Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1845-02-08
IN sENATE-FrsRuARY 8, ls45.
..NNryA ATOM IN THE NORTH.

.tt| .ANNEAAIlON0 IN HE roeiii.8 tt.e sE
Mr. PORTER presented memorial numerously signed
bv citizens Of Detroit Michigan, which was read at the Sc
crstary's table, as follows
IT. Me Senate and House e REPRESENTATIVE Of thc Uniief
The undersigned citizens of Detroit Michigan respectfully
cali the attention of Congress subject OF the greatest inter
est TO the people OF the United Satesone which regard
vitality with the permanent prosperity Of the North
the glory Of the whole nation and the pcpcuiy OF free
institutions We refer the acquisition Of Canada object
our foreaher aested by the Articles of Confederation
il would be useless discuss the advantages OF such acu
sion the United States they present themselves 70 every
Inercia military Of the country None be
sensible Of these advantages none confident viii labor
with aacry secure them by all constitutional and
peaceful MEANS than your honorable bodies To give the
United States the control Of the entire valley Of the ST. Law
renee give them the undivided empire OF the great lakes
augment ncacuable the commerce Of the
country forever the necessity OF expenditures o
Qualifications the Northern frontiers and TO close Tor All
future time, the Of invasion from this quarter he
history Of the Revolutionary and of the OF ISL sum
centy demonstrate the necessity OF the acquisition OF Csa
nendsd II JeeDdnp rs against Invasion would we doubt not
be than sufficient 10 compensate srea hrtah LOT me
transfer and recent events, o. son
OF her eminent statesmen indicate that we-iiected
negotiation would result in arrangement which would or-
relieve her from the burden of maintaining and defending
that province, and incorporate with the United States
large portion OF the population especially Of Upper Canada
have emgrated thher from the United States, and the friend
ship Of the great Of the people Of Lower Canada for
American institutions is well known Such acquisition
would introduce into the Union highly civilized ntege,
and iberyosng people and would give powerful impulse
petitioners would further state that the proposed
Of Texas now pending bears m s~S rs, s ml
snce and eaupoe of the Union with reference 10 its two great
sectional institutional divisions The accession Of so large
North Justice will demand it and nothing else, in the
opinion of your petitioners will reconcile the Northern
people that cherished project of their Southern brethren
Both neither, is essential TO the harmony not 10 the ntc
rity Of the Union.
Your petitioners would therefore respectfully pray that
goaons be opened with the British Government Tor the
acquisition Of Canada by purchase otherwise and that
resolution other proceeding which be adopted
Congress for the annexation of Texas provision be
inserted condition precedent that the shall not take
effect until Canada shall also be annexed the United States
And your petitioners win ever pray, &c.
Mr.. FOSTER raised the question of reception. He did
So he said with extreme reluctance and would have been
happy have other Senator prominent before
the country and influential in counsel precede HIM IN
the motion He did not by the act intend to npute any i'm
proper motives the honorable gentleman who presented the
memorial he prompt indeed to believe otherwise The
Senator from Michigan considered doubt that he in the
discharge of proper duty. e himself acting under sim
liar influences and he invoked the solemn judgment OF the
Senate the character and intent of the memorial and the
necessity Of sustaining his notion No he sad could be
blind the objects of the paper Indifferent to its possible
effects upon the dignity the Senate and the OF the coun
try 1t and unfair mode of discussing heques
ton of annexation and be tolerated that solemn
FORM however free debate should be in the usual Of
scntng political the consideration of the Sen
ate and the country The system not only unfair but it
washe said In dsespect to his honorable end-alto
gether improper and unwarrantabe II calculated, if it
intended rdicule and contempt upon great
that then agsted the people That important sub
ect Mr. r. said, should be approached in this assembly
by nsdous attack could not be successfully met IN
that way and be sincerely regretted the present untmey and
il-advsed attempt
He was friend annexation he had always declared
himself both here and every where ese and he would here
after prove the sincerity Of the declaration by his recorded act
h.. IL, ha hal
hitherto constantly proclaimed But, within him and
decisive these sentiments were, he would not take
unfair step procure their accomplishment could he pa
eny submit to be baed in that by those who OPP
posed them. All he asked for clear field and clear
fghno 6stntace if he might be INDUCED IN EXPIRES
sive word, well understood in the border Of the West
masked batteries he willing Che said TO stand an open
enads that would be fair though mil be hard, and
perhaps destructive still he would stand it without complaints
and in such combat he could fall without numuring he
could triumph with exutaiion. In fact Che said he had all
along tempered and restrained his feelings this engrosng
subject and he prepared u go through the controversy
without the excitement any unkind feeling any OPP
ponent He claimed for himself, the whole subject, the
freedom of thought and action and he freely and frank
y yielded TO all around him. and to every body else the same
liberty in its fullest extent In all that he had done, and in
all that he might do hereafter he intended offence and he
did not expect 10 take any.
But he must insistin all due deferenrp and with great
respect he did nsthat the Senate should not by
ing TO receive the memorial counenance proceeding which
designed by those who sent it here to mock soemny it
self and contempt and cule upon question of poll
cy which, in its magnitude and importance had been made
engage the attention of the whole nation
Sir Mr. F. said, the question of annexation is no longer
question of the Presidency That has gone by They who
raise the whrlwnd cannot always 'ride the storm.
Mr.. Tyler knows that He may have walked up the
tempest but he too small either to stay increase
its fury RACES fercey in spite Of desires and has
aroused elements of contention which be queted by
rcule forced down by backhandcd blows We bound
to meet to meet here this floor to meet for serious
decision. Let meet il, then, openly fairly, and
ddy and however that decision may be- let hope for the
best, and still stand for the country. tal
But he had another objection (r r. sa) the recep-
lion Of the memorial offered by the Senator from Michigan
stronger possible than the one he had @ urged However
undersigned for that unhappy purpose the tendency of the
whole proceeding might be TO involve the peace and harmony
Of the country II was evidently he said rfing with the
pride Of friendly Power, and that Power with which
our existing relations coniSsedy delicate and unsettled
Why provoke that pride by this extraordinary mode of
are against of domestic policy pending before
this body Why call upon the Senate endorse the provo
cation by lending this memorial respectful sanction and
giving thereby importance could otherwise OBJ
tam There certainly nothing in the complaints the
osquictude of the people of Canada nothing in their pot
cal condition that he knew Of had any right 10 credit no
popular movement public manifestation which could in
duce the widest philanthropy believe that thew would change
nen ahegance they could No revolution no battles
bloody helds no sieges, Independent Government no
stable seacting power, resisting foreign INVASION and pre-
serving domestic peace and tranquility.
There was analogy, he sadnot the leasbcween the
proposition TO annex Texas and insce application for
the annexation OF the Cauadas IL a rt1se which how
ever harmless and nno1ious might be in other PLACES could
net be countenanced in the Senate without infringing ia own
dignity, and striking unnecessarily people who are not
slow to perceive and less slow resent an ndpnity Nor
ana ne say TINS m fear OF the Power which he referred He
owned her greatness but that greatness had tcors that he
would acknowledge. Omnipoent a. England ,ras v,;,b -
empire so completely betting the globe that the sun never m