Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1845-03-07

DnraSe-S1y,
the base mechanical concerns of the filthy lucre OF
gain and we arc somehow other possessed with
a notion that our manufacturing interests will not
be much strengthened by Texan patronage, wheth-
er in the way Of legislation or purchase We are
not well advised what their views may be on the
great question of legislative protection to domestic
industry, and in spite Of the encouraging declara-
ton, that the Anglo Saxon race which has oyerrun
Texas, ais essentially debt.paying, as well as u
land-stealing people," we are haunted by remlh'S
ccnces of outsta ndng accounts for goods sou anu
delivered, against persons residing, not eAac,y III
Texas, but Whereabouts; and we are Pcsteleu WIN
doubts in regard to the punctuaty OF that inter-
estinp community in the matter OF payment. Base
Is the slave that Laws" was rather iavorite maxim
with some of them while citizens OF the Unite
States and we noty yet sufficiently certified, that
a somewhat hasty emigration has increased their
means or improved their morality. 1t has been
somewhere hintcd, though, as well as ! remember,
not urged here, that the Southern people expect
some commercial advantage in the way OF reader
sale or increased price of merchandise peculiarly
their own, which shall here be nameless, and be-
lieye it is well known that the purchase OF Loulsi-
ana added very greatly to the value OF that species
Of property. What weight this consideration may
have with any of the advocates of annexation,
pretend not to determine, but it is at least view
Of the subject which cannot be expectedto strength
en- the measure very materially at the North.
We come now to the argument which is most
frequently used, and perhaps with the greater et-
feet for its equvocal signifcatlon The anneXa-
ton Of Texas will extend the area of treedom-
1t was beautifully said by Sir Humphrey Davy,
"the broader the sphere of light, the more cxton
sive will be the boundary of darkness by which 1t
is surrounded" 1t is perhaps to sort OF inversion
OF this remark, that we owe this argument, Tor in
no other sense can the Incorporation within our ju-
rsdicton of country already as free as our own,
and the consequent diffusion of slavery through
all its vast borders, be said to extend the limits of
freedom. 1t is an argument addressed to the ear
and not to the understanding, mere jingle OF
words without meaning or II significant, false IN
the only sense which the words will fairly bear.
But some gentlemen would have us believe that
q generous and disinterested desire for the eXten
sion of the blessings Of American freedom is the
only motive which inspires their zeal in the cause
of annexation. For this the extreme South is will
ling to deprive itself of its barrier against the en-
croachments of the fanatic spirit of abolltionsm, by
the enamel pation Of slaves in the Northern Slave
holding States, thus narrowing the area OF South
ern freedom on the one hand, for the sake of ex
tending it on the other for this it is ready to de-
populate itself, that it may pour plenty and pros
perty into the lap of its neighbour; for this, it is
prepared to assume q debt Of unknown millions, 10
engage in causecss war with friendly nation,
to exasperate and ALLEVIATE at least one half of the
free States of this great republic, to incur the
scorn of the Christian world What unheard Of
: temen who lend believing ear to such professions
as these, must have greater confidence than i'll the
sincerity of politicians.
But the swift progress oftle index ofour Shrews-
bury clock warns me that it is time to turn nv at
tenton to the real point at ISSUE and to state open.
ly, what all men know, that, with the originators
and leading advocates Of the measure, it is honest
ly and simply struggle for political power. The
annexation of Texas is desired by Southern poti-
Clans because the half dozen States to be carved
out of it will long serve q counterpose to the
growing strength of the North. They expect the
system of slavery, with its Constitutional basis Of
representation, to be extended over Texas and are
prepared to share with that country whatsoever Of
good or evil may accrue from its incorporation into
the American Union. | beg not to be understood
as charging upon the whole people OF the South, q
selfish desire to strengthen themselves at the cost
of the North No doubt very large portion OIL
that population honestly believe, that whilst annex
alton would benefit both them and Texas, it would
not essentially iniure the North, and were the
question unmixed with considerations of politica
power, should have great respect for their opn
ion, however feeble, hollow and inconsistent the
arguments by which their representatives support
the measure. But claim the same charity fol-
those whom | represent, anGcXpect to be believed
when | assert that the people of the North oppose
annexation because they consider it fragrant VIC
lation of our constitutional law, the law of nations
the moral law, fraught with unmixed mischief
and productive Of no possible good, or, in othel
words, as unwise, improbable, unjust. The Chair
man of the Committee of Foreign Relations has
told us, that this is, indeed emphatically South
ern question, a matter of mere local interest ques
ton of boundary, and he reminded us, Il believe
however, he limited this "reminiscences to the De
mocracy of the North,) with what magnanlmitl
the generous people of the South allowed Massa
chusetts and Maine to settle their boundary ques
ton in their own way, and he called upon h
friends to requlte that generosity, by allowing thu
South to settle this boundary question IN such man
ner as to suit its own convenience. This is choice
rhetoric, and it is pity to lessen the effect which
it might produce by an examination of the parallel
ism between the cases. But It'll worth while to no
tee, that the Northeast boundary dispute was
question of the surrender of territory; this of Tex
as question of its extension, and is hardly fail
to ask to repay the magnanimty, which freely
suffered us to ALLEVIATE territory, and diminish
our political strength by consenting to a vast add
ton to the power and resources OF our brethren,
direct and immediate cost ofmillons to ourselves
to say nothing of our other objections to thu
scheme. Had it been question Of the acquisition
of Canada, instead of the surrender of corne
of Maine, am sure that our friends would not have
been so high minded, and think ! am warranted
in saying, that if they succeed in anneXing Texas
their magnanimity inregard to further acquisition
OF Northern Territory, may, very likely, be sool
put to the test
House on this subject at the last session, put tn
acquisition of Texas on the ground of overrun
necessity, as thus The Constitution had guaran
tied the institution Of slavery, with all its incidents
to the South; the rights Of Shareholders were me
naced and endangered by the Vaccinations of MOI
thern abolitoniss, and the acquisition of Texa
being the only sufficient means Of maintaining thi
most sacred guaranty of the Constitution, annexa
ton was a matter of indispensable necessity, an
therefore, by the suprema lea, lawful. Substantial
ly the same ground was taken by the Coryphgsu
of Carolinian craftsmanship in celebrated col
respondence, the frankness Of which | admir-
though not seeing much cause to approve ITS me
tiyes, its temper or its logic. 1t becomes then, e;
sential 10 determine how far annexation is ndii
pensabe to the security Of Southern institution
and if SO, how far the Union is bound by constitl
tional guarantees TO maintain them. 1t is with II
small reluctance that enter upon the discussio
of this fourth point; and do so, only because
hold it to be the very gst ofthe case, the real que
ton of combined duty and cxpediency, upon whic
4bo oil