Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1845-02-15

question OF TINS magnitude Is too broad TO stand on any
platform Of party politics il is too deep for any, or ALL Of the
political creeds and dogmas Of the day presents ITSELF OF
should present ITSELF political organizations NO, =,
sng parties, not to particular interests local oonsdera
tons but the PEorLE Of the United States the wao,
Of the United States subject Of the creates. and most
lasting Importance and calling, earnestly and impera,ivev
| for immediate consideration and resolute action.
We assembled here where the voice of eemen il won,
to be uttered to signify opposition this project And
the project itself bold is alarming scarcely seek
ing to disguise the want Of constitutional power sustain it.
and setting forth its great and leading objects with unbus
countenance and such hardhood of avowa
astonishmen not only in the United States but all the
world So while protest against it in the solemn
manner, shall state the great grounds Of protest. re-
specuy and dspassonatey but freely and feaessy and
if filed, filled, with the profound conviction
that we resisting the mischief of which cannot
be measured in its magnitude calculated in its duration
We regard the scheme Of annexing Texas to the United
States, as being
!. A plain violation Of the Constitution.
As calculated and designed by the open declaration Of
IS friends, to uphold the interests of slavery extend its in
fiuence, and secure its permanent duration
l. There constitutional power in any branch of the
government or all the branches Of the Government annex
foreign State to this Union.
The successful termination Of the Revolutionary war left
the old thirteen States free and independent although united
IN common concderacy Some of these States possessed
large tracts Of territory lying within the limits of their
i've charters from the Crown of England as vet cultivated
or settled Before the adoption of the present Constitutions
wen known these States had made extensive grants of this
territory to the United States with the main original nuno
dposng Of the same for the payment Of the the Reyo-
luton. 49,
The cession of Virginia. to whom much the largest
OF this territory belonged being all the land within her original
charter northwest of the Ohio river was made in 1884, and
was the express condition of that grant that the cede ter
toy should be laid out and formed into States each to be
suitable extent not less than hundred more than one
hundred and fifty miles square.
AT the adoption of the present Constitution these territories
belonged to the United States and the Government of the
United States was bound to make provision for their
into the Union States they should become prop
cy settled and peoped for that purpose For the govern
men OF this territory the memorable ordinance Of July 1857
was passed. and constituted the public law Of the country until
the present Constitution adopted 1t became then part
OF the duty OF the trainers of that instrument make provision
suitable to the subject The Constitution declares therefore,
that Congress shall have power to dispose of and make all
needfu rules and regulations respecting the territory Of the
United States This gave the authority Of governing the
toy as territory, while remained such And in the same
article it is provided as follows:
Art 4, Sec. New States may be admitted by the Con-
gress INTO this Union; but State shall be formed
~ - ~ Ic ursaicuon OF any other state nor any State
&c by the Junction OF two or more States parts Of
States without the consent Of the Legislatures OF the
concerned as well as of the Congress-"
quite impossible read this clear and exact provision
new States might be created and admitted into the Union s
They might be created of the territory which the United
States possessed and in regard which the original spua
on was that should he formed into States in due tme
those States admitted into the Union 3D. New States might
be formed by the division of existing State by the juno
ton OF two States parts of States; but this case
the consent OF the Legislatures of the States concerned
made necessary, well as that of Congress.
is plain and manifest that in all this there is not the slight
est view towards any future acquisition of territory
The Constitution made for the country, as then ex-
stedthat country then embracing both States and Terrific
es: and would be perfectly hopeless to seek to nd
In the whole instrument any manifest avowa or any lurking
intention to bring any thing into this Unon already
longing to it either State Territory The Constu-
ton was no meant to embrace Texas than embrace
cuba, or JAMAICA Ireland And would well become
those who making such efforts torture the Const
tuition till 1t shall seem to confer authority intended by
IT. TO acquant themselves somewhat better with the political
history of the period of its adoption.
The old Confederation took effect in July l77s the third
year OF our independence During the war; the thirteen States
had manifested desire that their should be strengthened
by the junction of Canada There was, all know very
able and powerful address from the old Congress the nha
ans OF that Province and the still kept open for
Canada to into the Union BY the eleventh article of
the Confederation, expressly stipulated that Canada
accedng TO this Confederation and joining the of
the United States shall be admitted into and entitled TO- all
the advantages of this Union. Then follow these words
But no other colony shall be admitted into the same unless
such admission be agreed to by nine States" Nine
theen then, being twohrds of all the original States
required to assent before State could be brought in
Thus stood the great principle of unon when the present
Constitution framed in 1877 At that time but subse
quent to the date of the Articles Of Confederation the United
States have seen, had acquired the territory north
ward OF the Ohio and stipulated that it should be formed
States
The old provision the eleventh article Of the Confeder
ton was omitted in the Constitution, and provision
made applicable, and only applicable States already in the
Unlon and territories already possessed by United States
We see then, that under the Confederation new States
might come In by the consent Of wotrds and other
wse We see that by the present Constitution, provision
made for the admission Of New States, formed of the
existing territory out of other existing States and not
otherwise Is not most manifest that if the trainers Of the
constitution had looked to the admission Of New States to be
formed out OF territories afterwards be acquired it would at
least have guarded such purpose, and such power by
such limitation, at least should be equivalent that on
the same subject contained in the Confederation
The advocates Of the annexation OF Texas are driven the
necessity OF contendng that States may be admitted
formed OF territory out Of the original limits Of the United
States although the Constitution has carefully and seduousy
omitted and rejected the eleventh article of the Conedeaton
and has made provision of its own the end and design OF
which cannot be misunderstood dscgacd without violence
70 PLAIN terms and clear language well ignorance Of or
contempt Tor all the contcmpoaneous history Of the country
They obliged to contend ALSO that this constitutional
authority raised by feeble and forced construction, Ivy
founded inference and analogy, extends not only
the admission Of territories colonies of other independent
nations but to those independent nations themselves other
words that Government formed for the protection and benefit
Of the people of the United States each Of which States
enumerated and down by in the Constitution Of the
United States may only add to the number of these
States but may also bring foreign Power with all its own
peculiar interests connexions, debts and liabilities, only
without the consent Of wohirds Of the States majority
of the States indeed without the assent of any State
already in the Union acting in the capacity and in
which the people Of that State themselves into H.
ts idle to say that the assent of the people of State In
great and fundamental question like this be proved by
inferred from, any of its Representatives in Congress
N ia sen for f,ap,