Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1845-02-14

Texas, was separate and distinct question;
and his leading object had been to separate
them. If not able to agree, let the first ques-
ton be brought up so as to show that fact to
Texas. to the United States, and to the world,
and there must be an end of Texas, for this
session at least.
Tha: among the opponents of annexation,
whether their hostility arose from the suppo-
sed impOfcy of the measure, or was founded
upon that construction of the constitution
which denied the right to acquire Texas by
treaty or by law, or by both together, we could
not hope to find aid. The friends of annexa-
ton, therefore, ought to present the subject
Tor action, so as not to give their opponents
triumph to which they were not entitled. He
spoke advisedly for he had taken the pains
to ascertain that there were divisions among
the friends Of annexation; and if the question
of annering Texas to the United States was
not separated from the questions about the
mode and manner of acquiring Texas, so as to
be annexed, or to become annexed, there was
no hope Of success at the present session. And
so, also, if the terms and conditions, which
were made sine qua non with some OF the
friends of annexation, should be refused alto
gether by others of the same side, the defeat
of it at this session was certain, and its future
success would be more than doubtful. He
had, therefore, anxiously endeavored to frame
this bill to annex Texas to the United States,
and nothing more. 1t declared that, whenev-
er compact should he finally ratified by the
supreme authorities OF both nations, the laws
of the United States should be extended over
the territory coded by such compact immedi.
ately after its ratification, upon certain conda-
hOns to be inserted in the compact, which con-
ditions would be more particularly noticed in
tI,oc 81 tIot, he 0f
annexation, or could they unite upon some
thing like it! If they could, there was no diff
fculty about passing bill to alnex Texas to
the United States now for the anne1ing of
new territory to the Union, it should be borne
in mind, was nothing more nor less than er-
! tending orer that territory, a'< lie people ffha6-
iting at, the !aacs and protection Of h!ts goUern-
menf!
What, it might be asked, were these points
upon which the advocates Of Texas-incorpo-
ration were divided? The answer to it wonld
further show the necessity for separating them
as far as possible from each other; and by the
addition Of few remarks, the main design Of
the bill he proposed would be shown to the
Senate.
In the first place, there were some who felt
willing to 60 for Incorporating Texas into the
Union according to such form 40 might be Ill
timately determined TO be consistent with the
fundamental lave Of 80 CEited States, CTex-
as asseating,) whether it were acquired by
treaty, or BY Legislative conpaet. or by her ad-
f mission as sovereign State. Some approved
one form, some another, and sonae, he believed,
were willing to acqulssce ia any Of them
But it was insisted upon BY not few Of the
friends of the great end ia view, that it was e1
pedient to settle, by Legislative declaration be
forehand, the terms and conditions upon which
annexation would be made; aud eRough OF the
friends of annexation to convert our majority
f into minority, Were hostile TO annexation,
unless there was some such condition lmpo-
. sed by law, and inserted in the compact. linn
ltlng negro slavery to prescribed boundary
2 within the new territory.
] In the next place, aad after this condition,
or any others, might have been arranged and
agreed upon, the friends Of annexation would
. find themselves divided aboutthe constitution
al mode of acquiring Texas: some maintaining
that it must be done BY treaty; others that it
might be done by an act Of Congress, and Tex
D ass assent. OF course, in this connection, he
would be understood 40 speaking Of the an
7 nexatlon Of Texas as Territory, and not as &
State. The right to admit Texas into the Union
as ''new State" raised still another question,
: viz: whether Congress could admit a for
elgn nation antecedent to our acquisition of the
property by cession: and about that he belIev.
] ed there was also some division of opinion a.
! mongst the friends of Incorporating Texas in
? to the United States. (Note c.
2 Now, Mr.. II. said he had his opinions up
on all these points or that, speaking more
properly, he ought to say he had, after no Ill
tie examination, formed pretty strong impress
/, sions upon them all. These however he
should not undertake to communicate to the
t Senate, or at all events not until he had heard
: the views of others who were more able 10 ell.
e Tighten his Judgment than he could fatteE
t himself he was competent to influence theirs
d He had alluded to these divisions Of opinion
It about the mode and manner of acquiring Tex
II as as facts and no more; their existance as facts
e being all that was important to the object ht
e had in view at present-to wit: to demonstrate
the indispensable necessity of separating suci
Q questions, as far as possible, from the bill t.
: anaaer Texas to the United States, as this bill
i had done.
5, MIR. III. further said that, as there was NJ
'r existing overture before Congress binding
n Texas to compact of cession or annexation
r nor any application pending for her admission
e ''as new State into the Union" it woulc
2 necessarily happen that, do what the Presen
Is session might, the final completion OF thu
IS work of Incorporating TEXAS into the UnIor
would, in any form of executing 1t, devolve
ct in great degree, upon the new President an'
lie the new Congress, and therefore it had beer
o. suggested as not altogether inappropriate tina
the opinion of the new administration, as T.
il the legitimate mode of bringing Texas within
it. the reach and Influence of our Legislation 70
~ aunering it should not be embarrassed, or no
E. altogether forestalled by the present Congress
But none supposed that respect for the offc
~ or the officer should be turned into pretex
es for inaetion nor did it form reason fer neg
J. lec:ing to do all that could be constitutional
of done towards accomplishing the end. Ye