Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1850-03-30


of California
Mr. DOUGLAS rose and addressed the Senate follows
Mr.. President Before entering into the discussion OF the
questions in the range of this debate must he permit
ted refer points in the able eloquent speech OF thu
distinguished Senator from Massachusetts, regret exceedingly
that in speech emineny LIBERAL NATIONAL and patriotic on
all the points which unfortunately disturb and distract the
try he should have deemed it necessary to have mared Its
harmony broken its force by Introducing aunts and crim
nations of mere partisan character His attacks upon the
Northern Democracy, in connexon with the annexation OF
Texas and the support of the Mexican and the acqu
ton of territory the treaty peace were gratuous and
unprovoked they unounded and unjust he chag-
ed the Northern Democracy with having supported the an
nexaon of Texas under pledges to the slave interest and
for the purpose sustaining the slave power OF this union
Gladly, sir would pass by in silence this act OF injustice,
and of equal enormiy could do so in justice TO my
self and those with whom have ever been associated Po-
cay and the members Of the House of Representatives with
whom acted concert the annexation question Unjust
be permitted tell the Senator from Massachusetts that neil
ther his present position his past political associations
thoze him speak for the Democracy OF this Union Norm or
South or of the motives which influence their action, any
further than he finds those motives and reasons recorded
the speeches aud political history Of the times II is not his
mission to divine our motives and assign to US
opinions which never entertained much less expressed
claim, least equal right with him to speak for the De-
mocacy upon all questions and especially upon the annexa
ton of Texas And tell him with entire respect, but
with certain knowledge of the truth Of what say, that OF
the multitude speeches made by Northern Democrats
the Texas question: Of them can he lind single
sentence, sentiment word to justify the sweeping charge
he has made against the whole body OF Democratic Senators
and Representatives the North who supported the
nexaion of Texas On the contrary sir, every Northern
who spoke in favor of the annexation OF Texas expressly
and Indignantly repudiated the doctrine imputed to them
by the Senator from Massachusetts, and assigned entirely diff
een and in many instances directly opposite reasons for
supporting that measure. unable to comprehend that
system courtesy morals which authorizes distinguished
Senator charge large body Of public men, in the perform
ance of high public duties with having been influenced BY
from those
time. And how is this charge attempted to be maintained
We reminded that the then Secretary OF State Mr. GAL
HoUN in his correspondence with Mr. Murphy We charge
daes the republic of Texas and Mr. KING, minister to
France boldly and frankly avowed that he negotiating the
treaty annexation for the purpose and with the view OF giving
security the slave interest in the States bordering upon exas
and therefore, the Senator from boldly assumes
that Northern Democrats one and all supported measure
upon the grounds and for the stated by Mr. CALHOUN
By this process Of reasoning he attempts to fasen the charge
only upon the Senators and Representatives, but upon The
great Of votsrs,he whole democratic organzaon-n
GLIDING majority Of the people in the free States Ihis
view is ingenious and plausible but submit to the candor
of the Senator whether fair and just The Senator keeps
out Of vew-no, be is incapable Of ha-he has forgotten
important chapter in the history Of this question, which
changes its whole character and overtuns his position
will refresh his memory. When President Tyler sent the
treaty Of annexation to the Senate for ratification, this body
by resolutions called for all the correspondence upon the sub
jec When furnished to the Senate and disclosed to
the world who does remember-what friend of Texas
ever fogehe excitement and universal burst OF abho
and Indignation that great and favorite national mea
should have been buchered and destroyed by those
trusted with its consummationa Dsmay, modification, des-
pondency, bordering despair depicted in the coune
OF every friend of Texas while her enemies excited
with grea, Joy that the administration Of Mr. Tyler and
pecay the Secretary Of State had placed the upon
grounds that all Ameca-yea, the whole civilized world,
repudae, and thereby had surrounded with odum
and prejudice that might enable them to defeat annexation
forever From that moment the friends OF Texas abandoned
the idea Of annexation through the treaty making under
the administration Of Mr. Tyler The treaty Indignantly
and contempuousy rejected by the Senate in order to repu
date the Administration and all it had done and said in
gard TO Texas and especially the correspondence with Mesrs
King ard Murphy to which the Senator from Massachusetts
has often referred The treaty rejected the Admin
istraon quietly and severely ebuked the correspon-
dence with Messrs. King and Murphy repudiaed and
,iaed by the administration Of Mr. Tyler for the annexation
of Texas. The Senator from South Carolina may think
ne said his speech the other day, that he had to do
with the annexation Of Texas than any other in the
county have desire to deprive him of this consong
reflection. would not have referred to it in de-
prve him of any Of the credit he claims for himself had he
not volunteered bis testimony to certain extent in aid Of the
charges of the Senator from Massachusetts, against the North
ern Democracy But conclusion from the chapter of
history which have referred, must be permitted say
to him. in all sincerity and kindness, that in my opinion be
did embaass the friends and encourage the enemies
of Texasmore hazard the Of the to
veope in clouds of olium and prejudice, than all other
in America But for the weapons furnished in the cor
respondence alluded the enemies Of annexation could not
have rallied majority against the in any State
Of the Union &
Mr.. President, find am divergng from the thread OF
my remarks My inject was to show that the treaty and
correspondence and all the acts of the Tyler Administration
connected Herewith rejected and repudiated before the
Democratic party the support OF the Texas annexa
ton as party. Having thrown off the incubus, and Gu,
loose from all embarrassing alliances the Democracy North
and South to the and annexed Texas upon
broad national grounds elevated far above, and totally dis
connected from, the question of
which addressed themselves the patriotism and pride oil
connected with the extern.
sion Of territory, of commerce, Of navigation, OF political
power of national security, and glory people, without
especial reference to any particular section These were the
grounds upon which The Democratic party unured the Texas
flag the breeze 10 the Presidential election of 1884, and
ceved overwhelming verdict Of the popular voice in
favor The people deceed the annexation Of Texas in that
election upon the grounds thus assumed, proclaimed, and
defended by the great national Democratic party II the
act OF the people themselves leaving to the representatives
in Congress the duty of recording the verdict which the
stuent had pronounced. Texas annexed without any
distinct eerence,e the question of slavery 1t supported,
not of hostility Of protection to that nsi-
tuition. II had connexion with il than the tariff the
census the navigation laws, the public lands, great
number of the questions Of public policy which the SUBJ
jects of daily legislation. All of them have dc
with the question Of slavery, because the laws uniform in
their operation, and consequently in their practical applca-
ton relate TO the savehod ng well the free States
So il with the xaon of Texas. II have shown
undue degree Of sensveness under these attacks upon
the Northern Democracy will be excused when
il considered that of those Northern Democrats
who, in the House Of Representatives. supported annex
alton Of Texas with all the zeal and energy of my nature.
Mr. WEBSTER. With a touch of tue Northwest-the
Northwestern Democracy. ".....'
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