The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1850-03-21

be permitted W refer 70 some points III the able and eo-
quen speech OF the distinguished senator from Massa.
chusets ITegret exceedingly that in speech so emf
nentIy LIBERAL national, and patriotic all the points
which unfortunately disturb and distract the country he
should have deemed it necessary 10 have maed ITS har.
mony and broken its force by introducing taunts and
examinations OF mere partisan character HIS attacks
upon the northern democracy in connexion with the an
nexat0n OF Texas and the support OF the Mexican war;
and the acquisition of territory BY the treaty OF peace,
gratuous and uDprovoked they were unfound
ed and unjust He charged the northern democracy with
having supported the annexation OF Texas under pledges
the slave interest," and for the purpose OF sustaining
the slave power Of this Union Gladly sir would pass
by silence this act OF injustice, and others Of equal
enormty could do SO in justice to myself and those
with whom have been associated politically, and
the members Of the House Of Representatives with
whom acted in concert on the annexation question
must be permitted 10 tell the senator from Massachu-
setts that neither his present position his past pot
cal associations authorize him % speak ioT ihe democ
which influence their action, any further than ne nds
those motives and reasons recorded in the speeches
and political history Of The times i s not his mission
to divine our motives and assign to us sentiments and
opinioas which entertained much less express
Cd claim al least, equal right with him io speak
% 81 % sspssi ah
respect, but with certain knowledge OF the truth OF
what say that Of the vast multitude Of speeches made
by northern democrats the Texas question, in no one
ol them he find single sentence sentiment OF word
to justify the sweeping charge he has made against the
whole body Of democratic senators and representatives
On the contrary sir every northern man who spoke IN
favor OF the annexation OF Texas expressly and indig
nantly repudiaed the doctrine imputed to them by
ihe senator from Massachusetts,, and assigned entirely
different and many instances directly opposite reasons
for supporting that am unable to comprehend
that system OF courtesy morals which authorizes
distinguished senator to charge a large body Of
public men, in the performances Of high public duties
with having been influenced by motives different from
those avowed by themselves at the time And how Is
this charge attempted TO be maintained We are re.
minded that the then Secretary Of State Mr. CALHOUN
in his correspondence with Mr. Murphy the charge DAT
~ md Mr. KYNc rnInietar IN
France boldly and frankly avowed that he was negotiating
the treaty of annexation for the purpose and with the view
OF giving security to the slave interest in the States border
ing upon Texas; and therefore the senator from Mas
sachusets boldly that the northern democrats
one and ALL supported the upon the grounds and
for The stated m oy M - ssn s
only upon the senator's and representatives. but upon the
great mass OF oers-the whole democratic organlza-
States. This view is ingenious and plausible; but
submit the candor OF the senator whether Is far or
Just The senator keeps out OF view-no, ne is inca
pabe Of hathe has forgotten one important chapter IN
The history OF this question: which changes its whole char
acter and overturns his position. wrefresh his mem
ory When President Tyler sent The treaty Of annexation
to the Senate for rahcat0n this body by resolution,
called for all the correspondence upon the subject When
II was furnished the Senate and disclosed to the world
who does not remember-what friend OF Iexas can ever
forpe-the excitement and universal burst OF abhor.
renee and indignation that great and fayore national
measure should have been buchered and destroyed BY
those inuusted with its consummaton Dismay, morti
fcafon despondency bordering despair, depicted
in The counenance of every friend Of Texas while her
enemies muttered with great that the administration
of Mr. Tyler and especially the Secretary OF State, had
placed the measure upon grounds that all Amerca-yea,
the whole civilized worldmust repudate and thereby
had surrounded with oiium and prejudice that might
enable them TO defeat annexation forever From that
moment the friends Of Texas abandoned the idea OF an
nexaon through the treaty making power, under the ad-
mnistration Of Mr.. Tyler The treaty was Indignantly
and contemp,uousy rejected by the Senate, in order to
repudate the administration, and all had done and said
in regard TO Texas and especially the correspondence
with Messrs. King and Murphy, to which the senator
from Massachusetts has often referred. The treaty
was rejected the administration quietly and severe
ly rebuked; the correspondence with Messrs. King
and Murphy was repadated; and here ends the chap.
ter OF the correspondence and treaty negotiated by
the administration OF Mr.. Tyler Tor the annexation
Of Texas The senator from South Carolina may think,
10 do with the annexation Of Texas than any other man
in the country have desire TO deprive him OF this
consoling reflection would not have referred to 1t IN
manner 10 deprive him OF any OF the credit he claims for
himself had he not volunteered his testimony to
tain extent aid OF the charges oil the senator from
Massachusetts against the northern democracy But as
conclusion from the chapter OF history to which have
referred must be permitted say TO him, all sincerity
and kindness, that in my opinion, he did more to embar
the friends and encourage the enemies OF Iexas
more 10 hazard the OF the measure to enveop IT
in clouds OF odium and preudicethan all other men in
America But for the weapons furnished IN the cores,
pondence alluded TO. the enemies OF annexation could
not have rallied majority against the measure IN any
one State OF the Union
Mr. President, lind am diverging from the thread Of
remarks My object was 10 snow tnal the treaty anu
correspondence and all the acts of the Tyler admnlsa
ton connected herewith were rejected and repudlated
before the democratic party came TO the support Of the
Texas annexation as a party. Having thrown of the
incubus, and cut loose from all embarrassing alliances
the democracy North and South TO the and
annexed Texas upon broad national grounds, elevated
far above and totally disconnected FROM the question OF
Observation-Disclosures which addressed themselves TO
the patriotism and pride OF every Americanconsdera-
ons connected with the extension oil territory of COM
nerce OF navigation OF political power, OF national secu-
rity and glory people, without especial reference
TO any particular section These the grounds upon
which The democratic party unfurled the Texas flag 10
the breeze in the presidential election of 1874, and
ceved an Overwhelming verdict OF the popular voice in
our favor The people decfeed the annexation OF Texas on
that election, upon the grounds thus assumed proclaim
ed and defended by the great national democratic party
II was the act OF the people themselves, leaving 10 the
representatives in Congress the duty OF recording the
dct which the constituent had pronounced Texas was
annexed without any distinct reference TO the question
OF slavery II supported, not as measure OF hos
tili,y OF protection TO that institution ~ had no
more connexion with il Than the tariff, the census the
the questions OF public policy which are the subjects Of
daily Legislation All OF them have more or less TO DO
with the question OF slavery, because the laws are uni
form in their operation, and consequently, IN Their pac
cal application, relate TO the slaveholdng as well as the
free States So il with the annexation OF Texas
If have shown undue degree OF sensitiveness under
these attacks upon the northern democracy, trust will
be excused when il s considered tina, OF those
northern democrats who, in the House OF Representa-
tvea, supported the annexation OF Texas with all the
zeal and energy OF my nature
Mr. WEBSTER With touch Of the northwest
the northwestern democracy.
Mr. DOII(,I.AS Yes. All: | am clad 10 hear The sen