The daily Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1841-1845, 1845-02-20
SPEECH OF MR.. WOODBURY.,
OF kLw HAhrsHIRE.
On The Resolution for the -4nnsrslion Of Isra'
IN srsArE-rERRUAnY I6, 1916.

The Senaie having resumed he confederation OF
the joint resolution from the House of Representatives
for the anne Ration Of Texas
Mr. WOODBURY. was understood as EXPRESSING
not little surprise that the object of the Joint Iesolu-
ton before the Senate should been opposed with
so much oarnestDess In the report from the Commit
tee on Forcgn Affairs, well by the Senators
from Ksniueky aud Virginia. This feeling arose mol
from any idea that gentlemen ought to be restrained
from the ireest and most fearless Ipiessions Of the
OBJ MONS they held on every subject presented TO the
body but from the fact that the measure under
the sanction Of so large ma oriy of the other HOUSE
and that after decision of the general question by
the people in the election and ts advocacy by
those who came fresh from their constituency in every
part Of the country.
The measure was assailed the ground Of its un-
onsttutionallty, and also from regard its inexpe
diency. He presumed the Senator from Virginia
Mr.. Rves) did not intend TO mpute 10 HIN, and 10
those who associated with him on that side OF the
House, the support OF measure which they deemed
unconstitutional on purely parry grounds, and from
high-handed desire OF PARTY supremacy. De took
his stand on the Constitution and the country and
as this or any other resolution in his view either
Tor or against these had and should re-
eese his support or his decided opposition. lie pro-
tested against being understood advocating at
tempt TO appropriate the lands Of weak neighbo by
bold and piIatIcal of them, this measure
had been represented by its enemies nor seeking 10
carry measure of that character by The aid OF
temporary and heeling majority. He Tepelled all
such imputations. be yielded 10 one In courtesy,
so far as motives were concerned. He should charge
the opponents of the resolution with such evil puf-
poses as had by them been upon ITS Advocates
What Were thsy-he and his ffieuds-proposing
10 seize like pirates on the land of weak and help
less nei2hbor, when the resolution proposed mere
expression of assent that Texas should come in and
unite with ~ in the blessings of Constitution 7
Ihsy seeking to Appropriate the properly OF the weak
when, during a hhy years supremacy in political
power, their party had seized single foot Of
and by violence from any body although they bad
had IL in POSSESSION and could have cOnIoled r
But no: they had renowned such an idea They
desired no determination with any Power or people,
unless they desire TO fraternzs with Their poll
cy was TO conquer surrounding nations, not by the
sword, but by our principles and by the force OF our
example.
Gentleman talked about Patagonia and the Celes-
tial Empire but let them look back on our national
history and see whether we had embraced any but
those who frat came to with a desire TO adopt
republican principles and our forms Of free Govern
ment But whence came this libelllous charge when
II was made from abroad2 II came from nations
which had themselves seized by open violence upon
islands, and provinces, and whole countries Of the
word nations which had dotted over the surface of
the world with forts, armed for the destruction OF
men, as closely as we had our coasts with our light
houses TO project life. This was like the rest of the
course pursued by the opponents of the admission of
Texas TO our Union, To cast odium the measure
which did not Justly belong lo it, When Poland had
been openly attacked ard dsmembered in the face of
EuoPe-when Afgha nistan and Scinde had been in
'aded and rasaged, and 10 great part conquered it
considered but as nine days wonder: Official com
plant Oft was made by censures or ytuperaons
were Numbered sgansthe act cruel and ranniea
But no sooner did this Government propose merely to
express Its assent that the people Of another territory
should unite with US under common Government;
that hundred thousand people, who were our own
klth and kln-who had worshpped at the same al.
lars had learned in the same school had adopted
the same principles had possessed the same habits
with ourselves-men who had fought with us at New
Orleans and Chippewa, and who were anxious TO
throw themselves into our Confederacy for veal or
Tor wo-than we we're to be insulted from every
quarter OF the world To listen to the debates ADD
10 the doieiul predictions OF what was to follow
should Texas enter the Union one would suppose
that the elements of our Government were TO melt
and dissolve with fervid heat, and that chaos was
come again. Mr.. w. repealed all such imputa-
tons and insults with the scorn they merited He
was jealous for the forms and principles of the
Constitution as the gentlemen on the other side of
the House, though he conceded that they were hon.
est IN their motives. The people of the North and
Of The West who advocated the admission of
Texas were ready to live and die by the Constitution,
as firmly and as devotedy as those who accused
them OF a design to trampe on its most sacred proyi-
But what were the objections urged against the
measure first, on the ground of e1pediency, and
then IN reference to the Constitution. Mr. w need
not Tave over all these objections. The reasons on
both sides OF the question had been given to the world
and 1t was probably as well understood now as il
would be alter years more of discussion Verdict
after verdict had been given, both by Government
and people, on the cxpedlency of having Texas as
barrier to defend our country on its south wester IN
border. Our fathers had settled the question that
our people should have free access to cross the e
ghanles, and should enjoy the undlsputed navigation
oil the Mississippi. We had felt ourselves bound to
defend its outlet They and we held it their duty to
carry out the provisions of the Constitution in main
tanning the freedom and tranquility OF the Union and
IN maintaining the property and institutions of the
States as protected by that instrument Nor was the
OBJ gaton In the least varied whether the property
ana rights OF our citizens existed the sayapnas of
inc South or on the soundIess prairies of the Far
west. Some OF the opponents of anne xation so far
from entertaining this view, which was held by the
Revolutionary fathers had not spared to assa the
Constitution itself, and to denomnate il a "Ieacue
win hell' and "a covenant with death - but the
friends OF this MEASURE and all held that so long
as the Constitution lived, the Goyernmpn mt was bound
10 protect the property of all citizens In like
manner was bound to guard the safety of our from
TIER from the attacks of savage Indian tribes We
hau coiected into one great the entire remnants
oil that injured and vindctive people, and ought we
not 10 embrace an opportunity like this TO get posses
sion OF region of country the possession of which
would give quetness and security to the cabins of our
Western settlers
But he passed by all considerations Of this kind that
ne might approach the true and great question in the
matter, whether the proposed measure was in con-
formiiy with the CONSTITUTIONS
Before be entered on that, however, he ought to
advert to an objection which had been urped on
grounds Of expediency to the form of this joint reso-
luton.
Gentlemen contended that it might have been put
IN better FORM because, as it stood, 1t asked
lor the assent oil the people of Texas to future d.
vision Of her territory into States He had no doubt
that gentlemen thought so but he must take the lib
cry to tell them that fthey admitted Texas as soye-
reign State, was as proper to ask her assent to the
division OF her territory as il that Of Virginia or
New York to the division Of their territory If we
brought IN Texas as State, did she not enter The