The voice of freedom. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1839-1848, 1848-04-20

ILlS CUHtlllOH Vi Things, III was Il WOlk Ol SOUl0
difficulty to reconcile the democracy of New
York to the nominees of the convention.
But, difficult as the task seemed, it was at
length accomplished. The honorable Sias
Wright, who was a member of the Senate in
1874, and had voted against the treaty of an
neXatlon, and who was known to be strongly
opposed to the measure, was nominated as
candidate for governor. This nomination re-
conciled the democracy to vote for Mr. Polk,
provided no democratic member of Congress
should be elected who was not pledged against
annexation. The news of this arrangement
of family difficulties in New York was soon
conveyed to the New England democracy
Mr.. Wright's nomination, it was said, would
secure New York to Mr.. Polk, and New
England must come in and sustain the party
Opposition to annexation soon began to die
away, and, in a few weeks, the whole demo
cratic party wheeled into the ranks and gave
their support to the nominees of the conven-
ton.
Now, sir, to keep up the party character of
the measure, will 90 back to the resolution
of annexation. In the winter Of 1915, after
the election Of Mr.. Polk, a joint resolution
was introduced into the House Of Represent
tatives for the annexation OF Texas to the
United States, and on the same day, believe,
a resolution for the same purpose was intro
duced into the Senate. On the 2jth Of Jan
uary, the test vote was taken on the rcsolu-
ton in the House of Representatives, and it
was passed-1eaS, 1l3, Nays, LOG, every
wing i'll the House, with the exception Of
three from tennessee, two from Georgia, and
one from Alabama, voting in the negative.
The House resolution came to the Senate,
and the honorable Senator from Alabama,
(Nr. Bagby,) among others, made an able
speech against it. lie denied the constitu-
tional power Of Congress to bring into the
Union a foreign State by a joint resolution
that power, he maintained, belonged, cxclu
sively, to another branch of the government,
viz: the treaty making power. After this
avowal of the Senator from Alabama, that he
could not support the resolution as it came
from the House, Mr.. Walker then a Senator
from Mississippi moved an amendment con-
terring upon the President the power to with
hold the resolution, If, in his Judgment and
discretion, he should deem it most advisable,
and to negotiate with the republic of Texas
for her admission into the Union. The
amendment was adopted, A motion was
then made, by Senator on this side of the
chamber, to strike out the first and second
sections Of the resolution and confne the
President to negotiate alone for the acquisi.
ton of the country. This measure was OPP
posed and defeaed--the Senator from Ala
bama voting with the majority. The resou-
ton was then passed by vote Of q yeas, to
% nays, every democratic Senator voting in
the affirmative, and every wing Senator, with
the exception of Mr.. Henderson, from Missis-
sippi, Mr.. johnson, from Louisiana, and Mr..
Merrick, from Maryland, voting in the mega
tive.
Mr.. BAGBY. do not suppose for mo-
ment that the Senator intends to do me the
slightest injustice in reference to what said
then or at any time. What then said was
and | repeat it now, that | never would vote
for the resolutions as they came from the House
of Representative but that | would vote for
the proposition as amended by the Senate
disclaimed the idea Of its being indspensa-
bly, necessary to annex Texas by treaty, but
said it might be done by treaty, or compact,
and cited the compact between the United
States and Georgia, in 1902, as a case in
point
Mr.. UPHAM. The Senator opposed the
resolution as it came from the House
Mr.. BAGBY. Decidedly.
Mr.. UPHAM. No consideration could in |
duce me to misrepresent the honorable Sena- |
tor in any speech he has made, or any vote
nc has given upon this question. | alluded |
to the speech and votes of the Senator for
the purpose Of showing that the first and Sec
ond sections of the resolution presented to the /
republic Of Texas, never had majority ofthe |
Senate in their favor.
The democratic Senators from the North |
who voted against annexation in 1874, voted |
for it in 1845. Now, what happened in the |
nine months that elapsed between the rejec-
ton Of the treaty and the passage of the res
olution, to change their minds upon the sub
ect? Were the objections urged against
the measure less formidable in 1S45 than
they were in 1874? Was annexation less
Objectionable to the democracy of the North
after it became a party measure than it was
before it assumed party character? These
are questions worthy Of consideration, and on
some convenient occasion hope they will be
answered.
The resolution of annexation having passed
both Houses Of Congress, President Tyler, on
the LIST OF March, 1915, approved it, and the
next day he sent off his messenger with d.
rections to submit the first and second Sec
tons of the resolution to the republic of Tex
as, as an overture for her admission, as a
State, into our Union. In this condition of
affairs, President Tyler retired, and the new {
came into power and what,
sir, was the first act of the new President? /
1t was to declare his approval of the resolu- s
ton for the annexation of Texas, and to as
sure the country that, in his opinion, our title
to the Oregon country was clear and I'M
questionable" But, sir, it has been said by
Senator'S on the other side of the chamber, ,
that President Polk is in nowisc responsible {
for the manner Of annexation. The Senator {
from Tennessee, (Mr Turney,) in his speech '
the other day, said that annexation took place ;
under the Tyler administration; that Presi- !
dent Polk had no connection with It or power |
over it; that Mr.. Tyler in the last hours of ,
his administration. snlectel the lnodn Of m /