Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1846-12-24

Wholc, too, are the questions orJomdary which
Mr.. Calhoun promised Mexico should be open, and
winch, by the resolutions, the U. $. government
was to decide Who has settled them? Who has
determined what territory properly and rghtfully
belonged to TeXas ? We take it these provisions
oil the resolutions meant something; they were in
vested with the sanctity Of idlC and yet these too
have been as strangely violated as was the guaran-
~ about slave and free states 1t was the EXEC
tUTlNE-or rather the man Polk, for when he ex-
ceeds his authority cannot in that call him Pres.
ldent-who has decided all these matters lie SAYS
that Texas EXTENDS TO THE RIO GRANDE
covering that slice of Mexico two thousand
miles long and some hundreds broad"--coverng
those TlllRTY-FlVE STATES equal to Yer
mont. lie alone has decided that tho Rio Grando
is the Boundary. lie has pcrperatcd the GUN
PARALLELED OUTRAGE" of which Mr.. Ben.
ton complained, and on account of which the Cal
noun treaty was rejected. He, without even asking
the consent Of Congress-, ordered our army on to
That territory which Mr.. BENTON says belonged
to Mexco and because Mexico defended it, he
says that she began this war, which is rapidly rum
nng up National Debt-rununr up taxes upon
the Freemen of the Free States of the Union for
the requirement of Slave Territory and the crea-
ton of votes to eternize the abominabe coalition
OF FREE TRADE and SLAVERY. Remember 1t, We
friends of American lndustry--it was the vote of
Texas Senators which carried the Tariff Of 1916,
and thus enabled the President to announce the
" abandonment Of the Protective Pocyw Without
their aid, the bill would have failed.
This Modification of the true meaning of the
Annexation resolutions--this tremendous stretch
OF Executive power, to the extent even of summa-
r!ly annexing some 100000 square miles of terri
tory without so much as consulting Mexico or our
our own Congrcss-of plunging the nation into
war, negloctng even the constitutional form Of
dcclaratlon-and of anneXng conquered states, by
Inc proclamations Of subordinate military officers
these really would seem to be enough to alarm cv-
cry lover of law, liberty g. repubcanism. Yet the
power OF party proves stronger than the power Of
patriotism: no protested friend Of the admnlstra-
ton has yet dared to rcbuke these oncroachmcnts
upon the Constitution aud the privileges of Con
gress; no democratic press has had indepcnd-
encc enough to warn the people Of these alarming
assumptions of power. Think not then-surey no
man can reasonably think -that it will be saje to
add another to the ranks of the friends of such an
administration. What, then, We ask, is now left
OF the resolutions Of Annexation? The provs-
ions as to the boundary, to the rightful title of
Texas to territory and the guarantee for free states
all are nulllied: we have nothing left, but A RE-
ESTABLISHMENT OF THE LINE OF SLA-
VERY at 36 30 minutes North latltudo-a line
which tCOId forever make SLAVE STATES of all The
rdiudbte territory IN an area eqmaL 10 FIFTY ONE
STATES AS LARGE AS VERMONT! And the march
OF annexation is now .SouihCnrd-to Mexico prop
!
the slave line to Oregon is already acquired Ev-
cry acre added from this day forth will, therefore,
be turrowed by the lash Of the slave driver and
yield It's increase only TO the sweat and toll of slaves
unless there is our only hope,) unless the freemen
OF the tree states assert their constitutional rights
and forbid these unholy Sacrifices Of liberty and
law upon the altar Of Slavery. They can do it, if
they will. Vermont as Il state, through her Wing
legislature, has taken the lead in the declaration
that she ciH mol aid in assent to the admission Of
any ne,c Sidre State She has now three members
elect to the next Congress who will take that no
bic Standard there the question is to be met; the
greatest question which ever has agtated the ma
lon--the question of the predomlnance, in all COM
ing time, of Freedom or Slavery Freomen of
the fourth, 1t is for you to say each man by his vote,
whether you will stand arrayed against Polk
and his wretched policy, Or stand in the ranks of
his friends and supporters. Let Vermont show an
undivided front let the fourth district now utter
It's strong voice of condemnation to the betrayers
of the cause Of Liberty and Humnnity-let 1t ring
out the fearless shout of encouragement to friends
and defiance to every foe. Thus shall we exhibit
the same spirit which cnnobcd the ALIENS and
the WARMERS of the past thus shall we set an
example which will mert-and Heaven grant that
it may received warm response from every patr-
otto heart.