Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1845-01-24

luton was adopted. SO that Mr. French the Chief
Assistant Clerk, was appointed in the place of Mr.
McNulty, the late Clerk, when the House adjourn.
ed.
LETTER OF HON. JOHN P. HALE OF N.
H., ON ANNEXATION.
One of the most astonishing events Of this day
is this letter of "a Member of Congress from New
Hampshire That the demagogues who rule the
people of that State, should have sent so much of
man to Congress, is hardly less wonderful than
that he, being there, should prefer to consuts his
conscience and his country's welfare, rather than
his party. We copy the main part of this letter.
wish to add a word touching the constitutional
power OF this government to incorporate n foreign
State or Nation into the Union. But, on matter
OF such grave and serious Import, shall not trust
myself before you with any crude remarks of my
own. will neither affirm nor deny aught thereof
but Will simply submit to you the opinions of two
men justly standing as high in your estimuuon,and
doubt not IN the estimation of the whole country
as any two living statesmen. | mean Martin Van
Buren, and Levi Woodbury-lnen whom to name
Is to praise, and who have been honofed by holding
the highest offices, the one in the nation, and the
other in our own State. On the 18th of March
1896, Mr.. Van Buren, moved to amend certain res
ouons then pending before the Senate of the Uni
ted States relative to the then proposed Panama
winch the following is extracted, viz:
Resolved, That the power of forming or enter
ing I'm any manner whaever) into new political as
socatons or confederacies, belongs to the people
OF the United States in their sovereign character
being one of the powers which, not having been
delegated to the Government, is reserved TO the
States or people"
Those who voted il favor of this PROPOSITION of
Mr.. Van Buren, were Messrs. Benton, Berrien,
Branch Chandler, Cobb, Dickerson, Eaton, Find.
ley, Ilayne, Holiness Kane, King Macon, Randolph
Rowan, Van Buren,, White, Williams and Wood
bury. In the debate in the Senate on the Panama
mission, Mr.. Woodbury. SAID: But the United
States, as government have not yet pledged them
selves to any such enangling and despotic princi-
pie, In respect to any other nation whatever They
have not yet agreed to bear the brunt of the con-
test In any foreign war nor support, at such haz
ards, the independence or form of government of
any Nation or State, except our own nation and
those of the States composing our confederacy.-
ANY such agreement would violate the constitution
and plunge us into a vortex of new coalitions and
conioderacies, abhorrent to every feeling and max
I'm OF our venerated fathers"
leave this constitutional question where those
gentlemen left it, satisfied that no puny efforts o
mine can add strength to the impregnabc position
IN which they placed it.
VIII now examine the subject in the aspect il
presents relative to slavery. If | believed in the
language of the eighth resolution of our Legsla
ture-language ascribed originally to Mr. Clay
and, believe correctly so-that the annexation o
Texas would add more free than slave States t.
the Unlon' if thought that such were the prob
able consequences to follow such a measure,
would most cheeriully use my eXertions to procur,
the adoption, by the general government, of such
| constitutional measures as should be best cuculu
| ted to effect that object.
To determine what the effect of the measure i.
| to be, ask your attention briefly 10 the grounds
"a nd adj itu;o
! and demanding it.
| August 8, l843-The late Mr. Upshur then Sec
rotary OF State, IN letter TO the late Mr.. Murph'
then our charge at Texas SAYS
"SIR: private letter from citizen of Mary
land, then IN London contains the following pas
| sage: learn from source entitled TO the tulles
confidence, that there is now here Mr. Andrews
deputod by the abolltionists of Texas to negotiate
with the British Government That he has seer
Lord Aberdeen, and submitted his proiet for the alb
clifton OF slavery in Texas, which is, that Their
shall be organized company i'll England, VIII,
snail advance sum sufficient to pay for the slave
now IN Texas, and receive in payment Texas land
that the sum thus advanced shall be paid over a.
an indemnity for the abolition of slavery; and an
authorized by the Texan minister to say TO Won tina
Lord Aberdeen'has agreed that the British govern
inent shall guaranty the payment of the interest O.
this loan, upon condition that the Texan govern
nent will abolish slavery"
Mr.. Upshur adds:
1.-THE writer processes to feel entire confdenc
in the accuracy Of this information. He is n ma
OF great intelligence, and well versed in public pt
iaifs hence have every reason to conhde in lin
correctness of his conclusions. There is, howeye,
some difficulty in understanding the terms of th
proposition us he has given them If the money L
be advanced is to be repaid in Texas lands, it ca,
scarcely be regarded as loans and of course
there is no necessity for any guaranty on the par
OF the English govexDment. | think it probabl
that alternative propositions have been mnde-tlr
one Tor an advance TO be repaid in lands, and TN
other for loan to be guaranteed by the Englis
4 government, But whatever the precise terms O
the proposition may be, there seems to be no doub
as TO The object in view, and none that the Englis
government has offered its co operation. move
ment OF this sort cannot be contemplated by us il
silence, Such an attempt upon any neighborin
country would necessarily be viewed by this gov
eminent with very deep concern; but when il Il
made upon nation whose territories join the sav
holding States OF Union, it awakens a si
more solemn interest cannot be permitted 10 sac
coed, i0ithom The most Strenuous efforts on our part
ty" "" ''"'
Nearly the whole of this long letter of Mr.. Ur
shur Is devoted to proving that this country ough
not 10 permit slavery to be abolished in Texas.
VIII be seen that the proposed measure the consun
nation OF which Mr.. Upshur declared would b
such calamity to the whole country as to call fo