Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1845-11-20
AnneXatiOn""R Resistance.

admission OF texas, as a Save state, lie says, he con-
siders the deed as virtually c|onsummated that our
Congress consented to receive her, upon certain condi
tions, and she has in effect complied with those condi-
tons. Now, with all due Difference, we are of a diff
ferent opinion. All the action Congress has taken, is,
to consent that Texas may erect herself into a State,
and adopt a Constitution, as a mode of preparing for
its admission and such Constitution, with the proper
evidence of its adoption by the people, is to be laid be-
fore Congress for its final action on Or before the LIST
of January, 1916. So that, when this constitution is
laid before our Congress, the whole question is yet
open-it may approve or disapprove, may admit or re-
iect the state of Texas at its pleasure. Above all,
Congress has not fixed the conditions upon which TEX
as may be admitted; and the presumption is, that eve
ry congressman who regards his oath to support the
Constitution, will Indignantly spurn the advances of a
state whose constitution secures the ~perpetuity ofslave-
ry and the slave-trade!
Many people think we are at least undor some hon
Orary obligation to admit Texas, by virtue of what has
already been done; and are therefore opposed to any
further efforts to prevent the deed. This we cannot
admit. We have shown that the whole question is yet
open: the friends of annexation so regard it. They
have chosen this method of securing their end, and
must submit to its contingencies. They know the
strong, and rapidly increasing, feeling at the North
against the extension of slavesy. They know that the
next Congress, which is to act finally upon the whole
question, is a neU Congress, fresh from the people, inn
bued with their feeling, and free from the trammels
which political intri guers may have felt during the
Presidential wire-workings of the last session. Under
these circumstances, are We not justifed-yea, morally
bound, to oppose this ~nelarious scheme to the last, and
with strong confidence of success?
Our confidence increases daily, that Texas will not
be admitted into this Union-at. least, with the bloody
constitution she has just adopted. Ifdone at all, itmust
be done by. the North and who here SO recreant to all
that is good? Why, it will be said, the Demo-
cratic party are pledged in favor of the measure. This
we are not willing to admit. True, the democratic par
ty OF the North supported Mr.. Polk, knowing hin to be
in favor of annexation but this was an objection to him,
rather than an argument in his favor. Mr.. Van Buren,,
pledged against annexation, would have been much
more heartily supported. Throughout the free states,
the question of annexation was generally lodged by
the democrats, in their conventions and discussions in
New York, Silas Wright, who voted against annexa-
ton, was nominated and elected Governor; and in nu-
merous instances the ground was taken that the mea-
sure never would be submitted to, unless upon terms
consistent with the interests and rights of the North. ~
And further, the democratic party reasoned, that Mr..
Polk was no more Objectionable upon the annexation
question-or at least no farther pledged to the inter
ests ofthc South, and in favor of slavery, than was his
prominent rival, Mr.. Clay,-while they honestly pre-
ferred the views of the former over the latter upon the
"other great interests" of the country. So that, the
support of Mr.. Polk by the Northern democrats cam
not be construed into a pledge in favor of annexation.
But, admitting that they are pledged in favor of that
measure; admitting that they have no sympathy with
the most popular arguments in Congress and elsewhere
against anneXation-th It is a violation of the Con-
stitution to admit foreign territory-that the rights of
Mexico will be infringed, and war follower that
the measure will be a violation of good faith towards
England, France, &c, &c.-is it to be presumed that
the democratic party are pledged in favor of Texan
SIdUay?-that they are the "~natural allies" of the
whips and shackles, the thumb-screws and branding
irons, the groans and guilt of her abominable system of
oppression? Is Democracy the twin sister of Slavery?
Have words lost their meaning? viii men, with loud
boasts of equal rights, opposition to all monopoles, and
love for the people, upon their lips, turn round and en-
brace a system of oppression that robs one halfof COM
munity of every conceivable right, and makes them
the property, to all intents and purposes, of the other
half? This is the question and We are unwilling to
believe that the principles Of the great mass of the de-
mocratic party hang SO loosely about them as to be rea-
Oily and willingly exchanged for the most darling
schemes of d~espotism. Let Texas come Inlet the
whole North 60 for it, if she pleases,-but let not such
terms be made as will disgrace us in the eyes of the
world, Let Liberty be proclaimed to all the inhabit-
ants thereof let her present a constitution in conso-
nance with our own, the r~adiating point of which shall
be-"Lboty to ourselves and our posterity"-instead
of one in which the cooled serpent of despotism lies en-
%trenched, and whose subtle poison is distilled through
out all its veins. We say to all honest democrats, be-
ware how you allow ambitious and unprincipled parti-
Fan leaders to unite your destiny with that of human
slavery Commit not your judgment and conscience
to their keeping. People may be deceived for a sea-
son. Power may be obtained and perpetuated for a
time by striking hands with the oppressor. But, de-
pend upon it, it will prove a Trojan horse in the end.
DEMoN-ocracy may pass for a while for Democracy;
but as sure as American liberty is to be perpetuated,
and truth to triumph, so sure will the merits of that
party be understood and appreciated, which links its
fate with the vilest abomination of the age-American
Slavery!
We have proceeded upon the supposition that an
neXation will strengthen slavery, without stopping TO
notice the argument, sometimes made, thatit will draw
Off the slaves from the Northern slave States, and rem
Ger them free States. Those with whom that argument
has weight, are requested to note carefully an article
from the Cincinnati Herald, commencing upon our first
page, and others which we shall publish hereafter.
0F7We are happy to notice that the Committee for
Rutland County have taken hold of this work in good
earnest-issued an able address, and appointed town
committees throughout the county. Let others follow
their example. Put the question upon its true ground
opposition to Texan slavery. All parties in the state