Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1845-01-31
CONGRESS.


Senate Mr. Benton presented the resolutions a
doped by the Legislature of Missouri on the sub
ect of Texas annexation. The resolutions were
read at the Clerks desk, and Mr.. b. made some re-
marks. lie rejoced at the commendable spirit dis
PLAYED in these resolutions, for his state had spe-
cal interest in Texas besides that general interest
in which she partook in common with the rest OF
the country. Missouri had u large inland trade
with Texas yet, great as was her interest," she had
shown disposition to consult the peace ana mar
mony of the Union; her example, lnfthls respect
was worthy of imitation and 1t was with pride he
beheld the Youngest state in the Union striving to
bring back the rest of the coniederacy to control
ling sense of the value Of the Union.
Mr.. Upham presented memorial from great
number of the citizens Of Vermont, protesting, in
the most solemn and earnest manner, against the
annexation of Texas, in any form whatever
House Mr.. Cobb of Georgia, moved a suspen-
sion of the rules, for the purpose ofconsiderng the
resolution heretofore offered by him, changing the
hour of meeting of the House, from IL TO IL o.
clock A. Nj. The rules were suspended, when the
resolution of Mr. Co1b was adopted, and the House
will hereafter meet at II o'clock A. NJ.
On motion of Mr. Mckay the House then resell
we'd itself into Committee of the Whole and re-
sumed the consideration of the measure OF annex.
alton Mr.. Hammett of Mississippi, was entitled
to the floor and spoke in favor Of it. His main po-
sition was, that Texas was once part of the Uni
ted States and that there no authority TO trans
fer that Territory TO another power, by tie treaty OF
1919 From the time of the acquisition of Louis
lana to 1919, such inhabitants as Texas had, owed
nllegiance to the United States, and 1t was not IN
the power of this Government to transfer that ale
oiance against their consent to any ether nation
Therefore, the proposition now before the House,
only put them in possession otrghts and privileges,
they could not be- and never had been, rightlully
deprived OF.
Mr. Hudson of Massachusetts, then obtained the
floor over some dozen claimants He referred to
the speech made by the gentleman from Alabama,
Mr. Yancey.) He would not defend Massachu
sets. They (the people of that Stae) were charg-
ed with being penurlous. They mig ht not be very
rich but they did not live on gains wrung from slave
labor performed under the lash. If they try to cut
down tradesmen in their prices las the case
with gentleman who had been referred TO, in buy
ing a vest,) they usually paid the prices when they
did buy, and that was more than other parts of the
country could say.
ping and an increased demand for manufactures by
annexing Texas Why, the ports Of Texas are so
shallow that even Jcilersons gun boats would get
aground in them The most Of the ports about
from to & feet deep. The population of Texas
are to few to give an Increased demand for man
ufactures The population does not amount to that
of two or three unmportant counties in Massachu-
sets. 1t was new country too, and new countries
do not consume manufactures as much as old coun-
tries.
The argument in favor of the Western Interests
is as ridiculous the others. The gentleman last
up mir Eammett) made the statement that Texas
was fruitful country, and yet Immediately after.
ward he said that it would be market for the but
ter beef pork, cheese, &c. of the West. In place
of that Texas would yet become rival with the
Western States in these articles.
The military argument is one that we ought to
approach with more reverence, since Gen. Jackson,
who once defended New Orleans says that it could
not be defended again without Texas Gen. Jack
son. them would make us believe that the best way
for England to get at New Orleans was to land her
troops by boats in four feet water in Texas cross
sterile deserts and float down the Red River, uith-
olH boats! 1t would be the same as If England
wanted TO attack New York and should cross thro
the disputed territory, over the White Mountains
and float down the Hudson
Mr.. Hudson then gave his reasons for opposing
Annexation having answered the arguments in ia
yor of the measure. He was opposed to it on ac-
count of its debt its violation Of faith its tendency
TO involve us in war--and its unconstutionality.-
At the conclusion he reviewed Mr.. Cahoun's and
Mr. Upshur's reasons for Annexation. If the Con-
stitution permits us to admit State, to perpetuae
Slavery in the South, we have also right to eject
State for the sake OF perpetuating freedom at the
North In fact, we have the same right to put
Slayeholding South Carolina out Of the Union as
to bring Texas into for the sake of defending and
Strengthening slavery.
Mr. Marsh Of Vermont next got the floor and
made capital speech against the Annexation Of
icised it with great severity. That gentleman haC
proved the divine right to hold the descendants OF
Ham in slavery at the South, and he almost wen
SO far as TO say that the statesmen of the South hat
a divine right to rule over the meaner intellect O
the North. Up in the Green Mountains they hat
great doubts about this doctrine of Divine Rights
Mr. NJ controverted the position assumed by Mr.
Dromgoole that the history Of the introduction o
Vermont into the Union furnished precedent TO
the annexation of Texas, according to the terms o
his resolutions. He took review of the crcum
stances attending the introduction of Vermont, am
showed that there was no analogy between the cas-
es lie also defended the orderly, industrious an
moral people Of the North from the opprobrun at
tempted to be cast upon them by Southern mem
bers. He went on to notice the various phases i
which this question had been advocated and con
cluded his hour III an eloquent and convincing sum
ming up of the arguments against disturbing tn
Union as it is.
TUESDAY, Jan 81.
House. Mr. Boyd offered a resolution directin
that all debate in Committee Of the Whole, on til
Texas question, shall cease at o'clock ON Satu
day next The resolution adopted.
Mr.. Rhett of South Carolina, rose and addresse
the Committee in favor of Annexation. He devc
ted the chief part Of his remarks to argument
support of the constitutional authority TO admit Ie,
as, by Legislative enactment lie maintained tn;
this was measure that did not come under I'll
treaty making power at all, utbelongcd exclusive
ly to Congress. He enlarged on tina branch of III
subject and anal yzed various grants Of power
the Constitution, for the purpose of sustaining til
view he took Of that instrument He also spoE
earnestly in favor Of extending the scope and bel
efits of our liberal form Of Government He pr,
dcted that, in few years. the limits of this RI
public would spread to an almost unlimited exler
The measure under consideration was calculated
enlarge the boundaries of freedom; and was nc
as had been said, sectional question. He said Ii
North had forced upon the South the discussion al
agitation ofthose delicate questions, which had sti
red up so much i'll feeling between these two SCI
tons of the country. If the bloodshed, once sp
ken of by Mr., Holmes, and in respect to which NJ
Adams had said " let il come" Should come, the r
sponsibility OF it would be with the North.
Mr.. Caldwell of Ky, spoke an hour on the san
side of the question, when Mr.. Giddings of OH