The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1845-03-18
SPEECH OF MR.. DICKINSON,

l ~ A~A<SAA w isAIA.- LII hllNOON, VIZ
OF NEW YORK,
ON THE ANNEXATION OF TEXAS.
Delivered in the Senate of the United States
February %. ls45.
+ Mr. DICKINSON said, be rose to the discussio
OF the question under circumstances Of peculiar em
bauassment. Sympathising at a II times deeply wit
the feeling which surrounded him, and being awar
Of The anxiety which prevailed with the friends Of th
measure TO close the debate-in which he LIBERAL
shared-that consideration could not fail 70 add il
influence to those which usually attended first q
fort upon the floor of the Senate. The Senator
from New York had, however been called upon i
debate to respond TO nterogatores; and intending
act up to his responsibilities he deemed it both prope
and necessary to declare frankly his sentiments
which he would do in as brief manner as possible
tie re garded It as question fraught with conse
7 quences OF higher import for veal or than an
i which had arisen in his time--one which had beeI
fully and deliberately discussed and considered b.
the people and their representatives. In its discus
sion he should pursue the which be had origi
nally marked OUT for although much he had intended
to say had been said by Others it was questionable il
his mind whether it would aid or confuse bin most
i Ills order Of arrangement was somewhat differen,
fom any which had been presented, and he hoped To
urge some arguments in favor of the me ASSURE whict
| had not been before the Senate
| Ihe question pending being upon the indefinite
postponement of the resoiutons-thus disposing o
the whole matterhe should address himself entirely
to the main question, and reserve all discussion as Il
details until mat question had been disposed Of and
distinct propositions should be presented
The debate had already taken extended range
Almost every page Of national international law
exant had been introduced and the Capitol had re-
sounded with passages from Vsttei and Grous, Puff
fendorf and Burlemasue, Blackstone and Marten
aud Kent nd g.,
which had been taken. The current of history had
been followed, until lost amid the mists and shadows
OF tradition Fable, with her playful illustrations
had been made TO perform her service and the Pan.
!heon OF mythology, with her grotesque images, had
been unfOlded. -
wald OF him who CLEANS here such hands have ga
thered the abundant harvest.
Inc view, however, which he proposed 10 take,
Was mainly OF more popular character before pro-
ceeding to which he would briefly respond 10 the in
terrogatory, somewhat Significantly proposed by the
senator nom Louisiana, Mr.. Barrow, and repeat
ed with emphasis by the Senator fiom Connecticut
Mr.: Huntington,) touching the position of New
ork upon this question-whe,her it was there an is
sue at the late election and what were the opinions
OF her present chief magistrate late distinguish ed
member OF this body2 Mr. ID. said his acknowledge
ments were due TO the honorable Senators for the OBJ
Portuny they had afforded him ofkdecls1ing the true
position OF the State which he in part had the honor
10 represent.
lie had not CHANGED to meet the distinguished ind-
vldua whose opinions seemed to be sought since the
question arose at the last session. and had therefore
no meaos of knowing his sentiments except so far as
reported through the public press from his public adj
dresses And IRON such publications he learned,
that though opposed the details of the treaty. sub
mite at The last session. yet he was in favor of an
hexa,lon, upon such terms and conditions az would
satisfy bis judgment. He (Mr. d. was not advise ed
what particular plan was preferred, nor was it proba
Ole that the people of his State, in selec ing local
on'e' magistrate IN whom they had confidence, had
regard 10 his opinions, if known upon the details of
measure with which he could have no official con.
necton or relation. But while he did not pretend
that the mere details of any plan were determined by
the result OF the late election in that State he was
confident his respected colleague would bear him wit
ness that the general question Of annexation consti-
tuted one Of the main issues which were there tried
and decided by the people.
ihere were TWO mighty armies ranged and mar
snaed under The names of their distinp ushed cham
Pons, struggling for mastery, as if for life in the
great battle OF the age. Our respected opponents,
true 10 their instincts, early placed this question in
he foreground, and took up the issue upon which
we met, we fought we conquered Al their tremen-
oous gatherings, The banner which die play ed the lone
s'ar was rooed IN mourning; the hapless girl, who
was lated to represent this neighboring sister, was
c'au 10 saoe haoments their processions usa
Iemulous voices and lugubrous tones of the blight
ing influences which would one day be shed from
that baleful star.
But with us (said Mr. d. how changed the MIC
lure. On every banner the lone star shone on, re-
spendent The farest village maiden, robed in viz.
gn white, and adorned with chapiets OF flowers, vas
haied as the emblem OF this youthful sister Annex
alton was upon the lip Of every orator, and was in
sokeo 10 speech and song 1t stood out 10 bold relief
from the columns OF the press-t rose high upon he
enthusiastic shouts of the young and was approy,nc
debated by venerable and hoary-headed men
VINO then shall Say that in this great trial before the
highest earthly tribunal this question was not in ;ssne
was not dec idedl
But why recount the history of this wholesome
CONNECT oil opinion, which is engraven on the tablet
OF every heart, and written it were with pencil
OF light, upon the history of our counry's popular
trumphs'
Mr. d. said he would, for a few moments not;ce
the territory proposed to be annexed-its relative To-
cation, its physical and political conditon-for the
purpose OF seeing whether there was any lust cause
ior tne alarm and CONSERVATION which seue seemed
10 suppose should attend it, ~
II was bounded eas,wardly by two States of this
Onion-Loulsiana and Arkansas south ardly by the
uu1 OF Mexico; westwardly by the Rio del Norte
extensive deserts, and almost impossible mountains
as significant as il traced like the decalogue by the
nnger oil the Almighty and north ardly by our
western territory containing, according to Kennedy.
Its historian 1874, 900 square miles, It's soil and eli.
mate we're described by the same author as follows
The soil of Texas presents three distinct natural
aspects, by which II is divisble into correspondent
number of regions or districts the plain or level.
the undulaiing or rolling, and the mountainous or
billy.
The prevailing character of the soil of the level
region OF Texas is a rich alIuvion-siugu free
from those accumulations of stsgnant water which
combined with burning sun and exuberant vegeta
uon, render large proportion of the southern parts
Oh Inc United States little better than a sickly desert
ne porous character OF the soil, the gradual eeva.
uon oil the level lands towards the Interior and the
general rise oftbe banks from the beds of the
extent
The rolling or unduatng region forms the lar
ges' oil the natural divisions of Texas North and
northwest of the level section living between the So.
pine ana San Jacinto rivers, the country undulatts
towards the Red river. The tbickly timbersd land.