Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1845-02-14

old and cherished policy ofthis government to
re-incorporate Texas into our Union was dis
tinctly avowed in the Senate, as it had been
responded to and reciprocated by Texas her
self; and although postponed, it was not at all
abandoned.-(See debates.)
i Having looked so far into the public acts of
the nation, in proof of her policy, Mr.. III. said
he had then examined the opinions of the en-
inent men, some of whose names he might nse,
but in no spirit either of censure or of praise.
He found that all the Presidents of the United
States, since Texas was ceded away-all,
without exception had been anxious and &C.
tive in their endeavors to reacquire it-.4dams,
Jackson. Fan Buren, Tyler. Though differing
widely upon other points, there was most
remarkable concurrence upon this one.
He found that all the Tice Presidents, since
that time, had approved the policy of reacqulr-
ing Texas.
He found that all the Secretaries Of State Ito
whose office it belonged to conduct our foreign
affairs) concurred and co-operated in the same
thing.
He had found, indeed, that until compar-
atlvely late day, when fanatcism had combi
ned with party spirit to organize voluntary
societies for aboitionism, this sentiment had
been almost universal. There might be ex-
ceptlons, yet he believed there was not an en-
inent statesman, nor distinguished politician,
IN America, who had lifted his voice against
the reacquisition of Texas-against the policy
of Incorporating Texas into the Union, until
after it had been injuriously burdened with an
alliance to the question of negro slavery.
With this UNMARRIED current of sentiment In
all sections-wlth all administrations OF all
political partes-with most if not all OF the
leading statesmen and politicians of America
he could not undertake to contend and to set
up against the measure now any dlstrustlng
fears ofhls own mind. AS he had not hereto
fore, so neither would he at this time, enlarge
upon the topic, by attempting to assign other
reasons why it appeared to him to be our true
policy to restore the ancient limits of the re-
public whenever Texas was ready and willing
=. to be reunited to us, and the good work might
be accomplished with harmony, according TO
the constitution.
True il was, (he continued that the spirit
of our times put into operation, by the aid OF
, these organized sectional societies, had en-
gendered hostility to annexation, and it had
reproduced the old arguments against our
poaUer which were made and overruled nearly
Z half century ago, notwithstanding the decl-
sion of 1903 was, sixteen years afterwards. at
= the ratification of the Florida treaty, unan'-
9 mously confirmed by the Senate ofthe United
> States.
e MIR. H. declared that, if such an array of an-
. thority, time, acquiescence, unanimlty OF pub
. lie men, as wise if not wiser than we were,
&c and who were quite as patriotic as the men Of
II any age or country-and that, TOO, after theil
- opinions had been approved by public senti
. ment, and had, by the introduction Of new
70 States, grown up as it were into the fabric Of
- the Union as it is-did not settle the question
>, OF p0aUer. then no question would ever be re.
} garded as a settled one. If these did not close
. the door upon any refnements of grammar and
of logic about the meaning Of this word or Of
:" that one in our organic law-if these did moi
u, - furnish right rule for the peoples represen-
lo tatives-if these did not establish beyond ca
y, vii the polcer to acquire new terrltory-lfthese
~ were not the true and the sold paths which
- an honest and scrupulous statesman nigh
~ pursue with safety,-why, thenh had emit re
" y mistaken his duty; and he had wholly mis-
appfehended what the wsest men and bes
~ authors could mean when they recognised pre-
- cedents as fit guides to true exposition ofcon
e which he had referred established beyond rea
20 sonabe controversy that it had been the poHcs
~ of the UniIed States for quarter of century
~ and more to reacquire Texas whenever it Nigh
= be done with honor and with reasonable de
- gree of harmony, he presumed none would de
=. ny or dispute.
j, Mr.. H. said that, though he did not pretend
A. to assert that he had stopped his investigation
o. precisely at this point, yet he could declare
n that, apart from all others, this view of ths
subject seemed tohis mind conclusive. as wei
ID upon the question Of pocer as upon the ques
" ton pohcy.
al The treaty was rejected at the last session
h. but the question of ANNEXATION only ad
j. journed for more convenient season; and tina
of now it had returned upon Congress, not with
in out new and embarrassing concomitants. II
A. would to God it were otherwise, but the fac
y. was too plain to escape notice. AS it woul
10. be nnwise for the friends of annexation, so
~ would be objectionable for the friends of on
he common country to shut their eyes against tn
perils living about and beyond the immediat
n. question Itself.
H. MI. H. said he had made up his mind t
nd aid in accomplishing the incorporation of Tex
as into the Union, if it could be done by rea
is sonable and fair concession to the opinions
II or even to the prejudces of others and fd
se that reason he had given notice of motto
lc- for leave to introduce bill, and now, in pul
suance of that notice, he had asked the leav
is of the Senate to do so. 1t was painful to d.
- tain the Senate by dull explanation of il
he details, and statement of the main purpose
it and motives for which they had obtained
he place in the proposition he should make, y,
ny the subject was too important, and the step
1t, had taken was too responsible, to omit it alt
gether.
That, the power and the policy of re-acqu
on, ring Texas being once established or admi
ted ted, it remained to be ascertained how, and /
sh- what course of proceeding, We were most ik
atty ly to succeed in it.
en- That majority Of this Congress probab
believed, that it was polite for the U. STATE
be- government to incorporate Texas into our
er- MON and that il was within the authority