Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1845-02-21
VOL. xxx, NO. WHOLE NO. 2OO1.


tons individuals and to their plighied faith alone
must they look for pay.
MY next objection is that II is ,rdr with Mexico.
1t is not, as has been insisted, only matter for
which Mexico may declare war, buttoW do 1t. Mex
leo claims Texas as revolted province, and is now
at war with her, to reduce her. This Mexico has
the undoubted right to do if she can. Of this
right none can deprive her, without her consent. -
This is an existing war, and let who will partic-
pate, Mexico may prosecute it without any new dec |
laration of war; If any other nation interferes
and gets injured it is for them to declare war; not
for Mexico Now, if we espouse Texas, that does
not alter the right of Mexico. Mexico proceeds to
reduce Texas according to her right, and we de-
end it is not that war; actual war, into which we
thmstths nation? This was very correctly so de-
cided by Mr. Forsyth, as Secretary of State.
But we are assured, by the chairman of the
Committee Of Foreign Affairs, er cdthed'd, that 1t
will not occasion war, for that Mexico can be salts
fed with money. Now, sir, what does that mean
Why it means we may take Texas, and pay for 1t
exhorbitantly by assuming to pay her uncounted
millions of debt, and then we can have tn, priv-
lege of settling with Mexico by paying hey for it
again; and that too, without first knowing what she
is to ask. Had we not better .frsi make our bar
gain with Mexico? We act even without the pre-
caution of the thief who broke into a store, but
declined to steal the goods, because he found them
marked at such enormous prices
| The next objection TO the annexation Of Texas,
is the avowed purpose for which it is procured !;
that is to make of it slave territory and slave States
to enlarge and perpetuate slavery. This avowal
of the advocates of the is not here denied
by any one. Any gentleman from the free States
WHO votes for this measure must be understood to
vote for 1t for that object, he must be secretly
intending to practice a base fraud on the South,
which lie would hardly be willing to acknowledge.
This point is clearly settled by the consideration,
that no provision is admitted which will provide for
any free States except in the narrow strip in the
Rocky Mountains, north of SO degrees and 80 min
utes, and where the country never belonged TO
Texas and no provision will be admitted that will
even declare that Congress shall ever be permitted
hereafter to decide on the conditions which the
States, hereafter made, shall be admitted No mar
from the non slaveholding States has ever claim
ed that Congress can interfere with slavery withlr
the States and do not believe that any Southern
man entertains any apprehensions on that subject
But it is quite too much to require Of the represen
tatives from the free States to aid in the extension
and thereby in the perpetuity of slavery. We hav
no desire to interfere with slavery in the States, be
cause we have no power to do so; but as we regar
slavery as morally wrong, we cannot aid to exten'
| it or perpetuate it. We are in no way convinced
that the views of the Secretary of State are righ
when he insists that slavery is necessary to nation
al prosperity or human pelfectaby. And in ex
, pressing such sentiment as the organ OF thu
E government, to other nations he must have know
he was not expressing the views of this nation, nc
, of a majority thereof Within the last half centu
. nv seren new States have been added to our slave
holding region. That region comprises larg
proportion of the finest soil, an6 in the most genia
climate in the Union 1t has had the richest pre-
auctions in the world-cotton, rice, tobacco sugG
, constituting the staples in commerce and manu-
, factures and yet they constantly have, and now
, complain of deterioration and distress. The fire
States have had but SIR added to their number
Much of their soil is comparatively sterile, so muc
so as to have called forth from the gentleman fror
Louisiana, mr. Morse the remark, that the pee
, pile were compelled to work sixteen hours in day
The climate of much of it is severe, and the Pre-
auctions of comparative moderate value; and ye
, we do not complain, nor are we suffering. Look a
, the comparative progress of these two sections a
developed in the census returns of the last fit
years. and note the comparative degree of progress
[ in population, wealth, and resources, public an
private. The difference is too striking to be resis
3 ed. Look at the condition and value of lands
equal fertility on the free and slaveholding sides
. lines and rivers. This cannot be accounted for O
: the ground of tariffs, and temporary causes; for
II has been almost uniform, through all such change
: for the whole fifty years, as is shown by the decor
l. NAL returns No. sir, no; slavery is not prospert
O and however unwilling our Southern genteme
n may be to look this subject in the face, they wi
l. hardly be able to persuade us to take slaves on
n selves, or to visit them on others.
}. must acknowledge was struck with some
3 marks of the gentleman from South Carolina, IN
HoLMEs,) suggesting, that IN the progress Of tin
e and at the known rate of increase if slave terrific
at was kept limited, the slaves would become too n
&c merous, and CONFUSION must ensue; and, again
H. such result, he calls for help. This, sir looks Ii
10 a CLEAN of returning reason. 1t has been, of Ia
70 years. constantly insisted from that quarter, Il
Or slavery was so great blessing, one could hare
A. suppose they could have too much. But wish
is cast no reproach nor turn deaf ear to the {
We for assistance from imminent danger. Even
" Romans raised loud cry for he p when they We
ne caught by the Samnites in the Caudine forks. l
le is this cause of apprehension well founded? S
h. the CONFUSION of st. Domingo was only child
an that great parent of political fanatcism, cruel
of and blood, the French Revolution That is not
er termination which the lessons of history teach
nd naturally takes place with slavery. In all col
mt tries, where the master and slave reside together
ais period arrives in the progress ofpopulatlon, wi
It's the labor of the slaves will not pay for raising
i'd. supporting them. AS masters approach this per
ty one after another discovers this fac and gradua
on the chain of servitude becomes more and more
nd Taxed, until the relation becomes gradually
on known The master, ccasing his exactons of '
of ueless labor and at the same time, negecting s
re- port both are sought at large; and so command
as. obedience cease This is the utmost protrac
Ter limit of domestic slavery. That point will arr
MS at different periods, in different parts, but can
sa vary materially if the slave territory is not enarg
no as slaves are Of easy transportation. Such n
eir be the ultimate result unless 1t is brought TO Sc
of more humane, just, and summary close, by the
ore of the masters themselves, in emancipation
ars oery must cease. 1t may be temporarily paia
in or excused, on the ground of necessity. But
- excuse cannot endure. Every man is bound ia
we fully to exert himself TO that necessity
mt The voice of the world, the dictates of the nj
70 sense that echo Of the voice of God within us,
NV. even the Divine assurances all declare that sla
his ry must cease; and no possible policy in COVE
ov nent, no characterization in morals or in Poii'
the can prevent it. The inhabitants of the slavehC
Nj ing States, if they have any regard for the dct'
OF humanity, Inc demands OF Jus''ee' VI t"o y
ed of man. in relation to their slaves, and especial
ase there be any well-founded apprehension Of CON
Ien sion, as suggested by the gentleman from Sc
10 Carolina, Mr.. HoLMEs,) should not await
81. slow process of the eXtinguishment of slavery,
- hnrinn il worn ont by necessity. They shonld