The daily Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1841-1845, 1845-02-12
MR.. MILTON BROWNS RESOLUTIONS
AND COL. BENTON,S BILL.

Mr.. Browns Joint Resolutions are of a cha
racter to unite many Wings upon them, with
nearly all of the Democratic party who are re-
ally friendly to Annexation, in any practicable
form. Ii passed the House by highly respect
able majority, and was approved by the Demo-
cratic party generally. There was nothing
wanting, but that all the advocates of Annexa-
ton, forgetting the glory of Cesar, and remem-
bering only the welfare of Rome, should rally
upon it, and complete the work so well begun.
But the rivalry of ambition can see Difficult
ties where none really exist. The first grand
difficulty is, as raised by Col. Benton, that Mr..
Polk is not to he entrusted without legislative
instructions, with the abundant powers already
confided TO him by the Constitution, in relation
to negotiations. We do not doubt the power
of Congress to express its views with respect
to foreign negotiations; but the President is not
constitutionaliy found with respect to such ex-
preston. But if, as is unquestionable, he has
all the power to negotiate already, which COL
Benton's bill confers, why instruct him, or in.
tefIere with him, but from some distrust of him 2
The President of this great Republic is not
Venetian Doge, with mere shadow of author
iiy; State puppet set up to reflect and give
pomp and exterior glory to The authority of others
but real substantial political power in the
Constitution, with faculties defined and limited,
but great and magnificent.
An objection of Col. Benton is to the admis-
sion of Texas as one State. Texas, he saws,
may insist on remaining as one State, if ad-
mit'ed, unless exorbitant privileges are accord
ed to her as the condition of asserting to be-
come more than one, or to be divided into seve-
raj. He fears the encroaching ambition of Tex
as on this subject. But he appears to have quite
forgotten that check on any such disposition e1-
lists in the fact that Texas if but one,Sate, could
have but tioo Senators, and consequently howso-
ever powerful her representation in the House, in
the Senate she could have no more weight than
little Delaware, on any question between her in
terests and those of any States that might come
IN conflict with her on points of local or other
policy. All the States-if more than one-to
be carved out Of her, would be conterminous,
and in certain great leading matters, always
| fNSS~'' p" SS'h'ou 'h'SiSo'- Got tAdnple, lne
questions Of peace and war, or of the IL 7rove-
ment of harbors-would she be willing TO utmin-
sh her power in the ratio of t,oo 10 eieM for
the sake of obtaining exorbiant conditions
as the price Of conserving to division 2 Would
she be willing TO throw deuces when she could
throw skies and deuces at one and the same
time7 But the fulilily Of this objection further
appears, if we consider how long il mus, be.
before Texas-even it she should nor wish 10
constitute but one State-could have represen-
taton in the House formidable to the other
members of the Confvderscy. What length of
time would eapse, if Texas remained a single
State, before she could counterbalance New
York, or Pennsylvania, or Ohio7 Two-thirds
Of century must pass before she could come
up to either Of them; and more than century
and quarter before she could equal the comb-
nation Of them. The reason is plain although
we are eminenily an emgrsting People, capital
and the resources of civilization, have so aeon.
INFLATED in these great States, that they will. as
well as Texas, rapidly increase in population.
Thus this objection is a mere chirnen.-
Texas will not wait twenty, much less fifty