The voice of freedom. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1839-1848, 1846-06-11
June IL, 1916.

AotNS
the very session when President Jackson
had, by special message, insisted that the
measure would be contrary to The policy
invariably observed by the United States
in all similar cases, would be marked with
great injustice 10 Mexico, and peculiarly
liable to the darkest suspicious, inasmuch
as the Texans were almost all emigrants
from the United States, and sought the
recognition of their independence with the
avowed purpose OF obta ning their annexa-
ton 10 the Uuited States ;'these occurren-
ces are too well known & too fresh In the
memory of all 10 need more than a pass
ing notice. These have become matters
OF history. For further evidence on all
Of these and other important points. we
refer TO the memorable speech of John
Quincy Adams, delivered IN the House
OF Representatives, during the morning
hours of June and July, 1898, and 10 his
constituents delivered al Bfaintree, Sept.
II, 1912.
The open avowal of the Texans ihems
selves, the frequent and anxious negotIa
tions of our own Government, the resolu>
lions of various States of the Union, the
numerous declaration of members OF Con-
eress, the tone of the Southern press, as
well as the direct application of the Texan
Government, make it impossible for any
man to doubt that annexation and the for
nation of several new slaveholdlog States
fare the real objects of the Executive of
the nation.
The same references will show, very
conclusively, that the particular objects OF
this new acquisition of slave territory were
THE PERPETUATION OF SLAV-
cry, and The continued ~aScendGncy Of
the slaue power.
We hold that there is not only mo me-
~cessity' for il, no advantages to be derlv'
ed from it, but that there is NO CON
STITUTIONAL POWER delegated to
any department of the National Govern>
ment, 10 authorize it; that no act OF Con-
gress or treaty for annexalion, can i'm
nose the least obligation upon the severll
States of this Union to submit to such an
unworranlabe act, or 10 receive into their
family and fraternity, such MISBEGOT~
TEN and .ILLEGITIMAlE PROG
ENY.
We hesitate no. to say, that annexation,
effected by any act or proceeding OF the
Federal Government, or any OF its depart
mems, WOULD BE IDENTICAL
WITH DISSOLUTION.
1t would be a violation Of our national
compact, its objects and designs, and the
great elementary principles which enter,
ed into its formation, Of a character so
deep and fundamental, and would be
N=n an attempt to e~ter"57e an institution
and a poOer Of nature so unjust in Them
selves, so injurious 10 the Interests and
abhorrent 10 the feelings of the people Of
the free States, as in our opinion, not only
inevitably to result in a dissolution Of the
Union, but FULLY TO JUSTIFY II;
and we not only assert that the people Of
the free States OUGHT NOT TOSUB>
NIT TO IT. but we say with conf,
dence, they would no! submit 10 IT, We
know their present temper and spirit on
this subject too we'll 10 believe, for a mo-
ment, that they would become parttcepS
erim;nis in any such subtle contrivance
for the irrsmediabLe perpetuatiO@ of an
l0StllILIOut WHICH tllc NlSeoS dII uFSt Hltu |
who formed our Federal Constitution, as
we'll from the slave as The free States, re-
garded as an evil and a curse, soon 10 be,
come extinct under the operation OF laws
TO be passed prohibiting The slave-trade.
and the progressive influence Of the prin~
cip'es of the Revolution.
Washington, March 8, l843.
JOHN QUINCY ADAMS,
SETH M GATES,
WILLIAM SLADE,
WILLIAM B. CALHOUN.
Joshua r. GlDDING<,
SHERLOCK J. ANDREWS,
NATHANIEL B. BORDEN,
Thomas G.. C@HlTTENDEN,
john M~ATToCKs,
CHRISTOPHER MORGAN,
JOSHUA NJ. HowARD.
V1cToRY BI~RDsEYE.
THOMAS ToMLrNsoN,
STANLEY N. CLARK,
CHARLES HUDSON,
ARCHIBALD l.. LINN.
THOMAS w. WILLIAM,
TRUMAN SMITH,
DAVID Bronson,
GEORGE N. BRIGGS.