Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1845-12-27

State be formed from it without the consent ~ h Sat,
Texas and the Constitution which has been submitted a. =
dpnyes the State through its Legislature Of abohing ala
very any portion Of the present territory Of T,exas re ~
stantially guarantees 10 shareholders who now are ~
may become citizens Of Texas by immigration with
slaves the right to hold their in seryude Il IN
Texas now included whnher rghifu limits and H.
is asked to admit her into the Union with such s,;
tonal provision, and to sanction it by consening N h
mission. cannot comply with such a request canna
agree proposition which at variance with The sr; u
the resolutions Of the last session. and which, seems a
will virtually continue the institution Of slavery in every
Of Texas which, at least will forever prevent Inc Grm
ton Of free State within any part Of its present limits and
that too, with the license and appreciation Of Congress
shall vote against these resolutions because thew alo
Texas have Representatives in the House Of Represn
ayes, which, in my Judgment is contrary well to the let
the spirit of Constitution So far as any evidence
none within my recoecton) has my knowledge y
the amount Of her population the number might as well have
been twenty two. would be arbitrary num-
ber and unless her federal numbers justify it is unequal and
therefore unjust was necessary when the people of the
United States made the present Constitution that every State
each Of which independent should have least one Re-
preventative but in the admission Of new States the rule
specified in the Constitution is govern and such has been
the practice In the apporonment Of its Representatives
State to be subject to the ratio prescribed by law In no
other mode the provision of that instrument this part
cuar, be carried out.
In the absence Of evidence known me- sufficient TO satisfy
me that Texas has population which, applying the exist
ing ratio, would give her two Representatives sane
ton by my vote her admission these unequal TERMS If
she to be placed any ether footing than that equality
with the other States of the Union which subject to the
ratio prescribed by law than representative should
be allotted to her. with the unequal advantage which her
slave population gives her in the election to
Congress the number Of votes recently given in Texas
the question of and the adoption Of the Const
luton, be any just criterion, in the slightest degree ap
proxmates to fair criterion by which her present popua
ton is to be estimated, she is far from being entitled to
come into the Union at ALL with representative
for of the requisite federal numbers for it appears
that there only about 450O given either Of
the preceding matters submitted the people of Texas and
which does not know how much Of her public
lands has been legally granted and of ignorant Of
the quantity any, which remains subject her CONTROL and
is also ignorant Of the of her public debt cannot be
expected furnish very full evidence of the number of her
people, IT, however, she is to be admitted as State Of the
Union she is entitled Representative only and to one
should she be limited The resolutions allow her two and
cannot vote for them
have thus Mr. President very briefly stated some of the
which will govern in the which shall give
against the passage Of these resolutions will not indeed
have not strength, to further The resolutions will GER
tany pass and in what have said have expressed the
convictions of my deliberate Judgment and believe the
opinions OF large portion Of the people of Connecticut
have endeavoed to discharge my duty to hem and the
country American Senator, and take leave Of the
subject.
Mr. BAGBY said he felt called on to offer some remarks
the purpose of defining his position in relation 10 the que
ton before the Senate He mpeled to that at
that me not by any desire occupy the attention of the
Senate in any discussion of the question: with the of
imposing the slightest obstacle but because he wished place
himself right before that body and the country He awaited
HIMSELF then, of the opportunity of stating clearly dis
ncty that at tme under any circumstances had he
ever for moment entertained the slightest opposition
he of annexation ITSELF On the contrary all the
all the feelings that could operate upon and
uate faithful public servant had led him clearly decidedly
md strongly in favor Of the He stated distinctly
hat for every that could operate upon man. upon
zen, upon Senator he had been all times in favor of
he annexation of Texas and he thought that he would
ble to satisfy that Chamber that he had least
ble extent practically manifested that disposition beyond
loubt II question in the history Of the country
he first form In which it was presented in the treaty
s44 He voted for it. II rejected by large majority
md then. for the first time, according his knowledge and
on the subject IT brought forward in legs
1 sn @Ron that point also , he had sana desire
rearing of that honorable body, and in the i---1 Of the
American people, that he did strongly. sincerely
ious doubt whether the power to admit foreign States into
he Union was vested in Congress by the Constitution That
loubt he had expressed former occasion and to
out he again expression But regard to that
oub as with regard all others that could ncumber the
mind of public man. he could only say that he felt that he
bound to regard the views and sentiments entertained
hose whom was his pride to represent The Legislature
Alabama for years before he had become ofha body
the Senate and therefore he consoed himself with the
lection that their instructions intended for him alone
had instructed their representatives the Senate and in
,her branch of the Legislature their best for
he admission Of Texas into the United States. Those in
uctons he had fulfilled the letter and yet if he had
instructed upon particular mode by which that object
was to be accompisheddear as popularity was TO hmhe
would have vacated his in that body rather than have
voated that mode which his judgment condemned But that
having been doubtful point to the mode in which this
to be accomplished he had steadily endeavored
pursue that to which the wishes Of his constituents
had pointed. In 1914 those who then charged with
he execution Of the powers Of this Government formed their
opinions TO the proper mode OF admitting Texas. But
finding that that defective, another mode proposed
and those who could take the trouble examine both popo
sions would find that that amcndment-whch he took that
opportunity of saying he had agency inpovided not
alone for the accomplishment Of the object by treaty. but pro-
yded the Legislative also At every stage Of the proceedings
this question: he had been acting at least endeavong
act with those who had the most at heart When
in the form of treaty from another part Of the Gov
emment he had subsequently resored the alternative Of
taking the chances both by treaty and legislative action So
much with regard to the which he had taken in this
matter.
Marked out they by differences Of political prnci
pie and political action had been his misfortune differ
from Of the eminent the other side Of the
House. And also he had been called to differ with some
Of the most eminent his side Of the House, rela
tive to the mode of accomplishing the And if he
desired to seek stronger than any other the carrying
out Of which would tend perpetuate and establish this
Union would be by taking ground in direct opposition to
of the propositions laid down by the honorable Senator
from Massachusetts, We differed distinctly and emphacaly
not only from that gentleman but from all those who believed
that the extension Of territorial limits calculated to
impair tho strength of sli uaiss. o. Ai ~ H.
leved that under the operation Of this edeatve system
this glorious federave systemevery State, matter
if located the distant shores OF the Pacific
but additional pillar Of strength Coming from the
section Of the Union he represented il was not likely