Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1845-03-01

that under the resolutions referred H. Texas would be ad
med as foreign country Mr. Jefferson had stated, afe
the Florida treaty made, that Texa part of Louis
iana and that power existed in the Government of thu
United States TO transfer the country Spain, and that
sequently the treaty void-that Gen. Washington an,
the whole of his Cabinet Of which Ne was then member
expressed as their opinion that the Government of the Uni
ted States had not the power to transfer TO another Govern
ment any portion of its territory. Ifhese opinions of Mr.
jefferson be correct there existed difficulty in this matter
But whether correct or not il not contemplated by hes
resolutions to admit foreign country into this Union.
He felt authorized TO discriminate between the admission
Texas which the citizens of Louisiana well believed was par
of Louisiana, and the admission Of foreign State whose REQ
pie and territory wholly alien to ours The first white
settlement Of Texas was while it formed part of Louisiana
and until the treaty of 1919, continued be settled par
Of Louisiana from the common source he United States
other parts OF the territory Of Louisiana They protested
against the which made them nominay alien and on the
authority Of Gen. Washington and his Cabinet before referred
he could not regard the of our own citizens and the
admission OF those citizens with the territory including the
homes formerly part of Louisiana the admission Of for
eign State in the common use Of those terms.
When the resolutions under consideration received
from the House, (Mr j. sadly he did not believe that he could
vote for them on constitutional grounds and expressed him
self to the Senate but after full examination of the ques
ton, he believed that the objections which existed against
the acquisition and admission Of Louisiana as State
strong not stronger than those which exist against the
adoption OF these resolutions Mr. Jefferson believed that
there strong constitutional objections the annexation
Of Louisiana, but in consideration Of the importance Of the
object to be obtained he yielded those objections and did
the Senate and House OF Representatives of the United States
and the measure had been acquesced by the whole people
of the United States For the same reasons he should Weld
his constitutional scrpes to the adoption Of these resolutions
He opposed the Texas treaty, only because it pre-
sented as party question: but because provided for the
ment OF the whole of the debts of Texas to unlimited
amount without sufficient evidence TO enable the Senate
form an opinion as to the Some believed that they
might amount to thirty forty millions of dollars it
known that there lands of any value in Texas
II had been represented good authority that the whole
try covered with grants. Besides then had
to believe that the annexation Of Texas would produce
with Mexico From the present condition Of the affairs of
Mexico no such danger TO be apprehended The
Presidential election over and this could not be
smered as party question Hebeieved that all parties would
hail the annexation of Texas great national achievement
Acting under these Impressions and believing that large
joy Of the people of Louisiana favor Of annexation
and considering his duty to pay the highest respect to their
wishes and his constitutional objections being great extent
removed he should vote for the resolutions Notwithstanding
the pain it gave him separate himself in this instance from
the most of those with whom it had been his pride generally
to act IN this body Entertaining the opinions he did, and
believing that Texas should be annexed under these
luon never would be annexed he could act differently
Mr.. JOHNSON having concluded his remarks
Mr.. WALKER moved to amend the joint resolution from
the House by adding thereto the following
find be further resoved That if the President of the Uni
ted States SHALL in his Judgment aud dsceon deem most
advisable instead of proceeding submit the foregoing resolu
ton to the Republic Of Texas the part Of the
them
Belt further resolved That State, be formed of the
present Republic of Texas with suitable extent and bound
aries and with Representatives in Congress until the
apporonment of representation shall be admitted into the
Union by virtue of this act equal footing with the exist
ing States as as the terms conditions of such am
sion and the the remaining Texan territory the
United States shall be agreed upon by the Governments OF
Texas and the United States and that the OF one hum
bred thousand dollars be and the hereby appropriated
dey the expenses OF missions and negotiations to
upon the Of said admission and cesson, either by treaty
be submitted 10 the Senate by articles to be submitted to
the two Houses OF Congress, the President may direct
And the question on this amendment being demanded
Mr.. BERRIEN demonstrated. He asked whether it was
possible gentlemen could Of those who had been opposed
xaon to participate with them in decision on 80 inn
poant amendment that which had been sprung
the Senate hearing read by the Secretary Before
this day should close they desired the proceedings in relation
Texas be brought conclusion: but he claimed
right which he felt the Senate would not WITHHOLD that
before he called TO upon the amendment he should
be allowed time peuse it. He would therefore, that
the Senate take Of hour he would say until
o'clock.
He submitted this motion to the judgment and the justice of
the Senate and he asked whether could be the purpose
emen the face of the American People, after spngng upon
the Senate this late hour amendment which materially
affected the aspect of the whole question: without previous
tice any expectation of such movement to force Inn
mediate upon In ordinary cases, amendments,
of small comparative Importance, laid upon the table and
printed This though important had been read but
He hoped would be agreed upon until o'clock
Cries the Texas side of s'No, to-day.
Mr. WALKER said that would suppose the amendment
was some new mcasue heard of befe whereas had
been printed twenty days ago, and had been debated in
Senate.
Mr. CRTTTENDEN observed that the resolutions, they
came the House, addressed themselves to the Government
ofTexas did provide that the President should take
stems them laid before the Governmental people of Texas
This amendment declared that the President might submit them
at once or negotiation with the Texan Government
the subject matter He suggested gentlemen, whether il
would be better change the terms of the amendment
as not to require any further ncpen action part, but
let Texas take steps for annexation il she should be
clined If she chose the terms in the resou-
TONS she liberty to do if she chose to negotiate,
this amendment opened the door but would not he better to
leave il to her to take action not in the first instance
Mr. BARROW (under good deal Of excitement, appa-
renty inquired whether had been contemplated last
ing when understanding of sort had between
some members of the Senate, that the body TO he called
on TO decide the question the debate should
Some seats in the chamber vacant the side OPP
posed TO annexation and he considered it unfair press the
question at this moment. He hoped gentlemen would moi
persist in endeavorng force the Senate vote. But,
hey were resolved this course he would tell gentlemen that
the opponents of annexation had it in their power prevent
IT, They could speak from to next morning, and from
next morning to the 4t Of March and he should consider
himself and those who acted with him, fully justified in
resisting attempt manifesy unfair and oppressive and
they could defeat He surprised that when Senators
that side of the House asked but Of hour and aha
to look long amendment Just presented request just
and reasonable should be refused II the usual hour when
had hitherto been taken he did not insist six
o'clock he willing return at five but because
two happened to be at this moment for gentlemen
to press decision was they themselves acknow-
ledge consistent with that courtesy which had hitherto
prevailed But he would say again that if that the fixed
purpose Of the friends of this measure it would be resisted
lie able himself to occupy the floor for two hoursandh be
cared not whether he spoke nonsense imma-
he The