Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1845-02-13
Wednesday Morning. February II.
MICHIGAN AND MAINE

Michigan has passed her resolution, lns'ructins
her Senators TO vote for the immediate re-ahneA-
alton Of Texas Ii had passed the House OF ne
representatives. by a strong vote, ana whch i mI'
taken up in the Senate, 'the rules were susPehueu'
and the resolution adopted BY nnanim0as T0te
in six minutes and forty-five seconds from Inc
time il was reported BY the Committee
Maine. TOO. has no doubt acted before Tins Time
The Honsc Of neprescntatives had non CONQUERED
with the Senate in their resolutions Inc SENATE
non-concurred with the House, and sent oack .''e
resolutions 10 Them. On the 3lsl ult motoh
was made in the House to take them up, whe..
after much debate, the question was cafrieuIof
yeas 10 4G NAYS. The resolutions were theh
taken up. the question being on recedinS ana con-
curing with The Scnaic in their passage ne
question was taken and "ihc resolutions were
passed. TO be engrossed in concurrence, Dy %
yeas 10 A nays Mr.. Berry, then, by leave, laid
on the table the following resolves, which he over
one day under the rules:
Reso1ed That this Legislature approve the JOINT re-
solutions passed by the House of Representatives. OF .e
United State, January 25 le45, admitting The Territory
Of the Republic OF Texas into the Union,
Resaoed That the Secretary Of state DO a,ee su 10
transmit copy Of these resolves 10 ehch OF our SEM
tors and Representatives in congress-.
So far, so good And now let us ask the good
people Of Virginia 10 mark the facts. Here IS INC
Northeastern Stale of Maine, and the North
western State OF Michigan, (lie two most remote
States OF the Union from Texas, and neither OF
them save-holding SialesD passing resolutions
through their respective Legislatures in behalf OF
the annexation of Texas whilst this good old
Commonwealth OF ours the largest Southern
State, and slave-holdng State, who has always
taken the lead on great constitutional questions,
refuses 10 take any efficient part on one OF the
greatest measures which has ever come before inc
South or the Union-becausc The Wings IN Inc
House OF Delegates have lodged the constitution
al question, and wish to give Mr.. Archer, win
his characteristic Report, and Mr.. Rives, with MS
insidions speech, an opportunity TO escape from
their responsibility, and to defeat annexation :
Here arc Michigan and Maine, acting upon The
subject, and vet we are 10 be told by some oil Inc
Wings Of our Legislature, that they have no ttnIe
and mo po7rcr 10 NEEDLE with Federal Relations
and we are 10 be ;old by The Uniri,sal Hms Par
IN in The Legislature, that they will not express
their own. opinions on a great constitutional prin-
c;nle becauselhcv would rather leave IFS decision
N their own Senators-nnd because they did
not wish TO c,aJarrass them by PRONUNCIATION OF
their own opinions IS was the solemn duty oil The
Legislature OF 4 sovereign State TO do. 80 much
for them 40.
And now these movements in Maine and Mi
cbigan prcsen. another lesson for our serious
ING gronnd, in the most remote States OF the
Union; here are they cheering on every friend OF
Texas and calling upon their Senators 10 vote
for there, in word, are new CLEANS OF hope
breaking upon us-and yet This is The very mo-
menl alter MIR. Browns resolutions has passed The
House OF Representatives BY glorious majority
of %; when it was winning the appreciation Of
the friends of Texas in various seclions-and
after both parties in the Legislature ol VlrSl-
MIA (the Republicans certainly, with all their
hearts.) expressly approving the just, liberal
and wise terms of the resolutions-when there
was brilliant prospect of It's success, and the
question seemed no longer doubtful il The Demo-
cratic Senators had given their strong, honest
bona fde support 10 lhem-in this position OF Inc
question, here is Col. Benton coming forward
without apparen! consultation with the great body
ofthe friends ofTexas in both houses OF Congress-
with new proposition, inspirinS all The enemies
ofTexas and damping the spirits of all her friends
Col. b. can make no adequate reparalion 10 his
country for the injury which he will innict upon
her. if his course should destroy this important
measure. AT the last session OF Congress, ne
struck his rowels deep enough. His speeches
were the texts OF all the Wing slangwhansers
in the land during the Presidential campaign
II might have been expected, therefore, that he
would have been particularly careful in making
any doubtful experiments or in endangerlnS Inc
success of the important measure. Yet, they
write from Washington, that "Bentons bill is ge-
nerally considered as having killed Texas, not on
Is now, but aiLr0M Yet a few think him IN car
nest, and still havesoms hopc." The!seneral ieens
among the Wings is, Joy for Mr.. Bentons defeat
ing the measure; among The Republicans, strong
Indignation al the extraordinary course Whicn mas
been pursued. So far as the Wing presses have
specua,ed upon the result of his proposition, they
predict defeat 10 the whole measure. Their
Washington correspondents are chuckling in their
authorization of the results which it may produce.
The correspondent OF the n. Y. Express predicts
that s'lhe Join, resolutions, from the House, he
will not vote for, and that settles their fate; Tor
had no more than three Wing Senators given
them their support, with all The Senators of the
other party, they would have been carried"
Yet, we know, some OF Col. Bentons friends
al Washington believe he is in earnest-that he
is in favor OF annexalion-that ne will abandon
his bill, if il be not acceptable to The Democracy,
&c, &c We sincerely trust that their anticipa-
lions NAV be perfectly fulfilled. We do not YET
despair of Col. Benton-of The sasacity which
must discern the proper path of duty, OF The
promptilude with which he will tread it-much
less will We despair OF the success of annexation
at the present session. He cannot carry his bill
through both Houses. This proposition seems
now sufficiently evident The members of Con-
gress inform us Of that fact We have ourselves
not seen a single Republican, who does not con-
denim his course. The resolutions which were
adopted last evening BY tue Legislative Conven-
lion OF the Republican members OF the General
Assembly Of Virginia, and some special dele
gates of The people-and which we publish this
morning-express the strong diapprobation which
they have exened here, and which fly like
wd-Grc through the length and breadth of
our land The able and eloquent letter OF "An
Annexalionisl," which we also publish this morn
ing from enc of the most distinguished men,
bers OF the House Of Representatives, shows in
what light il Is generally viewed at Washington.
Col B. cannot carry his bill as ii is The appeal is
therefore, made to him, "If he be the friend Of an
nexation, why persist in this bl?" If he has the
true magnanimity of a great statesman, he will
not hesitate to repair the errors into which he has
been betrayed; throw all his weight in favor Of
The most acceptable resolutions, exhort all his
friends 10 initiate his example-and show his SUI
pcrority to all minor considerations, and TO all
private feelings, by devoting all his energies 10
the prosecution Of the only available and prac-
Iicable PLAN which can now be adopted
Pass Browns resolutions first-and then pass
his own BILL if he plsases, 10 provide for
this possible mot probablc) contingency 0!
Texas being unwilling 10 accept the terms of
the resolutions. This is a wise and manly course
which "An Annexationist'' has respectfully pre-
scented 10 his consideration-and which we beg
leave also 10 recommend with all respect.
MORE GOOD ADVICEl
We shall continue 10 sound in the ears of our
r., al,