The voice of freedom. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1839-1848, 1845-10-23

ancy, or miniserng to purposes OF politi
cal ambition, as TO lose sight, loo often, G
the just limits of constitutional power.
Since the last session of the Geuera
Assembl y, IN important step has been ia
ken towards the annexation of a foreig
government 10 our Coniederacy. Thi
has been done by The adoption of join
resolution by Congress, declaring its con
sent that "lhe territory properly include
in, and rightfully belonging 10 the repubi
of Texas, may be erected into new State
in order that the same may be admitted a
one of the States Of this Union" Tn
consent is declared to be given upon lh
CONDITION that the constitution to be form
ed by the people of Texas, shall be trans
mitled to Inc President of the Unuet
States "to be laid before Congress for il,
final action, on or before the rst Of Janu'
airy" next, and with provision, among
others, that "new States Of convenient size
and having Sufficient population may, b.
the consen! OF said State, be formed out o
the territory thereof and entitled to ad
mission under The provisions of the Fede'
raj CONSTITUTIONS"
To this resolution there was added an.
other, to the effect that if the Presiden,
should deem it most advisable, instead Of
submitting the foregoing resolution TO the
Republic OF Texas, RS an overture for ad-
mission, TO negotiate with that Republic,
then that the admission might be effected
either by treaty, 10 be submitted to the
Senate, or by articles TO be submitted to
the two Houses of Congress, as the Pres.
ident might direct.
Upon the passage of these resolutions,
the President proceeded 10 act upon the
first and forthwith submitted il 10 Texas,
as an overture for its admission. Upon
the receipt of the overture convention
was called, which has formed constilu,
ton, which has been submitted 10 the PEG.
pie of Texas for their action on the 18th
of the present month. 1t will probably
be ratified, and submitted 10 the Congress
Of the United States al its next session, for
the approval, which is an indispensable
prerequisite to admission into the Uaion.
The question of annexation being thus
an open question, the States NAV, with
view to its final decision, as we'll as in ref.
erence TO their duty, upon a possible con-
summation of the measure, properly sub
ject it TO the ordeal ofsevere scrutiny.
deem therefore no apology necessary for
inviting to it your particular attention, nor
for the expression of my conviction that
Vermont should firmly resist every ad-
vance towards the consummaton of
so utterly subversive of her
rights as member of the existing Con-
tederacy.
This medtated invasion OF our rights is
not TO be regarded, or treated, as an ordi-
1ary violation of the Constitution, for
which there may he constitutional RENE.
iy in the interposition of the judicial pow
er. No judicial power can efcctualLy
each the case. Let the deed be done
he foreign State admitted, and its Senators
ind Representatives be actually in Con.
yress, and, practically, IA decision of the
Supreme Court would be poweriess. The
ruth is, the measure is essentially revolu
ionary. 1t is fraud upon the Consllu-
ion, aod utterly subversIve of it-chang-
ng essentially, our domestic Fedora res
atoms, and creating new union, OF
which neither the present Constitution,
or mutual confidence will constitute the
ond a union whose only bond will be,
he apprehended evils of actual separation,
ince It's is impossible that confidence or
Fiction can exist where there is an abid-
,g sense of fragrant injustice and usurpa,
o.
Much has been said in regard to the
compromises of the Constitution" in ia.
Or of Slavery and so sensitive are the
outh on this subiect-so tenacious of the
wrung from the North, as the
rice OF The Union, that the bare proposal,
' the legislature Of Massachusetts, to
mend the Constitution by aboishng the
ave representation 10 Congress, has been
'nounced as little less than treason to the I
MON. But this very compromise car. /
rs with tan irresistible argument against
e measure Of annexation. a slight con-
teralion OF the subject will render it ap- {
rent, that the compromise securing q {
ave representation, must have had REFER t
zee TO a union within the then limits of a
e Uni,ed States, because it concerned
ctional interest, the adjustment of which
the compromise, must necessarily, have t
ID respect to definite territorial lm,ls- 7
berwlse the balance might be destroyed,
ID the compromise practically nuIli6ed, t
the addition Of foreign slave States, Civ. t
G 10 the slave interest an unlocked for {
d permanent preponderance in the I'M
q. n
And such notification will be the effect v
consummaling the measure of annexa- n
H. The compromises touching the
estion OF slavery will be al an end-as
.arIy so, as would be one of two de- ia
ndent and reciprocal obligations between p
lividuuls, where the .oIhor had been Vi ii