The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1850-09-01

a soon as possible see no necessity for contracting
this debt aud still less for postponing IFS payment four
teen wears, II sooner able 10 pay.
IL II provided, however, that I'VE millions OF this stock
shall not be issued until The creditors OF Texas, holding
her bonds 'or which duties on imports specially
pledged shall file al The treasury Of The United States
releases OF all claim against iue United States ior and
account OF said bonds Here we have strong Impli-
caion If direct admission that the United States
are liable for that portion OF the debts OF Texas "ior
which duties on imposts We're specially pledged" deny
any such liability. amlt that II IL a sound principle OF
International law. that when nation another
in manner totally 10 absorb lis sovereignty and 10
destroy all It's powers OF action as separate political
body, then whatever debts the annexed nation or com
muny rghtIully devolve upon the nation max ing
The acquisition Texas by her annexation to the United
States has not been absorbed IN this Her soy
syeignty and separate existence political body have
not been destroyed She still exists organized com
munv, with government curailed in It's powers so far
as the constitution OF the United States imposes resrc.
lions upon the States OF the Union, but possessing the
mower OF contracting debts and OF evyng Taxes To nav
Them As Texas yet retains the contracting and taxing
power OF State, do not zee why bound pay
her debts contracted previous 10 annexation any more
than those contracted since. The constitution of the
United States, as our motto &c Piurbus taum) imports,
forms one government out OF many, for certain general
purposes These purposes separate and distinct from
the local affairs OF the States among which their debts
are be classed The nations OF the earth (as trust
they will do al no distant day. may, by treaty spuatioGs
constitute tribunal to settle disputes and controversies
likely 10 involve them war. Such tribunal would
give the rule TO be observed in The falling within its
jurisdiction, and 10 that extent would be government
over the nations which erected II. But would the fact
that the parties To the treaty had united in forming ir.
bunal to govern them in certain cases, very limited
their number and nature render either responsible for the
debts OF the other Certainly not And the tribunal
created were vested with power 10 raise money and
form common treasury, in addition 10 power OF get
ting disputes, the money raised must be applied TO the
purposes specified in the treaty, and could not righully
be taken for any other purpose.
This treaty government among nations, for the purpose
OF securing the peace The world, although not anao
gous IN all respects TO our own government under the
aton Of what conceive TO be the proper operation of
system in regard to the debts and liabilities OF the
several States OF the Union.
The bill under consideration does not intimate that we
are liable for the whole debt OF Texas We should be
liable for the whole il the international principle which
have admitted had any application The fact that the bill
only provides for part-that for which duties were
pledgeds conclusive proof that liability is placed
upon some other ground. II is manifest from the bill
that our obligation pay part OF the Texan creditors IS
certain bonds. A pledge among individuals is the actual
delivering OF thing to be held until the debt for which
me tn,ng-tne pledged hs pad Duties on
in the sense OF pledge between individuals A law
therefore, which provides for borrowing money. and
upon its face says that duties imports shall be pledged
topay IT, rs nothing more than promise the part OF
the government to apply certain expected 10 the
payment oil certain debt. Texas tax all merchan-
disc introduced into the State as heavily she
could before annexation The form and oil dong
il is changed, but the substance remains. The
OF our merchants in Kentucky taxed The question
49, does her surrender OF the right 10 tax in particular
manner, by duties on imports, impose either legal
moral obligation on US to pay her debts, any them
legal obligation Is that can be enforced by known
remedy provided by law There iS no such remedy, and
hence no legal obligation. Are there any considerations
conscience morals, which should bind to pay for
Texas When she consented to accept terms OF an
xaloD II was expressly agreed that she should retain
all The vacant and Incorporated lands lying within her
limits to be applied to the payment OF her debts and liza
bles and IN no event are said debts and Liabilities 10
become charge upon the government OF the United
States" How is 1t that conscience and MORALS in the
face OF this positive agreement the contrary bind
Us 10 DO that which by the contract not 10 do Z
Weeolr statesmen who made the contract OF annexation
incapable OF comprehenfing of feeling the require
nents OF conscience and morals They either knew at
the time they voted for the resolutions 10 annex Texas
that moral obligation would require us to pay her debts
and liabilities, they nsensible TO the existence OF
any such obligation II the first, then their stipulation
that The United Saleswer in event to be charged with
the debts OF Texas could have been nothing short of po
huca cbcanery inducing their confding constituents
believe they be burdened with the debts Of
Texas when they well knew that moral obligations,
which with an hoRorable, just nation eff
cent as legal obligations, would ultimately require the
United States pay these debts If the last il the moral
obligation so faint that il could not be when
The resolutions of anne Ration passed, what
lights have Illuminated conscIences since the ter
mnaticn OF the Mexican war 10 enable TO per-
ceiye duty which dreamed OF in the beginning
Can be that interested creditors OF Texas, desparng Of
getting anything from her, have heen buslly engaged IN
manufacturing public sentiment Have they subsidized
me press and paid for pufs Have they partially sold and
distributed Their claims, and thus enlarged the number OF
persons operating on Congress-! II any such have
been resorted to- with view TO operate on public
sentiment, either IN out OF Congress, trust they
vii la OF accomplishing their object have examined
me yeas and nays upon the passage OF the resolutions for
annexation through the Senate and find that although
me members OF the whlg party generally voted against
'hem yet they well their opponents equally COM
mred themselves against the payment OF the debts OF
iesas The resolutions sent to the Senate by the House
contained The stipulation that the United States were
no event 10 be charged with the debts Of Texas This
Proposition was sustained It's final passage by the vote
q me following senator's: Allen, Ashley, Aichlson,
bagoy Benton, Breese, Buchanan Colqutt, Dickinson,
DIX Fairfield, Hannegan, Haywood, Henderson, Huger,
Johnson Lewis, McDufe, Merrick, Niles, Semple Sc
Nei, Sturgeon, Tappan, Walker. and Woodbury-27.
Those who voted against the resolutions OF annexation
were Archer Barrow, Bates, Baysrd, Berren. Choaie
layton, Cniienden, Dayton, Evans, Foster, Francis,
nnuhunglon, Jainagln, Mangum. Miller, Morehead,
Ieaoe, Phelps Porter Rives, Simmons. Upbao, White.
ana "oodondge-25 II so happens, however, that the
hae snow mat NJ Foster moved TO amend an amend
men, proposed BY Mr.. Walker; and portion OF Mr..
amendment was in these words shat the public
~ iekas shall N no event become charge upon
me government Of the United States - and upon the
ana nays being sken the following senators voted
Io ne proposition Archer Barrow, Bates, Bayard. Ber
"' Inoa'e Clayton, Evans Fos,er Francis, Hunting
On, 9ainsen, Johnson Miller, Pearce, Phelps, Porter,
hives, summons, and Upbam.
mus appears that large maori,ies OF both parties
equally favored the proposition that the government, OF
ue rohHed States was not 10 be charged with the debts
" ihss Although MIR. Foster and the wings gener-
any desired TO Change the propositions they came from
ne house. sui n ~ shown by their amendments that
ihey retained IN substance the original proposition that
NE United States not To be liable for the debt. of
eSas exhibit these facts, that senators who were
oee when the resolutions OF Ration were adopted