Litchfield enquirer., 1846-03-19

Delivered in the U. s. House of Representa-.
tiUes, Jan. 80, 1916.
The bill from the Senate "TO establish
Post Routes in TeGas," being under con-
sidcration-Mr. CULVER said,
Mr.. Chairman am one of those who
believe that the annexation of Texas 10
this Union was unconstitutional, and, as
such, was void from the beginning. Ibe.
lleve, further. that the Supreme Court of
the United States, on a proper present.
ment of the case, will pronounce the Joint
resolutions, by which Texas was anne red,
unconstitutional. And 1 hold that every
act of ours, affirming the validity of those
resolutions, will but involve us in deeper
difficulty, and render our relations with
that country more embarrassing. am
aware that it may seem to be travelling
from the record, or a bill merely to es.
tablish post routes, to discuss the question
of annexation !; but we are now in Conn.,
mttee of the Whole on the state of the
Union, and the Chair has, again and a.
gain, decided that, whatever related to
the welfare and honor of the Union, vas
here The legitimate subject of debate
Besides, Mr.. Chairman, I remember, as do
all who hear me, that, when the consum-
nation of this Texas scheme came up, on
the second week of the session, one hun-
dred new members, like myself, we're de-
MED the right of being heard. This
grea: measure, fraught with consequcn-
ces the most important and lasting, was
dashed through this House with more
than railroad velocity. The paddock
was put upon ourlips by aid ofthe' pre-
vious question: we were all gagged down.
Our constituents, too. were denied hear
ing. They protested loud and earnestly
against this intraction of the Constitution.
Their circumstances, SO long as the
least ground for hope remained, poured
in thick and fast. Yes, sir, 10000 OF
these remonstrances now lie upon your
table, denied q consideration, and refu-
sed the civility even of reference In
addition to all this, sir, my constituents
nay, the whole free North, are to be tax.
ed to sustain these very mail routes over
the trackless wi!ds of Texas. They are
now contributing to support an army oil
$500 sickly men in that country, to f3ght
her battles. A feet is now sustained from
the Treasury of the nation, to scour the
coasts, and to awe Mexico to silence. Am
I not warranted, then, sir, in seizing this
opportunity, since every other has been
denied me, to enter my solemn pr otest a.
gainst this nefarious scheme Had the
circumstances of my constituents beer
treated with legislative courtesy, or had
even two days discussion been allowed,
would not have been found here upon
my feet to-day. Why, sir, six lonf
weeks have been consumed upon the Or
egon question, and yet one hour and for
ty minutes, and that mostly in calling the
yeas and nays, were all that was allowed
upon the admission of Texas. Where
fore the difference? All sir. Texas hac
within it that dark feature, that dreaded
inspec ton, that noi me tangere property
that cried out 'hands Off! when ap.
preached. Oregon has no slavery with
it. Texas, on the other hand, owes its ex-
istence and its very life. blood to slavery
But hear it whispered, by gentlemen
around me, that Texas is in'-' She IS ad.
mitted'-' We have married her, and can.
not dissolve the contract Sir, repudi-
ate the marriage. disclaim the nuptiaI
bonds. have high authority for say ing
of Texas, III, while her first husband be
living, she be married to another, she
shall be called an adulteress.' We had
no constitutional right to propose, nor she
the right to accept our proposal.
But, Mr.. Chairman, first and foremos
of my objections 10 her admission is, tina
Texas has violated her own ante nuptia
engagement. To this ask the attention
of the House. By the joint resolutions o
last winter, Congress gave its consent t
annexation, upon the express condition
| in thot x,T
lying north of SO deg, 80 north latitude
cept for crime,) should be prohibited
Now, sir, how stands the case! Has this
political coquette adhered to this condi-
ton! No, sir. Most shamefully has she
violated it. In her new constitution, now
lying before me, and on which we have
given her admittance into the Union, by
the 9Th article, slavery is not only recog.
nised and sanctioned throughout the
whole extent Of Texrs, but her legislature
is cons,itutionally tied up from ever
passing laws for the emancipation OF
slaves without the consent of their own.
ers' This recognition and promotion
are co-exlensive with the boundaries OF
the entire State. No exception, either
north or south Of that .linc! Under this
9Th article, 1900 slaves might be reno.
we'd to. morrow into Northern Texas, des-
pite the joint resolution of the last Con-
gress. Is this the way, sir, in which
northern gentlemen, whose votes for the
measure were secured by this pretended
compromise, are to be rewarded! Is
this The way in which slavery discharges
its obligations, and fuIfls conditions!- T.
Do gentlemen tell me there is no territory
of any amount or value north OF that
line! Then, sir, pronounce the fraud
the cheat, the duplicity, the more down.
right and glaring. We were told of com.
promise-of dividing Texas into free and
slave territory. A few in the North were
sufficiently green and soft.faced to be
caught by this cry. Without this pit.
lance, small as 1t was, annexation could
not have been carried. If there were
nothing in that OF worth. we were decei.
we'd then; if there were something. we
have been despoiled of. it now. And
should new States hereafter be carved
out of the present State of Texas. and
those new States, any Of them extending