Mobile register and journal., 1845-12-04

you would have had me palrntly sit silent ana iis- ten io arguments, upon this much desred measure,
 in which II was pronounced GOd-sen1 for aboli-
 ion and sovereign for all lhe evils of slavery
 One word upon the subject of my mOtIveS.- Those W ho have manifested d disposition to com demn me, have moi only sat in judgment upon my acI but an inquisitnriai investigation has been in- sliuied into my mniives. or tlns l do moi com paiu. Even suppose had been m'saken-- Htler- ly and entirely mistaken n regard to Ihls question of anne xaIioR-was the first tune, in ihe history of public affairs, that public man had been mistak
 en in regard tn a great national questlunlhat ques- ton not only of nuyul and extraordinary occurrence, but without parallel in the history ui nations Was the offence so yeual 10 warrant my heinz purSu- ed with lhe mAguily ola denon, and that Billings gate siuad be ransackcd and Grub street raked, m order find appropriate terms for branding me win treacery, and holding me up 10 the hcorn and detesaion, not only of my constituents, but Oi all yir,uous and sensible menl What Is there ln the history oi past public life Co warrant thiH odious departure from he rules which had their origIn m justice, reason, and imparllalliy, and which have been rendered sacred by their uniform and invara- ble application to the conduct and actions of other public menl Had l altered at any tune in the frank and fearless and, according 10 the measure o
 my ability lhe efficient support of any or all lhosa great measures by witch the history Of the RepuSll- can marty had been illustrated and it's principles vin
 dicntcd? Had been deteiiCl 10 the great princ- ples o the Republican party upon the questions oi the constitutional power of Congress 10 charter Bank of the United States, the distribution oi the proceeds of the public lands, the independent treasu- ry, separation of Government and hanks, or m my steady uniform and un,arying opposition 10 that grinding and oppressive system of unequal unjust, and odiOus taxation, by the operation of which the revenues uf the Government have been wrung and exinrled from the labor, instead oi being derved, as they ought to be, from le capital of ihe cOuntryt Had l. at any time, betrayed opposition or hostility to that g4rJus sys'em federative unlon. the prs
 cpal object of which 10 secure the sacred rights of gous civil, and political liberty to Us and to our posterity for everi Let the uniform, unbroken tenor of my whole public life running back to the year 1921, when l first engaged in your service as an nexperit need representative for the county oi Monroe m the state Legislature, answer these ques- lions. thank God that the merit ol my public life does not depend upon the support oi any single mea sure, or devotion toSanv sIngle act IL stands upon a broader pla(orm--a platform resting for it's support upon the vital principles Of the constitution and the fundamental maxims of the republican par ty. But was not mistaken. And if l erred at all, in relation to the annexation Of Texas, from those principles and those naxlms, erred m favor of an- nexntion and in favor of the wishes of my consi- uents, and pursued the only course by which the mea sure could be accomplished, and those wishes carried into effect. And il s for having pursued this course that have been denounced as traitor, and am be hunted down ayictm. And that too by lhuse who. some of ihem, at least, while l adhered steadily and a,ihluly to every article of the democratic creed were travelling through all the signs of the political zodiac, from ie extreme doc irines of State rights to ultra federalism; and who 10 expect now To atone for the political sins of their pas, lives by the constant practice of silly pratie in favor oi annexation, as if that were man tie broad enough to cover their past offences, or the only lest of poical orthodoxy, or the only pass per- 10 popular iavor Impartial men, in passing judgment upon human transactions, generally inquire. 1 into the considerations, and look into tine motives by which the actors in them were influenced aud &C., tnaied; and reasonable and just men endeavor to l find rational motives. By what consideration could l have been influenced, or by what rational motive could have been actuated to oppose the annexation Inf Texas! This Is the only point of inquiry.- My acts speak for themselves. Mv votes stand upon | the record. And repeat here what said lormer- | lv, that l VOTED FOR EVERY MEASURE FOR | THE ANNEXATION or TRxAs ON WHICH VOTE l WAS TAKENiE THE SENATE AFTER l BECAME
