The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1847-04-17

| y
ing n constitution for this then young repuh-
lie, 10 endure through all coming time.
Mr. Madison, also member ofthe Conven-
ton, was not silent upon the subject lilo
"thought it wrong to admit in the Constitu-
ton the idea that there could be property in
men,"
At the time ofthe adoption ofthe Constitu-
ton seven ofthe thirteen States were free a.
six were slave States; and nothing transpired
in the Convention to show that an increase
Of the slave States was anticipated or desired.
The balance ofpoilical power was in the
hands Of the free States, and no statesman OF
that day, North or South, as far as know,de-
sired to see it pass into the hands ofthe Slave
States No such change could have been an
cpatcd; for, under the Constitutional pow
or was given 10 the Federal Government 10
acquire foreign territory. Such II is certain,
was tue opinion ofJefferson al d many other
southern statesmen of great eminence. But
what does the history ofa little more than
half century show? Why, sir, in 1903, we
acquired Louisiana by purchase, and the peo-
pie Of the free and slave States paid fifteen
millions of dollars for il. Mr. Jefferson, when
he made the acquisition, admitted that he had
no constitutional power TO do it, bur the vast
importance ofthe navigation otthe MISSISSIPPI
pi TO the commerce of the United States, i'll
duced him to make the purchase, and trust 10
an amendment of the Constitution TO legulize
the act. Well sir, what has been done with
this territory thus purchased of France?Why
sir, three slave States have been created out
oft, viz: Louisiana, Missouri, and Arkansas;
all now represented in this aud the other
branch ofCorgress.
In 1919 we acquired Florida by purchase,
and the people ofthe free and slave States
paid five millions of dollars for il. That, also
has been created into a slave State, and is
represented upon the floor of both Houses OF
Congress.
But this is not all, sir: in 1874, we acquired
TeXns; but nj what cost God only knows. II
will not, am well persuaded. cost us less
than one hundred millions Of dollars, and the
loss Of hundreds, aud perhaps thousands, OF
valuable lives. The aid oflhe Federal Gov
ernmcnt was invoked Ia obtain this territory
for the ayow ed purpose ofprevcnting the all
clifton of slavery in Texas. This, SIR. was :.
bold movement. |; was direct call upon
the Federal Government 10 put forth It's pow
er 10 sustain, uphold, extend, and peTpetuat0
slavery in The United States
Sir, tIliS is apparent from the correspond
once Of the State Department accompanying
| the Texas treaty. On the Sth of August,
1913, Mr. Upshur,the Secretary ofStnte, wrote
10 Mr. Murphy, cur charge d'allaires in Texas
as follows:
! Maryland then in London contains the follow
ing passage:
! Il learn, from source entitled to the
fullest confidence. that there is now here Idr
! Andrews, deputed by the Ahoishionists Of
Texas to negotiate with the British Govern
meni; that he has seen Lord Aberdeen, and
submitted his project for the abolition Of slav.
'ery in Texas: which is, that there shall be or
ganzed company in En- gland, who shall aG-
'vance sum sufficient to pay for the slaves
snow in Texas, and receive i'll payment Texas
'lands; that the sum thus advanced shall he
paid over an indemnity for the abolition of
slavery and nm authorized by the Texan
Minister to say, TO you, that Lord Aberdeen
has agreed that the British Government will
guaranty Che payment of the interest on this
'loan, upon condition that the Texan Govern
'mcnt will abolish slavery.
A movement of this sort cannot be contemH-
lated by in silence. Such an attempt upoF
any neighboring country would necessarily be
viewed by this Government with very deep
concern, bat when it 10 made upon nation
whose territories Join the slave holding States
of our Union, it awakens a still more solemn
interest. 1t cannot be permitted to succeed
without the most strenuous efforts on our pvt
to arrest calamity so serious 20 every part Il
our country"
Again in the same letter, AIr Upshur says:
sBut there is another view Of this subject, still
tant to Teas herself The estabshment-in
the very midst of our Slaveholding States-of
/, an Independent government iCrbidGiNg the eN.
steuco Of slavery, and by people born, for tho
most part, among us, reared up in our habits,
and speaking our language, could not iGil tn
produce the most unhappy effects upon both
parties
In despatch from the State Department.
t to Mr. Everett, Our Minister in London, Mr..
CDShlr saw: at is quite obN ious that SLAYER
y could not easily he maintained in country
surrounded hy other countries whose Govern
ments did not recognise that institution" &
+ in despatch 10 MIR Murphy, dated January,
/ Is, 1914, he says, "that if Texas should not
= he attached to the United States, she cannot
: maintain that institution slavery ten years,
5 aud probably not half that time"
e One more extract and will dismiss the
: diplomatic correspondence upon this subject
:, On the 10Th OF April, 1914, Mr. Calhoun then
S Secretary of Sate,in despatch to Mr. Green,
/ our charge d'ailaires in Texas, says:
: sSlR; A treaty for the annexation of Texas
1t to the United States has been signed by the
d penpotentiures ofthc two Governments, and
e will be sent by the President to the Senate
l. without delay, for its approval,
y sln making the fact known to the Mexican
: Government the President enjoins it you
to give it, in the first place, the strongest
:, ance, that in adopting this measure, our Gov,
. eminent is actuated by no feelings of disrc.
> spect or Indifference to the honor dignity
- of Mexico, and that it. would be "A subject of
. great regret ifit should be otherwise regarded
by its Government. And, in the ne xt place, thai
III the step was forced on the Government of thu
v United States in selfdetence, in consequence
a. of the policy adoptedby Great Britain in ref
erunce to the abolition Of slavery in Texas. i
- was impossible for the United States to wit