The Middlebury galaxy. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1848-1850, 1848-04-18
SPEECH OF
MR.. UPHAM,
OF VERMONT, ON
THE TEN REGIMENT BILL, AND
THE MEXICAN WAR.

Delivered ine Senare Of the United States. Feb Is,
1913.
(Concluded)
Here, sir, we have not only full endorse
ment of Mr.. Van Buren's views against annex
alton, but strong argument showing that
Mexico and Texas were at war, and that the
adoption of the measure would make us par
ty to the war, and compel US TO bring it to Il
conclusion, either by negotiation or by arms.
Well, sir, as the northern democracy anticipa-
ted, the brand" was thrown into Congress.
On the 22d of April, 1914, President Tyler
transmitted 20 the Senate, for ratification, a
treaty annexing the republic of Texas to the
United States. And what was its fate Why
sir, it was rejected by vote of 16 yeas to 80
navs Every democratic Senator from the
north, with the exception of Mr.. Woodbury.,
from New Hampshire, voted against it. The
rejection, of the treaty, however, was but a
temporary defeat of the measure. The Balti-
more Convention, assembled for the purpose
of nominating democratic candidates for Presi-
dent and Vice President,to took the foreign re-
lations OF the country in charge, and resolved
upon the remuneration of Texas and the re-
occupation of Oregon. How, Mr.. President
was this resolution received by the northern
democracy New York rebelled at once
The leaders of the party came out in circu-
lar denuuncing it as an unauthorized interpo-
lation into the democratic creed and refused
| to sustain it. MIR. Van Buren,, their fayorlte
candidate for the Presidency, had been reject
ed by that convention for his opposition to an
nexation and Mr.. Polk, known TO be friend
! ly to the measure, had received the nomina-
| ton. In this condition of things, it was work
of some difficulty to reconcile the democracy
of New York to the nominees of the conven-
| ton. But difficult as the task seemed, it was
at length accomplished. The honorable Silas
| Wright, who was a member of the Senate IN
1874, and had voted against the treaty OF an
| nexation, and who was known to be strongly
opposed to the measure, was nominated as a
candidate for governor. This nomination re-
conciled the democracy to vote for MIR. Folk,
provided no democratic member Of Congress
should be elected who was not pledged against
annexation. The news of this arrangement oil
family difficulties in New York was soon con-
veyed TO the New England democracy. MIR
| Wright's nomination, il was said, would secure
New York to MIR. Polk, and New England
must come in and sustain the party. Oppo-
sition to annexation soon began to die away,
and, in a few weeks, the whole democratic
party wheeled into the ranks and gave their
support to the nominees of the convention.
| Now, sir to keep up the party character of the
measure will 20 back to the resolution of an
ncxaton. In the winter Of ls45, after the elec-
| ton of Mr.. Polk, a joint resolution was intro
duced into the House of Representatives for the
| annexation of Texas 10 the United States, and
| on the same day, believe, resolution for the
same purpose was introduced iuto the Senate
On the 25th of January, tile test vote was taken
| on the resolution in the House ofReprcsentatives
and it was passed-Yeas, ll3, Nays, LOG, every
whic in 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. Bag
by) among others, made an able speech against
| it. He denied the constitutional power of Con-
gress to bring into the Union foreign State, by
joint resolution that power, he maintained, be-
lonced exclusively, 10 another branch of the gov
| eminent 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, Mir Walker then Senator from Mis-
| sissippi, moved an amendment comforting upon
| the President the power to withhold the resolu-
ton, 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 Tn
ion The amendment was adopted. A motion
was then made by Senator on this side of the
chamber. to strike out the first and second sec
tons of the resolution and confine the President
| 10 negotiation alone for the acquisition of the
country This measure was opposed and defeat
ed-the Senator from Alabama voting with the
majority. The resolution was then passed by q
vote of % yeas, TO 25 nays, every democratic Sen
ator voting in the affirmative, and every whia
Senator, with the exception of Mr. Henderson
from Mississippi, Mr.. johnson, from Louisiana
and Mr. Merrick from MARYLAND voting in the
NEGATIVE.
MIR BAGBY. donot suppose for moment
that the Senator intends to do the slightest in
Justice interference to what l 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 ofRepresentatives, bu
that would vote for the proposition as amended
BY the Senate. l disclaimed the idea of its being
indispensably necessary to annex Texas by trea
ty, but said it might be done by treaty, or com
pact, and cited the compact between the United
States end Georgia, in 1902, as case in point.
| Mr.. UPHAM. The Senator opposed the
resolution as it came from the House.