The New York herald., 1845-02-23

bl his remarks commenced yesterday. he was
gratihed ia this discussion, TO witness the devotion
exhibited 10 the Federal Constitution. Yet, the
arguments OF the friends of Annexation, that the
Constitution conferred the power to admit foreign
states, IN the clause providing for the admission OF
new states, he could not endorse. He believed, on
the contrary, that the clause providing for the
admission OF new States, was intended to be appl-
ed strictly TO the territories within the federal urls-
dlcuon. He took up a legal argument on the gene
RAJ provision OF The Constitution, To wit :-"New
States may be admitted into the Union; bat no
new State shall be created OF territory arising
within the jurisdiction OF any other State, without
the consent OF such State,'' &c. He contended,
'hatupon this provision, the consent of Mexico was
necessary ter the constitutional annexation OF
Texas, because II was State arising within the
jurisdiction OF another State, &c. Mr.. 5. did not
like the inclpient proceedings the part OF our
people, nor the connvance of the government, In
the revolution OF Texas, nor her present position
II was not iitterlng not at all-not at all-and he
believed, too, II Texas were really independent and
able TO sustain herself she would reject any propo-
si'ion tor merging her sovereignty into any other
power. Again, nothing was known of the interna-
tlona relations OF Texas. A commission was ne
cessary-negoclatlons Were required to ascertain
the state OF the debt, pledges and liabilities of
Texas with foreign nations, &c. II had been said,
100, that Texas, was knocking at the door Tor ad-
mission into the Union. Of this he was not quite 80
well assured, he rather thought it was supposi-
ton AT all events he had not heard the knocking
Mr. read resolutions from the Legislature of
hhode island, protesting against the anne xatIon OF
Texas because OF its unc onslltutionalty, unless
through an expression OF the will of the people of
tne several States, according 10 the Constitution -
That was the opinion of the Rhode Island Legisla-
ture, and their lments We're his. Regard ng the
sympathy tor our fellow citizens who have gone to
Texas, he said that they were there from their
tree choice, preierrIne fore ign their
own country. Oi course, they had no extraordinary
claims upon our sympathy. IL first duty
10 take care OF ourselves Again, he did not like
the division OF the territory of TIE xas, proposed
between the North and the South. 1t like
dividing a goose, giving the neck to the North,
and the body OF the animal to the South
tnhf Ac,
the conformation of the territory. Mr.. s. conclu.
ded by an appeal for the preservation of the Consti
tuition, &c
Mr. MERRIcK said the final hour of this Con-
gress was rapidly approaching, and that the remain
ing moments of the session as few as they
were precious He should, therefore, take up no
self right before the country. This was no trifng
question, but involved within itself the veal or VIC
tor rcen'urlesto to come OF millions and millions of
the Ango-Saxon race. Upon question so grave
and momentous, party lines should be oberated,
aud party contentious sllenced, and statesmen
should seek to be % guided by the sublime rights OF
deavored to bring himself, and believed he ap-
preached the subject independent of party conside-
rahons. Yet II was strange that we. find OPT
mons upon this subject very nearly divided by
the ordinary lines Of party divislon-so difficult
was 1t to overcome the differences, preudices,
passions and associations of the hour. These
lnftuences, IN spite OF ourselves, gave the hue,
the force and pressure to the opinions OF states
men, even upon questions where such impress
sions should have no force. Mr. Merrick
concurred with the Senator from Massachusetts
(Mr. Choate) that if Texas were terrestrial Para
disc, il It's streams over sands Of gold, and their
waters were ambrozal nectar; If her forests pro-
duced apples of gold, and her rocks and hills were
composed ofthe bread Of life, he could not sanction
its admission into the Union, if the act involved
violation OF the Federal Constitution. But 1t was
the gentleman from Massachusetts and his argu-
mens that tended to render the Constitution impe-
ratve, by giving it construction which, il car
ried OUT. would tear It into tatters Mr. Merrick
al thn oo tkatS .
States may be admitted into the Union'' was
plain, explicit, and comprehensive language
could be. II the light OF all the stars could be
brought to shine upon tiff the concentrated rays
OF all the of the universe could be brought to
bear upon it, 1t could not be made more dis
tlnct-more clear-more conclusive, than it is.
After dwelling upon this general idea some
time, Mr.. M. adverted to the old authorities
temporaneous with the Constitution, authorities
quoted SO Often in this debate, and especially by
the Senator from Massachusetts, In his argument
against the constitutional power of Congress upon
this subject Mr.. M. on the contrary, read an
tract from letter from Governor Morris, in which
he states that he "knew well enough now, he did
then, that all North America must be finally an
nexed TO u.s. Here was a contemporaneous au-
thory, explicitly looking forward 10 the extension
of our federal limits. And if the constitutional
clause not really intended to apply to States
exclusively of territory, within the limits of the
Union, how easyit would have been to have in
admitted from territory without the limits of the
Union But no such amendment was
attempted. The power was left in its full
lest and most comprehensive phraseOogy
Mr.. M, also read from Luther Martin letter upon
the constitutional clause for the admission of new
States, IN which no mention being made of the
contingency OF admitting new State arising with
out the limits of the Union, the writer necessarily
5 ust have assented to the unrestricted authority Of
Congress under the Constitution. The Senator
from Maryland next reviewed the objection of Mr..
Rives TO the House JOINT resolution, because it was
an assumption ot the treaty power, and in itself
treaty, aud competent, therefore, only to the Ex-
ecutive and the concurrence of two-thrds of the
Senate Mr.. M, IN reply to this objection, refer
red 10 several acts OF Congress, which were tanta-
mount TO bargain, having all the terms of con.
tract, bargain treaty, much this Joint
luton. Having cleared up the constitutional ques.
tIon, Mr.. Merrlck next considered the expedien-
cles OF anne xation, and in every view, CONNER
cial, political aud social he conceived that the ad
mission OF Texas would tend TO our happiness, to
the perpet1ation of the Union forever, to our secu
rlty. our peace, prosperity and mutual love-.
MIR. HUNTINGro TON said, with some general intro
ductory remarks, that he should first notice
remarks OF the Senator from Georgia (Mr. Col
qultO. That Senator had ndulged in unmeasured,
nnprovoked, and uniounded asperslons against the
people ot the north-the people OF the free States.
The Senator from Louisiana (Mr Barrow) had
SAID that the mass of the people of the north,
among whom he had travelled, and had sojourned,
were patriotic and faithfully attached TO the
guarantees OF the Constitution, and their preserva-
lion Inyiolate. as any OF the people of the Union.
The Senator from Louisiana had told the truth Ii
was so. Yet the Senator from Georgia was high
ly lncensed that any southern man should have
any faith IN the patriotism Of the people OF the
north He seemed TO have forgotten that it
the north which produced such men Warren,
and Greene, aud Putnam, and Stark. and John
Adams, and Hancock, and Eldridge Gerry, men
whose splrlt still survived in their descendants.
All that Mr. II. had to say, was that the Senator
from Georgia did not understand the character OF
the people whom he lbeIled.
Mr. CoLQUITT rose TO reply.
The CHAIR said he was out of order.
Mr. HUNTINGTON sugge ested that the Senator be
permitted TO speak.
The CHAIR said it was not in order, under the
circumstances
Mr.. SEWER appealed that the Senator from
Georgia be permitted to explain. Mr.. s. under
stood that the Senator from Connecticut had
yielded for that privilege.
Mr. HUNTINGTON. N.-t,eYfantv. | do. Ger