Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1846-01-01
The Admission of Texas.

ted on the third reading oil the resolutions
Mr. Webster said he was well aware of the position
of this question. II had passed the other house Of Con-
gress by large majority; and il was well known that
there decided majority for its passage in the
Senate. There were members of this body who on
posed the measure adopted at the last session Of Com
gress for the annexation OF Texas to the United States
who would, very probably, feel Themselves, in
quence of the resolutions OF last session, and OF the
proceedings of Texas these resolutions, bound TO
| vote for her admission into the Union. He did not
this OCCASION intend 10 argue any Of the questions
which discussed here last winter, or which had
been much discussed in the county within the past
three years There was no citizen of the country
who had been more kindly disposed towards the ct
zens of Texas than HIMSELF from the time they achicv
ed and in extraordinary a manner, their independ-
ence from the Mexican government. He hoped that
he had shown, in another station and 10 all and under
all circumstances, just and proper regard To the nd
mission OF Texas into the Union, II was well known
that, from the first announcement ofany such dea, he
had felt Il to be his duty TO oppose il. He had ex-
pressed his opinion against il everywhere and under
ADMINISTRATIONS, whenever it up for consdera-
ton; and he could not now, il he to go the
whole topic again, present any new views, arguments
or illustrations. He would, therefore, in very few
words, acting under the unanimous resolves and In.
sructions Of both branches of the legislature of hassa
chusc,ts, as well as in conformity with his settled
Judgment of these matters, express very briefly 10 the
1 Senate and the community the objections which had
and always would prevail with him against the annex
alton Of Texas. In the first place, he had, on the
deepest reflection, long ago come TO the conclusion,
that was OF very dangerous tendency and doubtful
consequence TO enlarge the boundaries Of this govern
ment territory which the laws were now estab
lished. II struck him that there must be some limit
The permanency Of our institutions. and the govern
ment itself might become, aud likely TO become
dangered by the extension of its already tenito
rial surface. And in the pext place, he had always
wished that this country should exhibit to the nations
OF the earth the example OF great epublc-powerlul
rich and hanpy and actuated BY spirit of aggran-
disemcnt. II was one which he thought tn be due
from u.s. TO present 10 the world in favor Of the char
acter OF republican governments. Again, he was con-
strained to say, that while he held with much uteg-
ryhe trusted in iaithluness, any other citizen in
| the country-to the DID, original arrangement and
compromises Of the constitution under which now
live was adopted, he never could or would persuade
himself be in favor Of the admission of other States
into the Union with inequalities which were awarded
and accorded TO the slaveholdng States by the cons
tuition. He did not think that the free States ought TO
be called on TO admit other slave States, having advan
tages, the unequal advantages arising 10 them from
the mode OF npporoning representatives under the ex
listing constitution. lie had never made effort and
never proposed measure, nor did he mean to counte-
any proposition 10 alter the arrangements which
were originally made and on which States had here
toiorc come into the Union. lie would consider this
| then, different quesiion-when propositions were
made 10 admit new States, that they came in with
some inequalities and advantages their sister
States. il might be said that States may be adj
mitict ON footing with other States. That was so;
but il did not follow at all from the constitutional pro-
vision, that every territory, or the people Of the
would always be question, whether others had not
right land he thought they had) TO require the State
that asked 10 come in on equality, il slavery should
be in the way, 10 consider and the obstruction
tie supposed he might be very safe in saying that If
proposition made TO introduce from the North or
northwest, territory into this Union under circum-
stances which would give them equivalent advantages
and inequalities over the South this admission gave
the North, he took it for granted there was not
gentleman in the body he addressed who would listen
moment TO any such terms. Not moment He
put it on these political grounds. II and more
deranged the balance ol the nsuon, and produced
more and more inequality; and he thought il an unjust
advantage, TO the prejudice Of the North and in favor
OF the slave-hoding South. lie must repeat if a
proposition had been made TO northern and fee
territory, and il contained such advantages and inc
qualities over the South, he should not presume 10
hope that any southern gentleman would hearken it
a moment. He was quite awaTe-and he meant not
10 discuss the subject at laTgethat there highly
respectable gentlemen representing the mos, important
Of The free States and other gentlemen smaller Sales
North, Centre, and East, who had manifested dspo-
sition to annex Texas to the Union with the inequai-
ty belonging slave States II was matter for their
own dscretion they were not responsible him for
the manner 10 which they discharged therduty. But
he must say, he could not but think that the time
| would come when they weud very much doubt the
proprety of this mode of proceeding; and he could
| but think that there was no reason moral OF POLITICAL
for increasing the circle of the States, increasing
the time, the proessed inequality oil representa-
ton Of the people in Congress. On looking al the con-
stitution of Texas he found that il imposed resliic-
tons the legislature ofthe State with regard 10 the
abolition ofslavery If he had sufficiently pursued that
part of the constitutions and he understood il cor
recty the Legislature prohibited from aboshing
slavery except two conditions. First, the consent
OF the masters of the slaves; and, secondly compensa
! ton for the slaves. Now, the last was less liable TO
the remark he about 10 make, and that was bv
the constitution thus formed until altered it tied 10
the hands Of the legislature against any movement
with view the abolition OF slavery; because every
person would see Gf anything be done) that il must
be by general law; and such thing general con-
sent entirely unatainable He did not see that
the legislature had the inherent power to alter the con-
stitution, TO remove the reslr0in on them He was
not in the councils Of the United States during the last
session OF Congress, and of course, he had oppor-
unty TO take part in the debate this question; but
private citizen, he entertained the opinion that II
| Texas came in al a II should be by diplomatic ar
engagements, by treaty, sanctioned by the President
and the Senate. That was constitutional question.
Ii had, however, been decided BY both branches of
Congress, whatever might be his judgment on il. He
knew gentlemen who entertained the same opinion as
he did, but who felt themselves nevertheless bound
by all the obligations Of the government since incur
red. His own private judgment had not at all been
shaken by what he had heard Not having BEEN as
he repeated, member Of Congress last session; hav
ing OF course, taken official part in the measures
which were then projected and carried through Con-
gress, he had hoped that he only doing his own
duty and fulfilling the expectations OF those who pac-
ed him here by giving expression TO their most dcc-
ded convictions and opinions, in stating the views
which would compel him 10 withhold his vote in the
consumaIion of the measure now before Them.
The question was stated; when Mr. SEWER called
for the yeas and nays; which were ordered.
Mr. Berrien followed. Before the vote was taken on
the question before the Senate, he begged leave to re-
mark that when The JOINT resolution at the last session
of Congress, in which the question of the annexation
of Texas TO this Union before them, as related to
that question, and the mode by which il was TO be nc
complshed, II was then an open question upon which