The North-Carolina standard., 1845-03-26


as the voluntary return ofall the emigrants there
from the United States, any of whom would steer
clear of the objection which has been urged.
But sir if neither of the answers which have
been submitted were sufficient. it would only prove
that Congress could not admit Texas, at once, as
la State, and would be strong, if not conclusive,
largument in favor of its admission or acceptance
as territory. For reason and common sense re-
qure that the power of Congress extending TO the
admission of new States of foreign territory, as
think have conclusvely shown, should be car
ried into effect in some way, to accomplish the OBJ
Iject for which it was given And that Congress
may admit or accept Texas, as territory, is
proposition which 1 shall now attempt to show.
And as the importance which | attach 10 the ac-
ouisition of Texas is such, that l may vote for
some of the resolutions which propose 10 annex it
as territory, must express my regret that my
friend from Virginia, who addressed the commit
tee this morning, and whose opinions are entitled
to great respect has cast the weight of his author.
ity against this mode of admission. The ohjec-
ton, if understand il, consists in this: that the
ADMISSION or acceptance of Texas as a territory is
not necessarily incident to its admission as State
into the Union. In other words-The idea seems
to be- that the least possible extent or range OF ac-
lion, whereby the end can be accomplished for
which given power was vested in Congress, can
alone be justified under the power. For instance {:
! If it can be accomplished by one entire act, we
are not at liberty 10 do the same thing IN piece
meals by several acts, although by every act we
proceed one step further, and directly towards the
| full and final accomplishment of the end propos-
! 3D. II such be the idea upon which the objection
to this mode of admission be founded, hold it to
be erroneous, and refutcd by the uniform practice
of the Government in all analogous cases. and
not called for by the acknowledged rules of con-
struction by which the republican party have pro-
! fessed to be governed Sir, am myself strict
constructions, and if could be induced TO believe
that any of the essential rules of construction by
which that school of politicians are governed
would be violated by the admission or acceptance
of Texas as territory, would not vote for it, as
anxious as l am to acquire Texas. In the earil-
est acts bv Congress for the admission Of States
into the Union the smallest possible range Of ac-
tion only, was necessary. Vermont, for instance,
being an independent State when she applied for
admission, Congress simply passed single act
declaring their assent 10 her admission into the
Union. And in case of Kentucky, the Lcgisa-
ture of Virginia having authorized the people of
the district of Kentucky to form constitution,
with view 10 their admission as State into the
Union and the convention of delegates having
pctitioned Congress 10 consent that on the first
day of June, one thousand seven hundred and
nnety-two, the said district should be formed into
name of "the State of Kentucky" Congress did,
by an act approved February a, 1871, consent,
"that upon the aforesaid first day of June, one
thousand seven hundred and ninety-two, the said
new State, by the name and style ofthe State Of
Kentucky. (should) be received and admitted into
this Union as new and entire member of the
United States of America" The State of Tennes-
see was admitted by an act ofCongress, declaring
1t to be " one of the United States of America"
nJ tbor Dbah 10
from constitution and State Government, "and
the said State acken formed, be admitted into the
Union" But in the case of Louisiana, and most
of the other States preparatory acts were first pass
ed authorizing the holding of conventions for The
formations OF constitutions to be submitted to Con-
gress; whereupon acts for their admission into
the Union as States were passed. The fact that
no preparatory acts were previously passed in the
cases of Vermont, kentucky, Tennessee, and
Ohlo proves that they were not lndlspenslbly ne
cessaIy in the cases in which such acts were pass
ed; yet no body has ever doubted but they were
warranted by the power to admit new States. |
And il, sir, the power to admit States into the
Union is to be restricted to the mere ceremony Of
passing an act embodying the assent of Congress
10 such admission, can gentleman fail to perceive
that some of the resolutions. if not ALL proposing
he admission of Texas as State, merely embody
The terms, and pledge the consent of Congress for |
its admission, but do not, in fact admit Texas in
10 the Union. 1t does seem, Mr.. Chairman, with
all due deferen to Others that if we Will not in
dulge in course of reasoning like that which |
the scholastic dsputations of the
middle ages but, looking at the objects which |
words are used to denote, as we'll as the words
themselves, will consider the end TO be accom-
pshed by the admission OF a State into the Union, |
il will not be difficult to perceive that this mode Of
admission is clearly in part performance of, and
warranted by, the power to admit new States. /
The new State ofTexas is the object upon which |
he power is to operate and the work to be done |
'r end to be accomplished, is to admit or make it
| State of the Union. That is, the people of Tex
IS are to be admitted to the same relation to the
Federal Government, and to have the same rights
md privileges of self government and participa-
ion in the Federal administration, which exist
among the people of the several States of the
Union. This twofold political relation is not ne
;essarily to be accomplished at one and the same
ime. For if power be given to accomplish !
end, it is an admitted rule Of construc-
ion, that the time and manner o. its performance,
md whether by single act or several, are left to
he wisdom and discretion Of Congress to be gov |
'rned by the circumstances of the cases that may |
arise In the discussion of the bill directing the
State Legislatures to divide their respective States
nto districts. for electing members of Congress, /
according to the apportionment UNDER the last CEN
'us passed during the last Congress, and also in
he debate which arose upon the question of ad- I
hitting to their seats the members elected byl
general ticket at the last session, it earnestly