Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1845-01-07

anli.slavery paper presented during this session.
Mr.. PHOENIX was not aware Of its contents,
in detail; but coming from highly respectable
society, he had presented the memorial at the So
licita,ion of those who had signed it. He moved
that it be referred 70 the Committee ofthc Whole
on the state OF the Union But
Mr.. FICKI.IN insisted on his motion to lay
the memorial on the table; ,hereupon
Mr.. HAMLlN, of Ohio, called for the yeas
and nays, which were taken, and reSulted-ySas
g., nays 81.
The SPEAKER. The Chair votes in the al
frmative; yeas 81, nays 81. The yeas haveit.
So the memorial was laid upon the table,
TEXAS.
The Eouse resolved itself into Committee Of
the Whole on the state of the Union (Mr. Hop
kins in the Chair and proceeded TO the consdera-
ton Of the resolutions for the annexation Of Tex
as 10 the United States.
Mr.. BAYLY said that when the majority Of
the Committee on Foreign Relations about twen-
" days ago, made report upon this subject, a
complaint was made by the minority that the ac-
ton was precipitate and that they had no oppor-
tunitv to present their views As the views of the
majority were Yesterday presented BY their Chair
man, (Mr. C. ]. IngersolD il was but fair that
he should yield the floor TO some gentleman Of the
!, minority; (and he did SO accordingly, and took
\ his seat)
Mr.. WINTHROP inquired Of The Chair whe-
/ Their if be should make personal explanation IN
relation 10 this subject, he would lose his right to
| the floor should he be hereafter disposed 10 make
remarks with regard TO the annexation OF Texas.
| The Chair was understood to reply that he
\ could no, determine in advance, not knowing how
long the gentleman might extend his observations.
I Mr. WINTHROP, however, did not address
/ the Committee.
| The amendment heretofore proposed BY Mr..
/ Weller to the joint resolutions submitted by Mr..
Ingersoll from the Committee on Foreign Affairs,
i having been read,
Mr.. DOUGLASS moved that the Committee
rise, as there did not now seem to be PrepaTa-
| ton or disposition on the part of any member TO
speak upon the subject. Cries OF "Oh, no! Oh no! ]
| The question was taken but the Committee re-
| fused 10 rise.
The preamble aud resolutions of MIR. Douglass
were then read, when
| Mr.. RHETT appealed to the gentleman from
4 Illinois TO withdraw the preamble, and consent
that the sense Of the House be taken, as 4 test
question: on the first resolution which aifirms that
s'the country known as Texas be, and the same IS
| hereby, reannexed 10 and made portion OF lhe
territory oil the United States; and the
of the said territory of Texas shall DC incorpo,
rated into the union of the ohheu 9.a'es, anu
admitted as soon as possible, ACCORDING 10 lne
principles of the Federal Constitution, 70 !he en-
ioyment OF all the rights, advantages anu i.iilnu
mics of citizens of the United States; anu IN Inc
mean time they shall be protected in The tree en-
ioyment oftheir liberty. property, and the religion
which they profess" He desired 10 see whether
there was a majority of the House in favor of the
abrlract proposition of admitting Texas into the
Union, or not. II il was the will OF the people
that Texas should be admitted, there would be no
| officially about details; and he again appealed 10
the gentleman 10 consent tha, the question should
- bab nl tod If pei
agreed
Mr.. DOUGLASS. | consent 10 the PROPOSE
ton Of the gentleman from South Carolina. a
voice: That's right"
Mr.. j. r. lNGERSOLL could not agree that
a silent vote be taken on the admission OF Texas
into the Union. He considered annexation, as
sought to be effected, contrary 10 the Constitution
Of the United States and tina, il would be, ipso
f4cto, war with Mexico, from the fact that Mexico
had nor abandoned the war against Texas, and
that, should Texas be admitted into the Union,
the rest Of the States would lie involved in The
consequences. Instead e terminating the conflict,
annexation would but continue il, with all its hor
rors Ii was his belief that majority or The
people Of this country were i'll favor Of The mea-
sure; if there was majority, however, It was
bu, small On the score OF slavery alone, he
would oppose the project; ne was Tor upholdlng
the principles and compromises OF the Consiitn-
ton, as they existed but il we were TO extend
the system Of slavery beyond the limits prescribed
by that instrument, he would be the first TO step
forward, and say, if he could with effect "Thus
far shalt thou go, and no farther" Alter speak
ing an hour, the honorable gentleman concluded
his observations.
MIR PAYNE replied to the remarks of MIR. In
sersoll, and contended thatthe admission OF Texas
would not he violation OF the Constitution, nor
concted with the third section, in relation 10 The
ad, NJ -
question in national point OF view, and regard
ed the possession Of Texas as necessary 10 our
defence in event of war with Great Britain, or
any other foreign power; besides, there We're nu-
mcrous tribes OF Indians on the frontiers, who,
al the ins,igation of the enemy, could be stimu-
lated TO oulrages against our citizens. And this
of itself, ought to be a sufficient argument IN Ia
vor of the measure now before the Committee
IL it could be demonstrated that Texas is free,
sovereign, and independent, (and OF this ne had
no question,) then had she perfect right to
transfer her territory 10 the United States, and
no nation on the face OF the earth had the
least Justice TO complain He commended that
Mexico forfeited all claim 10 Texas, when the
former by means of military force, prevent
ed free expression Of opinion al the ballot box
es, and Santa Anna, a usurper, succeeded IN hav-
ing elected members of Congress favorable to his
own despo,ic views, who abrogated The Constllu-
lion Of 1924 under which Texas was recognized
as department, Of Mexico. But Texas did not
in strict sense, rise in revolution she but insist
ed on a restoration of the Constitution; and not
succeeding in that, she most successfully declared
and maintained her independence Mexico had
no right to object, under the circumstances. He
deprecated the apprehension that annexation
would result in war; and the appeal 10 the fears
and cupidi,y Of the commercial interest. Let
any power engage in the conlroversy-let It take
part in the confict-and it shall meet with de-
feat as signal as was that of the proudest nation
of Europe on the plains Of New Orleans. BY
annexins Texas we would acquire l36, .327
acres of land. Should len millions of dollars
be sci apart to assume her debts, in exchange for
this land, it would cost US but seven and three
eighhs OF cent per acre. II il should be sold Tor
one dollar and twenty-five cents per acre, the ag-
sregate value would be more than one hundred
and seventy millions of dollars. Besides, the ter
rtory would sustain at leas; five millions ofsouls,
Weld five hundred millions Of agricultural pro-
ducts, and put into our Treasury, at duty OF 70
per cent following one-thrd Of the products 10 be
exchanged for other commodites) l33 millions Of
dollars What could be more favorable to this ma
ton, so far as relates to dollars and cents! He de-
monstrated that The manufacturing interests would
be benefited by finding home market Tor their
productions, and asked them why, this being ap-
parent, they did not advocate the immediate an
nexation OF Texas TO this country lie qua not
advocate the annexation Of Texas because IT was
slave question, but because it was national
one, and mol confined 10 the present generation,
bul looked far into The future
| Mr.. WINTHROP obtained the floor, when
The Committee rose and the Speaker resumed
the Chair,
And The House, at o'clock, adjourned.
Correspondence ofthe Baltimore Patriot.]
New York. Friday, P NJ.
pJSIJ0p ONnCDDnNYry,c CAGE