The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1848-04-08

amendment of the constitution should be submitted, il
order TO bring Louisiana into the Union He drew vi
the proposition. and II was submitted to Mr. Adams Mr.
Madison did not go upon the general idea that States
might be admitted He did not proceed upon the motion
OF general amendment to the constitution IN thus respect
bu tue amendment OF the constitution which he proposed
ana submitted 10 Mr. Adams, article l3n emendao-
y OF the constitution: The province of louisiana is
hereby declared TO be part and parcel of the United
states" Public opinion, owing to the great importance
OF this acquisition, took turn favorable to the afrma-
ton OF the power without any constitutional provi-
son The power was acquiesced in. Louisiana became
part OF the Unions and following the example OF Louisi
ana, Florida was admitted Now, sir, consider these
transactions as past, settled legazed There they stand
They are part OF our political history They are facts
AGAINST which ii would be idle at this day to contend
My first agency IN these matters upon the PROPOSE
ton tor admitting Texas into the Union That thought
my duty to oppose upon the general ground of opposing
| all annexation of States; and | may add, and
ought 10 add, IN justice, because there PROPOSE
on then before the country to southern States hav-
ing slave population being represented in the Con-
gress of the United States upon the ground of inequality
happened to SIR to be called to address polti-
cal meeting in New York, in 1897 '3s, after the recog-
milton of Texan independence | may state now, sir,
what have often stated before, that no from the
first has been better wlsher-a more sincere we'll
wisher-to the people and government OF Texas than
myself looked upon that achievement of their indie
pendence at the battle of San Jacno quite eyraord
nary-almOst marvellous incident-n the affairs of
mankind. was among the first to be disposed to
knowledge her independence but, from the first, and
IRON the first down TO this moment, have opposed
lar as was able, the annexation of States to this
Union stated my reasons on the occasion 10 which
referred have them in short abstract before me, but
It is hardly worth while that should trouble the Senate
with reading them.
For a few years held position in the executive de-
partment of the government | left the State Depart
ment in 1913, in May. Within month after, another
most worthy and respectable gentleman, who came to
an untimey end-had taken my place. had occasion
to know not officially but from circumstances, that the
annexation of Texas TO the United States taken up
by MIR. Tyers administration, as an administration
measure-pushed pressed insisted on-and believe that
the honorable gentleman 10 whom | have referred,
and for whose memory entertain much respect, [Mr
uPshnr,] had something like passion for the accom-
Pllshment Of this purpose And am afraid that the
ardent feelings not little to control his prudent
judgment. AT any rate, saw in 1913 that annexation
had become purpose. | was not in Congress- nor in
public e but, seeing this state of things, thought it
my duty to admonsh far as could the country of
the existence OF this purpose There gentlemenmany
Of them at the north, others now in this Capito-who
know that in the summer of 1913, being fully persuaded
that this purpose of annexing Texas had been taken up
with zeal and determination by the executive government
of the United States thought il my duty, AMI asked their
concurrence attempt TO let this purpose be known to
the country conferred with gentlemen of distinction and
emnence proposed some means of exciting public at.
tentlon to the question OF annexation, before should
become party question for had learned that when
matter becomes party matter it is in vain 10 argue
against it argue upon it. But the optmists the quiet
ess then, who said all things well, and let all things
effort They said the north would take of itself,
the country would take care of ITSELF that would not
sustain Iylcrs project of annexaton-when the time
came, the power OF the morrill, which was felt IN the
House OF Representatives, would be sufficient to resist
the measure And could refer to paragraphs and
articles in the most respectable journals at the north,
IN which the attempt made to produce impression
that there danger that should have add ion
OF new States that we need not alarm ourselves about
It, was not in Congress when the resolution providing
for the annexation of Texas passed. only know
that up to very short period before the passage of that
resolution the general impression was IN the country
where | belonged, that such resolution could pas.
But have FOUND sir, in the of thirty years expe
renee that whatever measure the executive government
embraces and pushes, is quite likely to succeed There
is giving way somewhere. If the executive govern.
ment acts with uniformity, steadness, entire unity OF
purpose sooner or later it is quite apt enoughacco'dng
to my construction of history, too apo efecits purpose
Just before the commencement of the present admin
lsration the resolutions for the annexation OF Texas
passed Congress. Texas complied with the provisions
of these resolutions and she was here or the case
was here on the 22d Of Decembar lsiS, for her flna
admission into the Union one of these States.
took occasion then TO state that hoped had shown al
proper regard Tor Texas that had been certainly opposed
to annexation that if should 90 over the whole matter
again, should have nothing new add that had acted
all along under the unanimous declaration of all parties
and OF the Legislature of Massachusetts, that thought
there must be some limit to the extent of our territories
and that wished that this country should exhibit to the
world the example of powerful republic without the
greedness and hunger of empire: And | added. thai
| while held with much faithfuness as any citizen
of the country to all the original arrangements and
compromises of the constitution under which we llve
never could and never should bring myself to be in
favor of the admission of any States into the Union as
slave holding Sates-and might have added any States
at all Now, as have said. in all this have acted
under the resolutions OF the State of Massachusetts,
! ainly concurrent with my Judgment, often re
peated, and e-affrmed by the unanimous consent OF
| all men of all parties-that could not well &c
through the series OF pointing out not only the mpocy
but the unconstuonality of such annexation case
presented is this II State proposes to come into thu
Union, and to in slave State, then there
augmentation of the inequality in the representation o.
the people, which already exsts-an inequality already
existing, with which do moi quarrel, and which never
will attempt to alter but shall preserve long as have
vote to give, any voice in this governments because
| it is part of the original compact Let il stand. But
them there is another consideration of vastly more gene
raj Importance than thatmore general, because II
affects all the States, free and slavehodng; and 1t u.s.
lated, come into the Union they necessarily, inevitably
break up the relation existing between the two branches
of the government and destroy its balance They break
up the intended relation between the Senate and the
House of Representatives. If you bring in new States,
any State that comes in must have two senators. She
may come in with fifty sixty thousand people and
more. You may have from particular State more
senators than you have representatives. Can any
thing dsfgure and derange the form of gov
Here woud be Senate bearing no proportion to the
people, out of all relation to them, by the addition
of States; from OF them only representa-
ve perhaps and two SENATOR'S whereas the larger States
may have teD fifteen. or thirty representatives
and but The Senate added to- augmented by
these senators coming from States where there are
few people, becomes odious ogarchy Il holds power
without any adequate constituency. Sir, it is but
thorough -mong erng upon large scale Now. do not
look at facts-to see where when we made our
| deHartllre three w aud