The northern tribune. [volume] (Bath, Me.) 1847-1855, 1848-04-12
Speech of NIr. webster.
ON THE NEW LOAN BILL.
From H0Mston's Rep0rts.l In SENATE, March %.

(coNTINUED.)
For a few years | held position in the
Executive department of the government. l
left the Department of State in 1913, in May.
Within month after another most worthy
and respectable gentleman-who came to
very untimely end-had taken my place. L
had occasion to know, not officially, but from
circumstances, that the annexation of Texas
to the United States was taken up by Nh.
yler's administration measure, pushed, pres
sed, insisted on, and believe that the honor
able gentleman to whom have referred, and
for whose memory entertain much respect
Mr.. Upshur-had something like passion for
the accomplishment of this purpose. And l
am afraid that the President of the United
States at that time suffered his ardent feelings
not little to control his more prudent judg
ment. At any rate, l saw in 1913 that an
nexation had become a purpose. was not
in Congress. nor in public life, but seeing this
state of things, thought it my duty to adj
monish, as far as could the country of the
existence Of this purpose. There are gentle
men-many of them at the North-others
now in this capitol, who know that in the
Summer of 1916, 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,
l thought it my duty and asked their concur
renee in an attempt to let this purpose be
known to the country. l conferred with
gentlemen of distinction and eminence
proposed some means Of exciting public at
tention to the question of annexation, before
1t should become party question; for | had
| learned that when matter becomes a party
matter it is in vain to argue upon it. But
the optimists. the quietists then, who said all
| = Ill 1o4 oil Il
couraged, discountenaneed, repressed. any
such effort They said the North would take
care of itself, the country would take care of
itself, that it would not sustain Tyler's rro-
ject of ahnexation-when the time came the
power of the North which was felt IN the
House Of Representatives would be sufficient
to resist the measure. And could now refer
to paragraphs and articles in the most respecta-
| BILE journals at the North, in which an attempt
was made to produce an impression that there
was no danger that we should have an ad-
dition of new States that we need not alarm
ourselves abont it. I was not in Congress
when the resolution providing for the annexa-
! ton vas ssed. only know that up to
very short period before the passage of that
resolution the general impression was in the
country where belonged that no such resolu-
tons could pass. But l have found. Sir, in
the course of thirty years experience that
whatever measures the Executive government
embraces and pushes, is quite likely to sue
coed. There is giving way somewhere. If
the Executive government acts with uniform
ity, steadiness, entire unity of purpose
or later it is quite apt enough, according to
my construction of history, too apt to effect
its purpose.
Just before the commencement of the pres
| l,>,.x IL >or g. tla
nexation of Texas passed Congress. Texas
complied with the provisions of these resolu-
tons, and she was here, or the case was here
on the 22d of December, lS45, for her final
admission into the Union, as one of these
States. l took occasion then to state that
hoped I had shown all proper regard for Texas,
| that had been certainly opposed to Annexa-
ton, that if l should go over the whole mat
ter again should have nothing new to add !;
that had acted all along under the unani-
nous 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 a
powerful republic, without the greediness and
| hunger of empire. And added that while
l held with as much faithfulness as any citi-
zen of the country, to all the original arrange
ments and compromises OF the Constitution
under which we live, never could and /
never should bring myself to be in favor of
the admission of any States into the Union,
as slave-holding States, and might have adj
ded any States at all. Now as have said,
in all this l acted under the resolutions of
the State of Massachusetts,, certainly concur
rent with my own judgment, so often repeat
ed, and reaffirmed by the unanimous consent
= ~ r. ILL auto l,otT Of ,,,o1
90 through the series of pointing out not only
the impolicy. but the unconstitutionality of
such annexation. A case presented is this ::
If State proposes to come into the Union,
and come in Slave State, then there is an
augmentation of the inequality in the repre-
sentation of the people, which already exists
an inequality already existing, with which l