Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1845-03-04
, war and make peace, In the

declared could terminate war and make peace In the
very teeth Of the Consultation --
Again he asked. whittier were tendingi Suppose
majority in both Houses be tired Of the and resolved
returning all hazards state oi peace the Minister
Of the hostile Power demanded the abolition Of slavery
the price o peace; thea. according the precedent
TO be SET and the doctrines broaehed by the friends OF
annexation at all hazards, majority OF Congress might
make treaty Of peace which u proclamation OF freedom
would form the leading nreei lie admitted that these
thins in idea, but he conended
they were but the legitimate offspring Of the claim
up TO make treaty with foreign Power b. bare majority
oi Congress. IL would be fair coroay from such prem,
ises.
Mr. II. said he had seen with dependency with 4 de.
preston OF spirit which he had express, the
most designating doctrines. he conceived them 10 be.
broaehed respecting fundamental provisions of the Ccnsi
tuition HIS honorable friend from Pennsylvania (Mr.
Brcn.SAS) said that he friend Of the Constitution
Mr.. X. would be the last to doubt; but unfortunately,
like highly distinguished character, with whom he knew
would be the pride OF the honorable Senator have his
name associated, he feared he friend To the Const
tuition as As aadersood it, IA laughl Mr. r. sorry,
knowing as he did the genemsns fidelity the
ona eompromse in favor OF the rights OF the South, that
he should the great weight OF his personal authority
the dangerous doctrines OF which he had spoken These
doctrines had unhnged the public mind. The very axoms
aud postuatcs with which system vi constitutional
cheeks started were deued-eveIy thing thrown
petey at under this sudden Juror Tor the acquisition
OF foreign territory, in utter disregard OF the limits OF the
Constitution.
Mr. R. said that no did his believe that the
issue OF the experiment here first made OF written baan.
ced, limited Constitution, depended the which
should be given the resolutions He wished he
could invoke the aid OF powerful friend. feeling
he did in this crisis ot history. Ii he knew such
an one, he would call upon him stand .beween the
dead and the living and this plague this po
tical "pesulenee, which wakcth darkness" THE wide
spreading destruction which wasteth at monday" Was
there not Senator within these walls worthy OF such
mission and with party aud political influence adequate
10 fulfil IL, and the from .eaiening
and potentous an evil
But he told that could get thirds OF
the States represented in this body to To the ad
mission of Texas. Gentlemen said that there no
chance o eecting the measure by treaty and, there
fore, desired the annexation, be done in the
form al resolution be passed by bare majority OF the
two Houses. MIR. X. did believe this the ;
bu, were so. it could furnish Justification for
open and papable ntracion OF the Constitution IL such
were the alternative he for could yield To such
appeal.
But was il true Had no; Louisiana been acquired by
the treaty making poweri Had she in by accla-
nation Such the statement OF Mr.. Jefferson; and
we had the authority Of another distinguished man Mr.
Adams for saying, he did the ime that such the
general favor towards that tina, lac believed
amendment OF the Constitution the constitutional
difficulties ie BY many, would by unanimously ratified by
the States, aud by ncclamaion Asst the treaty was
ratified with the votes ut only three States and hall
gainst 1t. And had not acquired Florida by treaty
which unanimously ratified Why, them despair of
national measure il supposed 10 be In many OF the
views expressed by the honorable Senator from Pennsva
MIA Mr.. X. concurred. lie agreed with him the ben
e's tina, would accrue TO the navigating and manufacturing
Staie- and also the advantages in respects that
would be gained by the growing States and the
and extended market TO be acquired by the Western agr
| cultural States.
But all ,h. array benefits wha, had he promised to
poo old Virginia. In the Indians phrase he had sad
turkey TO her once" laugh. lie had predicted that
her slave labor would desert her SOIL and,
necessary consequence with the slaves would 60 their
masters DrpopulafiOa the boon held Virginia.
