Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1845-01-16
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,.

u nc. .-
MI. PRATT, of New York, offered n resolution d-
recting the Secretary of State To ascertain, rs near rs NAV
be, the amount Of the Texas debt, the amount OF imoorta.
lions and revenue for the last two years, the population, the
number Of acres OF public land, &c, and rommunicat. the
same to this House. The resolution was adopted.
ANNEXATION OF EXA
Alter the transaction OF some unimportant business. the
House went into committee Of the whole on the State OF
the Union, and took up the Texas question.
Mr.. Holmes. of South Carolina, addressed the commit.
Tee and advocated the measure of anne xaiion.
Alter some preliminary remarks, he said that the question
OF annexation or rejection was one OF salvation or destruc
non to the New England States.
BY anne ration an impetus would be given to those eau
ses which had 50 lar rendered the North prosperous, and
would carry that prosperity to a point u still farther ad-
yancenent.
II Texas, on the other hand, was not anne xed. the bust.
ness of the North must anguish and its prosperity desert
her.
lie then took n review Of the measure, in its commercial
bearing generally.
The resources Of Texas, and the importance Of lis do.
nestle markets 10 the manufacturers Of this country he
maintained made lis acquisition one Of great national mo.
! mcDt.
lie said he Ind direct authority from Lord Aberdeen
himself for saying that the most liberal propositions had
been made by the British Government to Texas, provided
the latter would remain q separaie Government.
England would yield any thing to Texas, provided she
would sustain her National integrity. While England was
thus taking care ofher own interests, the United States WINS
TO be equally sedulous in regard to theirs. and should not
let the golden moment pass by without acquiring IN i'm.
portsnt good.
He then argued the constitutional right to admit, Texas
mo the Union. lie commended that Texas was once a paft
oi Louisiana. This was admitted by friend an. foe
That Territory was eeded TO Mexico by the treaty OF 1919.
The success Of the revolt of Texas extinguished the ii.
tie OF Mexico and therefore Texas came again into posses.
sion Of the rights and iInnunities she enjoyed before the
Treaty Of 1919. These were in part the right and claim
~ be incorporated into the Union.
lie described the difficulty that had been experienced in
carrying this measure into effect. To the Abolitonists, upon
whom he dealt out many anatbemas.
He also alluded to the course Of Mr.. Silas Wright OF
New York, and attributed to him much Of the opposition
TO IL.
lie denied the charge that this was q sectional question.
Ii was essentially a National question, inasmucii as the
measure was calculated to make the South worthy Of form.
ing n part OF this Confcdcrrce.
lie spoke TO the end Of his hour.
Mr.. Brown, Of Indiana. also spoke an hour on the same
side II the question.
Ills speech was a very unique one, aud was delivered
with 0 great many extravagunt orntorical hourishes.
He introduced ntoi Z . great variety OF unusual topics which
he discussed IN a style peculiar 10 himself and certainly un.
like any thing Of the kind ever witnessed before on tho
floor Of Congress.
All he said about Texas IL pretty well served Up in the
following impromfu lines Of one " his auditors:
"We'l spite Bitania's thunder,
II she attempts 10 vex u;
Well force her 10 knock under,
With Onegsn and Texas" L
Mr.. Garrett Davis, Of Kennedy. next addressed the Com
mittce IN an able constitutional argument in opposition "a
annexation. and NJ the conclusion Of his hour,
Mr.. Bolin, Of Missouri, g' tho floor. when the commit
tee rose and tho House adjourned.