The daily Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1841-1845, 1845-02-14
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ANNEXATION OF TEXAS
ANNEXATION OF TEXAS.
SPEECH OF MR.. G.. ELLIS,
OF NEW YORK,
In The House Of Representatives.,
JANUARY 25, 1915.
CONCLUDED

But, sir, let us come to the great practical objec-
tons made to the measure by its of opponents. The
gentleman from Pennsylvania protests against it on
the ground that It will perpetuate slavery, and what
he called the 'deestable practice of slave-breeding"
regret that this stale mpulation against south.
ern brethren of slave. breeding for market should
find utterance on this floor. Where is the evidence
of such business anywhere in our country Let
mputaons like these be left to the vulgar tribe of
English tourists, reviewers, and orators the Fid-
dlers the Dickenses, the OConnels but if their vi
tuperation is to be sanctioned here if imputations
palpaby absurd their face, and which ought to be
known to all well informed men to be unfounded in
fact, are to be repeated here, we need not wonder,
though we may blush at the Notifying misrepre-
sensations of our national character abroad But,
sir, since the gentleman has made the assumption,
let me ask does he really expect that the rejection
OF Texas will abate or suspend the physical laws Of
negro propagaton2 lie seems to suppose that high
prices will stimulate production they do in a
manuactory where the power used is in pro portion
to the demand and supply. But let me assure him
that so long the field of occupation and support for
the negro race is as broad IT is, and for gene
raons must be, in the southern portion of the Union
nature will assert her rights If progression quite as
efectuaIly as If Texas be added to our domnions -
If the gentleman really believes his own prop sition
will he tell us how an existing profitable demand for
slave labor in Texas occasoned by annexation should
induce owners further North where the labor is less
profitable, to retain them for breeding instead of TAX
ing The benefit OF the markct-prefeung the chances
not only Of uncertain increase but Of an uncertain
market in years to come Sir, It cannot be. The
increase of the demand must necessarily lead, not to
bur owing, but 10 emigration and this truth is an an
sWer also to the assumption that the acquisition Of
this territory will prolong the duration OF slavery
Sir, why SHOULD we Of the North object To The mea-
sure, independent of all other consider alton on ac-
count Of slavery We not responsible Tor its er
isence. II it be objection TO Texas il is equally
an objection 10 Louisiana, TO Arkansas, to Missouri
territory not embraced in the original domain of The
United States, but coded to us by France in 1909
II is equally objection to Florida, acquired from
Spain IN 1921. Here is portion of our country Of
an importance beyond computation; without which
the Union would be dismembered by the Mississippi
and the commerce Of its valley be laid open to an
enemy from the Illinois 10 the Gulf and in its passage
to the ocean would be at the mercy of foreign pow.
er seated on the peninsula. Ought we Of the North
To repudate these mighty acquisitions of Jefferson and
Monroe to purify ourselves the sain Of slavery
which we neither make nor can unmake7 Sir, this
objection If sound, strikes at the foundation of the
Union itself Why should the Union have been
formed or why continue the association, IL our moral
sensblltes shocked at institution which
the North never had and can have CONTROL that
we refuse to extend the jurisdiction Of the govern
msnt over another important and magnificent domain
which embraces slavery, and which may continue to
.mhrsee IL whether brought within our Jurisdiction or
mott How absurd the objsctioul Can annexation