The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1850-03-13


II is, that all Texas south Of 36o 3O, which il
nearly the whole of il, shall be admitted into the
Union as slave State. II was a slave State, anc
therefore came in a slave state, and the guaran
ty is, that States shall be made out of it, ano
that such States as are formed out of that portion
of Texas lying south of 36o 3V may come in al
slave States to the humber of four in addition Il
the State then in existence, and admitted at tina
time by these resolutions. i know no form Of leg
islation which can strengthen that. know M
mode Of recognition that can add title of weigh
to it, i listened respectfully TO the resolutions o
my honorable friend from Tennessee, (Mr. BELL.
He proposed to recognise that stipulation witt
Texas. But any additional recognition woult
weaken the force it; because it stands here the
ground of "a contract, thing done for considera
ton. II is law founded on contract with Texas
and designed to carry that contract into effect.
recognition, now, founded not any consideration
or any contract would not be 80 strong as 1t nov
stands on the face of the resolution. Now know
no way, candidly confess, in which this Govern
ment, acting in good faith, trust it always will
can relieve itself from that stipulation and pledge
by any honest course of Legislation whatever. And
therefore, say again that, so far as Texas is con-
cerned, the whole of Texas south of $50 30, which
suppose embraces all the slave territory, there ii
no land, not an acre, the character of which is not
established by law. law which cannot be repealed
without the violation Of contract, and plain dsre-
gard of the public faith.
hope, Sir, 1T is now apparent that my PROPOSE
ton, so far as Texas is concerned, has been main
tanned; and the provision in this article, and it has
and that that part of Texas which lies north oi
thirty four degrees north latitude may be formed
into free States, is dependant, in like manner, up
on the consent of Texas, herself slave State
Well, now, sir, how came this? How came it to
pass that within these walls, where it is said by the
honorable member from South Carolina that the
free States have majority, this resolution of
I nexaton, such as have described it. found ma
jority in both Houses of Congress? Why, sir, il
found that majority by the great number of North
ern votes added to the entire Southern vote, at
least nearly the whole of the Southern votes That
majority was made up of Northern, as well as OF
Southern votes In the House of Representatives
1t stood, think, about eighty Southern votes for
the admission of Texas, and about fifty Northern
votes for the admission of Texas. In the Senate
the vote stood for the admission of Texas twenty
seven, and twenty-five against it; and of those
twenty seven votes, constituting majority for the
admission of Texas in this body no less than thir-
teen came from the free States, four of them were
from New England The whole of these thirteen
Senators from the free States, within fraction you
see of onehaf of all the votes in this body for the
| admission of Texas, with its immeasurable extent
of slave territory, were sent here by free States.
Sir there is not remarkable chapter in his
tory OF political events, political parties, and polit
cal men, as is afforded by this measure for the ad-
mission of Texas with this immense territory, that
bird cannot fly over in a week. [Laughter.] Sir,
New England, with come of her own votes, sup.
ported this measure. Three fourhs of the votes OF
libertyloving Connecticut given for il in the
other House, and one half here. There vote
of the honorable member who addressed the Senate
| the day Nefore yesterday, (Mr. HAMLIN,) and
| who was then Representative from Maine in the
other House; but there was a vote or two from
Maine, aye and there vote for il from Mas
sachusets, the gentleman then representing, and
now living in, the district in which the prevalence
OF free sentiment for couple of years or 80 has
defeated the choice OF any member to represent il
in Congress. Sir, that body Of Northern and East
crn men, who gave those votes at that time, are
now seen taking upon Themselves in the nomen-
clature Of politics, the appellation of the Northern
Democracy They undertook to WELD the destinies
of this empire. if may call republic empire
and their policy was, and they persisted in it, &c
bring into this country all the territory they could
They did il under pledges absolute pledges to the
slave interest in the case of Texas and afterwards
they lent their aid il. bringing in these new con
quests My honorable friend from Georgia, in
March, 1S47, moved the Senate TO declare that the
war ought not TO be prosecuted for acquisition, for
| conquest, for the ACKNOWLEDGMENT of Mexico. The
same Northern Democracy entirely voted against
it. He did not get a vote from them. II suited the
views, the patriotism, the elevated sentiments OF
| the Northern Democracy TO bring in a world here,
| among the mountains and valleys OF California and
New Mexico, or any other part OF Mexico, and
then quarrel about it, TO bring il in, and then en-
deavor 10 put upon ii the saving grace of the Will
mot proyiso. There were two eminent and highly
| respectable gentlemen from the North and East,
then leading gentlemen in the Senate, refer, and
do 80 with entire respect for entertain for both OF
those gentlemen, in general high regard, TO MIR.
X,
who voted for the admission OF Texas. They would
not have that vote any other way than IL stood;
and they would have il as il did stand> speak OF
the vote upon the annexation of Texas. Those two
gentlemen would have the resolution of annexation
justas IL is and they voted for il just IL is and
| their eyes were all open 20 IT, The honorable
| member who addressed us the other day, from
South Carolina, was then Secretary Of State. His
correspondence with Mr.. Murphy, the charge
d'affaires of the United States in Texas, had been
published. That correspondence was all before
those gentlemen, and the Secretary bad the bold
ness and candor 10 ayow in that correspondence
that the great object sought by the annexation Of
Texas was TO strengthen the slave interest Of the
South. Why, sir, he said in 80 many words
MIR. CALHOUN. Will the honorable Senator per-
NIT me TO interrupt him for moment
| Mr.. WEBSTER. Certainly.
Mr.. CALHOUN ] am very reluctant to interrupt
the honorable gentleman; but, upon point Of so
much importance, deem II right TO put myself
reetus in ewig did not put il upon the ground
assumed by the Senator put IL upon this ground:
that Great Britain bad announced TO this country,
in many words, that her object was to abolish
slavery in Texas, and through Texas to accomplish
the adjustment Of slavery in the United States and
the world. The ground j put II on was, that II
would make exposed frontier, and, If Great
Britain succeeded in her object, IL would be impos-
sble that that frontier could be secured against the
aggression Of the abolitonists and that this Gov
ernment was bound, under the guarantees Of the
Constitution, 10 protect US against such state Of
| things.
MIR. WEBSTER. That comes, suppose, sir, to ex-
actly the same thing. II was, that Texas must be
obtained for the security Of the slave interest Of the
South.
Mr.. CALHoUS. Another view is very distinctly
given.
MIR. WEBsrER. That the object set forth in
the correspondence Of worthy gentleman not now
living, who preceded the honorable member from
South Carolina in that office. There repose on the
files Of the Department Of State, have occasion
TO know, strong letters from Mr.. Upshur TO the
United States minister in England, and believe
there some 10 the same minister from the hon
orabc'Senator himself asserting TO this effect the
sentiments Of this Government, that Great Britain
was expected not 10 interfere TO take Texas out Of
the hands Of its then existing Government, aud
make II a free country. But my argument, my
suggestion is this; that those gentlemen who com
posed the Northern Democracy when Texas was
brought into the Union, saw, with all their eyes,
that u was brought in slave country, and
brought in for the purpose Of being maintained as
slave territory 20 the Greek Kalends. rather think
the honorable gentleman who was then Secretary
Of State might in some OF his correspondence with
Mr.. Murphy, have suggested that il was not expe-
dent to say too much about this object lest il should
create some alarm. At any rate Mr.. Murphy
wrote TO him, that England was anxious TO get rid
0f the cOnatitution of 4