The Charlotte journal. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1835-1851, 1848-04-19
Speech of Wr. Webster,
In the United Senate, on the 23d Of March,
on THE LOAN BILL.
fcnvrtrnrn
CONCLUDED J

Bot, sir, come to the all absorbing ques.
lion, more particularly Of the creation OF
new states. When came into the council
Of the country, Louisinsna had been obtains
cd under the treaty With France, and short.
ly afterwards Florida was obtained under
the treaty with Spain. These two countries
we're knownto Us. They lay upon our from
tiers. They commanded the outlets Of the
great river. As have had occasion TO say
and shall now only repeat wilhou, argumen. !
ia the FIRST Of these instances. the Pfeslden,
Of the United States, Mr.. Jefferson supp.
sed the acos lsilion 10 be unconstitutional
lie acted on that superstition. Mr. Madi.
son was then Secretary Of State. He pro
posed lha, proposition for an amendment.
Of the constitution should be submitted, 10
order 10 bring Louisiana into the Union.
He drew up the proposition, and II was sub
m,ied 10 Mr.. Adams. Mr.. Madison dId not
90 upon the general idea that new States
might be admitted. He did not proceed up
on the motion Of general amendment, 10 the
constitution IN this respect, but the amend
meni Of the constitution which he proposed
and submitted TO Mr.. Adams, was article
l3lh, emepdaiory OF the cons.,uiion-'the
province Of Louisiana is hereby declared 10
be part AMI parcel Of the United States"
Public opinion, owing to the great impor'
lance Of this acquisition, took turn favor.
able TO the affirmation Of the power, with.
out any new constitutional provision. The
power was acqulesed in. Louisiana became
par, Of the Union, and following the ex.
ample Of Louisiana, Florida was admitted.
Nov, sir, | consider these transactions as
past, se,led, legalized. There they stand.
They are par, of our political history. They
ATE facts against which i; would be idle at
this day to contend. My frs, agency in
these matters was upon the proposition Tor
admitting Texas into the Union. That,
thought /, my duty to oppose upon the gen.
eral ground Of opposing all annexation o!
new States; aud may add, aud ought to
add 10 justice, because there was Propo.
sI,ion then before the country, as TO South.
etn States having u slave population being
represented in the Congress Of the United
States, upon the ground Of inequality. II
happened TO me, sir, 20 be called on TO ad
dress a political meeting in New York, il
1878, after the recognition Of Texar
independence. ! may state now, sir, wha
have often stated before, tina, no man l.ou
the flsl has been better wisher-a more
sincere vel wishet--io the people and GO
vefnment of Texas than myself. | looked
upon that achievement Of their indepen.
dence a, the battle Of San Jacin,o as quite
extraordinary--almost u marvellous Incl.
dent-in the efflirs of mankind. | was a.
mong the frs, to be disposed TO ackno~l
edge her independence, but from the first,
and from the first down TO this moment,
have opposed as far as was able the an
neya,ion Of new States 10 this Union.
stated nv reasons on The occasion 10 which
referred, have them 10 shor! sbs,rac,
before me, but il is hardly worth while that
| should trouble the Senate with reading
them.
For n few years held position in the
Executive department Of the government.
left the Department, Of State in ls43. 10
May. Within month after another most
worthy and respectable gen'leuan-who
cane TO very untlmely end-had taken
my place. had occasion TO know, not of.
fcially, bu, from circumstances, that the
annexation Of Texas TO the United States
was taken up by Mr.. Tyler's administration
as an administration measure, pushed, press.
ed, insisted On, and | believe tina, the hon
orable gentleman to whom have referred,
and for whose memory entertain much
respec,-Mr. Upshur-had something like
a passion for the accomplishment OF this
purpose. And am afraid that the Presl.
den, Of the United States al that time sui.
fered his ardent feelings not little to con
troll his more prudent Judgment. A. any
rate, | saw in 1913 that annexation had be.
come purpose. was not in Congress,
nor in public life, but seeing this slate OF
things, though. i. my duty TO sdmonlsh,
as far as | could, the country OF the exis
teoce Of this purpose. There are gentle.
men-many of them al the Nor,h-o,hers
now in this capital, who know that in the
summer Of 1913, being fully persuaded that
this purpose Of annexlng Texas had been
taken up with zeal and determination by
the Executive government Of the United
States, though, it my duty, aud asked their
concurrence 10 an a.,emp, TO let this pur'
pose be known to the country. conferred
with gentlemen Of distinction and eminence;
proposed some means Of exciting alien.
ton to The question of annexation, before il
should become party question; tor had
learned that when matter becomes par
ty matter, it is in vain 10 argue against Il
OF argue upon ii. But the op'lnis,s, the !
quie tests then, who said all things are well
and lie. all things alone. discouraged, dis
countenanced, represssd, any such effort.
They said the North would take care OF
itself, the country would take care Of itself,
that It would no, sustain Tylsrs project OF
anne xa,ion-when the time came the pow.
or OF the North which was felt IN the House
Of Representatives, would be sufficient to
resis, The measure. And | would now refer
to paragraphs and articles in the most res.