Nr. r. said he thought that he knew something OF tie in.
OF his State. lie had seen sometimes sortd
appeal to her cupdty from the predicted enhancement Of
the value OF slave property. For he despsed the ap
peal As Virginan aud slavehoder who continued TO
be So ar more from considerations Of humanity than of in
teest he scorned sordid appeal Bnt 90 every
capable of forming in the lie said that the
fact would be Every knew that the value OF
slave labor regulated by the price Of principal pro-
ducton cotton The price that certainly likely
advanced by adding sui further the oyerpoducnon be
which had already seriously affected the Of the
ket and increased and accelerated overproducton
Ell be the inevitable OF opening the lands e
Texas to American industry and enterprise
Virginia stood in position regard The acquisition of
Texas national object only calculated strength
tie whole Confed,Tacy, but promote any special
Interests OF hers, which likely to be Injured than
benefited by H. But her vocation make sacrifices
for this Union; she had yielded up her territory with
sigh for the good OF her Statcs she used
the wok of sacrifice; she had done it mud u
was become habit vi her Stale policy. Virginia, in IA
vorrg the acquisition Texas could be governed by
ry broad national cons'dera, O. 'fo eonsdeTa
iAi make her desiros S-sHia 'hs oicc cGla.
pshed without any wound inflicted upon the harmony of
the Union, and above ALL without any wound inflicted
the vital principles oi the Constitution. lie did not hesitate
say therefore, his responsibility Senator OF that
ancient Commonwealth that ii Texas novs be acquired
only by sacrifice Of the Constitution, let her ait
convenient season.
Our Republic had already boundaries of extent-i
stretched from hsd ample for
three hundred millions Of human being=. Ought not this
TO reconcile gentlemen TO little delay Were
peni in. crowded for roOn that burst through
the barriers of the Consultation little breathing
space lie humby thought could yet live whou, Tex
it need be, though he DESTROYS OF seeing restored
u its natural connection with the United States whenever
il be consiiiuonally DONE But, nation worthy of
glorious ancestors could live breathe day
except under the shelter OF precious and sacred Cons
tuition, the palladium OF freedom, the hope Of world
On great il the history OF his Country when
measures proposed which he believed destructive Of
her constitutional freedom, renowned Irish patriot and
statesmen used these memorable words " any body Of
should think the Irish Constitution incompatible with
the unity OF the British empre-a doctrine he ahured
scduon against bnth-he would answer, Perish the
empire. live the Constitution" In spirit OF that noble
declaration, lac would say here his place. sen
ato Of Virginia that If the sacred provisions the Con-
stuiion Of his country could not be reconced with fur
Their enlargement OF its tenory-a doctrine he reject
utterly eonadcted by the history Of the past Tor under
that constitution, and by faith compliance with FORMS
we had already added to our limits empire greater
than the whole territory of the United States the time
OF lis adcponbut were 1t and the issue presented
70 rs 10 give up the hopes Of acquiring Texas
break through all the barriers Of tie constitution
psh IT, he would say, with the immortal Gfattan, If they
were his last words earth they probably this
floor, Perish all thoughts Of ilegmate acqu,tOn Live
forever free and glorious Consuionthc oe pledge
Of PEACE Of safety OF honor Of blessed and
happy Union.
II had been the fate o that great patriot 10 his
touching and graphic words ano,her swatch
the Constitution Of his country in ts cfadlco follow
to its grave" Few If OF those whom Mr. r. adj
dressed had en yed tue privilege Of assisting birth Of
our Constitution; but If this dangerous and revolutionary
precedent he believed IT, should receive
the sanction OF that BODY. then it nigh, yet be the melan.
choy office Of many Of follow Constitution to an
untnely grave.
MARRIED,
AtPaton, Fuvanna, Thursday morning. 9th u by the
Rev ~ ah Sparks TfiOHAs A. HUGHES Esq 10 Mis-, MARY