Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1845-02-22
cd 10 b tho inevitable conqusncs M opening the lands Of
lIexau 10 Apoe indn aD4Srnrisa

Cd 70 Be tho inevitable consquce IF opening the lands Of
Texas 70 American industry and enterprise.
Virginia stood in position TO regard the acquisition OF
Texas great national object only calculated TO strengthen
the whole Conedeacy but not to promote any special nte
rests OF hers, which likely be injured than bene
fitted by it. But it her vocation to make sacrifices for
this Union she had yielded up her vast territory without
sigh for the good Of her sister States she used to the
work of sacrifice she had done il and till it
become habit OF her State policy. Virginia, in fayong the
acquisition OF Texas could be governed by but broad
national considerations and the considerations make
her desirous OF seeing the object accomplished without
wound inflicted upon the harmony Of the Union and above
all without any wound inflicted the vital principles of the
Constitution He did hesitate say, therefore, his
responsibility Senator Of that ancient Commonwealth
that Texas can be acquired only by sacrifice OF the
Constitution, let her await convenient season.
Our Republic had already boundaries Of extentit
stretched from ocean had ample for three
hundred millions of human beings Ought not this to
Gle gentlemen to little delay Were pent in,
crowded for room that burst through the barriers
Of the Constitution to get little breathing space
He humby thought we could yet live without Texas il
need be- though he DESTROYS of seeing restored to It's
natural connection with the United States whenever can be
consutionay DONE But nation worthy OF our glorious
ancestors could not live breathe day except under the
shelter of free and glorious Constitution the palladium OF
freedom, the hope Of the world.
On great occasion in the history Of his country, when
proposed which he believed destructive OF her
constitutional freedom renowned Irish patriot and statesman
used these memorable words If any body of should
the British empe-a doctrine he abjured sedion against
bothhe would answer, Perish the EMPIRE live the Cons
ntion " In the spirit of that noble declaration, he would
say here his place. Senator Of Virginia, that the
sacred provisions Of the Constitution of his country could
be reconciled with further enlargement of its territorya
doctrine he rejected utterly contadctcd by the history OF
the past, for under that Constitution and by faithful com
pance ws FORMS had already added to our limits
empire greater far than the whole territory of the United
States at the time of its adoptonbut So and the
issue now presented was to give up the hope OF acquiring
Texas break through all the barriers Of the Constitution
accomplish it. he would say, with the immortal Gattan, if
they his last words earth, they probably on
this floor, Perish all thought of ilegimate acquisition live
forever free and glorious Constutonhe sole pledge Of
our peace of safety, of honor of our blessed and
happy Union
had been the fate of that great patriot TO his
touching and graphic words another occason) to watch
over the Constitution of his country in its cadeto follow it
to its grave Few if any of those whom Mr.. r. now adj
dressed had enjoyed the privilege Of assisting at the birth of
our Constitution but this dangerous and revolutionary pece
dent in his conscience he believed it. should receive the
sanction of that body, then it might yet be the melancholy
Office of many of follow that Constitution unmely
grave.