Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1850-05-16

TOUT lOT Tc6uOul1 WIN oUuHu lORiNi ohu
with far better humanity than lie surrendered
them to slavery2 When Texas and the South
have got their slave States "to the number of
four" into the Union, whence are we to obtain
our one or more free States The tbhtratt will
have been executed, and the consent of Texas
for another State will be withheld.
Notwithstanding all this, Mr. Webster afirms
the right Of slavery 10 four more States in the
following words 4" know no form of legsla-
ton which canstrengthen this. know no mode
of recognition that can add title of weight to
it." Catching the tone of his asseveration, |
respond that know no form Of stateTient, nor
process of reasoning which can make it more
clear that this lie an absolute aud wanton surren-
der CT the rights Of the North and the rights of
humanity.
But hold the Texan resolutions to have been
utterly void and proceed to give the reasons
for my opinion.
begin by quoting Mr.. Webster against him
SELF In an Address to the people Of the United
States, from the Massachusetts Ant-Texas
State Convention, January goth l845, the sub
joined passage, which is understood, or rather,
may say, is now well known, to have been die
tated by Mr.. Webster himself, may be found:
"But we desire not to be misunderstood Ac-
cordlng to our convictions, there is no power in
any branch of the government, or all its branch
es, to annex foreign territory to this Union. We
have made the foregoing remarks only to show,
that, if any fair construction could show such
power 10 exist anywhere, or to be exercised in
any form, yet the manner Of its exercise now
proposed is destitute of all decent Semblance of
constitutional propriety."
Thus canceIIing the authority of Mr. Web
ster in 1850 by the authority of Mr.. Webster in
l845, proceed with the argument.
Though the annexation Of Texas was in pursu-
once OF void stipulation, yet it is clear princi-
ple OF law that when contract void between the
parties, has been executed by them, it cannot
then be annuled. If executed, it becomes val
id, not by virtue of the execution. bow to this
legal principle, aud would fulfil it. But any in
, dependent stipulation which remains unexecu-
, ted, remains invalid. Such is that part of the
] annexation resolutions which provides for the
l admission of brood of Texan States. The
resolutions themselves say, in express terms,
: that the new States are to be admitted under
= the provisions of the Federal Constitutions )" and
the Constitution says, New States may be adj
t mtted by the Congress into this Union" By
t what Congress? Plainly, by the Congress in
e session, at the time when application tor adms-
/ sion is made; and by no other. The fourth
f Texan State NAV not be ready for admission for
il 6fty wears to come and could the Congress Of
4 1915 bind the Congress of 1900? The Con.
Il gress of 1900 and all future Congresses, will
J., derive their authority from the Constitution of
: the United States and not from any preceding
# Congress-. Put the case in negative FORM
: Gould the Congress of 1645 bind all future Con-
rresses not to ad,nd new States, and thus, pro
O tanto. annul the Constitution Positive or neg
20 alive, the result is the same. No previous Con-
N press on such subject can enlarge or limit the
;e bower of subsequent one. Whenever, there
? fore. the question of new Texan Stale comes
,, up for consideration, the Congress then in being
W must decide it on It's own merits, untrammeed
;s by anything their predecessors have done; and
III especially free from law, which, while similar
8 in spirit is thousand times more odious in
s. principle than statutes of mortman.
se Admitting that future Congress, on such a
lr subject might be bound by treaty, | answer
of that here was no treaty; while the fact that a
,e treaty clause was introduced into the resolutions
Is in the Senate, for the sake of obtaining certain
I'd votes that would never otherwise have been CIV
i. en- in their favor, and under an express pledge
rs from the Executive that the method by treaty
i. should be adopted, which pledge was forthwith
at iniquitously broken, leaves no element of base.
I'd ness and fraud by which this proceeding was
IN not oonta ,inntod- In tho of the consti-
tuition, then, and Of jus tice let every honest man
s. denounce those resolutions as void, alike the info
Vi rum vi Ia" anu III the forum or conscience and
It. admitting Texas herself to be in the Union, vet
D. when application is made for any new State from
in that territory, let the question be decided unnn
to the merits 1t may then possess.
i, There is another objection to anv future claim
of Texas to be divided into States. which crows
lie out OF her own neglect to fulfil the terms and
v spirit OF the agreement In the territory north
10 OF the Missouri Compromise line, slavery or in.
81 voluntary servltude Except for crmel shall be
> PROMPTED" 80 reads the bond. But if Texas
n suffers slavery to be extended over that part Of
= her territory, then, when it becomes populous e.
J. iuugh TOR admission, and is overspread with
slavery, new State may present free consti-
j. luton, be admitted by Congress, and, before the
slaves have time to escape, or to carry the uues
u ton OF freedom before the judicial tribunals
s. ffeSto this free constitution will be cbanped
n into slave constitution, under the alleged right
II OF State to decide upon its own domestis insli
s tutionS, and thus the word of promise which was
! kept to the ear, will be broken to the hope If
lexas meant to abide by the resolutions of an.
= nexaton, and to claim anything under them, it
was her clear and imperative duty forthwith to
= pass law, securing freedom to every inhabitant
Il north OF the COMPROMISE line. In this way on.
~ eau the resolutions be executed in their true
spirit mat territory is now in the condition of
an egg 1t Is undergoing incubation. From it
) State is hereafter to be Matched but before
promising to accept the chick, it would be aoree.
aole 10 know whether viper has impregRated
the egg.
But there is still further objection of whose
soundness have no doubt; but should be in
error IN regard to It, the mistake will not inyali
GATE any other argument. The parties to that
agreement stipulated on the ground of mutuality.
wilhout which all contracts are void Some
3tates were to be admitted to strengthen the
hands OF slavery, and some, of freedom. A line
, VI ue4mrcauon was drawn. Now, on investira.
uoh, believe, 1t will most conclusiyely apnear
tnat there Is not an inch of Texan territory north
OF the stipulated line: it all belongs TO New
MEXICO, as much as Nantucket or Berkshire be-.
longs to Massachusetts. 1t was mistake on
ene part I, OF me contracting parties if, on the
part vi ieXas, 1t was not something worse than
nls'ake' The mutually, then, fails The
oon'eoct Is n"d"m pdct1m. Texas can give moth
ns iol Wnat she was to receive aud is, there.
has got. '"' ""'' sic
In regard to the business Of soe;ro TIM, f,-
gltves are delivered up" Mr. WebstcT saws.
Ny friend at the head of the iudciorv coyon,i,.
zee Mr. Butler of South Carolina has a b;iI on
lhe SUBJECT now before the Senate, with some n.
; lnendments to 1t, which propose TO snpnort
WIN al us provisions 10 the fullest extent"
~. Mr; NJ here quo'es Mr.. Butte IS bill at length,
O Tisn Mason's amendments, and then goes on to
HI; wlll be observed that the first section of the
yl' ailer constituting the judges of the courts,
or e seventeen thousand postmasters, the collect
Gyar W e. as tribunals ,oithom appeal, for the do
anvv b ~, ""y Souy' who is sworn by any body,
So y mneIe, 70 De fugitive slave refers TO tie
or being within such State where sncI so;sm ,u,n
arrest Is made" That is, the iudre no osnuo