The Charlotte journal. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1835-1851, 1846-01-09

ancc OF the Constitution and creates me-
quality and unjust advantages agaius; the
North, and III favor uf the sllyeholding
country Of the South. repeat, that if
were now made for anneXa,lons
from the North, aud that proposition con
tanned such preferences a manifest
inequality as that now before u, no one
could hope that any gentleman from the
southern States would heaiken 10 it for
moment.
1, IS not a subject that mean 10 discuss
at large. | am quite aware that there are
ID tins chamber gentlemen representing
free States, gentlemen from the North aud
Fast, who nave manifested disposition 10
add Texas 10 The Union as a slave State,
with the common inequality belonging 10
slave States. This Is a matter for Their
own discretion and Judgment and rcsponsl.
biliy; they are in no way responsible to
me Tor the exercise Of the duties assigned
them here bu, mus, say that | cannot
but lhiuk that the time will come when
they will very much doubt both the pro.
prieiy and TIE justice Of the present pro.
ceedlng. | cannot bot think that the time
will come when all viii be convinced that
! there is no reason, political or moral, for
increasing the circle Of the States, increas-
ing al the same time the obvious nequali.
" which does exist IN the representation
Of The people in Congress Is extending
slavery and slave representation.
/ On looking a, the proposition further, /
find that II imposes restraints upon the lie
gislatuTe OF The State as 20 the manner III
which il shall proceed, IN case Of desire
to proceed al all, IN order to the abolition
Of slavery. ! have perused that part q
the Constitution OF Texas, and If under.
stand IT, the Legislature Is restrained from
abn.shlng slavery al any time, except oil
Two conditions, one the consent OF every
master and the other the payment ofcom.
pcusatlon. Now, | think that a Const,u
ton thus formed does lie up the hands 81
The Legislature eiicctually against any
movement under any state OF circumstan.
ce-, with a view 10 abolish slavery be.
cause if any thing IS to be done it must be
done within the Safe by general law, anl
SUCH thing a. the consent Of every mas
ter canno, be obtained; though | DO noI
say that there may not be an inherent pow,
er IN tie people Of Texas to alter The Con.
si!tu'IOB, # they should lie inclined 10 re.
lIeye themselves hereafter from the re.
siralut under which they labor. But
speak Of The Constitution now presented to
us,
Mr.. President, was not the council.
Of the United States at the last session o
Congress, and Of course | had no oppor'u
nifty 10 take part in the debates upon thil
question; nor have before been called
upon 10 discharge {uDhc trust il regar,
10 II. certainty cid, as private citizen
entertain strong feeling that ii TeXa
we're lU be brought into the Union at oil
she was 10 be brought 10 by diplomatic ar
rangcmea:, sanctioned by treaty but
has been decided otherwise b. both House
Of Congress and, whatever my own opin
ions may be, know that many who CON
ClLeI with mc feel themselves nevertheless.
bound by The decision Of all branches @
the Government My own opinion an,
judgment have not been al all shaken b,
any tAlng have heard. Aud now, no
having been a member Of the Government
and having Of course taken no official par
IA the measure, and as II has now come +
be completed, have believed that | shou
but discharge my own duty and f1if. ID
expectations ot those who placed inc here
by giving his expression Of their mos, de
: clled, uuequlyocaI, aud entirely uuanmoy
dlsscu! and protest; and stating, a. hay
now stated, the reasons which have .m
PEELED me to Withhold my vote.
! agree with the unanimous opinion O
the Legislature OF Massachusett. dgre,
wIlh the great mass Of her people re
affirm what | have said and written 10 Tia,
last eight years, at various times, agains
this auueXaitOn. | here record my ow
, dissent and opposition; anG here expires
and place On record also the dissent au
protest Of the State Of Massachusetts.
II The yeas and nays On ordering the b
g to thiId reading having been ordered, Q
e tic mo.!oa Of Mr.. Sewer
MIR. Berrcn next addressed the Scnat,
as follows: Mr.. President, before the yot
G Is taken, | desire to make few remark
r 10 relation to this subject. When the Iolf
) resolution On " hlch the Senate acted at til
' last session was under consideration, c,
e pressed my opinions upon the question {
t the annexation u Texas to his Union, bot
. as II related to the measure itself, and {
, ttg tugt. hv which IL ,,.,s IN L.. ,rcnr,