Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1847-01-21
VOL. ", NO. 3.

destruction through its territory. That army
had indeed been defeated but another was pre-
pairing to renew the contest. Hayti had been at
peace with all the world Mexico claimed Tex
as as its own, and solemny avowed its determi-
nation to chastse and suppress the revolt Hay
ii achieved her independence after long and
arduous struggle with powerful armies, and has
a population of million to maintain it. Tex
as, when acknowledged, could appeal only to the
fortunate result of single battle as evidence of
her national power, wkile she had no more than
60 900 inhabitants to contend against the ,OOO,-
600 Of Mexico. With Hayti, we had large
and valuable commerce, while our commerce
with Texas was only in expectancy. Yet has
slavery estranged our government from one ma
ton, and led it to welcome to its embrace
other, incomparabIy inferior in political strength
and moral worth
The indecent haste with which Texas was ac~
knowledged, and the trickery by which the ac-
acknowledgements was effected, were prompted by
the desire of annexation. A southern journal
speaks thus frankly on the subject,-"Does any
sober observer contend-can he in the face of
facts, that Texas has substantially according to
usages ofnations, accomplished her independence!
Was there not ar even chance to put the mat
ter on the most favorable footing, that at he vcto-
ry Of Jacinto might this campaign be reversed!
But natural feeling has outstrpped the prudence
of our Government, usually discreet and JUDI
cious, and social sympathy has done what Pohl-
cal precedent, and possibly expediency, might
not have sanctioned The debate in the British
| ID Il; H. ba,,
fetal ceremonies, viz: 'the Presidents Message"
'may deIude, or seem to delude foreign govern
ments While Lord Palmerston and O'ConneIG
were defending our government from improper
haste in the acknowledgment ofthe independence
of Texas, the deed is consummated Title Port
Gibson MISS. SOuthcrnr.
The whole slave region, with scarcely an ex-
ception, demanded union with the new State
1.-THE very reasons" said the Charleston Mercu-
ry, $50 Unexpectedly urged by the North against
it, that it will increase the political weight Of
the southern States, and perpetuate and extend
the curse OF slavery are oar best reasons for it,
The legislature of South Carolina, Mississip-
pi, and Tennessee, ell passed resolutions in IA
vor Of annexation. Many individuals at the
North had likewise deep pecuniary interest in
the question. They had specuIated largely in
Texas lands, but their titles would be of but lit
tie value so long as they depended on the faith
of the lawless adventures who possessed the
country-Coud that country be received into the
Union, and subjected to the acts Of Congress and
the jurisdiction Of the Supreme Court, their pur-
chases might ensure TO themselves or their fami.
lies princely estates. A writer in the Salem Ga
zette, MASS. )probably speculator, in vndicat-
ing the annexation, thus appeals to the ayarce
of New England. at is calculated that the val
ne Of one kind of property in the South, slaves,
will be enhanced so much, that that portion of
our country will realize one or two hundred mil
lions of dollars, and the south cannot be enrich
ed without benefting the North--the money viH
naturally come here at last"
The people of Texas were no less DESTROYS of
annexation than southern shareholders, or north
ern spectators. The plan union was ayowed
from almost the very commencement of the re-
bellion, In August, 1886, S. B. Austin, in an
address offering himself as candidate for the
Presidency, told the peope:-"I am in favor Of
the annexation, and will do all in my power TO
effect it with the least possible delay" W. H.
Jack, candidate for the Legislature, declared,
81 am decidedly and unequvocalIy in favor Of
annexing Texas to the United States" Gen.
: Houston, the Commander-n-chie intimated that
"lhe annexation was essential to the interests of
the new country" The Texan Congress re-
solved, "That the President of the Republic of
; Texas be empowered and authorised to dispatch
a commissioner or commissioners to the United
States OF America, to obtain negotiation of
our ndependendence, and enter into treaty
with that Government for a Union on a footing
with the original States" The first condition
prescribed for this proposed union, was, "THE
FREE AND UNMoLEsTED AUTHORITY OVER THEIR
SLAVE POPULATE ON"
On the 18th Of August, 1887, the negotiation
was opened by the Texan Minister at Washing
ton, by proposition "to unite the two people un-
> der one and the same government" The ac-
ceptance of this proposition would of course
, have been equivalent to declaration of war
against Mexico; responsibility which Mr.. Van
Buren, did not see fit to assume, especially in the
recess of Congress. He declined entering into
: the negotiation, on the grounds that the United
/, States were al present at peace with Mexico,
t and that that power had not acknowledged tho
a independence of Texas-As this answer merely
= postponed toe annexation on account of an OBJ
stacle easily removed, it was entirely satisfactory
r to the South; and the more So as the Presidents
c message to Congress, wore very belligerent as
# pect towards Mexico,
This formal attempt at annexation reused the
fears Of the North, and innumerable remonstran-
ces against the measure were presented ton Con-
G gress. In the meantime Mexico, by proposing
submission of her differences with the United
States to arbitration, removed all pretence for
immediate war. Under these circumstances,
the southern delegation in Congress thought it
t most prudent no, to press the annexation. The
J Texans, moreover, finding themselves unmoest'
ed nv Mexico who had becomA involved in