The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1850-04-17


cheering progress OF emancipation sentiment and
movements, particularly in Virginia and Kentucky,
but contributed to fasten still more tightly the
chains upon every slave within the southern limits
There was indeed, through all the North, the same
abhorrence Of slavery, founded in religious senti-
ment, as expressed by nearly all the great men,
of both North and South, at the time Of the adop-
tiun of the Constitution but, however deeply
GREETED il was well understood that that instrument
had forbidden our meddling with ii within the
States. There was, too, an open and continued
protest against the shameful and dsgraceful slave
traffic in this Distrcta practice that stinks in the
nostris Of the whole nation--which has never, to
my knowledge, in public or in private, been justi-
fed by any reputable southern man, and which
should now at once be swept away.
But until the annexation of Texas was set on foot
there were attempts OF any importance at politi-
cal combinations based upon the anti-slavery feel
ing. When, however, that stupendous "aggres-
petuate slavery and the political power connected
with its interests in the General Government
then, sir. the North was aroused. We saw that
vast region, constituting an independent foreign
nation, brought into our Union by means which
startled the most sluggish, and for purposes which
could not be mistaken. We saw the disciples of
the school Of notification, and the whole church
whose form Of worship is contained in the resolu-
tons of '9S-neither Of which can find in our Con-
stitution power enough 10 legislate for Ter
ritories after we acquire them, improve the har
bors and rivers within our ancient borders-we saw
them readily finding ample constitutional power to
annex foreign government with more square
miles than all New England The interests of sla-
very demanded it, and 1t was done. BY the prompt
and efficient aid Of the reliable cohorts of northern
Democracy annexation was accomplished.
The final admission of Texas as a State took place
in December, lS45, and her Representatives and
Senator's then took their seats and that very session
of Congress developed to the North of the great
purposes for which it was DONE II was at that ses
sion Of Congress that the system Of legislation estab
shed for the protection OF the free labor of peo
pie was struck down, and the existing tariff act Of
ls46 substituted in its place, Without the votes OF
the Texan Senators this could never have been done!
know full well that Mr.. CALHOUN has recently de-
nicd that the purpose for which annexation was
started was the extension of slavery but all history
of the affair proves otherwise. The diplomatic
respondence which preceded it, his own dispatches,
and those Of Mr. Upshur, all declare ii in the most
express terms and no denial at this day change
the belief of mankind concerning it. Indeed sucha
denial is only matter of surprise for have recently
seen speech Of one Of Mr.. CALHoUN's leading
friends-a gentleman well known on this floor,
(Mr. RHErT, ,)-delivered to the Democratic party
of Charleston, in Hibernia Hail. September %, ls4s,
in which he says
Texas, too, we carried against the northern
Wings, with the aid of the Democratic party This
was great triumph for the South"
That it was such triumph we all know; and, To
show how great and complete triumph il was, and
how much cause the North had for waking up, /
ask attention for few moments to the character of
the resolution of annexation ITSELF and the obliga-
tions which grow out oft. II is as follows:
New States of convenient size, not exceeding
four in number, in addition TO said State Of Texas
! and having sufficient population, may hereafter,
by the consent of said State be formed out of the
Territory thereof, which shall be entitled " admis
sion under the provisions Of the Federal Constitu
ton. And such States may be formed out Of that
portion of said Territory lying south Of thirty six
degrees thirty minutes north latitude, commonly
known the Missouri Compromise line, shall be
admitted into the Union With or without slavery,
the people Of each State asking admission may de-
sire and in such State States shall be formed
out of said territory north of said Missouri Compro
mise hne, slavery or involuntary servitude (except
| for crime) shall be prohibited"
There does not seem TO be any ambiguity about
the terms of this resolution, TO cavil about
its construction or meaning. Unpleasant as is the
conviction, yet there stands the contract. Those
are the terms which our Government offered 10
Texas. They were accepted; and they were well
| understood when they were offered and accepted.
do not mean that they were well understood by
| all the people-by every mani but every man who
gave his attention to the subject saw that we pro-
posed to Texas that II she would agree to come into
Union four more States, in addition 10 the State
of Texas, making five in ALL might be formed out of
its territory; and that such States might be formed
south OF 80 degrees 80 minutes be slave States
If the people thereof should desire il. cannot read
il in any other way. The resolution does not say
"may" be admitted; II says "sHALL be adDaiied into
the Union tci tcithoa slavery, The people @ each
| State asking admission may desre"
il is true that the resolution, its face leaves
room for States north Of thirty-six degrees thirty
| minutes; but any one who is acquainted with the
geography of that region knows that in all proba-
bilty there will never be population enough north
Of that line TO justify the formation of a State. This
them was the offer we made 70 Texas, and the Of
fer she accepted, with the most explicit guaranty
part, that all the States formed south Of that
line (and do not see why three at least, of the
four, may not, upon fair construction, be formed
there when there is population enough) may be
slave States. That is the bargain and, whether il
be bad or good bargain, we have consented TO
Il IA -
bound by Il because the act Of annexation itself
was unconstitutional act; and I have always
maintained that no proper construction OF the Con-
stitution could warrant u. But, whatever may
have been views that question originally,
how do stand nowl Texas accepted the offer;
came into the Union; surrendered her sovereignty
as a nation; we took her navy, her custom houses,
and ports, and have been collecting her revenues
ever since. We hold her 10 the bargain, and take
all that is valuable 10 US; and can honestly re.
pudiate 80 much OF II az does not suit relish,
and Is Of value TO her? The North resisted all this
long IL could; II resisted tho original annexa-
ton; and when IL contaminated, and Texas
came here in December, ls45, and askcd for adj
mission as State, we made another effort 10 annul
the conditions and guarantees in favor Of slavery
which were contained in the annexation resolution.
That resolution passed March !, ls45, and Texas
proceeded 10 assent TO IL and came here with her
State constitution in December following; aud
when the resolution for admitting her State
was pending IN this House, my honorable colleague
from the Berkshire district, (Mr. RocKwELL,) who
eaw and understood the whole case moved 70 re-
commit IL with instructions TO report an amend
ment, ne follows:
Provided, that within the State, by this resolu-
ton admitted into the Union, slavery or involunta.
ry scrviude, except for crime, shall be prohibited
and oil the provisions Of the said resolution incon
sistent with this proviso shall be null and void"
II will be seen that the effect Of this amendment
would have been 90 require the consent Of Texas 70
modification Of the annexation resolution, and 10
agree that the guarantees for slavery should be an
nullcd. But his proposition thrown out by the
united action Of the usual combination Of southern
and northern Democracy, overriding the Speaker
(mr. DAVIS, OF fndiana) upon question OF order,
and defeating II. And then, on December 10th, the
resolution admitting Texas as State finally passed,
containing within Il an express recognition Of the
conditions and guarantees oftbe original exation
resolution The result Of this last struggle was
equivalent 10 rof fcofion Of the terms OF the org
nal resolution; and there Il yet stands.
And thus, the free States of the North OBJ
legation fastened upon them for the admission Of
more slave States And, after all that has occurred,
do not see how can honestly rcpudiatc that OBJ
legation. II was, indeed, fastened upon us by the
votes OF men who are now leaders in the ranks Of