Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1845-10-30
Vol. VI--NO. 23j.
/ Price $3.50 in Advance

would do well now, to consider it; as they
would also, the question; TO what extent
there shall be maintained, at an enormous
expense, a navy to prevent the coastwisc
slave trade, destined to acquire unwonted
activity under annexation policy.
To these motives for resisting the con-
summation ofthe threatened measure, must
be added its injustice to Mexico, and the
disgrace Of perpetraling it, because she is
unable to resist. And to render this in
justice the more fragrant, and the grasp
ing spirit in which the whole annexation
movement originated, and has been con-
Quoted, the more manifest, it would now
seem that the Executive il pushing a
claim to territory as part Of Texas, clear
ly beyond any limits ever assigned to The
department Of that name, and not even in
possession Of the government to whom the
overture Tor annexation has been made.
The impotence of Mexico may be to
US an elTectual protection. We are prob
ably safe from the injury her sense Of
wrong may prompt her 10 inlllct. But
who shall protect us from the just judg-
ment of an impartial world, or blot the
stain of injustice from the pages of our
counlrys history,
In reference to the position sometimes
taken, that the action already had upon
the subject of annexation, concludes us
from further opposition to the measure, ii
is sufficient to say, that no right can be
concluded by any action, of that legIsa-
ton under which the overture to Texas
has been made. 1t is an attempt to annex
by joint resolution OF Congress-the I'M
constitutionality ofwhich was so apparent,
that it became necessary to connect with
it an alternative resolution, providing for
annexation by treaty. 1t was by the I'M
ion of such an alternative that conscien-
tious scruples as to annexation by joint
resolution was quoted, though the alter
native lett in the power OF the President
to give effect, as he has done, to the joint
resolution itself, and thus do the very
thing which those scruples would not al
low could be done.
We have, thus, double violation ofthe
Constitution; to which must be added, the
fact that the President elect made his ap-
pearanCe at the scene of action and turned
the trembling scale, by throwing into it
the weight ofhis incoming official patron
age.
Shall such an act carried by such means.
have the effect in this free country, Of
concluding and slcncing opposition to an
unconsummated measured Let the spirit
of free, intelligent and uusubdued Vermont
answer.
And where will Vermont soon Le, if
the policy of foreign annexation is to pre-
vail, and become the settled policy of the
country She will be in the condition of
an appendage Of vast slave empire, en-
bracing, not Texas only, but California
and finally every part of Mexico-aIl Of
which will be overrun by shareholders,
who will In due time, declare indepcnd-
cnce and claim and obtain admission in.
to the Union.
But annexation may be consumatcd!-
Slavery may triumph. 1t may secure
majority in the Senate ofthe United States
1t may annul the compromises orthe Con-
stitution, and destroy the bond that holds
these States together, What then shall
Vermont do; What it will be her right
to do, admits Of no question. If from
regard to peace, she shall iorbear TO eXer-
else her wight it should be with solemn
declaration to the Union and the world
that she thereby acknowledges no right
of annexation, and lorbears from no d.
minished conviction that it will subyert
the Constitution, and essentially destroy
the Union of which it is the bond, and
that she reserves the right Of such future
action, as circumstances may suggest.
But, in the event OF annexation, there
will remain great practical duty Cor us
to perform 1t will be, to 60 to the very
verge OF our constitutional power to effect
the abolition Of slavery, as the chef evil
in our country and the great crime Of our
age" Slavery will, by annexation, have
been taken under the special protection Of
the national goyernmet and made in the
highest sence, national institution; and,
thence will become leading and controll-
ing element in the Union. 1t will then
be seen in a stronger and clearer light
than it ever had been. The success of
annexation will have sisnally illustrated
! its character: aud the time is not distant,