Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1845-02-20
CONGRESSIONAL PROCEEDINGS.

The Texas debate is going on in the Senate with
considerable spirit, and some Of the first intelects
in the Senate Of both parties are engaged in it,
Gov Moreh cad OF Kentucky lead Of in opposition
10 the Joint Resolution" passed by the House
&c Representatives. in speech Of distinguished
ability which elected The encomuns Of friends and
foes He opposed the annexation Of Texas on con
s,tatioaai grounds but declared that he could moi
consent to annexation upon any terms unless the
consent Of Mexico ~ss given. He also opposed
the snnexng Of foreign territory to the Union BY
bare majority. lie thought this step was taken tc
perpetuate Slavery, which be denied the power il
Congress to do. He also urged another objection
20 the Resolution Of the House--tbst it robbed
Texas of sill her resources, and left her to hopeless
Reputation. The Hon. James Buchanan, Of Penn
Joint Resolution" Of the House. He was in ia.
vor Of annesing Texas first, and then settling al
the difficulties connected with annexation. Texas
he said, had asked in 1887, and in 1914, and now
in Is45, to come into the Union Tbs Bill before
the Senate for her admission was 10 bis view, the
very best that could be adopted. He thought the
Bill would meet the objection urged against the
Tyler Treaty, that !, did not have the concurrence
of Congress Mr.. B. relied solely upon the power
20 admit new States, and REGARDED that as entirely
sufficient. He was opposed to Siovery, but sup
ported it because the Constitution tolerated it,
He denounced the Abolilionists in unmeasured
terms as the enemies Of the Slave and mankind.
Annexation was, in his view, beneficial to the
Country, to its trade, to its commerce, TO proper
watchfuness Of England &c. He complimented
Mr.. Morehead very highly for bis able speech de-
liyerea the day before. Our distinguished sena-
tor, the Hon. VIM. c. Rives, followed Mr.. Buch'
anan--he regarded the "Joirt Resolution" of the
House as in substance treaty. He could not
therefore support the immediate Bill before the
Senate-he denied the power in Congress to annex
foreign territory to the United States. Mr. Rives
was in favor of the annexation Of Texas at the
proper time, and in the proper way. but he could
not consent to violate the Constitution, estab
lish new precedent of incalcula BILE mischief 20
the country for the purpose of accomplishing the
END. lie COIreCteu hits tHht
the Supreme Court had expressed the opinion that
Congress could acquire foreign territory The
opinion Of the Court was "tha, new States could be
admitted into the Union" by Congress after the
foreign territory had been acquired by treaty. he
warmly protested against the power now assumed
by the two Houses of Congress--as violative of the
law and Constitution of the Union. We might get
Texas Che said) but it would loosen some OF the
strongest cords of Union that now hold the States
together. 1t was mpous to ask Heaven to sane
sion and bless Country that had been enlarged
by violation of the laws and Constitution os the
aand. Heaven might be invoked TO bless what was
right and just but never what was wrong. II
Congress could annex Texas to the Union. II could
strike Texas flom the Union, and already there
we're cries of repeal of the Union if the act should
be attempted. He warned the Slnve-hold ing States
10 be careful how they admitted the right Of Con
gress to legislate upon one OF their Institutions
which the bill before the Senate did. The Hon.
MIR. Woodbury. followed MIR. Riyes in an excited
and able speech in favour OF the bill, going over
the grounds pretty much which had been travelled
BY Mr.. Buchanan. So far, the debate has been
very able on both sides, and promises to continue
in interest MIR. Choate of Massachusetts has the
hoor next.