Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1845-02-14
VOL. xxx, NO. 14.A-wHOLE NO 5000
assumed the attitude of rebellion against the

This convention disclaims all hostility or unkind
feeling towards the Government Or the people of
Texas. However much it might be desired that the
tune and manner of its accomplishment had been
otherwise, the fact is before us that the independ-
enc of ToxBs has beet acknowledged by the cons.
tituted authorities of the United States That ts
government may be established upon principles
hot give strength and security to a State and real
ty ana perrnanence to its prosperity, and that it
may contribute to spread the KNOWLEDGE and enioy.
ment OF true liberty upon the American Continent.
IS our most earnest wish. These are our sent-
ments towards Texas, an independent Nation
But, Texas rebelling against the laws Of Mexi-
co, which abolished slavery, wrested from
Mexico by citizens of the United States-Texas.
the support and defence Of American Slavery.
never be joined to this Union but in bonds of mu-
ual nfamy.
If then, justice condemns this measure of the nd.
ministraton, as being at with all its purposes.
we shall look in vain, through this instrumenality,
for the attainment of any constitutional object
whatever.
We will not ask, lest the enquiry should seem to
be made in derison, if "the blessings of libertyn
to be secured by the enlargement Of the limits
Of Slavery, and the augmentation Of its power.
That domestic tranquility" will not be promoted
by the increased strength of its great disturbing
cause; and that the safety OF Nation in war will
not be increased by the presence of domestic en-
envy, which holds motioness the arm that would be
raised for its defence, are propositions admitting
neither argumeht nor denial
Throughout-the revolutionary war, the weakness
OF the Southern States and their inability to fur
nish due proportion of soldiers for the army, may
be seen by reference to the quotas of troops sent
by the respective States in the cdnfederacy, into
the service of the country. To place beyond doubt
the cause OF this inequality, the following testimo
ny is adduced from the records of the continental
Congress.
"March Goth, 1899. A Committee, consisting
of Messrs. Burke, Laurens, Armstrong, Wilson and
Dyer, appointed to take into consideration the cir
cumstanccs Of the southern States, and the ways
and means for their safety and defence, report,
That the State of South Carolina, as represented
F by the delegates of said State, and by Mr. Huger,
who has come here by the request of the Governor
of the said State purpose to explain the partI-
cuar circumstances thereof is unable to make any
eectua efforts with militia by reason of the great
proportion of the citizens necessary to remain at
home to prevent Instruction among the negroes,
and prevent the deserton of them to the enemy"
Were the evil consequences Of annexation, al
ready alluded to, less formidable, might point to
other and immediate dangers, too great for ordna-
ry prudence to disregard, Or for such All object, to
encounter.
The debt of Texas and the war with Mexico
must in that event both be assumed by the United
States. The former is of uncertain, known howev-
er to be of great amount, and is estimated by
petent judges at twenty millions of dollars.
Whatever may be its amount, and whatever may
that debt must become the debt of the United
, States. 1t would be alike inconsistent with the
honor of the nation and the rights of others, to
) initiate the national character of Texas, assume
the revenue accrung from her commerce, and leave
the creditor unpaid.
1t is equally certain that by a union with Texas,
the United States becomes party in its with
f Mexico. With what degree of vigor that war may
be carried on by the latter power, and what other
, Nations may become involved in it, time only can
determine. That it must despoil our commerce and
impair our general prosperity that it mat result in
hostillties with powerful Nations and that it would
be an unnecessary and unjust participation in the
conflicts of foreign governments, considerations
ftoo momentous to be overlooked IN any fair esti-
mate of the results of annexation.
In Just cause in the defence of our own rights,
the United States may bid defiance to aggression,
, but to maintain friendly relations with all Ma
tons, so far as may be consistent with honor, has
been the permanent policy, it is the obvious in
terest of the country. Distant be the day, when,
for any object there shall be departure from that
righteous policy May that day never dawn, which
e shall behold the glorious flag of this Union borne
in foreign battle fields to sustain, in the name of
liberty, the supremacy of its eternal foel
: This Convention has now, fellow citizens, per-
: formed high and incumbent duty. With all the
9 brevity which the magnitude and Importance of the
subject will permit we have laid before you some
Of the reasons which mpe the people of this Com
monwealth TO refuse their assent to the formation
of new federal union. Massachusetts denounces
the inquitous project in its inception, and in every
1t stage of its progress, its means and its end and all
the purposes and pretences of its authors. She de-
e nounces it, as the overthrow of the Constitution,
the bond of the existing Union. She denounces it
l. as hostile to all the objects for which that Union
was established. In the name of religion she de-
! nounces it, as fragrant violation of its revealed
n principles. In the name Of humanity she denoun-
e ces il, as deliberate and monstrous machinaton
y to secure the unlimited spread and sway of the
S scourge and curse of the human race.
n We address you from Faneuil Hail. the honored
J, place where freemen, in other times wont TO
: give bold utterance to their manly thoughts
S Around us are the high places where our fathers
It jeoparded life in the cause of American liberty
The monuments of their devotedness to that cause,
II even unto death, in sight Their principles
e are ours. Their spirit animates our hearts, and
through us they summon you to Incidence of all
they held most Gear on earth.
We call upon you therefore, in their name, and
, in the name Of all the patriots of the Revolution,
s to stand by us in this day of peril. And we be-
seech you that you will not permit the declaration
they made to the world, on the glorious fourth of
July, l776, to become object of scorn and aeri.
sion by reason of abandonment of all its prnci-
pes even before the last Of the generation with
4 which they acted has disappeared from the earth.
# Will the South disregard all remonstrance, and
press on TO its consummation this deed of atrocious
g wrong? When the Constitution was framed, we
have seen, that there was harmony of sentiment
7 among intelligent men in all sections of the coun-
try respecting the injurious influences of slavery,
No where do find its evils more faithfully por-
. trayed than in the speeches and writings of emf
4 nent men belonging to the slave holding States, in
the early period of our history, The opinions they
expressed of slavery have been verified at each
f step in the progress of the Nation Whitening
cry interest it touches; paralyzng the strength of
e States yet in their youth; more desolatng than
blight or mildew to the soil that sustans 1t in all
f of man. when he is subjected to involuntary servi-
tude, is avenged by the widespread ruin his reluci
tant service repays.
a For this unhappy condition of society," the rene
dY SOUGHT to be annlied can only aonrayata tho