Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1845-12-27

imnary steps for her admission. SHE HERE
ooSsrITuTIoNAL WAY ADMISSION AND IF SHE WAS,
4 would BE HIGHLY INGREDIENT no ADMIT nER
But shall not take up the time of the Senate ia statin
at hrge the Of my opposition the resolutions OF th
last Congress They, too before the people my
State and, If any remarks Of mine in this Chamber may
supposed to be citizens Of other parts country
are before them also Those reasons governed my vote then
they (among ohers) will govern it now.
shall against these resolutions because in nv iudg
ment there provision in the Constitution Of Texas which
Congress ought not to sanctionone which, in its spirit il
anrepubican, wholly unnecessary, and calculated under
which exist produce dangerous results
and subversive of the compromises of the Constitution
refer to the LIST section of the 9Th article which provides that
the Legislature shall have power pass laws for the
emancipation OF slaves without the consent Of their
ers" "Ihey shall have power to prevent emgrants
TO this State from bringing with them such persons as are
deemed slaves by the laws of any Of the United States so
long any person of the age description shall be
continued in slavery by the laws of this State provision
in the Constitution Of Florida somewhat similar this fur
nshed sufficient to induce speak and vote
against her admission into the Union By this organic law
of Texas the emancipation Of slaves is virtually placed
the power Of The State. will not say Convention of her
people regularly called might change this feature in her
Constitution, and amendment to her Constitution might
abrogate but when consider how difficult, if inn
possible is organize such convention and especial
y for such purpose and when look at the provision
relating to Observation-Disclosures vii, section 81, which de-
clares that the Legislature, whenever t,oofhrds Of
each House shall deem necessary may propose amend
mentsha these be submitted to the people, and
majority of all the citizens of the State voting for representa-
tves at the then succeeding election of representatives.
shall have voted in favor Of the proposed amendments and
hcothrs of each House Of the then next Legislature SHALL
after such election, and before another ay the by
and nays then they be valid parts of the Con-
stuton provided that they shall have been read three
several days in each House. II quite clear that
this provision must and will remain permanent. Now,
consider this clause in the Constitution of Texas open the
most serious objections is virtually pcrpetuatng slavery
in Texas It. in effect takes away from the State the power
Of acting on most important subject If considerable
oy OF the people should desire to abolish slavery Texas
II, IN their Judgment circumstances mpeousy demand
the condition in which they may happen be placed
que it if any number less than twohirds of the members
of two successive Legislatures should deem to be necessary
order to promote the interests of the State that the Legs
ature should authorize emancipation still the would be
powerless TO act this subject In short for all practical
purposes connected with emancipation the State has deprived
itself Of the power Of acting and the of slaves the
oleudges whether slavery TO continue, whether may
be abolished This not in accordance with the general
feeling throughout the country is, in its nature opposed
to the genius and spirit Of institutions II is prn
cple introduced into and made part of the organic law of
State and which, until recently, not recognised and
which ought not to be tolerated. because is only novel;
but dangerous and antepubican The State is shom by
1t OF important and. the may be- of necessary powers
and the institution OF slavery made perpetual may be, in
opposition both TO its wishes and its interests have on
than OCCASION in my place here declared that
will further than will to sustain the guarantees and
compromises of the Constitution they exist And
speak not for myself only but for the Commonwealth
present but neither her citizens bound go be-
yond them, and further in relation this subject they will
not CO. In connection with what have already said, it will
escape the notice of the Senate that the restriction
emancipation which is imposed the Legislature in
respect the slaves of those who citizens of Texas
applies to slaves who the bona de property" of emf
grants the State The language this provision
what peculiar will say, for do not know, that there
attempt TO language which might be considered
Of doubtful Interpretation but il quite manifest that the
phraseology, viewing it most avoraby equivoca
Legislature shall have power prevent emgans this
ron wit as are
slaves by the laws of of the United States long
person of the age description shall be continued in
slavery by the laws Of this State provided that such slave
{ be the bona fde property of snch enigrants-"
this State" is the L1rossion who are
emigrane Afe they eirzels d tn uara t,ras viy Or
shey hrngner alec plantss reioses iror cnba 10
Texas, rs be Immigrant xzs and r. Shares
bona de his and would I've deemed by the laws
any OF the United Sas and persons OF The age and
description are continued in slavery by the laws Of Texas
would the Legislature have power to prevent such mmgra
ton mot then the clause ought not to receive the
ton OF Congress- because in such it would Justify the
importation Of slaves from foreign country. If hovvever
there intention to admit slaves from other nations into
Texas it is evident their immigration from other States is not
only encouraged but practically guaranteed. II was not
enough in the view of the Convention, prevent emancpa
ton, by the STATE of the slaves Of their citizens
but of all such who might with their from other
States. cannot for the admission of State into the
Union whose Constitution thus curtals what has been claim
I'd to be, and what it has been insisted, is the egt
mate authority of the State acting by its Legislature The
spirit of inhibition to the action Of the Legislature
manifested in another part Of the Constitution In the first
section Of the Bill Of Rights, article is declared that the
people have at all times the unalenabe right to alter
form, abolish their form Of Government in such manner
they may think expeden " and in the 22d section OF
The article it is provided that g to guard against
tansgressions of the high powers herein delegated
clare that every thing in this Bill Of Rights excepted
Of the general powers of the Government and shall for
remain nvoatc and all laws contrary thereto shall be
void" This provision excludes the Legislature from exert
ing any power prevent the cope from changing their form
Government and this Congress- by receiving Texas into
The Union with such constitutional provision, would seem,
by implication at least acknowledge her right to change her
form of Government Sin such as she "may think
srpedie,a."
II may be that such provisions TO be found in the
Constitutions Of Of the States, although have not
examined them with this obect) made while they were in
dependent States and is possible they may have been In
troduced into which have been framed snce but after
their admission into the Union but it certainly novel that
State about into the Union, should make IT part
Of her fundamental law that the people may change their form
and make it what they please, "a monarchy
for exanpe and that Congress should be asked to receive
such State with Constitution containing such clause, as
Constitution securing republican form of government 1t
would seem that the Convention Of Texas intended to
not the power revolutionary spirit to secede from the
Unon if she could succeed in eectng it. after changing her
form OF Government hut have il consuonaly, or at least
with implied of Congress, whenever she should
deem other form than republican form Of government
most expcdient her people refer to this part OF the
Constitution, however not to insist upon ground of
obectionfor think notwithstanding this clause Congress
would have the power and would be its duty hold Texas
TO her constitutional duties member of this Union, with
Of lint tn pyhl ha