The voice of freedom. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1839-1848, 1848-03-09


: " ot ther abest antagonists for appealing to tn
General Government for legislative action upon
matter hitherto alleged to lie exclusively within TIN
: jurisdiction Of the several States. Butmy colleague
Is Mr. ColamerD has lately so fully and clearly euci
dated this point that would be quite idle for me
TO enlarge upon the subject.
~ have neither time nor desire to enter at present
INTO any discussion Of the moral character of slavery
a Itself, as Christian or an unchrstian Institution
have already, on other occasions, expressed myseI
q explicitly enough on that topic and myopnons are
still unchanged, in spite Of the theological argument
the proof from Holy Writ, which have heard adj
vanced on this floor, and with which, as certain i'll
dcatlons lead me to conclude, we are again to be
; favored
But whatever may be the character of that
system, whatever its influence for good or
evil it is Of great moment to the cause of
historical truth that it should never be for
gotten-that the true motive which dictated
the action of all, | repeat it, Of all official per-
sons, who aided in the annexation of Texas,
was to extend. strengthen, and pprpetuate
the lettering institution Of domestic slavery
But wrong as l hold the motive to have
been, fear that, if the whole truth were re-
ycaled, we should find more of crime in the
means and appliances through which that act
was accomplished, than in the end itself. He
who would write the blacklist page in Amcri-
can history must ferret out the secret and long
continued intrigues, by which the Texan
Revolution was fomcnted uncover the hollow
duplicity with which our neutral relations
with Mexico were volated disclose the
Machiavellan diplomacy by which opposite
and inconsistent arguments were made to in
fluence different sections of this country, and
the arts whereby annexation was made the
policy Of the Democratic party, in spite of
the deliberate and soemnly expressed con-
vlctions Of the entire North depict how
the hopes of Texan stock, jobbers fell and rose
rs this or that Northern Democratic member
exhibited tokens Of rebellion or meellly gave
in his adhesion to the slavish policy Of his
party; expose the means by which certain
sudden and notorious changes of opinion in
these Legislative halls were producrd explain
how that contemplate faction, tllat so long
swung here like pendulum, between the law
Of conscience and the dictate Of party, alter
natcly bctraying each, was at length fixed |
and, in fine tell what votes were cxtorted by
craven fear, and what purchased BY damna-
bic corruption.
I think myself bound in candor to admit
that, however selfish may have been the poll
cy OF the South in the matter Of annexation, |
the conduct Of the most INSCRIPTIONS South |
crn advocates Of that unoward measure is in
Iinitc!y more cXcusabe than that of their
Northern allies, who, by the stand they have
taken on the Wilmot Proviso, have pronounc-
ed upon themselves judgment of irrcvocable
condemnation. The whole Southern people
entertained fixed opinion, mistaken l think,
but unquestionably sincere, that the best in
terests Of the South impcrously demanded .
annexation; and those brave, good men from
the slayehoding States, who stood by their
'ch0!e country in that dark hour, did verify .
believe that, in obcying the voice of con-
science, they were making q heroic sacrifice
Of local interest to the stronger claims Of
the general good. The Northern supporters
of annexation have placed upon record SOL
eInn avowa, which time will not expungc,
that they had falsely betrayed the rights and
interests Of those who sent them hther. The
Wllmot ProyiSo, as it is called after its puta-
tive father or the BrinkerhofI' Proviso, as
perhaps it should be styled, (or leave those
gentlemen to settle the question Of paternity
between themselres,) coming us it did from a
knot Of politicians, whose whole political ac-
ton furnishes most conclusive proof OF their
insincerity, is the boidest experiment ever
tried upon the crcduty Of the American peo-
pie ; and now that il has failed to deuCe those
upon whom it was intended to impose, that it
has effected neither Of the two objects it was
designed to accomplish, have no hesitation
in predicting, that many of those who were
most jealous for its adoption will be the first
to listen to temptation from high places, and |
TO abandon the principles it embodies. Sir
embrace not all in this sweeping condcmna-
ton. Some there we're who were untainted |
with the original sin Of annexation, some whose |
moral courage had not been stern enough to
resist the menaccs Of party and the blandish-
mcnts of power, and who, now rcDcntant,
took, too late, this only method Of testifying /
their unavalihg regret for that most deplora-
bic and fatal error. But for TIE mass Of those .
who both promoted annexation and sustained |
the Wilmot Proviso, have no such charity. |
With these, two considerations were opera
tive. Some hoped to propitiate local feel !
ing at home; with others, the whole affair |
was but an ill-concealed stratagem to dispose
of an obnoxious Western candidate for.the
Presidency, by compelling him to commit
himself on this ticklish question by his vote |
in the Senate, while his great rival was lying
perdu at the North, in a position which re-
lieved him from the necessity of taking either
horn Of the dilemma. That Western gentle
man has taken ground against the proyiso
but in spite Of this, if he should chance to be
selected as the Democratic candidate for the |
Executive chair, will confess that know
little Of Democracy, if his no;sest adhcrents
are not found among the very men who dug
that pit to entrap him. The Proyiso, it will
be rcmembered was adopted in the House of
Representatives, as an amendment to the |
" three million BILL" on the 10Th of February,
1847, by Il majority Of nine. On the Sd of
March, 1917, the Administration defeated the
amendment by a majority of .f0e. Sir, they
could just as easily have made that majority
MY. Some solitary Democratic Abdic, in
deed, might have been found faithful enough, |
with flame of zeal severe" to maintain
"Against revolted multtudes the cause
OF truthn