The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1856-02-28
No. g..

NO. D.
Ten eventful years have passed since the
transactions last briefly narrated. Answering
70 the vigorous agencies which had been set to
work. the progress of decentralization in the free
States had b ZEN rapid, during the tendency of
The question relating to Texas. When the in
fanny was first preached, parties at the North
had seemed to be of one mind in regard to it.
Party leaders saw no chance, as yet, to attempt
to withstand the virtuous Indignation of the
people. 1t was by unanimous votes that, in
ISIS, the General Assembly of Ohio declared
that Congress has no power conferred on it,
by the Constitution of the United States, to con-
sent to such annexation; and that the people
OF Ohio cannot be bound by any such covenant,
league, or arrangement, made between Con-
gress and any foreign State or Nation;" and
that the General Court of Massachusetts resolv-
ed, We do in the name of the people of Mas
sachusetts, earnestly and solemnly protest
against the annexation of Texas to this Union,
and declare that no act done, Or compact made,
for such purpose, by the Government of the
United States will be binding on the States or
the people
When the scheme was revived, in 1843, sew
eral Of the non-saveholding States renewed
their protest with unanimity, with repetition,
and with all possible force of language. But
already, in important quarters, the effect of the
cCrrupting process, which was going on, was
seen. Pennsylvania and New York were muz-
lied by their trading politicians. New Hamp-
SHIRE and Maine had come under the same base
control. OF the two great parties which divi-
ded the country, the Democratic had, as usual,
succumbed first at the North in relation to this
new outrage; but, if the discredit of the first
aTowed surrender belongs to them, the account
mag be allowed to be balanced by the greater
hypocrisy and treachery with which the Wing
leaders ultimately led their train along in the
same direction.
high revenue tariff, for the protection of
domestic manufactures, was the pet policy Of
The Northern Wing leaders. Understanding
their weakness, though at the same time pre-
samng rather boldly on their credulity, Mr..
Walker. Of Mississippi, on the unmasking of the
plot IN ISL, published the elaborate letter, in
which he told them that, "upon the refusal of
annexation, the tariff, as a practical measure,
laliS wholly and forever "a dictum curiously
Illustrated, when, two years and a half after, the
votes Of the Texan Senators made the majority
which repealed the protective tariff. But, that
Ir. Walkers letter had not been mere brute
thunder, appeared probable from subsequent
occurrences. In the spring of l845, consulta-
lions We're understood to have taken place at
the North, between one or two distinguished
Southern visitors and some leaders of the Wing
party. y first result of these conferences was
afterwards thought to be disclosed, when, on
Inc 4th of July of that year. in speech and
Toast at the public dinner at Faneuil Hall, levi
uen'iy delivered under unusual agitation, as if
critical experiment was making,) Mr.. Win
lhrop extended the hand of fellowship to Texas,
While her admission was still a pending aues-
Ton. And all doubt was over as to the adop-
Ton OF new counsels in high quarters, when,
Three or four months later, the question of Tex
As annexation being still uncontrolled, and
maj attempt being set on foot by some promi-
h+ni Wings and others to obstruct its further
!'ogress by pouring petitions into Congress,
'ne .eadlng Wing merchants and manufacturers
u New England expressly refused their concur
'enee, and discouraged the movement. At all
vents and however the change had been
brought about, certain it was that simple Wing
'oer'' who had supposed themselves to belong
va party honestly opposed to the Slave Power
-surpa'ons, began to see that the alternative
was speedily to be presented to them, Of facing
!" Tie right about, or of being stripped of
""lne OF which they had been proud.
there are eyes at Washington, and further
"'l'h' and they were not blind to the tergiver
SAuon IN the quarter from which serious en-
IbaI lar to the policy of extending Slavery
I--u oeen apprehended. The Opposition had
eeA disposed of with unexpected ease; the final
t" 80 Al 'he House on annexation Al to only
~ nad shown how the spirit of the North had
'c1 broken down. A leading Wing Mr.. Ber
men had been Chairman Of the Committee
;neh reported the bill in the Senate, and carried
through that body. The course seemed COM
;C, s~oy clear for Immediate further action.
iLe ,Ohgarchy knows when to strike an effect
20. olow. Already wider prospects began to
tteH' even beyond its three hundred and fifty
W,Ioasand square miles of Texas. A war with
ne, -eAlco' Tor the obtaining indemnity for the
- ana security for the future" would yield
81 Cner provinces, to strengthen the tyranni-
- interest IN cur own councils. So in less
'n 'hree weeks from the final action on Tex
To- On the 18th day of January, 1916, General
bs ey.or received orders to occupy the country
tween the Nueces and the Rio Grande tier
,I'ory to which there was not the shadow of
in-ni h on the part of Texas,) and, further, to
iaru us our feeble neighbor, by erecting bat
inc Tn Inc edge Of the latter river, command
ba1k. "'oiaS' Oh 'ne oPPosi'e