Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1850-03-28

hatwoen the desire ofpreventing conflicts
S,n,h ,s T hoSidlams and ourselves in the
o,,;s;,;oa or FL, which induced the ac-
siana. We well KIM. . .pni =. now 10 LOU
cause for the acquisitioSl" "a ine i'ilneola'e
the suspension of our rigA-ns Jaaa vas
New Orleans. Under treais II pS,.e a.
we had right to the navigation e. 49, ";.
er as far as New Orleans, and right tI ~.
deposltes in the port of New Orleans. Ia
Spanish authorities interrupted that right,
and that interruption produced great agi-
tatlon at the West, and l may say, through
out the whole United States. The gentle
men then in opposition. highly respecta-
bic party-the old Federal party, which 1
have never said a word of disrespect in re-
gard to-if | mistake not, took the lead in
desire to resort to arms to acquire that
territory. Mr.. Jefferson, more prudent, de-
sired to procure it by purchase. A pur-
chase was made, in order to remove the
difficulty and to give an outlet to the West
to the ocean. That was the immediate
cause of the acquisition of Louisiana
Now, sir, we come TO Texas. Perhaps no
gentleman had more to do with the acquisi-
ton of Texas than myself; and | aver, MIR.
President, that | would have been among
the very last individuals in the United
States TO have made any movement at that
time for the acquisition of Texas and
90 further, if know myself, was incapa-
BILE of acquiring any territory simply on the
ground that 1t was to be an enlargement of
slave territory. | would Just as freely have
NJ n ~ had hos
as on the Southern side. No, sir, very DIFF
terent motives actuated me. | knew at
very early period-I will not go into the
history Of 1.-THE British Government had
given encouragement to the abolitionists of
the United States, who were represented at
the Worlds Convention. The question of
the abolition of slavery was agitated in that
Convention. One gentleman stated that
Mr.. Adams informed Them that if the Brit
Ish Government wished TO abolish slavery in
the United states they must begin with Tex
as. A commission was sent by this Worlds Con-
venilou to the British Secretary of State, Lord
Aberdeen and it so happened that gentleman
was present when the interview took place be-
tween Lord Aberdeen and the Committee, who
gave NE full account Of it shortly after it &C.
cured Lord Aberdeen fell into the project and
gave full encouragement to the abolltlonisis.-
Well, sir, 1t is well known that Lord Aberdeen
was very discreet, and, in my opinion, very
honest and worthy man and when Mr.. Paken-
ham WAS sent here 10 negotiate with regard to
Oregon, and incidentally with respect to Texas,
he was ordered 20 read declaration TO this Gov
stating that the British Government was
anxious to put an end to slavery all over the
world, commencing at Texas. 1t IS well known,
further. that at that very time negotiation was
going on between France and England to ac-
compish that object, and our Government was
thrown by stratagem out Of the negotiation and
that object was. first, to induce Mexico 70 &C
Knowledge the independence of Texas upon the
ground that she would abolish it. All these are
matters of history; and where is the man so
bhnd-l am sure the Senator from Massachu-
sets is not so blind-as not to see that if the
project of Great Britain had been successful,
the whole frontier of the states of Louisiana and
Arkansas, and the adjacent States, would have
been exposed to the lnroads OF British emIssa-
rIes. Sir, SO far as | was concerned, put il ex-
clusiveIy upon that ground. | never would run
into the folly of Remuneration, which always
held to be absurd. Nor, sir, would put it upon
the ground-which might well have put .t-of
and manufacturing considerations
because those were not my motive principles,
and chose TO assign what were. So far rs
commerce and manufacturers were concerned,
would not have moved in the matter at that early
period
The Senator objects that many northern GEN.
ilenen voted for annexation. Why, sir it was
natural that they should be DESTROYS OF fulfilling
the obligations of the constitution and, besides,
what at that time doubted that the Missouri
line would be adopted, and that the
territory would fall entirely to the South !? All
hat her kad for hat tI,<
extension Of that line. Their course, in my o.
pnon, was emnenily correct ard patriotic.
Now, Mr.. President, having made these cor
must go back little further, aud cor
rect statement which think the Senator has
left very detective, relative to the ordinance of
1887. He states very correctly that 1t commenc-
ed under the Old Confederation that it
was afterwards confirmed by Congress; that
Congress sitting in New York at the
time, while the Convention sat in Philadelphia
and that tncre was concert OF action. ! have
not looked INTO the ordinance very recently, but
my memory will serve me thus far, that Mr.. JEFF
ferson introduced his first proposition TO exclude
slavery in 1854. There was vote taken upon
Il, and think on that vote every southern dele
gate voted against it but | am not certain of it.
One thing am certain OF, that it was three
years before the ordinance could pass. Ii was
sturdiy resisted down TO 1857 and when it was
passed, as had good reason to believe, ii was
upon principle of compromise first, that the
ordnance should contain provision similar to
the ore put in the constitution with respect to
fugitive slaves and next, tina: it should be in
sorted III the constitution , and this the COM
promise upon which the prohibition was inserted
In the ordinance of l7e7. We thought we had
al Indemnity in that, but We made great mistake.
OF what possible advantage has it been to us
Violated faith has met US ON every side, and the
advantage has been altogether In their favor
On the other side, it has been thrown open to a
northern population, to the entire secluson ofthe
southern. This was the leading measure which
destroyed the compromise of the constitution, and
then followed the Missouri compromise, which
was carried by northern votes, although now DIS
ayowet and not respected by them. That was
the next step, and between these two causes the
equilibrium has been broken.
Having made these remarks, let me say that
took great pleasure in listening to the declafa
ton OF tie honorable Senator from Massachu-
seIts upon several points. He puts himself upon
the iultlment Of the contract of Congress I'D the
OF Texas annexation, for the admis-
SION OF the four new states provided for by those
resolutions to be formed out OF the territory Of
Texas All that was manly, statesmanllke and