Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1847-01-21

decided to adjourn at u o'clock, at noon Many 9TH
er important bills were still pending in the Senate to
be decided in the forenoon of Monday, and this BILL
taken up in the last hour of the session of the Senate
did not receive the final action OF vote upon its pas
sape but was lost BY not having been voted upon and
without the decision of the Senate. This measure;
in time of war; is recommended by the President and
should be acted on by Congress as peace measure;
and is evidence to the country and to the world that
however vigorously it may be deemed just and proper
to prosecute the war, while war, or cause Of war,
lists still the desire for honorable peace is sentiment
strong as ever with Governments and this measure,
recommended by the President is evidence that no in
tention exists in negotiating peace to demand terms
other than such as are honorable both to this country
and to Mexico Ofhe causes of the war, or the man
ner IN which it commenced it would scarcely be prop
er for me now to speak, il IT were at all. These
topics have been discussed at very considerable length
by those much more able to elucidao than am. lam
one of those who believe that the war with Mexico was
inevitable after the annexation OF Texas, upon the Germs
selected by President Tyler, should be consummaed-l
whether the alternative mode presented by Congress, or
any other mode otems would have avoided the war;
now perhaps, useless to inquire The annexation off
Texas to the United States believed to be desired
by the people of both countries, and Texas was annex
cd. The right of annexation, by two independent ma
tons cannot be questioned. TO obtain possession of
Tumaulipas and Chihuahua, between the Neuces and
ItnC no SIfduue W0efC the MeNlCdlS nclu OlSpultu
possession and to 90 to Santa e, where the Mexican
authorities and people held undsputd possession, the
use of force was necessary. The Of force between
nations to decide disagreement between them, is war.
The of force and OF military power was necessary,
repeat to eXpe the Mexican authorities lromall these
PROVINCES claimed by Texas unless Mexico should
code them by negotiation But Mexico not only re-
fused to abandon Tamaulpas and Chihuahua, between
the Neuces and the Rio Grande and Santa Fe on the
81 hiit c,o arfoI pIaIt1
upon Texas itself, and declared that the annex
alton of Texas to the United States would be
garded by her as an act of war on the part
Iof the United States against Mexico. When meas
ures for the annexltiln of Texas were adopted by
our Government, Mexico withdrew her minister from
Washington, refused to renew negotiations and pre-
pared to wage In the valley of the Rio Grande
the Texan side of that river, the armies OF the two
nations met, hosities commenced, and actual war was
waged There can be no doubt Of what is the duty of
every good citizen of the United States in state of
war The enemies of his country should be his enc
mics-her friends his friends A cordial support and
vigorous prosecution of the war should be sustained
while the war lasts. The war should be terminated
whenever an honorable peace can be obtained and not
before The bill which proposed and still propose to
Introduce, looks to such termination of the war, while
its first featurethe two millions appropriation more
clearly dscoses what it would be in vain to deny,
attempt to conceal that the acquisition of territory at
least Of the CALIFORNIA; and New n exic induce
ment for the war; well as for previous wrongs and
injuries against our government and citizens, will be
insisted upon by the government of the United States
but upon terms liberal and honorable to Mexico 1t
contains principle in the provision, proposed by my
friend from Pennsy vanla more important than the war
itself A principle with which Mexico, in arranging
her terms OF peace, has nothing to do, and with which
do not understand that it proposed by anybody she
should have anything to do 1t is no subject Of treaty
shpuatons unless the treay-nakng powers Of the two
Governments shall, of their own free will, choose to
make it so. 1t is question purely our own, and per-
tanning exclusively to the United States. This princi-
pie excludes slavery from any territory which may
hereafter be added To this country.
This principle deem to be Of vital Importance, and
should be very much gratifed if it could receive the
unanimous assent and appreciation of Congress- This,
however | do not expect. The same interests which
pertinaciously insisted upon extending slavery over
Texas still desires apprehend its farther extension.
This should not be For the existence of slavery
in the United States the Government of the Republic
lis not responsible 1t planted here while the
country was colonies Of Great Britain and its exs-
tence continuance is not question for the Govern
E ment of the Unon-it belongs exclusively to each
State for itself The proposed presents question OF
abotonism. II is the antagonist of abolitionlsm de-
nying any Constitutional power in the Federal Gov
eminent to NEEDLE in any way with the existence OF
slavery within the limits of State No free State in
1.-The Union has ever held asserted the right au-
hority of the Federal Government to abolish Or inter
fere with slavery in any State. But while every free
State has always maintained and stands ready to
maintain the Constitution and all its compromises-lt
cannot be supposed the people Of the free States will
approve the eXcrtion of the power Of the Federal
ID Government to extend indefinitely the institution OF
slavery over territory which is now free. With the
abolition Of slavery the Congress of the Union can
have nothing to do; but it would be an equally wide
departure from the Constitution, and from every sound
principle upon which our Republican institutions are
founded that the Government of the United States
should be instrumental in extending slavery in any d.
recton or in converting free territory into slave terri
ory-to avoid this result it is necessary that Congress
shall provide by law against the existence OF slavery
lin any territory which hereafter may become the terri
tory of the United States, and which shall not be in
cludcd within the limits of State. Whenever any
Territory shall have obtained population sufficient for
the formation Of a State Government, and shall have
formed State constitution, and been admitted into
the Union State, then the responsibility of the
Federal Government for that territory and people thus
admitted IS State ceases. Then say they who OPP
pose the enactment Of the Wmot proylso, why not let
the question aone and leave it to the States and the
people themselves to determine whether the State shall
he slave State or free State This inquiry and
reasoning is specious and plausible, bat the simplest
4 examination on the principles of common sense will
show that it is unsound and false. If left alone slaves
more or less will be carried to the territory and if
the country while it remains territory should be set
tied by population holding slaves, the new and add-
onal question OF abolition is presented ard in order
10 get free State, slavery must first be abolished.
This embarrassment in community, without
means to indemnify the owners would be an obstacle
almost nsurmountable, and the new State would be
very far from being free to choose between becoming
free State or a slave State. On the contrary if the
country, while it remains territory, shall be settled
by free population from which slavery is excluded
then, when State Government is formed the State and
the people would be unombarrassed by any pecuniary
interests on questions Of vested right and be free to
decide whether the State should be free State Or a
slave State. In ordor them to secure his freedom of
choice TO the State and to the people, slavery must be
excluded from the country while it shall be territory
and until it shall become a State. But will not pui
sue the subject now. 1t must be obvious to ALL as
think be acknowledged by ALL that the character oithe
population in the territory will determine the character
of the State, when that territory shall be erected into
State. If the territory has slave population of only
one fourth or one-ftth OF the whole number it will be