The northern galaxy. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1844-1848, 1845-10-21


on securing sectional ascendency. or min
lStering to purposes Of political ambition.
as to lose sight, too often, of the lust limits
oil the constitutional power.
Since the last session of the General
assembly, an important step has been Ia
Ken towards the annexation of fpreign
government to our confederacy. This has
been done by the adoption of Joint reso-
lu'ion oy Congress, declaring its consent
'hat .tne territory properly included in.
and rIghtiully belonging to, the republic Of
Iexas, may be erected into a new State.
IN order that the same may be admitted as
one OF the States of this Union" This
consent is declared to be given upon the
condition that the constitution to be form
ed by the people Of Texas, shall be trans
mrtted to the President of the United
States ''to be laid before Congress for its
hhal action, on or before the first of Janu-
airy next, and with a provision among
others, "that new States of conve nient
SIZE, and having sufficient population NAV,
with the consent of said state, be fcimed
ont OF the territory thereof, and entitled
to admission under the provisions ofthe-
Federal Constitution"
To this resolution there was added an
other, to the effect that if the President
should deem 1t most advisable, instead of
submitting the foregoing resolution to the,
Republic of Texas, as an overture fer the
admission, to negotate with that r, pub
lic, then that the admission might Le eG
iected, either by treaty, TO be submitted
to the Senate, or by article 10 be su! nit
ted to the two Houses of Congress. as tie
President might direct.
Upon the passage of these resolutions.
the President proceeded to act up, n the
hrsi, and forthwith submitted it TO Texas
as an overture for its admission. Tron
the receipt of the overture, a convention
was called, which has formed 4 con.ti,r-
lion, which has been submitted to the peo-
pie OF Texas for their action on the 18th
OF the present month. 1t will probably be
ratified, and submitted to the CONGRESS Of
the United States at It's next session. for
the approval, which is an indispensable
prerequisite to admission into the Union.
The question enumeration being thug
an open question, the States NAV, with a
view to its final decision, as well as in
reference to their duty, upon possible
consuinatIon OF the measure, properly
subject II TO the ordeal of severe scrutiny.
deem, therefore, no apology necessary
Tor inviting to 1t your particular attention,
nor Tor the expression of my conviction
that Vermont should firmly resist evcry
advance towards the consumation of
measure, so utterly subvers We IF her rights
as a member Of the existing Confeder-
acy.
This medta ed invasion of cur RIGHT j.
net TO he regarded, or treated, as an ordl-
nary violation of the Constitution, fer
which there may be a constitutional rene
dy III the Interposition Of the judicial power.
NO Judicial power can ffictuaiiY reach
the case. Let the deed be done-the
foreign State admitted, and its Senators
and Representatives be actually in Cor
gross, and, practically, a. decision Of the
Supreme Court would be powerIess. The
truth is, the measure is essentially revoIu-
uonary. 1t Is fraud upon the Constitu-
ton, and utterly subversive ofit-changing
essentially, our domestic Federal relations
and ere; ting new unicn; of which mel
Their the present Constitution, nor mutual
confidence will constitute the bond; a u
mon whose only bond will be, the appre-
hended evils of actual separation, since
1t is impossible that confidence or affection
can exist where there is an abiding sense
u hagrant injustice and usurpation.
Much has been said in rerard to rf.e
{ III n
vor Of Slavery, and so sensitive are TIE
South on this sublect-so tenacious of the
concessions wrung from the North. rs the
price OF the Union, that the bare proposal.
by the legislature of Massachusetts. to A.
mend the Constitution, by aboIishing the
slave representation in Congress, has been
denounced as little less than treason to the
Union. But this very compromise carries
with II an irresistible argument against
he measure of annexation. A sIicht
consideration Of the subjects will render il,
apparent, that the compromise securing
lave representation, must have had refer
'nce TO union within the then limits of
he United States, because it concerned
sectional interest, the adjustment of
yhIc b, IN the compromise. must nece ssa-
ny, have had respect to definite tcrrItori-
j limits-otherwise the balance might be-
destroyed, and the compromise practically
by the addition of foreign slave
states, giving to the slave interest an I'M
ooked for and permanent preponderance
n the Union.
And such notification will be the eC
ect Of cCnsummatiDg the measure Of an
exation. The compromises touching the
uestion of slavery will be at an end-as
learly so, as wonld be one of two depen-
ent and reciprocal obligations between
where the other had been vi
lated.
The truth is, that, at the time Of secu-
ing the great and fatal concession of the
lave representation-by whose votes in
congress almost every question affecting
he relative interests if the slave and non.
Iaveholding States, including the question