Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1850-08-08
I,EGISLATING UNDER MEM
ACE.

yS-I4,vs long since ceased to expect indie
peOdent high. principaled action from the pres
ent Congress-. 1t has lost its freedom; it is IN
subjeCtDn TO its fears. BY dint of great swell.
ing VOLS, aud fierce threatenlngs, the slavehol-
ders hRe rendered it so nervous, that it shrlnks
from dObg any thing at all, lest it should in some
way pnfoke their resentment. The crack of
the whp resounds from day to day and honor
able md lbers spring to do the bidding Of their
oversees.
Whaj Mr.. Hale once said in Jest about the
UnitedState being annexed to Texas, is begin
ming tob e quite prevalent opinion in Congress-
Texas through her two Senators and two Rep.
resentai Ives, lays down the law, saying to the
General Government, "IIltherto shalt thou come,
but no further; one step beyond the line our
sword has marked, and that step shall be thy
last sink or swim, live or die beyond all doubt
the Union shall be blown sky high"
1t seems that the Government of the Union
has been transferred from Washington to Hous
ton, and that the Legislature Of Texas is hence
forth to give law to the U. States.
Texas will permit no questioning OF her claims,
allow nothing for an honest difference Of opinion.
Believe or be damned, is the alternative she pre-
SCENTS
She has claim to the territory East of the
Rio Grande so have the United States. She
has no possession, never has had possession OF
the territory; the United States conquered it,
then paid for it, took possession OF 1t, and have
held possession of it ever since.
That's neither here nor there" cries Texas,
" we Law clam to it, and will have 1t, cost what
it may"
But may we not question your claim"
"No, it is insulting"
Lay we not urge our OWN claim :"
"No, it is an intolerable aggression"
GWiIl YOU not agree to submit the contest to
the Supreme Court"
"Neyer What submit the rights OF SOW
ereign State to the decision ola tribunal belong
ing to the United States ?"
swell, suppose we treat with you on equal
terms. We have Il claim and possession: you
have claim and no possession. We are the
United States you, "a single State. Still, We
will deal with you as an equal. Appoint com
missioners; we will do the same; they shall
meet consult, and propose such an ADJUST
ment of the controversy as they snail be
able to agree upon. Will you agree to
this:o
"No. we stand by our rights-that territory is
ours. We will not by implication allow urtlte
to be drawn in question. lfyou want it, give us
tenmilIions. True, you have already paid some
millions for it, but not copper went into our
treasury"
"Bnt. suppose, since you refuse every reoson-
able mode of settling the controversy, we, being
in possession. and with claim, to say the least,
as strong ms yours, choose to continue IN possess
sion"
1--WE will dislodge you a. the point OF the bay
onet. and for every drop of blood wasted, we
shall hold you responsible"
Modest. most magnanimous Texas! Men OF
spirit in the North. reading the newspapers at
home NAV feel contempt for this bullying but
too many Of the Representatives whom they nave
sent to Washington, are towards IeHas IN
their novtrils smells of fire and birthstone; and
they are willing to do anything to hlde them
selves from her wrath. The poor creatures are
the victims of morbid imagination, and even
the Washington Union has power to WORK them
up into an agony of apprehension. 1t Is hlIed
within and without with lamentations and warn
mos # sees sights, aud hears voices, pregnant
with av,l omen. The South is red hot with ex
citemant. the elements begin to melt with ter
vent beat !" for heavens sake, gentlemen De
quick With that Compromise, or this glorious u
nlon with all its wondrous associations, will be
in ashes ,--.-,.-f
On what n slender thread hangs the weight of
our far.tamed Uuionl Emancipate few hun
drod slaves in the Distric. of Columbia, and 1t
falls Prohibit slavery in free territory, and 1t
falls Admit the free State Of California by IT.
SELF and it falls. Refuse to yield to the claim OF
Texas, ousting the United States at the point of
the bayonet from their possessions IN New Mex.
leo, and it falls. Reject the compromise, and It
falls In short, do anything, not precisely in
harmony with the views and interests -. OF the
Chvpry," and the Union. with all It's precious
freight Of glorious recollectlons and still more
glorious hopes, will be wrecked,
The latest horror held up to inghten Northern
towards, is a DisuniOn speech by Mr.. Rhett,