Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1850-05-30

was prisoner ne validity OF that treaty
) depended on the after ratification Of Mexico.
which was never given. Texas may have
been unjustly treated in the transaction. but
that does not make her treaty good. She
cannot expect to add to its force BY show
ing that she has been outwitted and cheat
ed by an acknowledged rascal. The CAP
ltuatlon of Bexar, and the testimony of a
subaltern general, Filisola, and the Mexi-
can Secretary of War, are good evidence to
show that there was compulsory consider
alton with Santa Anna. lie was compeIled
to use that as means of escape from the
tolls of his conqueror; but they prove moth
ing as to consideration between Texas
and Mexico. Suppose Burgoyne had prom
ised, on consideration of getting out of the
clutches OF Gates, that the St Lawrence
should be the boundary between the United
States and the British provinces, should YOU
expect that promise to be kept! His mas
ter would have told him that he was sent
out to fight, not to sell territory or settle
boundaries. Mexico, with Roman STERN
ness, declares that she sent her general to
defend, and not betray the country: that
she IS not bound by his treaty, because she
never gave him power TO do that kind of
business.
The great authority Of Mr.. Polk is bro't
to sanction the claim. | do not propose to
balance it by the authority of another Pres
ldent believing exactly the reverse. There
are many things IN which the opinion of
Mr. Polk would have great influence with
me, some in which it would be final. This
is not one Of them. With the strictest in
tegrity, which | cheerfully accord him. he
had strong bias to partial decision. Tex
as made him President, and he must have
felt bound by gratitude to her. When that
opinion was first expressed, it was for extend
ing the territory of his own country against
foreign power. When he reaffir.ned it,
he had still stronger motive. Ii was the
only defence for the Mexican War. Take
away that, and you leave him without apol-
ogy for one of the greatest acts of Injustice
IN modern history. In questions of this
kind Mr. Polk does not carry the usual
weight Of his own great authority When
a man has made clear and unquestioua-
bic" mistake of five degrees and two-thirds.
IN northwestern boundary, YOU must not
quote him on me, to decide a point in south
ern geography.
My deliberate conviction, that rood bu-
sIness man would not buv farm of noun
tain or desert land with no better title than
Texas can give to that territory. Butiftbe
title Is good, If she could bring guarantee
from the Creator of the world. why sbould
we wish to purchase it ! fit Is really hers.
let her keep it; if not, we do not wish to
buy 1t. Certainly we cannot think of doinp
nib Tbs SIT mfiP6dRmfq WHICH The honorable
bill That amendment proposes that the
laws permitting slavery shall continue in
force in that territory, till 1t shall be formed
INTO State We have been often ,old
that we are not called to lerislate for estab-
fishing slavery, but we have here one re-
exception. We are asked not only
to buy territory, but to take 1t under the
incumbrance ofslave law. lfany man con-
seuis to vote for that purchase under those
conditions, and has no dolts, or dougfaces
for constituents, he had better weigh it well,
whether that vote will not sign his own po-
litca death warrant | cannot look upon
the effort ofTexas in any other light than i
browbeating game, to wrench that
territory from weaker neIghbor. If we,
by any act, consent to that usurpation, |
trust we shall have sufficient sef-respect
forever to keep silence about the partition Of
Poland
1t is said we may as well take the land,
for we are liable for the debts of Texas, be-
cause we have taken her commercial reven-
nes which were pledged for the payment of
those debts That NAV be true, but did not
Texas agree to raise that inortgagel Is she
not bound in honor to do II! We gave her
means enough and more than enough. This
is shown by the resolution.
Said State, when admitted into the I'm
ion, shall retain all the public funds, debts,
taxes, and dues of every kind, which may
be due and owing said republic; and shall
also retain all the vacant and unapproprla-
ted lands lying within lis limits, to be ap-
Piled to the payment OF the debts and iabil-
tiles of said Republic of Texas and the
residue of such lands after discharging said
debts and liabilities to be disposed of as
said State may direct but IN no egent are
sad debts and liabilities to bccome a charge
upon the Goronmcnt of tie United Statcs,"
Other new States give up their lands to
the reneral government and pay their own
debts Texas derives her portion of the
dement, from THESE, duu I6ldluS jill Her OWL
1t was assumed that they would more than
pay her debts she had the control of the
''residue" This was on the condition that
in "no event" should her debts and liabili-
ties be a charge on the Government Of the
United States We wish to hold Der to that
Texas is reported as having one
kundred and eighfy-fon millions of acres of
vacant and unappropriateG land. One of
her honorable members Mr.. Kaufman
thinks that too high an estimate Grant that
1t is so reduce it as you please, there IS
still large residue beyond the payment Of
her debt
object to the payment of that debt on
account of It's character. 1t Is her revou-
tionary debt We have not yet paid our
own. The payment Of that will be a stand
ing invitation to revolt in the provinces of
nelghboring Government, urging them to
cut loose from then present connection and
fight their way into this Union, and all their
expenses will be paid. What other proof
will be asked than that we have twice paid
the revolutionary debt of Texas ? l do not