The northern galaxy. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1844-1848, 1846-04-14

fashionably executed, at short notice.
States. and unwelcomedby majority the
people, And denN&bat my constituents,
OF the ireemen oil the North, are constitution
any bound 10 recognise her as member Of
ine eoniederacy; much less, sir, 10 pay up
ner debts, or endorse her doubtful reputation.
/ But cannot dwell longer upon this part
! ofthe subject. am AVA that it is late in
the day to discuss constitutional questions.
The lisaments Of the Constitution are CUT
asunder. The dog star deIirium of slavery
mas thrown the nation far from its balance.
need not say TO you, Mr.. Chairman, nor
10 the House. how sorely the North feel nm
on this question. We speak it more in sur
row than IN recriminahon, when We say ,thas
/ the Constitution lies Irnhden in The dust.
The Shareholders heel is planted upon il,
And what adds 10 the darkness of the deed.
is the base and unwarrantable notire which
dictated this whole scheme Of Annexation.
That motive, sir. was the Strengthening. the
extension. and the perpetuity of SLAVERY.
And on this, sir. have few words to offer.
Mr. Bayly, Of Virginia, here objected, land
raised the question, that it was not in order
to debate this question. But the Chair over
ruled the objection. and decided that Mr..
Z. was in order, and he proceeded
ln support Of this position, my time will
allow me to call the attention OF the House
only 10 few admitted facts. No murmur-
ing OF complaint, or threats of revolt, were
heard IN the province of Texas, till after
Mexico, by the edicts Of Hur6iGe. in 1929,
proclaimed slavery abolished From that
time forward, low but gradually increased
mutterlns WIS heard from that portion ofthe
] bf haI
States into Texas, carrying their slaves with
them. This dissatisfaction gradnaIlv RI
pened into rebclion and in 1893 convep-
ton was called, and the discontinued portion
set up for themselves. Impartial history W i'll
yet prove that revolution to have hecn as
destitute OF any adequate provocation, as
the annals OF revolution ever furnished.
These Texas reyolutionists, Of course, had
the open sympathy, well as covert sup
port OF the almost entire slaveholdine South.
1t was evinced in the speeches and cores
pondence OF the Southern men, and in the
almost undivided expression of the Southern
press. From 1890 to 1885, the press was
Endisguised in claiming. that slavery must
be renstal ed in Texas, for its future stabili-
~ III the Southern part of this Union. Ibaye
| but 10 refer gentlemen 10 the tone OF the press
at that day, to establish the fact, that slavery
was at The bottom OF this whole movement.
So much, sir. for the revolution and indie
pendence Of Texas-as TO the mofire that die
fated IFS annexation, | have proof which
Southern gentlemen cannot resist. Mr.. Sec
rotary Upshur, in his official despatch to our
Charge d. AffaIres in Texas, in Is43, de-
clared that Slavery would be abolished IN
Texas within the next ten years. and proba-
by within half that time, unless that Govern
ment were annexed TO the United States
distinguished Senator from South Caro-
lima. (Mr. McDuhy.) not two year since. in
the north wing Of this Capitol, " hen abiding
10 the dangers oil the increase OF the slave
population, said. Now, If we shall annex
Texas, il will operate rs saiery-valye. TO
let off this superabundance of slave pspula-
ton among us.'-Ar. Calhoun. who. with
allhls political eccenIrieity, has the merit of
speaking his sentiments boldly, has placed
the true reason for annexation on record.
When Secretary ofiStafe, in a diplomatic
communication of The 2cih April, 1874, de-
lending the policy, and urging the necessity
Tor annexation, he says 1t was made nee
essary IN order to preserve domestic institu-
hons, placed under the guarantee of their re-
spectlve constitutions, and deemed essential
10 their safety aud prosperity domestic
institutions are only another aud potter
name for slavery. Here, sir, stands the re-
corded reason for annexation-the uphold
ing and preservation Of a foul system of hu-
man 5ondagei And this historical reason.
uttered by the official organ OF this great
and free republic, will stand upon record,
and be pointed 10 with shame and remorse
when all the aders and ahetors in this scheme
shall have passed away.
But VIII! do ! multiply authorities, or
dwell upon points conceded BY eveIy honest
man !! Sir, there is not Southern Repre-
sentative who hears me. ihatwill rise in his
place and deny that slavery was the great,
prompting, and decisive cause for annexing
Texas. No. sir. the get and the motive
stand out in bold relief before the world
To riyit the chains Of the enslaved African
more FIRMLY render his bondage safe and
perpetual, foreign slave territory, four times
the size Of new England. seven times as
large as Kentucky, is seized. and. in defiance
Of law and Constitution, is attached to this
Union And for what! Yes, sir, | ask
Southern gentlemen, for what purpose did
you annex it = Avow it honestly. Was il
not that you mieh hi Overbaiance the free la
borers of the North! That you nigh, hold
the reins Of legislation in your hands That
you might have the preponderance of power
to WELD it over US, as you WELD it over your
slaves Do you wonder, then, that North
ern freemen, or their representatives here
are keenly alive to this Insult How would
you feel under like injuryl Mr.. Chairman,
let me put case 10 my honorable friends
from Virginia aud South Carolina.
Suppose that, in 1896, Mr.. Webster, of
New-EugIand, Gov. Sewa ard, Of New York
and my venerable friend from Massachusetts.
u. z. Adams bad entered into a secret cor
resPondence with the authorities Of Caszda,
proposing TO annex all British North Ameri-
ca TO the United States. And suppose that,
in the correspondence. is had been frequent
ly avowed, that the object was to give STA
bility and peFPetuity to the protective tariff
Ito render safe the free institutions of the
North-to protect them from the assaults Of
the Sonth-to render more safe and secrr.
Ihe runaway slaves settled in Upper c. o,da
in short. to give, by the aid Of E: .,ad;a,,
votes. a Northern preponderaDte in .bs &C.
ate OF the United States-vhat -