The Woodstock age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1844-1845, 1845-03-27


rallied most at the compromise IN the con-
sti,nllon. giving in this respect some sta
tie protection to certain great interests in
the South! If any one doubts, let him
read, among numerous other evidences,
the very first and foremost resolution OF
the Hartford convention now before me,
and which formally proposes an entire
abolition of the slave representation in
Congress; and in which convention Mass
achuseis, as n State, was represented as
fully and deliberately throughl heriIegisla-
ture as she is now in this chamber.
But more than all this, Who now
were they that wanted to abolish the con-
stitution! The friends Of Texas? No;
some Of those who were Oh the other side
of the question. 1t was among them that
the constitution was called league '0tN
HE'LL 1t was they who insisted that the
constitution itself ought to be abolished as
soon as possible. lie would read, for the
benefit ST southern gea,lemen opposed TO
Texas, a little Of the language Of one of
their friends in this case, and co.Iaborers;
Mr. Evans. What paper is ii!
Mr. Woodbury.. It's the Liberator--
the highest authority Of some OF the oppo-
nents of annexation.
MIR Dayton. We do not recognize that
authority to speak for us.
Mr. Woodbury.. But do 20 refuse
their co-opperation!
Speaking Of the statement Of Mr. Hub
bard, the agent of the governor of MaSsO-
chusetts to Louisiana, the editor says ii
demonstrates "what we have reiterated so
long and so often, that freemen and slave.
holders can never coalesce under the same
government, but must be in eternal coils
ion with each other; and therefore that
none but the betrayers Of liberty will be
in favor Of striking hands politically with
southern shareholders. or remaining with
them one hour in any union or compact
They are race Of monsters, unique, hor-
rible distinct from all others, md more an
appcasaJ,c, as a body, then hyeaas.'
lie knew that there were other gentlemen
as much opposed 10 the measure who were
constitutional lawyers, He brought no rail
ing accusation against them; yet II was GER
tain that in this matter Of annexation, they
and such men as Garrison, the editor oithe
Iiberator, acted together. Gentlemen
raised the outcry about disunion on account
of annexation; while people by their side,
acting with them against Texas, were open
ly for disunion on other grounds as well as
,hnt-were in favor of burylng this Capitol
in ruins, and alIihe cmblems and evidences
of our confederation, and causing the
ploughshare of a wild fanatlcism to pass
over the seat of this federal government,
and, as sach government, leave the spot
where its foundations were laid as desolale
as Nineveh or Palmyra. Surely it was
things like these that should be rebnked
and secuted, and put down. When he
said put down. he meant by argument only;
for he thanked God that in this country the
opinions of men were not TO be put down
by any other force, however wild or dis
organizing.
Gentlemen talked about the stability Of
our government being endangered by this
measure. Had it been rendered unstable by
the admission of Louisiana and Florida
against all the wishes and remonsrances
of Massachusetts! Or did it not stand
irmer from the extension of our bonnda-
ries! Had we ever brought in any State
or people by force? Had any one ever
come into our Union unwilIingly! State
after State had come, yet what revolution
had taken place IN half century of our
history? Could the governments of Eu.
rope say as much! Within the tract OF
time Catholic emancipation, and the en-
tension of representation and suffrage,
and other great questions ola kindred ma
ture had made vast inroads into the gov
eminent Of Great Britain. France had
cutie changed her government, and had
become first democracy, then an empire;
and then kingdom under a cit@en king.
Spain had again and again been revolution
lied and drenched in blood; and in Next
cove heard Of a new government by al
most every mail; and yet gentlemen talked
about instability here, and the danger Of
revolution here! All we asked was to
quietly unite with the people near us who
desired to link their fortunes with ours.
Mr. W. observed, in conclusion, that
great argument in favor of passing this
act now was the avoidance of political en-
element and turmoil, which was already
inAamlng the public mind, and entering
one the legislatures Of the Union, to the
extent of danuncatory resolutions, some OF
which he had read. lrgentemen wanted
to quench this flame before it spread fur
ther, let them Immediately act on this
proposition.
Delay, also, no, only tempted to agta-
ton at home, but endangered our gallant
neighbors by marauding invasions from
Mexico and by foreign lntrigues and for
eign alliances as fatal to our future inter-
ests as to hers
Nor was procrastination necessary for
any other legitimate object. Texas herself
was ready; her assent had been given at
the very adoption olher constitution; 1t had
been repeated since by her executive gov.
eminent They were people trained in
the principles Of our system. They were
not such as the population of Louisiana