Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1847-04-29


Senate belonging to the party, in the Northern
States however warmly they may have declared
themselves against slave States, yet refused 10
vote against all territorial acquisition measure
proposed and offered TO them as perfect security
against more slave States They are for acquiring
territory they are for more States and, for the
sake OF this they are willing 10 run the risk Of
these new States beingslave States, and 10 meet
all the commissions which the discussion Of that
momen,ous question may hereafter produce Sir,
if there be wisdom, or prudence, or consistency,
sound policy, or comprehensive foresight in all
thia, cannot see 1t.
The amendment Of the honorable member from
Georgia was supported by the votes Of twenty-four
members Of the Senate. Twenty-nine members
voted against il. OF these twenty.nine there we're
six gentlemen representing Northern and Eastern
States, viz one from Maine, one from New Hamp-
shire, one from Connecticut, two from New York.
and one from Pennsylvania. II these six members
had voted for the resolution. they would have turn
cd the majority, and there would from that mo.
ment, have been no apprehension Of new slave ter
ritory or 0f new slave States. Against the resolu-
ton, also, we heard the voices Of Eve members
from the free States in the Northwest. viz one
from Ohio, two from Indiana, one from Michigan,
and one from Illinois.
So 1t iseydeni that If all the Senators from the
free States lad voted for this amendment, and
against tho acquisition Of territory, such acquisi
ton would have been deHounced, in advance, by
nearly twoihirds OF the whole Senate, and the
question Of more slave States settled forever. For
let me say to you, sir. and TO the country, that
whenever this question is settled il must be settled
in the Senate. II might have been settled-here
this night, and settled finally and forever
MIR President, arraign no men and no parties
take no judgment into my own hands But
present this simple statement of facts and conse-
queuces to the country and ask for it, humbly but
most earnestly the serious consideration of the
people. Shall we prosecute this war for the pur-
pose Of bringing controversy which is likely to
shake The Government 10 its centre!
And nov, sir, who are the iwenty-four members
who supported the amendment Of the member
from Georgia. They are the Wings Of the Sem
ate; Wings from the North and the South, the
East and the West. In their judgment il is due 10
the best interests Of the country. TO its safety TO
peace and harmony, and to the well.being Of the
constitution, TO declare at once, TO proclaim now,
that desire no States, nor territory to form
new States out Of, the end Of conquest For
one, enter into this declaration with ali my heart.
We want no extension Of territory; we want no
accession of new States. The country is already
large enough. do not speak Of any cession which
may be made in the establishment OF boundaries,
or of the acquisition Of port two on the Pacific,
for the benefit OF navigation and commerce. But
speak OF large territories. obtained by conquest.
TO form States TO be annexed TO the Uuiou aud |
say am opposed TO such acquisition altogether
/ am opposed to the prosecution OF tue war for any
such purposes.
Mr. President, must be INDUCED here in a short
retrospection Ia the present posture Of things aud
Of parties we may well look back upon the past
Within year or two ailer Texas had achieved its
Independence there were those who already spoke
~l AL H..
that project felt il TO be my duty take an early
and decided course. Having occasion 10 address
political friends in the city of New York. in March
1887, expressed my sentiments as fully and as
strongly as could. From those opinions have
never swerved. From the FIRST saw nothing and
have seen nothing, but evil and danger TO arise to
the country from such annexation. The prudence
OF MIR Van Buren, stined the project for a time
but in the latter part OF the administration Of Mr.
Tyler it was revived. Sir, the transactions and
currences. from that time onward till the measure
was, finally consummaled in December l645, are
matters of history and record. That history and
that record can neither be falsi6ed nor erased
There they stand, and must stand forever aud
they proclaim TO the whole world, and TO all ages,
that Texas was brought into this Union, slavery
and all, only by meaDs Of the aid and active coop
GRAFTON Of those who now call themselves the
"Northern Democracy" of the United States in
other words, by those who assert their right 10
be regarded as nearest aud dearest TO the people
among all the public men of the country. Where
was the honorable member from New York, where
were his Northern and Eastern friends. when Tex.
ms was pressing to get into the Union. bringing
slaves and slavery with her Where we're they, ]
aski Were they standing up like men against
slaves and slavery! Was the annexation OF a new
save State an object which "Norihern Democracy
opposed, or from which il areried its eyes with hor