Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1850-09-05

was the code OF New MeAlCoi "' It'd
were litigated, criminals were tried, cohVi ~
and executed. To this day that cooe has poe"
maintained throughout the whole OF NE" MA
CO. The bill before us proposes 10 CUT ~, uo"n
their ancient boundaries, to deliver up 10 loAas
a large portion of the territory winch has "a
the nation so much blood and treasure. hnu
this is to be done by northern WINGS 40 ~"
told. hope it is not the case; trust L ,"y
have been misled; | most ardently hope n .h",
been wrongly informed. But it is certain and
up to this time no wing north oil Nlr9 S1assod
Dixon's line eyer admitted that Texas poSsesse .
the shadow Of title to any portion OF lle IG',
tory now proposed to be taken from New NOV now
co and given to Texas; indeed, DO hoc C; nUm
understand that any northern Wing, IN ei Nv,
branch of Congress, has alleged any title w.il. a
ever in Texas. No, sir, | do not th'HN SUI" :,
uorthern whig can be found IN congress VI o "
of il. The only argument that nave ho"i ,nnt
that Texas claimed it. and that we. as "er aioy'
nroceeded TO copouer and purchase II VI ro.as.
on and that we now hold it as trustee LOT c'vor
and thew cite certain principles OF Jaw . :" there
Of this position. No one pretenoS 'hu' ron
,vos onv such thing in fact, or that tleIo il is
son. or ust,ce in this legal fiction, by W'iS St,tos
-, Ii,I,I tic uvugfess Of the UnIcu
Such doctrine might peahlps, be Stcouo'' -,
urged before the Justices court or llie hare
pleas of some State; but when gen,'o' 'I 8. Es.
quote Blackstone's Commentaries a"r in
+ nnossa,s Nsi Prius." to control sta'e'n'e" ~
the discharge of their duties; lpe - a. Eore to
, shonld be met and exposed. we cit ~ nr;n-
,nako laws--we are governed only by Inc Pt m
n;nJes If ;ustice and the constitution; w.
npro cont here 70 deal out equity to all uIlue'
o,r ;nr;sJictionlet us do it faithfully ana rear
Io 10" + would make no compromise "ouIu
not doliyor mn part of new Mexico Ior tli0
nr;,;Iogo If retaining the remainder oil II; No
s;r .D # his territory belongs to Texas, let her
bnvo i. III beIonrs to New Mexico, 1t Is oars
onJ NO shall proye recreant to our trhs, II we
a r"n \ foot of it. As have stated, am
,oId ,hat Whps-norhern Wings, are to vote
for tbis surrender. Let them do it. Let their
names 90 TO the country; let the recmen OF the
Nortb see who has betrayed The honor, the in
terests of the nation and of humanity.
Mr. Chairman, you. sir, represent portion OF
ono section of this Union; another. Wha
belongs to YOU am willing you should have ;
what beIonps to the North shall ncve' be sur
rendered by my vote. believe you, sir agree
with me on this point hope we may act to-
peber. will not ask you to surrender what
belongs to you, and trust you will never de-
mand what belongs to the North. abhor this
idea of surrenderng portion OF our rights IN
order to purchase recognition of other inter-
csts. will never consent to this node OF com
promising our constitutional obligations.
Bnt. sr, the worst feature of this bill is that
which taxes the people Of the free States for the
purchase Of this territory which belongs to us.
Sir, it proposes to take mostly from the pockets
of oul northern people, ten millions of dollars,
and hand it over to the shareholders OF Texas
and for what? Not for territory belonging to
her, or to which she has the shadow of claim
No such thing is urged Why sir, it is 10 Sarc
the Union. To buy union with Texas--to in
duce her to remain with us, not to sever the
tender and interesting relations that exist be
tween us. They, sir, were brought into Thu
Union in order to uphold and perpetuate he
slavery; and now she demands OF our northern
freeman ten millions of dollars for the privilig
of unfolding the vilest system Of oppression tina
ever disgraced civilized man.
Mr.. HowARD said that Texas did not ask an
nexation to the United States, nor did she asI
compensation nor was he certain she would &C
cept it.
Mr.. GIDDINGs. 1t cannot have escaped tn
recollection Of any oil US that in 1897, Texa
sent her aren't here TO solicit annexation to tn
United States.
MIR Howard. But she withdrew it.
Alr GDDINGs And waited until she coult
induce Mr.. Murphy, our charge d affaires,
recommend its annexation to our territory as
State and as for taking the money, has she no
during the whole session, by her authorized
II lodi ri
give and did not her senators vote Tor this ter
millions of tribute from northern pockets! Had
they voted the other way the bill would have
been defea ed.
WHY, sir. how came Texas here? The
gentleman there holds his seat by suferance.- =
lie has no more constitutional right Oh this f1ool
than the subject of the Grand Sultan, or the
Emperor of Russia. If the argument OF the
present Secretary of State be correct, and
think it IS, the ueaty-making power refused tC
admit her by the only constitutional mode
known to US. ohe then climbed up another way
and we now permit her representatives to hole
seats with us.
Mr. Howard inquired how Mr. GrDDINGs vot
ed on the proposition to exclude slavery tuom
part of Texas? Bnt how he could vote at al
If Texas were unconstitutlonally member o
this Conlederacy?
Mr. GIDDINGs. have no recollection how
voted, but have no doubt voted for freedom, IN
order to make the resolutions as perfect as
could; and then, they being unconstitutional,
voted against them. But, sir, this is the posi-
I!oh OF Texas: she holds no constitutional posi-
tlon with us yet; she attempts to lay the whole
nation under contribution; to subslde the free
states to her ACKNOWLEDGEMENT. Why, sir, if SHE
would take ten or fifteen millions and leave us
cease to trouble us, |, for one, would be willing
TO pay 1t. But will never pay one dime to re-
tam her IN The Union to involve MS in future
wars, to vex and harass us.
MIR HOWARD. Why does the gentleman de
sire TO send an army to Texas if we do not be
long to the Union?
MIR GIDDINGs. never thought of invading
Texas. l never dreamed of such thing.
am peace man. | abhor offensive wars and i
Texas sees tit to 90 out of the Union she shall
never be called to an account for It by force O
arms if | can prevent it. AS / said the othe
day, | am peace man, but not as nv frien,
from Maryland General KERR enoneousl,
supposed, ''non resistant" | bold the rich
and duty Of selt-defence, and | would defent
New Mexico. | would welcome every Texa,
who comes there with arms, "to hospitabI,
graves" but would oppose the march of an ar
my into Texas or any other Southern State. t,
compel them to remain IN the Union with US
Yes, sir, | do not believe in government o
bayonets and gunpowder at this age of the
world. The States must govern themselves
and when they see fit to leave the Union.
would say to them, Go in peace, and Cod
blessing rest upon you | would neither shoe
them nor cut their threats for thinking they car
do better out Of the Union than in it. But sir
when once out of the Union, | would never per
NIT them to return to it until the become So ia
chrlstlanlzed and civilized as to Danish from
among them the institution of slavery. I an
aware that these views do not comport with the
doctrines held by most of our statesmen
They are nevertheless sentiments which | enter