Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1845-03-07
VOL. xxx, NO. 17.--wHoLE NO 9ooa

Northern frontier, and left The Continental army
free to act against the enemy in the Sou,herr 49,.
ton of the Confederacy. The occasional anon
threats of secession on the part of Vermont were
mere articles to give color in the eyes of the Brit
'sh to the sincerity of the negotiation and at fhy
same time to alarm Congress into a compliance
with her just and reasonable demands and there
was never moment when the public authorities of
tne otate ceased to entertain both the desire and
I'e expectation OF ultimate admission to the Union.
~ 10 not 10 oe denied, that the perseyernp refusal
OF congress to fulfil its own solemn enpagements.
ana 10 recognize the rights of Vermont as an in
dependent member of the Confederacv nrod,ced
great irritation, and that influential indv;drais were
sometimes almost provoked into determination tn
secede altogether from the common cause But
SO lar as the argument from precedent is CONCERN
ed the real question is, not what were the nI,rnoses
aud views of the leading men, or even of the con-
Stitrted authorities of Vermont, but, upon what
principle did Congress act ? Not whether the peg
pie Of Vermont held themselves to be- not ontv
sovereign and Independent, but also foreign State.
Out whelher congress, in adnitting the State con.
sdered itself as treating with foreign power. or
creating new member out of territory within it's
righlful original jurisdiction The question, indeed,
was not discussed, but the Whole history of the
trahsactlon-the facts of the case-show that Con-
gress did not look upon Vermont as to all intents
and purposes a foreign State
! repeat them there is no analogy between tho
case OF Vermont and this of Texas aud rerte.
men, who claim for Congress the power in question:
VIII be driven to derive it from the naked words of
the Constitution. But, sir do not propose TO en-
Ter upon the Constitutional question further than as
the history OF my own State may tend to elucidate
1t, and shall corfine the remainder of my remarks
to the simple question Of expediency.
L cannot agree with the gentleman from Ohio
Mr. DEAN that the constitutional power is the only
question in the case, because it is not to me- as il
| pttit
that the annexation of Texas would be blessing.
can conceive an enlargement Of territory, burden
| ed win membranes, or attended by conditions
which would render it curse; and this seems to
me very clearly one of those cases where the onus
probandi lies upon the affirmative both as regards
the legality and the expedency Of the measure,
| AS have already said, either that unucky ham,
mer or some secret misgivings prevent gentlemen
from giving us the argument on this point, and we
are left to gather it partly from broken and mystic
rlous hints here, and partly from certain declara-
tons promulgated last year from the court end of
the avenue, with the soleumty Of oracuar author
ty and with more than oracular distnctness The
argument then, compiled from these various sourc-
cs, divides itself into four propositions. I say four
SIR, because the reasons assigned for the annexa-
ton OF Texas on grounds Of military security are
too weak and puerile to impose for moment on
any man possessed of the smallest notions of the
principles of strategy. General Jackson, whose
however brave soldier skillful as a tactican,
has never given any evidence of strategicnl talent.
BESIDES, 1t is said that Cen Jackson himself twen-
ty-hve years ago, when in the full enjoyment of I'M
impaired mental faculties declared the possession
OF Texas unimportant in military point of view;
and l appeal from Gen. Jackson in decrepitule to
Gen. jackson in the vigor of his intellect.
But 1t Is said that the annexation of Texas will:
first, promote the cause of emancipation in the
northerlnost slavehoding States, and Delaware
Maryland, Virginia, Kentucky, and perhaps North
Carolina and Tennessee, will soon become free
States. Secondly, it will enlarge American COM
merce, and furnish a vast market for the sale and
consumption OF Northern manufactures. Thus far
annexation is Northern question Thirdly it will
extend the area of freedom. This is hybrid ques-
tion and Northern or Southern, according to the
position of the spectator, with regard to Mason and
Dxon's line Fourthly and lastly, it will extend,
tortlly, and perpetuae the peculiar instution-the
especial pride and glory of the South In this Point
OF view 1t is strictly Southern question, unless
gentlemen can make out by argument, what some
of them are disposed to assume without that the
Union is bound by constitutional guarantees to aid
them III maintaining the institution of slavery, and
propagating its blessings through regions where it
is now unhappily unknown.
have word to say on this matter of expeden-
cy, in each of its asoects
But let me remark, in passing, that seem to see
something OF inconsistency in the action of some
Southern gentlemen. Slavery. they tell U.S. is not
merely convenience and an advantage to the mas.
ter, but blessing to the slave aud vet they advo-
cate annexation, because it tends to promote emans
cipation in the northernmost Saveholding States.
But If slavery be- morally, good, and, practically,
a blessing, you are criminal in promoting emanci-
patton Again, they say, the superior attractions
of the Texan climate and SOIL will induce rapid
emigration thither from the South, and the compe.
luton IN the growth of cotton and sugar will luin-
IN fhA 1fA
What anomalous patriotism is this, which is con-
tent TO purchase the prosperity of foreign coun-
try by the dcpopulation and lmpovershnent of its
native land We are told also that Texas will
increase our commerce, and enlarge the market tor
domestic manufactures; and the wheels that drive
the Jennes and looms of the North, are threatened
with stoppage by the backwater of fraudulent I'M
portatlons OF British goods through the accommo-
dating agency OF phanthroplc and virtuous Texas.
IL Is singular that this argument should come from
the lips of those who denounce in the same BREATH
the Northern manufacturers band of robbers;
and, as manufacturer, own am little Jealous
OF this new born zeal in behalf of interests even
now furiously assailed from the very same quar-,
ter.
Perhaps sir, some subtle advocate of annexation,
by the aid OF faculty in which profess myself
deficient, faculty which has been said to consti-
tute the essence Of wit, and wnich is, at any rate
prerogatve of genius--the perception, namely,
of obscure relatlons-Inay be able 10 reconcile
these seeming incongrutes; but in the mean
time, and until better advised, poor spinner apd
weaver, shall look upon the new friends of my in
terests with some distrust.
In regard tothe first point, the probable influence
of annexation upon negro emancipation, | do not
pretend 10 such knowledge of the present condi-
ton of the slave question in the Northern slave
holding States as to render me competent Judge,
but do know that judicous Souherners, friends,
too, OF annexation, look for no such result. | have
seen no argument, conclusiveIy or even probably,
establishing that consequence, So far as | have
observed, no Southern gentleman on this floor has
hazarded the opinion, that it will have any such
tendency; and even were convinced that it would,
am not clear that this is not the precise case,
whe'e it is not lawful to do evil that good may
come. This much is certain and evident to all
men, the immediate effect of the measure would be
the territorial extension of the system and there