The northern galaxy. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1844-1848, 1846-04-21
SPEECH OF
Hon. ERASTUS d. CULVER OF n. Y.
ON THE
TEXAS QUESTION.
January %, 1916

ON THE
TEXAS QUESTION.
Delivered in the House Of Representatives, U.
s., January 30, l946.
Concluded
But,Mr. Chairman. | will be just 10 the
South: candor and truth demand that South
ern men should not be charged, as the only
participants in This transaction. No, sir, the
North, land say it with deep humiliation of
my local pride) the North has been the
Shareholders criminal alley. We found in
our midst, in 1914 some political Esaus, who,
for mess OF rottage, were willing to sell
the birthright of freedom, and am sorry 10
add, that my own state was guilty partici
pant in the deed. True, a majority of her
rtople spoke against ii: but their speaking
was iil-directeI and inefficient, and their
voice was lost in the confusion of the battle
New York may now carry with submissive
ness the burden which she has imposed upon
herself 1t is meet she should bow her head
and kiss the rod by which she is smitten
LIE! her draw from her purse and pay her
share of 100000 annually 10 transport the
mail in Texas Let her contribute her share
OFF 100000 for an army and navy 10 de-
tend her; 100000 more, 10 erect fortfica-
lions around her frontiers; nay more, let
New York get ready TO help assume and pay
up the entire debt of Texas. And where
fore all this sacrifice for that TeXian band of
patriots? o, sir, it is for the very laudible
I'D ofpropPing up the lettering fable of
slavery! Yes, MIR. Chairman, would hint
10 my Democratic colleagues from New
York to be prepared with fair story; and,
wien our common constituency require c.
US, wherefore all this bleeding and taxing
for Texas" What equivalent does she give
10 us in return? Point them 10 the ruined
Tariff, the reinstated Subtreasury, the squan-
dered avais Of the public lands, and 10 dis
graceful war upon our shoulders; and no
doubt, sir, our people will be satisfied with
The equivalent
But sir, oppose the annexation and ad-
mi, sion of Texas for another reason.-Shc
was engaged, de fdc'o, in a war with Mexi-
co and, whether right or wrong in that con
troversy, by taking her, we assumed the war
as our own. Wise counsels would have adj
monishcd to different course. There lrGs
a time when these counsels prevailed on this
very question. In 1885, when Texas made
overuTes 10 our Government, Gen. Jackson
declined them, urging as reason. her war
with Mexico, and our treaty OF amiy with
the same power-In 1887, the overture was
repeated to Mr.. Van Buren, and by his
prime minister, Mr. Forsyth, was again de
clncd. urging that while Texas was at war.
and the United Statcsai peace, with her aG
versarv. her annexation involved the ques-
ton ofwar with that adversary Indeed, so
clear was the convictions of Mr. Forsyth.
that he informed Gen. Hunt, the Texian
mi f,ot bo could no
he received for future consideration, as that
might imply q disposition OH our part 10 es-
pouse the quarrel Of Texas with Mex;co-a
disposition wholly at variance with the spIr-
il Of the treaty. Such, sir, were the posi-
lions taken by Mr. Van Buren,, not only in
1887, but in his celebrated Texas letter, oc
the Goth of April 1914, he realiirms those
positions with great force and eIoquence, in
Sisting that this question was not changed
that a war yet existed between Texas and
Mexico. And sir, Mr. Van Buren,, both in
1886 and 1914, had The able support OF the
Government organ in this City. In the
Globe, OF The 18th Of April. 1914, now be-
fore me, the editor fully endorses Mr.. Van
Buren's leuer-pronounces ii "a production
more creditable 10 his talents and his pat
rotism than had ever been seen'-declares
bis demonstrative argument against annexa-
lion satisfactory and conclusive. The same
paper again, on the LIST Of May, 1914. ex-
presses itself thus:
We fully and cordially concur with MIR.
Van Buren, in This view, THAT taken in this |
letter. and say, il is the only wise, hOnora |
BILE, and praciica! course. Texas and Mex
Co are now at war, and the armistice adj
miis it,
Still further sir, on the 4th Of May: 1914,
the Globe reiteraies its position, and CHAR
yes. with great holiness that thestcry Of Brit
ish interlerences' was mere pretext OF re-
cent invention This same party organ, so
late as the 10Th Of May, 1914, speaking of an
nexation, and the consequent war, insisted
that,
Ifthe General Government should fake
his step. in violation OF the treaty with MeXi
20, the character Of our country would not be
eft 10 our pcsterity as the honorable inherl-
ance handed down 10 us by WASHINGTON,
JEFFERSON and JACKSON
These we're noble sentiments, and fear
essIv uttered True, the Globe wus not
blessed then with prophetic vision, and was
lily preparing IFS readers for the great po-
ilical somerset which the party made, two
weeks after, at the Baltimore convention.
Sir. Texas was new Article. interpolated
n the Democratic creed at Baltimore. Up
o that time il had not been made test of a
mans Democracy. Iappealto my Demo
ratio colleagues, who always dance sub
1issively 10 the tune ofmodern Democracy,
} saw il when Mr.. Van Buren's letter Of the
9th of April came out, followed by the pat
lotto endorsement, ofthe Globe, they were