Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1845-03-11
CONGRESSIONAL.
SPEECH OF Mr.. WOODBURY.,
Or New HAMPSHIRE,
ON TIE ANNEXATION OF TEXAS.

earneslness by The report OF the Couihiuee Oh
Foreign Affairs, and the speeches OF the two DIS
,inguished Senators from Kentucky and Virgi-
MIA Under existing circumstances, this is very
unfortunate, because harmony between the two
Houses is always desirable, and more especially
ON questions like This Of great national masni-
,ude; vet the annexation of Texas, in the form
now proposed, has received the sanction OF de-
cided majority in the popular branch OF The Go
vernment, fresh from the people, and fresh with
virtual instructions, after an appeal to their OPT
MON, and triumphant verde, rendered on ms
appeal After this that the measure should De
assaied, not merely as unconstitutional, out as
inexpedient Is, confess, calcuia'ea " eAe"e
some surprlse.s ,
Ie, me not be misunderstood, however. |
claim no immunity to the measure from fearless
scrutiny or amendment or rejection for these rea-
sons: but only that such expressions of opinion,
from such quarters, furnish strong presumption
10 its favor II the objections made, shall prove,
on full examination, 10 be we'll founded, | am
among the last To support the resolutions. stand
in this case on no mere party ground, but on the
Constitution and my country-both as dear 10 me
rs 10 any gentleman on the other side Similar,
without doubt are the views OF my political
friends; and we are all wronged when charged
with supporting the resolution as Msh-ha'dcd
measure of paYfB SUPREMACY II would stand or
fall with The whole Of Us, according to its merits.
Let il not be understood, either as was inllmated
in The report OF the Committee on Foreign Rela-
lions that this was an attempt 10 appropriate 10
ourselves the lands OF weak and unofendng
neighbor, without his consent, BY sort OF pira-
,ical seizure No such attempt was contem-
plated by any Of the friends of the measure.
II was also insnuated against them, that by
a temporary, Eccting majoritu-by the unlimited
gocer of Legislature MAJORITY, fuS aut astas, we
were attempting to regain possession OF Texas.
All this repel in the oulset-repel all such in
ierences, all such imputations. yield to one in
courtesy as TO motives, charging none with oppo-
s:lion 10 this measure on party grounds; nor can
allow any such grounds 10 be attributed 10 us
without repeling them.
What seizing upon the lands Of an unotiending
neighbor, because he is weak, when this resolu-
ton merely expresses our assent 10 that neishbor
coming into the Union and cooperating with us
i'll the great business OF selfgovernment; and
when, under this Constitution, which had been
in existence fifty years, without stain or reproach,
We had never seized upon foot OF land belong
ing 10 any neighbor, or any remote Government;
had never, by telouous violence, taken particle
OF property OF that description upon any OF the
many occasions which had occurred to tempt
such cupdy, il il existed! When they had II
in their power to obtain BY seizure distant islands
and distant provinces, they forbore; they disdan-
ed 10 make use OF that power. They wished for
no acquisition Of that sort. So we desired no
traternizalion unless with those powers which
wished TO fraternize with us, and partake OF our
institutions, unless they conld be connected BY
the free principles of our Government-not taken
by force or fraud. When gentlemen talked
about Patagonia andthe Celestial Empire coming
into this Union, as he had heard suggested more
than once, let them look back into our constitu-
,ioaa history, and see il il is possible for this 60
yernment 10 embrace any nation, unless that ma
ton be willing TO come in and adopt our Repuo-
lican institutions, aud are conquered, not by our
swords but by our liberal example and systems
Of equal rights, ennobling liberties and well re.
pulated laws We must thus affiliate together
they with us and We with ,hem-before sin
gle step for amalgamation is likely 10 be taken
on either side, however much gentlemen may ap-
near 10 apprehend SO many kinds OF heterogeneous
mixtures
And from whom abroad come the ,aunts and
lbeIs that we are agsrandizing ourselves at the
expense of great principles Of national law, and
in violation OF the rights Of EeiShboring countries!
From 4 nation from whom we had never since
our independence, obtained a foo; OF property
from nation which had seized upon lands, pro-
vnces. and regions OF country in every quarter
OF the hibitablc globe ana that had dotted over
the map of the world with her forts to oppress as
and TO save When Poland was partitioned-
when Affghanistan was seized upon or Scinde-
that was only a nine days WONDER and no oftl-
cal complaint, no interference, was heard from
as: but when we merely express our assent: (as
the gentleman from Pennsylvania iIr Bucha-
nam had said, when we merely consent that ano-
Their country may unite with US in Government
and that country formed Of one hundred thousand
OF our brethren, our kith and our kin, men who
4 len All N In
had been educated ct the same schools, and train
el up,o The same Republican principles, who had
fought with US at New Orleans and at Chippewa
when We merely consent that they may come
into our Union ana participate in the blessings OF
our institutions, one would suppose that the ee-
ments of our Republic were 10 melt with tervent
heat, and chaos revisit the earth.
Nor was there any superiority in efforts TO
abide by honest convictions Of what was right or
constitutional, in respect TO this measure, among
us foes rather than friends, or in the Eastern or
purposes belong to all, without doubt; and some
q. us, who were born with the Constitution, have
10 wish TO survive it.
What then, were these considerations as TO ex-
peJiency, and what were they rs to constitutional
Tights2 lad we moi travelled over this whole
subject Of expectancy At former session had
il not gone out to the world had not the whole
nation been agi,aied by il during the recent Pres-
DENTAL canvass? and was it not well understood
now as il could be by years further discussion
After all this, would gentlemen stand here and
deny The general expectancy of a measure of this
kind-lhc cxpedicncy of sustaining The general
defence Of this country, by uniting with people
in our ncighborhood who ask The liberty 10
become incorporated with us, and enter into our
measures for selt-pro,ection and sef-detence
Our fathers settled, in The old Congress, The
great question, after long debate, that our peo-
pie should have free access 10 cross the Allegha.
MES, and should enjoy the undisputed navigation
of the Mississippi. We felt ourselves bound.
therefore, y defend its outlet They and we held
il duiv 10 carry OUT the provisions OF the Con-
s,itution in maintaining the domestic Hoa7mfftv
Of the Union, and in maintaining the property
and institutions Of the States as protected b. that
instrument. Nor was The obligation IN Tie 'eas;
varied, whether the property and rights Of our CT
,izens existed On The savannas OF Inc South or
on the boundless prairies OF The Far West
Some OF the opponents OF annexation. 81 lar
from entertaining this view, which was held by
The revolutionary fathers had not spared TO assal
the Constitution itself and TO dcnominate II n
"learne with heli' and "a covenant with death"
sn, The friends OF this measure, one and all,
held thai; so long as the Constitution lived, the
Government was bonnc TO protect the property
of all our citizens In like manner, II was bound
10 guard the safety OF our frontier from the at.
,acks O. savage Indian tribes We had collected
into one great mass the remnants OF that injured
and vindictivc people; and onsht we moi 10 en-
brace an opportunity like this 10 get possession OF
q region OF country the possession of which
would give quieiness and security 10 the cabins of
our western settlers tiom the tomahawl and the
torch7
pass by the encouragement, it would confer on
our ma yipation-our agriculture-our manuiac-
lures in new market, larger, in ten years 10
come. than the whole beyond tn mountains was
when this Government began. pass by all
these considerations in order to approach the
,rae and great question in the matter, whether the
proposed measure is in conformity with The Con-
stiution
Before entering on that, however, ought TO
advert 10 an objection which had been urged on
grounds Of exnedency 10 The torn OF thus l0lnt re-