The Lansing state Republican. [volume] (Lansing, Mich.) 1855-1874, 1860-06-20

ern States over their slave property, vet fee
a strong repugnance, by any act ot mine, 10 ex'
tend the present limits Of the Union over a new
slavehodng territory. After mature reflection,
however. | overcame these scruples, and now
belive the acquisition Of Texas viii be the means
of limiting, no, enlarging, the dominion OF sla.
very. There is nothing rash in tie counsels
of the Almighty. MAY not, then, the acquisi-
tion of Texas be the means of gradually draw.
ing the slaves far to the South, 10 a climate
more congenal to their nature and may they
not finally pass Oft into Mexico, and then minge
with race where 10 prejudice exists against
their color? That the acquisition of Texas
would, ere long, convert Maryland, Virginia,
Kentucky, Missouri, and probably others OF the
more northern slave States, into free States,
entertain not doubt. From the very best in
formation, it is no longer profitable TO raise
wheat, rye, and corn, by slave labor. Where
these articles are the only staples of agriculture,
in the pointed and expressive language of MIR.
Randolph, If the slave does not run away from
his master, the master must run away from the
slave"
This was Mr. Buchanan's declaration
Mr.. Robert j. Walker, then a Senator
from Mississippi, in public letter, exten.
SlNcl1 dt tlC A>Uitu, Seiiu
"The question is asked, Is slavery never tC
disappear from the Union? This is startling
and momentous question, but the answer is easy
and the proof is clear. II ,cW certainly disap
pear, If Ieras is rednnered to the Union"
Mr.. President, it may seem harsh for me
to charge that these statements were fraud
ulently made with the intent to impose up
on and deceive the Northern Democracy
That thousands upon thousands Of them
myself among the number, were mislec
and betrayed, by assurances from sucf
high authority, into the support of the
measure for the annexation of Texas, there
can be no doubt and should like to have
some one explain to me how they could
have been truthfully and honestly made
when the very treaty for the annexation o
Texas. with all the correspondence, was a
that time before the Senate, and the occas
ion of the speech of Mr.. Buchanan, from
which l have quoted. The negotiation o
the treaty was placed solely upon the grount
that Great Britain was about to exert hel
influence to procure the abolition of slave
ry in Texas. All the schemes of the slav,
power. in carrying slaves into Texas agains
the Mexican law and encouraging the re
volt against Mexico, were about to b
thwarted. Mr.. Buchanan and Mr. Wal
ker and the Senate knew very well that j
was only because slavery was endangered il
Texas. that the treaty was concluded il
such hot haste
l shall take the liberty of reading sucl
extracts from the correspondence as vii
prove the truth. Of my assertions.
Mr. Murphy was the charge from thi
Government to Texas; and in a letter ad
dressed to him by Mr.. Upshur, Secretar
of State. dated Washington, August S
1S43, he said
"SIR: A private letter from citizen of Ma
ryland, then in London, contains the tOllowin
passage:
"I learn, from a source entitled to the fulle:
confidence, that there is now here Mr.. Ar
drews, deputed by the AbolitiOnists of Texas
negotiate with the British Government; that b
has seen Lord Aberdeen, and submitted his pr
jet for the abolition of slavery in Texas; whic
is, that there shall be organized a company
England, who shall advance sum sufficient
pay for the slaves now in Texas, and receive
payment Texas lands; that the sum thus adval
ced shall be paid over as an indemnity for tt
abolition Of slavery; and am authorized by tf
Texan minister to say to you, that Lord Abe
deem has agreed that the British GovernmeI
will guaranty the payment of the interest G
this loan, upon the condition that the Texa
Government will abolish slavery
"The writer processes to feel entire confident
| in the accuracy of this information. He is
man of great intelligence, and well versed
public affairs. Hence have every reason
confide in the correctness of his conclusions.
"A movement of this sort cannot be confer
plated by us in silence. Such an attempt upt
any neighboring country would necessarily
viewed by this Government with very deep co
cern but when it was made upon a nation who
territories Join the slaveholding States Of o
Union, it awakens a still more solemn intere:
1t cannot be permitted to succeed without Il
most strenuous efforts on our part to arrest
calamity SO serious to every part Of our cOuntr
"But there is another view of this subje
still more important to US, and scarcely less il
portant to Texas herself. The establishment,
the very midst of our slaveholding States, of
independent Government, forbidding the ex
tence of slavery, and by people born, for t
most part, among US, reared up in our habi
and speaking our language, could not fail
produce the most unhappy effects upon be
parties. II Texas were in that condition, i
territory would afford ready refuge for
fugitive slaves Of louisiana and Arkansas, a
would hold out to them an encouragement
run away, which no municipal regulations
those States could possibly counteract."
: In another dispatch, dated January
. 1S44, he says:
/ "But this is not all Ii Texas should ref
, to come into our Union. measures will instal
be taken to fill her. territory with emgra
, from Europe. Extensive arrangements for t
are already made, and they will be carried i
: effect as soon as the decision Of Texas shall
known. These emigrants will bring with tn
European feelings and European opinions. I
igration from the United States will cease at
events, the people of the Southern States
: not run the hazard Of subjecting their 81
8 property to the control Of population who
: anxious to abolish slavery. Texas will s.
e cease to be an American State. Her populati
her politics, and her manners, will stamp her
European. This fact alone vii, destroy
Y sympathy which now exists between that cour
= and this.
"But the first measure of the new emigral
, as soon as they shall have sufficient strength,
II be to destroy that great domestic institution u
9 which so much of the property Of our South
l. country depends To this England will sti
late them, and she will also furnish the mean
accomplishing it. / have commenced upon
: topic in the dispatch to Everett. / will {
II add, that if Texas should not be attached TO
q United States, she cannot maintain that ins:
d ton ten years, and probably not half that tin