Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1845-01-25

rate and distinct powers provided for ALL totally dis
tnct parts OF the Constitution and committed different de-
parmens of the Government That this is the true interpre
taon OF the Constitution shown in other portions of that in
srumen The organization of the General Government il
wholly incompatible with the purpose of annexing foreign
nation TO IT. in the character of State That State must
have capacity at be represented in our Congress
Otherwise the authors Of the Constitution must have designed
to present the anomaly of State this Union bound obey
all our laws, yet having voice nhe making of them That
cannot be supposed Nevertheless the Constitution requires
OF every member of the House Of Representatives that he shall
have been seven citizen of the United States
every Senator to have been nine years citizen Il is mani
lest that these conditions cannot exist amongst the inhabitants
OF foreign State Every citizen of Texas this moment
foreigner to the United States although he may have
recently emigraed from this country We ayow the right Of
expataton Our citizens lose their citizenship when they
change their allegiance This is of Gun cardinal prnc
PIES Now, is that Of Congress may convert the
inhabitants OF Texas into citizens Of the United States but
cannot make them citizens of nine years standing
In there can be Texas having
these qualifications They would be placed under necessity
to borrow Senators and Representatives from the Union Viii
gentlemen here contend that this contemplated
authors of the Constitution and left unprovided for
Surely no member will risk his reputation upon such
gument.
The deduction from this is that Congress cannot make
new State from foreign nation without first acquiring the
territory Of the foreign nation, and holding long enough for
Its citizens to become endowed with the requisites to make
them Stae-that is to say with qualifications essential to
give them representation in Congress- This shows conclu-
svely other arguments wanting, that the powers
Of acquiring territory and of admitting State separate
ana distinct And, being separated, ask how is the
power territory dependant implied the pow
er to admit STATE? only pretended to be the necessary
incident Of admitting the State but the power acqu
ton shown to be necessary nine years advance Of
the admission, it separates the incident widely from
principal to allow the inference.
The State of Louisiana admitted into the Union in
1872 The territory acquired in 1909 The interval
was nine years. the period essential qualify her Senators
territorial is necessary probationary state and it must
last at least nine years. N01um prenatur is
Horaces rule for the preparation of poem before il is per-
mitted to the light That sir is no less constitutional
rule for the incorporation Of State into the Union when is
carved out of foreign territory To my mind, the argument
Is altogether conclusive and irresistible.
So far, Mr.. Chairman, have drawn the attention of the
committee to the question of the acquisition of territory
have freely admitted that there power in this Government
acquire territory, when is exercised through the proper
organ have demonstrated that does exist in Congress
The next question to which wish invite the committee
is of much greater import Is there any power il. this
Government to incorporate into its body foreign Gov
eminent This very different question from that of
QUESTION Sir deny that any sac power given
1t is revolution whenever it is exercscdre
vouton in both Governments When we acquire territory by
treaty, real treaty essential to it. There be parties
to make the compact they must be acting in the sphere of
the authority conferred upon them by their respective Govern
mens to make the compact they bodies respon
sbe for the men of the compact There are necessary
conditions to treaty If the parties according the organic
law OF their Governments have power make the
treaty. either of them do subsist after it is made in
condition to be responsible for its ulmen it is treaty
Let not be deceived by When we talk of annexa
son OF Texas to the United States talk equally Of the
nexaon of the United States Texas Both sovereign
nations The object to incorporate them into nation
How is proposed to be done By uniting them under such
laws adapted to both. Texas contributes her
regny to the common of the sovereignty Of the United
States The United States, also, in the degree
tribute their sovereignty to the Of sovereignty
which formed by the union of both In this matter of
egny extent OF territory has nothing to do with the question
1t is accident that the United States larger than
Texas The principle would be the if Texas compre
hended all South America error therefore, which
deceves the public mind this subject speak of the pro-
position one to Texas to this Unon toincopo
rate Texas with it. The equally appropriate call it
proposition to the United States Texas in
corporate them with that nation. 1t is but another accident in
the that organization will enable make this in
corporation without any immediate change fundamental
laws Texas might be in the predcamen and whether
these consolidated hold their Of Gov
eminent at Washngon in Texas, Washington in the Dis
trict of Columbia, at intermediate place
nen than either incident Of significance in the ques
ton The point to be determined is, Can two independent
merge their previous separate existence into
combined sovereignty without revolution in the Government
Of each Certainly sir after Texas is annexed her indie
,endcnt sovereignty gone Where is gone Into the
new combination with sovereignty Is not condition
he same as hers in this relation If il is not where is the
Inference And II 1t Is, Is not separate sovereignty
merged also in the combination Now ask FIRST where is
he power this Government to make this combination
If soveregntes and, second, where is the power in the
Sir, wish TO be understood. admit that the people Of
hese two nations incorporate themselves into nation
whenever they may fl to do They may into
general convention, congress- did the United Colonies in
776 and make joint nation. But deny that either Of
hese nations do this under their existing Constitutions
Especially do deny that the President and Senate Of the
United States, the present unctonaes of this Govern
nen-Executyc, Legislative, and Judicial all combnedcan
10 that all any Of the existing funconares of Texas
an do it, their side Both here and there the present
chosen administer the Government which
xists to preserve and protect it and that performs its
loed duty They chosen alter it. to surer-
Ter it. merge any other Government; abatc from or
dd cub its That only be done by the
'end superscde this Government establish another This
revolution peaceful and orderly may be but still it
evolution We of the United States do give the proper
weight TO this consideration, only because much the
arge Power and because in the process but little
essiy for change of fundamental laws therefore
apes the public notice. subject involving the momentous
principle have stated We look upon it mere accession
# territory which settle, have settled other
errtory But how is it with Texas There it is a most
be surrender of that Government, with all Its paaphernaa
# Government II is capituaton When il is DONE no
such subordinate sovereignty allow
hem-remans. Independence is gone nationality is gone
he Texas Of San Jacino gone and what before an
existing nation, has dwnded into subsidiary province
exactly what il would be if conquered Texas in war.
gentlemen pretend that there any power the present
organized Government Of Texas justify this proceeding
Sir there should be minority in that country who dissent
d from this surrender and they should gather force enough
successfully resist it, would they have right treat
hose who had given their land and their people TO for
ign nation guilty Of treason Assuredy just much
should have right to mpcach the President of the
United States for treason, if found him negotiating with
France England to surrender this nation to them.
The Government Of Texas is modelled after II is
ubect the kind of restraints It's purposes dis
incty designated in its Constitution That instrument docs
not contain the slightest word to justify the inference that the