Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1847-03-04

in that! Was the Senator ignorant that the
proposition had been made in the other House,
and would probably be made here to stick the
Wimot proviso in it! put it to him-I put it
to Senators Oh both sides, who represent South
ern portions of the Union-whether he or any of
them will vote for the bill, if that amendment be
appended!
But again: He spoke of the responsibility of
the war as arising from the annexation of Texas
did take deep interest in that measure of an
nexaton, and to no act Of my life do revert with
more entire satisfaction. Annexation at that
time, according to my opinion, was question of
pure necessity. | might 60 into this matter if it
would not occupy the time of the Senate. Cries
of ego on" According to my view, the time
was not propitious in one aspect There then
was minority in favor of annexation. 1t had
scarcely a single advocate in this body; but two
or three in the other body; and it appeared to be
a very hopeless task to attempt carrying through
such an important measure as that. When nom
mated for the Office of Secretary of State, | put
in the strongest circumstances that could draw
against the acceptance of it. wrote to my friends
here; but, before the remonstrance reached them,
was unanimously appointed. | saw that the Adj
mnistraton was weak, and that that very lmpor-
tant measure would be liable to be defeated, if
an effort were not made. But circumstances
made it inevitable. ! ascertained, from sources
perfectly reliable, that, at the Worlds conven-
ton, the American delegation suggested to the
Abolitonists of England, that now was the time
to act If they wished to aim fatal blow at
slavery it must be at Texas and IN order to do
that, England must obtain the ascendacy IN Tex
as. | received mtormatlon-l will not say Otll-
Cial-but from quarter III which there could be
no mistake, that al interview had taken place
between Lord Aberdeen and deputaton of the
. Worlds Convention. | was then at home i'll
South Carolina, and Immediately transmitted to
the Secretary of State that information, accom-
panied by the suggestion that it demanded in
slant attention. | suppose that letter and my
communication formed one of the reasons for the
movement then made for annexation What was
then the condition Of Texas! She was weak;
and the suggestion was, that Mexico would rec
ognise her independence, if she would agree to
abolish slavery. The time had come, and the
consequences had to be met. accepted the Of
flee with all these difficulties before me. said
this office is unacceptable to me. | go in with
a great deal of reputation, as | Judge from the
manner in which | have been nominated and
confirmed. | will experience great difficulty,
and may come out with much less reputation
than | 90 in But undertook it; and, when |
undertake thing, do it directly. | put it on
the true ground, that this movement was intend
ed to bring Texas under the control of England,
to abolish slavery there, and through that sllve-
ny throughout the country. A treaty was FORM
ed and it shared the fate that might have almost
been expected from the weakness of the Admin
istraton. 1t was defeated. But the Senator
says had stipulated in that treaty that the Rio
Grande was the boundary,
f Mr. Turney | remarked that had never read
the treaty. but understood that its terms went
to the Rio Grande.
Mr.. Calhoun. The Senator is Just as wrong
in that as in the whole of his misunderstanding.
No such thing, sir 1t was expressly left open.
The two respectable commissioners from Tex
? as will bear me testimony. 1t was expressly left
open, in order that the boundary might be sub
sequenty established by negotiation with Mex-
co. | know Senator of this body put a con-
sruction on it similar to that of the Senator from
Tennessee, and which was assaled. But as
soon as the treaty was signed by the President,
| communicated directly with the Mexican Gov
ernment through our charge d'afares, and stat
ed that | was ready to settle all questions of diff
ference, and amongst others the boundary, upon
liberal principles. did not dream of this war
The immediate cause of the war was the march
ing of our forces from the frontier A wing
Senator. Corpus Christi from Corpus Christi
to the banks Of the Del Norte. That clearly
made the invasion, so called, by the President;
and hence the declaration, on his part, that the
Rio Del Norte was the boundary. But is it an
effect of annexation! If Gen Taylor had re-
NAMED where he was, there would be no nva-
sion-no Rio del Norte as boundary to be es-
tablished by treaty and declaration of Congress.
The fact is, and cannot be disguised, Gen. Arts
ia who commanded the Mexican side, said, If
am not greatly mlstaken-and if any gentleman
supposes | am, by looking into the records in the
State Department he will find the fact-that Aris-
ia made a communication, either by writing or
through faithful agent, (and | think it was re-
Gently published in one of the southern papers)
! III A Senator: Yes that if General Taylor re-
NAMED on our side of the river, he Arsta) would
remain on his side; and they both might send
d out expeditions-he to guard against Indian dep
, relations, and we for any purpose we thought
proper So, then, the war was made by the march
to the Del Norte. That the President believed
that to be our boundary, was very proper; and
that invasion to be repealed, was the natural
: consequence. But the great question comes up,
i has the Executive right to determine what our
I boundary isl When we have disputed boun-
dairy questlon-and we have had nany-does it
belong5to the Executive or Congress to deter
mine it! There are two ways to do it, One is,
by negotiation and treaty, to beperiormed by the
Executive and this body, in case the two nations
agree to negotiate. The other is, if the party
disputes the boundary, and will not come to
terms, for Congress to declare il to be our boun-
dairy, and maintain it at the hazard Of war, How
Y long did the boundary of Maine remain unset
: tied! From the acknowledgment of ndepen-
: dence in 1888, down to the time chat the Sena-
!. tor from Massachusetts, closed it by treaty.
d But did any of the Presidents ever think Of
l. marching troops upon the lnel The British
1 held Fort Stanwix, but General Washington did
V not make any such movement.
i And here let me say, what just now comes to