The Evansville journal. (Evansville, Ind.) 1834-184?, 1845-01-23
x ANNEXATION.

projects, is going on uninterruptedly, TO the
exclusion, it seems 10 us, of all other mat
tiers. Every member has something 10 say
about it, and moi a few of them a plan TO
offer. We are inclined to think, however,
that nothing will be done at this session to
annex Texas, and that it will be left to fret
Mr.. Polk.
Mr.. CALEB SMITH, Of this State, address
sed the House on the 9th inst, on this sub
ject, in a speech which is highly extolled by
several of the Washington Correspondents.
He is spoken of as "one of the most prom
Using ofour public men," HUpon every occa-
sion,' - says the Baltimore Patriot, sswhen Mr..
SMITH has addressed the House, both this
session and the last, he acquitted himself
creditably. He has acquired for himself-a
most enyiable reputation as an eloquent and
able speaker. Whenever it is known he in"
tends addressing the House, it is taken for
granted something good will be heard and
there is in attendance a full audiance. Hav-
ing got the floor the day before he delivered
his speech, it was generally known that he
on that morning would open the dabate.-
The consequence was, that at the hour Of
twelve there was one of the largest and most
brilliant assemblage Of persons IN the ladi es'
gallery, | have at any lime seen there during
the present session."
Mr.. S. introduced into his speech a great
many interesting and important topics, which
E he treated in the most happy and effective
manner. Among other things he alluded TO the
boast made by Mr.. c. J. ~INeERsoLL, that this
. measure had in the short space of one year
acquired a very great popularity. MIR. S.
explained why it was, that the annexation
had so suddenly won its way to popular ia
l vor. 1t was because party appliances had
been resorted TO; because it had been made
4 a part of the Democratic creed, and the sup
port of it was made the test of party fealty
< and orthodoxy; and because certain persons
t discovered they could make it subserventtc
5 important private ends. 1t was not be
y cause it possessed any peculiar merits of it
e own.
In speaking ofthe objections he had to the
D measure on the ground Of e~xpediency, Mr.
D SMITH spoke of the debt of Texas. He ad
ministered a severe and just rebuke to GU
. political opponents, who are now advocating
D the assumption of the Texas debt, willis
0 they are %denouncing tie Wing party for de
string that the General Government shoult
afford relief to the indebted States of the
, Union. Those gentlemen could have thei
= sympathy aroused in favor ola foreign ma
ton, and could entertain,the most benevolent
= design toward her, but the suffering of Gu
own people, who were borne down by taxa
. ton, could produce no effect upon their sen
sibilities. They could find authority 70
: ~saddling the debt of Texas upon the Govern
ment, but could discover none for distribut
n ing the proceeds of the public lands anon
the States, TO relieve their embarrassment:
The debts of Texas has been estimated a
ten millions of dollars, but who could sa
IN they did not amount TO one hundred millions
re If they did not exceed ten million why di
i'll not the government of Texas make and ez
" hibit a schedule Of them? This not havin
been done is proof that their amount ha
been misrepresented. Suppose then the
IL amounted to untold millions, as he believe
IL they did, and we were once committed fo
lie their PAYMENT what were we to do? Repudiat
d. them? Such a course would disgrace usi
the eyes of the civilized world. We woul
D. have possession finer land and her resou
ces, and we would be in honor bound 10 pa
them TO the last farthing.
y, Mr.. SMITH alluded to the subject of 81;
very also, in connection with the question
and advanced very liberal and sound view.
The South had certain guarantees under tn
Constitution, in reference to slavery, whic
: he would sooner loose his right arm than DE-
prive thsm of. Bat he maintained that b
had ,heught to discuss the abstract questio
!, of slavery and to oppose its extension. TIL;
- right as a freeman he would only surrende
with his life. These are but a few of h
he points. His speech occupied an hour in til
cd delivery of il, and will well repay an attel
tive perusal.
A"