 AMEMBER OF THAT BODY, when my vote alone
 would have deieaed il; for II passed tbe Senate by | d majority of but one. did more. took unusual
 pains 10 induce others to vote Tor some plan by which | the measure could he saved. Look, then, with the most searching scrutiny, into the considerations by
 which was nfuenced and the motives by which | was acunted, and la rational one can be found cal | culaled to induce the belief that l was opposed tn the measure itself, am willing to stand condemned
 Although in that case, il would be lhe first n
 staace in winch pubic man had been condemned, when his acts, his recorded votes, had been in eX- act conformity 10 the letter his instructions and in strict compliance with the wishes of his constit
 uents. But yield something to the investigating spirit of the age and the berality of my accusers. | The OBy public layors ever received. aud can say with equal truth, the only public iayors ever sought expected, were from the people of aba- ma. They with d liberaty and confidence for which Can never cease to be grateful, and winch has been source of unspeakabe consolation 10 me, amidst the mercIess storms of persecution to which have been so unjuslly subjected, had fully satisfied all he aspirations of my ambtiOn--an ambition of which can never be made ashamed, because il has furnished me the opportunity ol manilestng my de. vnton to the honor and the interest 0i those among whom my lot cast in the days oi my youth.
 | For years before became ther representative in the Senate of the United States, the people of A la l bama, of which proudly claim to be one, speaking through their representatives m the general assembly of the State, had, with great unanimIiy, requested their Representatives and instructed their Senators m Congress to use their best exertions for the
 nexatiun of Texas to the United States Whether. therefore, was influenced by sense of duty to the known wishes of my constituents, and the voice of an approving conscience assures me l ha'e never, | for one moment been nsensible to its sacred in- functions; or whether was actuated by love oi popuarity-and that | have abored 10 deserve more tihln to acquire; whether was governed by sense ofgratitude and duty for lle past, ihe hopes and expectations of the lnturem, course upon the Tex l.as question equally clear. Was annexation, as some appeared to consider il, peculiarly southern measure! an empiatically, and in the s'rictesi sense and meaning of the term, southern man; ha- wing crossed the Potomac in my life until aier my election to the Senate of lhe United States. My
 interests, my dearest and tcnderes affections, public and private, the of my childhood. and all the recollectIons of my youth, the graves oi my chil- dren, of the companions of my youth, and of my an- cestors, through all past generations, on this conti- | nent, south of Mason and Dixon's line. Did
 look upon lion as endcavored 10 do. in the more enlarged aspect of great national measurel- l was, through the glorious instrunenaiy of an im- mortal ancestry, an American citizen, fully satisfied | that vast majority of the people of the U. States, apart from all party considerations, were in favor of
 Il, and that, if properly accomplished, il emf
 ncnlIy calculated to promote the prosperity and go- " of my country. looked upon it, as sad al the time, not as party, mol as sectional measure, but as oue great step in the luilment of our destiny II nation- d Rat0m which verify believe IS destined, under Providence. to Iiberase and enliehten the whole family of mankina, and by her example to | carry ihe blessings of freedom to the world. Under the influence of these feelings, these facts and these views, what motives had to oppose the annexation of Texasl An intelligent, virtuous, and impartial people will furnish the answer. None
 There is but question connected with this sub jec, in relation 10 which my opinions can be oi any
 import aGce To the people of Alabama, and that is, whether will vote for the admission of Texas into the Union upon equal footing with the original Staes1 have read the constitution of Texas; it is republican in it's form, and that far as Congress has any power to scan ilsproysIons. shall, there tore, cheertully vote for her adrnission into the Union, and pursue towards her in all things tie same course that ddty and patriotism will lead pursue towards the other members of our glorious Conederacy. It is true she has been placed in d position to ask for admission into the Union in mode not in accordance with my views; but the deed Is done She has disrobsd herself of her ma