Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1848-01-28

whole of it, but will content myself with sending
to the Clerk and asking him to read an extract
from this letter.
DEPARTMENT OF STATE,
Washington, August s, 1919.
SRA private letter from a citizen in Mary
land, then in London, contains the following pas
sage:,-
fidence, that there is now here Mr. Andrews
deputed by the abolitionists Of Texas to nego-
tate with the British Government that he has
seen Lord Aberdeen, and submitted his project
for the abolition of slavery in Texas; which is,
that there shall be organized a company in Eng
land who shall advance sum sufficient to pay
for the slaves now in Texas, and receive in pay
ment Texas lands that the sum thus advanced
shall be paid over as an indemnity for the aboli-
ton of slavery and | am authorized by the
Texan minister to say to you, that Lord Abcr-
deem has agreed that the British Government
will guarantee the payment of the interest on
this loan, upon condition that the Texan Gov
eminent will abolish slavery"
This proposition, it will be seen, was exceed
ingly simple and easy to be understood. 1t an
nounced, not that there was a scheme on foot
amongst set of fanatica politicians, to decoy
away the slaves, not to steal them-nothing of
that sort-but a proposition had been entertain
ed, by which the government and Shareholders
of Texas agreed to abolish slavery. and for this
agreement on their part, it was said that COM
pany had agreed to advance stipulated price.
What right had our government to interfere p
The Secretary says 81 movement Of this sort
cannot be contemplated in silence" agree it
should not but what should every American
heart have said, whenit was found that a scheme
of this kind was on foot {? Should they not have
burst out in thankful aspirations to Almighty
God that such scheme of benevolence as that,
had even been thought Of | think the Secreta-
ry says well in saying that they could not look
on in silence.
The Secretary further says, 'such an attempt
upon any neghboring country would necessari-
" be viewed by this Government with very deep
concern"
Certainly, they should have looked on with
deep concern, as deep as that with which afec-
ton watches by the side of dying love- now gath
erng hope from the symptoms, that the smiles
of health will again smooth the cheek of love,
and then trembling lest the pail Of despair should
settle on our hopes.
Again he says, sit cannot be permitted to sue
coed without the most strenuous efforts on our
part to arrest calamity so serious to every part
of our country A calamity so serious to eve
~ part of the country; serious TO n. 1amp-
shire, to Massachusetts, and the other New
England States And, sir, this bill which is now
before you, is one of the measures which are to
be adopted TO redeem the pledge thus made. In
the same letter it is said
"The establishment, in the very midst of our
slaveholding States, of an independent Govern
ment, forbidding the existence of slavery, and
by people born, fer the most part, among us
reared up in our hapits, and speaking our Ian
NOT fail ~ ,I,,,,
py effects upon both partes.''
When l saw it formally announced by the
Government that it could not produce any bu,
g unhappy effects" ! thought that | was mis-.
taken in the reading | thought it must be a
mistake of the printer, but found that i. wac
no mistake, that the announcement was really
made. What mistake then did the Pilgrim
Fathers make in coming to found colony in the
New World. where they might avoid the conse.
quences of slavery. Had they not slavery
enough at home, that they babe farewell to ev.
cry thing that bound their hearts to the land OF
their irth,-the land where the bones of their
Fathers reposed and came over and founded
the institution of American slavery? Was j,
for this that those patriots wandered from Eng.
land to Holland, and from Holland here? In
heavens name, was not England oppressive
enough One more extract and | leave this let.
ter.
''Few calamites could befal this country more
TO be deplored than the establishment of pre-.
dominant British influence and the abolition OF
domestic slavery in Texas
Few calamties could befal the country like
this
had understood, up to the time when read
this declaration, that the institution of slavery
for good or bad, was State institution.
thought it was one which the general govern
ment had no right to touch Everything that
had ever heard upon the subject had tended to
take that institution from the cognzance of the
general government, and make it exclusively a
subject of State policy. But here find it bap
tzed, and made one of the Gods before which the
whole people are to bow down and worship.
From this cause. whether remote or immedi.
ate, this war proceeded. Can any man deny
this ! We may have our doubts whether, il
there had been more caution and prudence, thi,
war would have been precipitated upon us at sc
early period. But is it not evident that the
whole matter springs from this Was not an
neXatlon itself an act Of war War was exist
ing between Mexico and Texas at The time
by the very fact of anneXing to ourselves one
OF the belligerent nations, we incurred the res
possibility of fighting her battles. Ii this, then
be the cause of the war, | come next TO the
question how this war commenced Well, sir
be found asking that question at this time, wheI
the President has told us over and over again Sc
many times how it commenced--that it com
menced by the act of Mexico. Said the Prcsi
dent in his message to Congress of the Iii
| May, lSi6
In my message at the commencement OF TIN
present session, informed you that upon TIN
earnest appeal both of the Congress and Con
venton OF Texas, | had ordered an efficient mil
itary force TO take a position $ between the Nue.
ces and the Del Norte." This had become ne
cessary, to meet threatened invasion of Texa
by the Mexican forces, for which extensive mil
itary preparations had been made The invasion
was threatened solely because Texas had deter
mined, in accordance with solemn resolution
of the Congress of the United States, to anne,
herself to our Union and under these crcum
stances, 1t was plainly our duty to extend on
protection over her citizens and soil.
This force was concentrated at Corpus Chris
Il, and remained there until after had received
such information from Mexico as rendered
probable, if not certain, that the Mexican govern
ment would refuse TO receive our Envoy.
"Meantime, Texas, by the final action of on
Congress, had become an integral part Of GU
Union. The Congress of Texas, by its act o
December 49, 1886, had declared the Rio de
Norte to be the boundary OF that republic. 1t
jurisdiction had been extended and exercised be
yond the Nueces. The country between tina
river and the Del Norte had been represented il
the Congress and in the convention of Texas
had thus taken part in the act of annexation il
self and is now included within one of on
Congressional districts. Our own Congress