Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1845-01-25


States Texas We treated with her with equal
eegn powers and why not sell the United States as well as
buy Texas The power, itexisted, must be reciprocal
True we the larger Republic, but that did not alter
the case John Tyler could constutonay purchase and
incorporate Texas the United States then he might
situonay sell the United States to Texas France,
Great Britain The first question, then, was had this Gov
eminent the power Could thus bring in foreign Gov
emen with all its laws and all its obligations If il had,
then the quesoa was where did this power reside Was
il lodged with the House Of Representatives, or with the rea
ty-making power I(ientemen tried to make out that the
power resided here but that they would, to Mr. SIS
satisfaction the satisfaction Of the country But If the
House had pow territory had the territory to
! annex Was Texts Territory only she a Govern
ment If she was Territory then he asked she quail
fled to be admitted this time into the Union Granting her
i to be Territory, just Iowa Territory had she
right to admission Had she applied for admission Had
she the requisite number Of people for representation and
had she adopted and submitted a republican constitution
Could Congress- admit Wisconsin without application on
her part or without republican constitution 'or with
out the constitutional amount of population Certainly not
Then how could Texas be admitted without all these pree
qustes This wis another and serious difficulty But If
all these difficulties out OF the If there was power to
incorporate in this Union foreign Independent sovereign Gov
enmen this cbuld be done by this House without treaty,
(Which he utterly denied y and if Texas part OF
the territory of thu United Stacshad applied for admission
had adopted and Presented republican constitution Of Gov
emen and hadthe requisite population to cne her to adj
mission still were prepared to admit Texas with slavery
covering her whole surface with her vast unasceraned and
uniquidacd debt and with the hazard too of and dis
i
Mexico His was, no and such, in his opinion,
would be the ready response of majority of honest free,
and enlightened people of this country. But Mr. purpose
had been make speech he had intended have
said word upon the subject; but having accidentally got the
floor he had avaed himself Of the opportunity Of thus en-
ing his position He would fulfil his purpose in
rising which was to bring the House to direct vote and
thus to discover the true motives Of gentlemen this Texas
movement And according to promise, he would move the
previous question.
Mr. SEYMOUR, of New York, requested, Mr. srrwAnr
to withdraw his call for the previous question.
Mr. STEWART replied that it did not lie with him. unless
the gentleman from Virginia, Mr. DRoMeooLE,) who had
originally moved it, should assent
After conversation and little confusion, Mr.. DROM-
GOOLE assented.
Mr. SEYMOUR said that the which the gentle
from Pensyl vania (Mr STgwART) had advocated the
rejection of this bill rendered desirable that Mr.. S. should
offer few remarks in explanation Of his the ques
ton the final passage OF the bill, believing he
did that Congress had constitutional power acquire terri
tory by egisaon he should be constrained to vote against It,
But he understood the object Of all those gentlemen who
going to vote against the rejection be merely allow this
bill to take the of ocsto let Committee of
the Whole the state of the Union and be printed and that
no indication Of opinion touching its would he given by
such vote Mr.. s. should vote with them the negative.
He thought due to his colleague (Mr RoBINsoN that
the same should be pursued in relation to this bill
had been taken with others the general subject Mr.
s. could not believe that because this bill proposed to add ter
rltory to the Union in different from which
had preceded it. and to give larger portion of the added ter
toy to the enjoyment OF eedom it should that account
be rejected And he had felt surprised that the gentleman
from Pennsylvania, (M STEWART, coming he did from
one of the free States should make motion to that effect
And now, that this debate he closed he would
the previous question.
Mr.. PAYNE pressed Mr.. SEYMOUR to withdraw this
ton and after the usual difficulties and conversation,
Mr.. s. consented
SCHENCk raised point Of order He denied it in the
power of gentlemen thus transfer the possession Of the
floor No one member had right to the previous
question: and then to withdraw it in favor Of another because
this took from the Chair the power given him by the rules Of
the House to designate who entitled the floor and put
that power in the hands Of private member and besides,
1t mfinged the rule which empowered the House
i that the main question should be nam put
i The SPEAKER replied that members could not by such
arrangement compel transfer Of the floor member might
withdraw proposition he had made if he pleased and,
when that DONE the Chair assigned the another
who first addressed it. In this case the gentleman from Ala
bama having spoken entitled TO the floor unless
| by general consent
Mr. PAYNE said be asked the liberty Of personal expla
nation and he wanted the gentleman who would be
| courteous to deny it 10 him.
No gentleman objectng-
Mr. p said the gentleman from Virginia seemed to think
Mr. p had been duped; but if he thought SO, he most
egregiously mistaken.
Mr.. DRoMGooLE said he had not said the gentleman
dupcd He had expressed his surprise that the gen.
enan should easily be led to play into the hands of the
enemies of annexation.
Mr. PAYNE could see the difference between this and
saying he had been dipped A Iaugh.l The matter, how
ever of little importance. He had not been duped Ivy
the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr Stew ART) Mr. p.
opposed TO this bill toto and he knew means of
giving expression to that opposition but by voting against the
bill This the best evidence he could give and he wish
preserve the record of his acts here unsaned by
thing like doube-dcalng crossfring. He did not know
whether other gentlemen meant pursue the
with him he did undertake dictate to any He
considered this bill aimed directly against the annexation Of
Texas TO this Union Ii from masked battery and
designed dcmosh the object of the real friends of
Texas As Of those friends, he should against it.
1t had been inmaied by the gentleman that enemies of the
measure might vote against this motion because they
enemies Mr.. p cared not he had conceaments, either
in legislation any thing else He hoped the enemies of
they would be aiding him and aiding annexation too He
moved the previous question.
Mr.. ATKINSON cnreated Mr.. p. TO withdraw the mo-
ton to allow him to make personal explanation would the
gentleman refuse this after he had made his own
Mr. PAYNE refusing, Mr.. ATKINSON expressed great in
dignaton that gentlemen should make speeches themselves
and thcn by the previous question: cut off all others was
nsuferable I!
Mr.. PAYNE inquired of the Chair whether the gentle
man had made any speech this matter at all and if not,
how could he explain
Mr.. ATKINSON said he had not, but il important
to him as his constituents Hero Mr. IS voice was
drowned by repeated cries orc and by the tundcs Of the
Speakers hammer
Mr.. ATKINSON moved 10 be excused from voting aHd
wished to submit few words on that notion
/ The CHAIR pronounced him out of order.
The question being put secondng the motion for the
question: tho 49, but before the noes were
counted telcrs were demanded when the stood Ayes
IL noes 81.
So the House refused to second the previous question.
Mr. ATKINSON now obtained the floor, and said that he
happy find himself in possession Of by parliamentary
usage without being indebted for il TO the courtesy Of any
man. He did desire inict speech the House, but
.C... I..