Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1845-12-20

circumstances against the measure OF annexation Many 9TH
citizens of Massachusetts had done the same and similar
had been pursued by very many in other States Stu
aed therefore, he was he could do no more than seek
every opportunity which might be presented 10 him. as their
organ, present their objections the he might
be able.
These remonstrants exclusively of any political
party, for they did not this party question Such
its paramount importance the present and future inter
ests OF the whole Unon that far above all party consi
deaton and was not to be treated thought Of as party
measure Those OF his constituents who had signed these
memorials were Of all the great parties in the community not
only OF the two great and leading parties which divided the
country but many Of them belonged what called the
Liberty party, distinguished from the other two In be-
hall OF all these renonsan he claimed occupy the brief
period OF time which would be his command this dav
Mr. r. said he should put his opposition these resolutions
on narrow ground He was not now opposed nor should
he ever be opposed the extension the jurisdiction of the
United States and all admirable institutions over any ex-
tent OF territory which rightly belonged us nor was he OPP
posed to the assertion of rights to territory where those
rights existed His opposition and the opposition Of his State
was not at all in that spirit and he trusted never would be-
The sentiment of the people of Massachusetts, was in favor Of
extending our territorial limits and legal jurisdiction quite
the shores OF the Pacific ocean, but within such limits TO the
north or the south justly pertaned us He had no doubt
that when the proper time the people his would
be found TO be laggards such Indeed was
the genius of the of Massachusetts, which had already Sc
cured great masses of territory the jurisdiction of the United
States Government She had had under this Government
two Secretaries State Of whom had set forth her claims
In manner worthy Of Them Of her. and of the country
"a
been powerfully aided by Massachusetts
near him, his aged and venerable colleague, (Mr ApAss
His head and his genius had been in it, God bless him And
might the which had heard the of the guns AT Bun
ke Hill yet be permitted listen solemn breaking of
the Pacific surges the extreme boundary his native land
And might the which had looked upon the smoudcrng
Of Charestown yet behold the national stripes and stars
floating in acknowledged and peaceful Jurisdiction over the
whole wide extent OF her territory
But the question before one of very different
character regarded the acquisition Of foreign State. This
rxub ka IL
the last Congress it the acquisition of foreign Terri
tory and the annexation Of foreign State There had in
deed been certain proceedings in Texas which brought
question again before Congress- but all must well recoect
the strenuous effort and the stringent arguments put forth
the last Congress against the consutonay Of such pro
ceeding had at that time been earnestly maintained that
such acquisition and annexation could be accomplished
was proposedby joint resolution OF the Houses
ceive the assent Of Texas and then be finally consum
mated here had that contended that the Ma
ona Union of States in the of copartner-
ship and that the admission of foreign State part
ner into the firm required the assent Of all the States and Of all
the people of the States constituting Confederacy
insisted that the very lowest form which the object
could be accomplished, at all, by the exercise of
treaty making power and that all other modes Of attempting
ii were In palpabe opposition the Constitution In add
tion to all which, st further maintained that such
were the relations of Mexico and Texas that was nds
Pensab according the laws Of nations that Mexico should
become party to such transaction Some of these
and arguments remained in full force this day. AS the
last of them that in relation Mexico, Mr. r. should say
nothing, inasmuch the House had been appzed by the
President in his Executive Message that distinguished ci
zen had been deputed Mexico as Commissioner with
full powers arrange all difficulty that Government,
and our own And Mr. r. willing do nothing which
might by possibility embaass the negotiations of his country
with any foreign Power But the questions whether the
Ration of Texas could be made by of the
~ power by consent Of the States and Of the people of
Union, they were questions still open before this country and
the world II had been held by the Administration which
Immediately preceded that in power that the very
mode by which the annexation could be effected by the
exercise OF the treaty making and under this
sion treaty had been actually submitted
the Senate for ratification but subsequently, rejected by
body. Then it that the mode Of accomplish
by the adoption of joint resolution had been first pro
posed and the discovery had been made that there
der the Constitution additional power in the Houses
which enabled them to the of foreign
State to the Union.
Now Mr.. R. insisted that when the treaty. submitted by
President the Senate had been rejected an
end to all constitutional proceedings accomplish object
and he held that all which had been done subsequently
without any constitutional What had in fact been
done joint resolution of the Houses had been passed
giving the consent of Congress the formation by Texas of
State which might certain time and under conditions
apply Tor admission State into this Union. The
OF Congress thus given, and the basis of that consent
ne whole subsequent operation was to proceed. News
earned to Texas that such had been given on
that consent and nothing more the President made an
overture to Texas, appuzng her that she the cond
tons stated make her application. Consent and consent ony
the extent of the joint resolution Congress doth con-
sent" DC. And again The foregoing consent having
been gven, &c. Now the question arose whether the Con-
situon of the United States empowered authorized Con-
to give such consent That question was before the
world was before Texas and before all nations and every
body IN and out OF Texas knew that great and strenuous
ecton was made IN Congress giving such consent and the
constitutional power to do seadsy denied The annun
citation of this went Texas Texas acted ON II
She took the chances that that consent might he CHANGED
its conditions, wholly withdrawn by the action Of future
Congress for by the very Of the resolution the transact
ton was recognised thing perfected but which was
TO be acted by the then coming Congress- which Congress
was now in session. Mr.. here quoted the resolution Of
last Congress.
To that final action this Congress was now invoked was
to review to confirm to reject the edict Of former Con
gress. What the Democratic doctrine in such case
What had been the doctrine of the fathers Of the Cons
uon That the joint resolution Of Congress might be
repealed by another that the resolutions Of the Congress
might be resnded by the 29h Just all other laws
OF that body might be- If them tbs 2sh Congress, agreed
receive Texas in that mode they received subject repeal
and reconsideration by the present Congress an amend
ment made and additional conditions subsequently added
that the perogave Of the treaty making power might in
some degree be carried out BY the Legislature.
Mr. said that he knew, indeed it might urged that the
people OF the United States had already passed
upon this question but il could with truth said that
they had done in the election OF members the last Con-
gess because nobody who elected those members had any
such question view unless indeed the occasional cleo
tons which had subsequently been held fill
Inc question had not been passed upon by the people when
hat congress waschosen had been passed upon the
a'e PRESIDENTIAL election Every body knew the conflict of
warning elements which had resulted the late election and
act demonsraby proved that majority Of the people Of the
states had gwen their against those electors who