Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1845-03-01
PROCEEDINGS IN CONGRESS.
IN SENATE.
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 25, ls45.
ANNEXATIoN OF TEXAS.

Mr. ALLEN, who was entitled to the floor from Monday
continued the debate Viewing the question OF xaon
in its bearing upon the United States and Texas as OF
paraiiyey small importance when conrastcd with its effect
upon the nations of Europe and the civilized world he pro
ceeded argue the subject much length, principally
ference commercial interests. lie declined to ente
upon constitutional argument but expressed his opinion tina
Congress has power admit Texas in the proposed
which he considered good both as respects security
consiituonay, If admitted by the treaty making power
When Mr.. ALLEN concluded his Speech motion mad
that the Senate take a recess. This rejected.
II then moved that the Senate into Executive session
for hou and then take This also rejected
Mr. BERRIEN then took the floor He would abandon
he sad the question of the expedency of ho
who chose consider il he did not consider himself lib
ery discuss the question of the expeency of any measure
TO which constitutional objection opposed He heart
the voice of the Father Of his Country in tones which could
not be mistaken, warning him against the nacion of TIN
Constitution He heard it and he obeyed it, If the ques
ton before them had been question Of expedency th,
wishes OF the people Of Georgia would have been his hut
is not one of that descriptions but of eay to the Con
stutien.
One aspect in which this question presented mind
had not attracted the attention Of Senator's It the attud
which this resolution assume only in the eye
of the civilized world, but especially with regard
Republic, Texas She sovereign State she has acheset
her independence have acknowledged that independence
She has her Congress- her Judiciary, her Gov
eminent her people free to model her Constitution they
please Is it to such State this that propose to send
this legislative msve by which the Congress of the United
States, people foreign to hem and who hare not been nvi
ted by them do this give consent and grant
leave that Texas may be admitted this Union pre-
scribe the Constitution and the form of Government ask
our sister Republic, equal in every respect adopt the
forms dictate to them and tell them that when they are
sent back adopted will complete the act OF annexation
We do not give them leave to manage these affairs in
their way, but tell them the mode in which wish
to have them DONE The people Of Texas ( Mr. B. rightly
estimated their characer will claim to treat with us upon
terms of equality, and upon terms which gacousy
prescribe The Senator from Missouri has avoided
this in the bill which he has presented to the Senate
Mr.. b. proceeding to examine the constitutional
question, when
On motion of Mr. DAYTON the Senate took till
five o'clock.
EVENING SESSION.
The debate being resumed upon the resolution received
from the House of Representatives relative TO the annexation
Mr.. BERRIEN continued his remarks in opposition to the
resolution, combining himself entirely to its unconstfution
atty His argument was lucid POWERFUL and eloquent and
delivered with much impressive earnesness Mr. D. esum-
ed his seat about half past o'clock, when
Mr. WALKER commenced an argument in defence Of the
resolution, asserting its entire agreement both with the let
ter and spirit of the Constitution and with the intentions OF
It's trainers He strengthened his position with quotations
from Mr. Jefferson and Mr. Madison and from the decisions
of the Supreme Court; and with references to his pre-
viously expressed opinions in 1926, 1885, and 1914
The of his differences with respect decision
OF Chief Justice fancy, which the State OF Yer
mont was party disputed by Mr. PHELPS who stated
the circumstances of the at length.
Mr.. WALKER insisted that he not in He
continued his constitutional argument until nearly the close of
his Speech when he briefly advered to the commercial nu
ny which the country would experience by the rejection OF
Texas, and the formation of treaty for commercial purposes
between that country and Great Britain which would certain
y be entered into, if Texas be not admitted into the
Union Mr. w. continued his speech until about hafpast
8 O'clock when the floor, obtained by
Mr. MILLER, who moved adjournment, and the Sc
nate hereupon adjourned until o-lnorrnw o'clock A. NJ
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 26, l845.
The Senate resumed the consideration of the joint re-
solution passed by the House Of Representatives for the
alton of Texas and Mr. MILLER addressed the Senate at
length against the measure. After which (rst spending
short time in Executive busness) the Senate took
until o'clock p NJ
EVENING SESSION.
The Texas resolution having been taken up Mr. BAGBY,
IF Alabama, Mr.. UPHAM, of Vermont and Mr.. BATES,
'f Massachusetts, severay delivered speeches the subject
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 81.
CLOSING PROCEEDINGS in RELATION TO THE
ADMISSION OF TEXAS.
MIR. CRfTTENDEN and Mr.. ARCHER having closed
their addresses to the Senate in opposition the Joint Reso
luton from the House of Representatives
Mr. JOHNSON asked leave to say few words before the
situated as he reference 10 this
great question: he wished the grounds upon which he should
vote to be distinctly understood His honorable colleague in
his speech said that he would any Time in any shape
or form, vote for the annexation of Texas; that it would be
runou TO the sugar and cotton planters Of louisiana much
flood which should overspread and devasate the whole
country Now may be thought strange after such an opi
ion SO decidedly expressed by his colleague that he should be
IN favor OF the He himself sugar planter and
he owned cotton plantation, and consequently identified
IN interest with the planters of Louisiana He did not believe
hal he annpy anpn f ~
sequences anticipated by his colleague He did not doubt
however, that Texas should I've annexed the emigration to
that country from the savehodng States would be greater
and that more slaves would be taken there and that
ton and sugar would be made which might have effect up
on the price OF those articles in Louisiana and that he look
ed at the question alone in reference to the effect would
have upon the prices Of cotton and sugar in Louisiana he
would go with his colleague He regarded il as great ma
uonal question: IN which the whole Union deeply interest
ed But he would ask his honorable colleague IL we have NOT
strong believe Texas be not annexed that she will
enter into treaty with England by which her cotton would
be received in British ports free Of duties on condition that
British goods be received in Texas fee of duties and whether
such treaty would not be injurious to the planters of Lou
isana And he would ask him if Texas should hereafter be-
come non-savehodng State, what would be the effect Of
such state Of things the interests Of the planters Of Lou
isana M considered that the annexation Of TIE would
be highly beneficial to the city Of New Orleans in CONNER
cia point of view, and important would prevent England
from obtaining monopoly of the trade Of Texas and an I'M
due influence her Government and as il would prevent
collisions and difficulties which might be expected to arise be-
tween her Government and that Of the United States she
should remain independent That he in fact considered
alimpoan in every point Of view in which it could be con
sidered, that the whole valley Of the Mississippi should be-
long 10 the United States
Mr. j. said that he had been long in favor Of the annexa
ton Of Texas whenever il could be fairly DONE and with III.
appreciation Of the great Of the people Of the United
States and in to letters received from his friends
Louisiana the last session of Congress- pending the discus
sion the Texas treaty, he had stated that Texas in hi
opinion would ultimately be annexed. He had votct