Daily Richmond times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1849-1850, 1850-03-11

ehanUe But under the present circumstances and I'M
der the responsibility winch know incur by what |
am now stating here eel at liberty TO the
nous expressions and statements. made at various times
-. nv own opinions and resolutions respecting the adj
MISSION Of Texas, aud all that has followed. Sir, as
ey As 1885 in the earlier part OF 1887 "A matter OF
conversation and correspondence betwe myself and
some private friends was this project of annexing Tex
As tie United States; and an honorable gentleman
with whom have had long acquaintance, friend OF
mine, nfs perhaps in this chamber mean Gen. Ha
milton. OF South Carolna-was knowing to that cores
p0ndeuce had voted for the recognition of Texan
independence because believed was existing fact,
surprising aud astonishing was, and l wished well
tcNuew republic: bat manifested from the first ut
trf&iliOn o bringing her with her territory into the
UntOu had occasion, SIR in 1897 to meet friends IN
New York, on some political occasion, and tnen
stated my sentiments upon the SUBJECT. 1t was the hrst
time that had occasion 20 advert TO IT. and VIII ASK
ireud me to do me the favor TO read an extract
from the Speech for the Senate may ud rather tedious
to listen the whole OF it. 1t was delivered in Nibos
Garden in 1887
Mr. Greene then read the following extract from the
speech Of the honorable Senator to which he referred
TGsnemen, we all see that, by whomsoever possess
ed, Texas is likely to be savehoding country; and
frankly avow my entire uawilngness to do any thing
which shall exteud the slavery Of the African race on
this continent, add other savehodlng States to the
when say that regard slavery in itself as great
moral, social, and political evil, only use language
which has been adopted by distinguished men, them
selves citizens Of slaveholding States.
II shall do nothing, therefore, to favor or encourage
its further extension. We have slavery already among
The constitution found II among us; II recognised
it, ard gave solemn guarantees
40 the full extent OF these guarantees, we all
bound in honor in justice, and by the constitution All
the stpuaons contained in the constitution in favor OF
the saveholdng States, which already in the Union,
ought 10 be fulfilled, and so tar depends on me, shall
be fulfilled in the fuuess OF their spirit and to the exact
ness oil their letter Slavery it exists in the States is
beyond the Of Congress. 1t is concern OF the
States themselves. They have never submitted 1t TO
Congress, and Congress has no righttul power over
81 shall concur, therefore, in no act no measure no
IndIr1 q
or threaten interfere with the exclusive authority ot
the several States the subject of slavery it exists
within their respective limits. All this appears to me to
be matter OF plain and imperative duty.
But when to speak OF admitting new States,
the subject assumes entirely different aspect Our
rights aud our duties are then buth different.
Il see therefore no political necessity for the annexa-
alton Of Texas to the Unionno advantages to be de-
rived from it; and objections to OF srong and In
my Judgment, OF decisive character"
MIR. WEBSTER. have nothing, sir, to add to nor to
take back from those sentiments That, the Senate will
perceive was in 1887 The purpose OF immediately an
nexug Texas at that time was abandoned orpostponed
aud it was revived with any vigor or some years
In the time it had so happened that had become
member oil the Executive Administration, and was Tor
a snort period in the Department of State The annex
alton OF Texas had become subject OF conversation
NOT the President and heads of
Departments as well with other public men. No
serious attempt was then made to bring about lett
the Department OF State May, lS43 and shortly after
Iearoed though way connected with Official lnor-
nation that design had been taken up oil bringing
in Texas with her slave territory and population, into
the United States. l was here in Washington at the
time and the persons now here who will remember
that we had arranged meeting Tor conversation upon
it. went he me to Massachusetts and proclaimed the
existence OF that purpose, but could get no audience,
and but little attention. Some did not believe it, and
some were engaged in their pursuits. They had
gone to their farms to their merchandise, and was
impossible to any sentiment IN New England or
in Massachusetts that should combine the two great po-
tcai parties against this annexaon and, indeed there
was no hope OF bringing the Northern Democracy into
that view, tor the leaning was all the other way; But
. sir, even with Wings, and leading Wings, am ashamed
10 say, there great indifference towards the admls-
sion Texas with slave territory into this Union. 1t
went on | was then out OF Congress. The annexa-
ton resolutions passed the ls OF March, 1915. Texas
complied with them the Legislature OF Texas com
piled with the condtous aud accepted the guarantees
Tor The phraseoogy Of the language OF the resolution is
that Texas to IN upon the conditions and under
the guarantees herein prescribed
l happened to be returned TO the Senate in March,
2S4, and here in December ls45 when the accep-
lance by Texas Of the conditions proposed by Congress
were lad before by the President and act tor the
cousunulaIon OF the connexion was laid before the
two Houses. The connexion was not completed.
