF party with which that gentleman seemed 80
disgracefully familiar; but should now address
himselfto the great question before the House
The first question TO be settled was this: are
the several propositions which have bcenpresent-
ed for the annexation of Texas TO this Union con-
s,itutional in their characterl For himself Mr..
Y preferred one of them which was not now i'm
inedia,elv before the committee. He referred To
The proposition of the gentleman from Kentucky,
(Mr. 1ibbat,s) because il more exactly met Mr..
,;o,, ,c H., f,one,;,nt;op Tho conc Of