The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1845-12-17

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described this on the lace OF IT, and nothing more
IL SAID Congress gave this consents that the constl-
tuuon OF the United States authorized the Congress
10 act, ana TINS was before Texas was TO Know
anything about IT, Great objections were made "a
the constitunonality Of the power thus assumed on
the part OF Congress. After passing this measure,
they took the chance that 1t might be changed.
FOR, IN iis own terms, IN two places, 1t expressly
recognizes the idea that It is no perfect thing, nc
complete transaction, but ID TO be acted upon by
the present Congress Of the United States Heread
the portions referred to- Of which speaks Of the
constitution of Texas being rsicrred to Congress foI
Its final action" On that thnsl action" they were
now progressing Had this Congress nothing to
do' Had il not TO deliberate, consider and judge Of
this matters or were they merely TO register the
can, the democratic doctrine on this subjects This
resolution OF annexation was nothing more than a
JOINT resolution Of the 25th Congress, and might be
repealed by the 18th Congress- II stood in the light
OF my other act OF the 18th Congress, subject TO
peal II they took that mode Of annexing new
and the right of repeal included the right of consid
ering upon the constitution Of Texas, and prescribe
Ing amendments and new conditions If they saw
NJ II III. s.kg .tesxss 90
He knew il had been sAss ~ ~. vaeple Of ahs
United States had, IN some sense, paused upon this
HiotCT. Dut lucy Huu Tut puSScu upot ~ III tHC
election Of the members of the last Congress, in
the late presidential election Everybody knew the
conflicting clements the counter-curents that were
mingled together in that contest; and that in a
great State Of this Union whose vote was necessary
TO the election, the votes of majority of the people
were given against the electors who cast their votes
for the present Executive Of the United States.
He had said that he had not had the opportunity
OF examining in detail all the provisions of this
stitution here prcsented but there were some pro-
visions which stood out in such bold relief that
there could be no mistake. There are words in that
ton of my country. There is one article in
that constitution which begins with title UNI
known TO the constitution of my country-with the
word "slaves." Was that word in the constitution
of the United States' Amid all the heat and dust
which this Texas question had occasioned IN this
counry-amid all the misrepresentation all the in
trigue, all the exertons of every kind whatever
which have been made among the people, there
stood out honest feature the part of this gov
eminent in its transactions on this mater--on the
part of the late Secretary of State, eminent cti-
zen of South Carolina recently elected to the other
branch of this Congress. Mr.. r. read from the
despatch of April ~, 1874, of Mr.. Calhoun to Mr..
Pakenham, the portion Stating that this measure OF
annexation was made necessary sin order to pre-
serve the domestic institutions placed under the
guarantee of their respective constitutions, and deen-
ed essential to their safety and prosperity" There
VIII TctnblH IOTeVcT, LOT evil OF LOT gOOu tndL du-
thoritative historical for the annexation of
Texas--that it was considered necessary for the
preservation of the domestic institution of slavery.
II was honestly presented, he granted; and on that
issue, (said Mr.. r. y we meetit. We object 70 the
passage and the contamination Of this measure be-
ual, effect. The question is, in the progress OF
the advancement Of this government over this CONT
nent; which, as far as regards the northern part
Off, regard as matter of destiny,) whether in its
incpient stages, when the frtt steps taken, when
the attempt IS first made to extend the constitution
OF the United States over foreign territory, there
shall be coupled with 1t the institution of domestic
slavery. We were now standing on the verge Of
the commencement of policy which was, for evil
or for good, to be hereafter the policy of this coun-
try-which Is TO be an American policy-which is
to convert this continent into the U. States of North
America sooner or later, fairly unfairly regard
this as the destiny of my counyyy-~No ercncw
about to add vast extent of territory, said to COM
prise one Of the faires portions the earth. The
question here is shall there be extended over it, and
guaranteed to il, the institution of domestic slavery
speak of the State of Texas, which asks here TO
be admitted. Say, If you will that all the proceed
ings that have taken place are right and coHstitu-
tional; that there can be no objection to them; and
that the government and the people Of the United
States are bound by the overture that has been
made STILL say, by the terms Of the joint rcsolu-
ton Of last session, under which we now acting,
VIC dTe not oouHu 70 recognise tne lnsttutoH VI
slavery IN the State of Texas which seeks to be adj
mtted. Mr. R., in support of this view, read from
the second section Of the joint resolution tor annex
alton, which provides, that of the States hereafter to
be formed, in the manner specified out of the terri
tory of Texas, those south Of the parallel of 800 30
north latitude, commonly known as "the Mis-
souri, compromise line" may be admitted into
the Union, with or without the institution of
slavery therein, as this people may desire, and
that, in the States admitted out of the terri
tory north Of said line, slavery, or involuntary
servitude except for crime shall be forever prohib
tied. The proposition before the House, he con-
tended, was clearly in direct conflict with the joint
resolution Of the last Congress, nasmuch as it pro-
posed to establish the institution of slavery, and to
prevent even the legislature from abolishng tex
cept upon certain conditions, in that portion Of the
territory north of the compromise line, in which
slavery was 'forcyer prohibited" Now, he OBJ
jected to this feature of the constitution of Texas
here presented. He would not speak of particular
States of this Union; he would not now speak OF
any portion of our beloved country; but he would