A final law doing the deed of annexation ultimately
had not been passed; and whenit was upon its final
passage here Iexpre>sedmy opposition il and record
ed my the negative; and there that vote stands
with The observations that made upon that occasion.
It happened that between 1887 and this time on va
rious occasions aud opportunities, had expressed my
entire opposition TO the admission OF slave States, or the
acquisition Of slave territories, 10 be added to the
uileI States. know, sir, no change in my own sem
sneus OF my own purposes in that respect will now
agau ask my friend from Rhode Island to read ano her
extract from speech OF mine, made at Wing Con-
ventou Springfield, Massachusetts, IN the month OF
September l547.
Mr. Greene here read the following extract:
ave hear much just of pdnacea for the dan
gers and evils Of slavery and slave annexation which
they cali the Wilmot proyiso' That certainly is just
sentiment, butt not sentiment to found any new
party upon Ii is not sentiment which Massachu-
sets Wings differ There is in this hall who
holds to 1t more irmy than do, nor who adheres
10 tmore than another.
feel some little interest in this matter sir. Did not
lcommit myself in 1898 to the whole doctrine, fully
entrelyl And must be permitted to say that cannot
quite consent that more recent discoveries should clam
she merit aud take out patent
d" ldeny The priority OF their invention Allow me to
saw sir it Is not their thunder"
"We to use the first and last and every occasion
which oferslo oppose the extension OF slave power.
But speak OF 1t here as in Congress- as political
quest ton, question for statesmen act upon. We
must so regard it, certainly do not mean to say that
is less important in moral point OF view that it is not
more important in many other points OF view; but as
legislator, or in any official capacity, must look at it,
consider il, and decide as matter OF political action
Mr. WEBSTER. On other occasions in debates here,
have expressed my determination to- vote for no ac-
cushion, cesson or annexation, North or South
East West. My opinion has been that we have ter
rtory enough, and that should follow the Spartan
maxim, improve adon what you have, seek no fur
ther think that 1t W as in some observations that
made here the three million loan bill that avowed
that sentiment. In Short sir, the sentiment has been
avowed quite oen in as many places, and before as
many assemblies, as any OF the humble sentiments OF
mine ought 10 be avowed.
But now, that under certain conditions, Texas is in
with all her territories, slave State, with solemn
pledge that ii she is divided into many States, those
States may GENE in slave States south OF 36 deg. 80
mln., how we TO deal with it? l know no way Of
honorable legislation but when the proper time
fertile enactment TO carry into effect all that we have
stipulated to do do not entirely agree with my ho-
norabe friend from Tennessee (Mr. Belly that as
soon as the time comes when she is enttled TO
another Representative, we should create a new
State. The rule in regard to it | take to be this
that, when we have created States OF Terrific
res, have generally gone upon the idea that when
there is population enough TO form State, sixty
thousand such thing, would create State;
buitmay be thought quite different thing when State
is divided, and TWO States made OF it. 1t
dues not follow, in such case that the rule Of
onnoan+ ebontd he snnIiPd That hovvaver 10