The Kalida venture. [volume] (Kalida, Ohio) 1841-1865, 1845-08-12
From the Laporte Tocsin.
ANNEXATION-ITS CONSTITUTION
ALITY,
He can distinguish and divide,
A hair twixt west and northwest side"

Nothing is easier with whg than to
"strain at a gnat and swallow camel."-
They can 60 for Bank which is unconsti-
tutional, and against admitting Texas as a
State, which is not. We had beautiful
sample of this in Semple's remarks on the
constitutionality of annexation. The con-
stitution gives Congress, in the most unlim-
ted manner, the power " to admit new States
into the Union:" and the only restrictions on
that power,are those relative to States within
our jurisdiction. Engagements entered into
prior to the adoption Of the constitution, and
which that instrument provides shall be " as
vald'' as any made under it, bound Con-
gress TO admit all the territory of the U. s,
at the proper time as States. Consequently,
there was no need of an article in the con-
stitution for those States arising within our
boundaries. Yet Symple says, that the term
" new" had especial reference to the North
west territory only. Is it so? Facts, which
the whig Congressman is so shy of, say not.
The convention which framed the const-
tuition was called "to amend and repise the
articles of confederation. Those articles
contained the following stipulation:
Canada, according to this confederation,
and joining in the measures of the United
States, shall be admitted into, and entitled
to, all the advantages of this Union; but no
other colony shall be admitted into the same,
unless such admission be agreed to by nine
States."
Now, did the Convention add to OF dimin-
ish that power? Let facts speak 1t was
proposed to limit the power of Congress to
the admission of States arising "wihin'' our
jurisdiction. But was it done? No; it was
stricken out. Farther: it required the con-
sent of three. .towths under the confederation
to admit any country besides Canada. 1t
was so altered as 10 require but a bare ma
.jority.
The practice under our government is
equally conclusive. Foreign States haze
been admitted by act ofCongress. This go
vernment was to go into operation by the
consent of nine States. North Carolina and
Rhode Island did not come into the Union,
but had separate governments of their own.
They did not vote for Gen. Washington; and
that great man refused a: certain time to
pass through the State of Rhode Island, on
account of her stunning the Union. Those
States were foreign States, in every accep-
tation of the term, as much so as England,
vet they cere admitted By act of Congress.
Madison said, 6 there should be no bounds
to the repubIic." Jefferson said, as late as
1920, "Cuba accedng to our form of go
vernment, may be incorporated into the I'm
ion''-or words to that effect. Hamilton
said, that we must look to the possession of
Florida and Louisiana, and squint' at Cuba.
All this was contemplated by our great men.
By Congress admitting States into the
Union, lands and people are admitted, and it
saved the clumsy mode of first negotiating
by treaty, and then admitting as States. The
whole operations, where there is the requisite
population and adaptation as State, is per-
formed at once Where there is not, the
troaty-making power provides for mere ac-
QUESTION of territory. The Convention were