Indiana State sentinel. (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1861-01-23

this body. But will say that il never occurred
TO at that time that--the State whose admission
into the Union j was advocating, would be of
the first 10 join in scheme to break up the Union
| submit il TO him whether it is not an extradi
nary spectacle to see that State which has cost us
so much blood and treasure, turn back on the
Union which has fostered and protected her when
she was too feeble TO protect herself, and seize
the light houses, navy yards, forts and aIsenals
which, although within her boundaries, were
erected with National funds, for the benefit and
defense of the whole Union.
do not know that can find more striking
illustration of this doctrine of secession then was
suggested TO my mind when reading the Presi-
dents last annual message. Ny attention was
first arrested by the remarkable passage, that the
Federal Government had no power to coerce a
State back into the Union if she did secede; and
my admiration unbounded when found, a
few lines afterwards, Recommendation TO appro-
pirate money to purchase the Island of Cuba 1t
occurred TO me instantly what a brilliant achieve
ment it would be to pay Spain $500 900 600 for
Cuba, and Immediately admit the island into the
Union as State, and let her secede and reannex
herself to Spain the next day, when the Spanish
Queen would be ready to sell the island again for
half price, or double price, according to the gul-
libility of the purchaser Laughter.
During my service in Congress it was one Of
my pleasant duties to take active part in the
annexation of Texas; and at subsequent ses.
sion to write and introduce the bill which made
Texas one of the States of the Union. Out of
that annexation grew the war with Mexico, in
which We expended $780, 100000; and were left
TO mourn the loss of about ten thousand a. gal
liant men as ever died upon battle field for the
honor and glory of their country We have since
spent millions of money TO protect Texas from
her own Indians, TO establish forts and fortifica
tons to protect her frontier settlements, and to
defend her against the assaults of all enemies un-
I'll she became strong enough TO protect herself.
We are now called upon to acknowledge that
Texas has moral, just, and constitutional right
TO rescnd the act of admission into the Union:
repudiate her ratification OF the resolutions of
nexatlon; seize the forts and public buildings
which were constructed with our money; apprO-
pirate the same to her own use, and lelve rs 10
pay Sl00 600 900 and mourn the death of the
brave men who sacrificed their lives in defending
the integrity of her soil. In the name OF Hardin,
and Bissell and Harris, and of the seven thou
sand gallant spirits from Illinois. who fought
, braye.y upon every battle field Of Mexico pro-
test against the right of Texas to separate herself
? from this Union without our consent.
Mr.. Hemphill-Mr. President, if the Senator
/ from Illinois will allow me- | will inquire whether
there no other causes assigned by the United
States for the war with Mexico than simply the
e defense of Texas?
4 Mr.. Douglas-I viii answer the question. We
undoubtedly did assign other acts us being causes
for war, which had existed for yeus, If we had
chosen 10 treat them 50; hut did not 20 to war
for any other cause than the annexation of Texas,
0 as is shown in the act of Congress recognizing
the existence of war with Mexico, in which il is
; declared that "war exists bv the act of the Re
public of Mexico" The sole cause of grievance
d which Mexico had against us. and for which she
l commenced the war, was our annexation of
. Texas. Hence none can denv that the Mexican
o war was solely and exclusively the result of the
}. annexation of Texas.
; Mr.. HemphiII-I viii inquire further, whether
n the United States paid anything to Texas for the
l. annexation of her three hundred and seventy
e thousand square miles of territory, and whether
II the Unitel States has not got $500 O0O. 900 by
e the acquisition Of California through that war
e with Mexico.
o Mr.. Dougas-Sir, we did not pay anything for
d bringing Texas into the UnOn for we did not
II get any of her lands, except that we purchased
e from her some poor lands afterwards, which she
;, did not own, and paid her $4,000 600 for them
!. Laughter But we did spend blood and treas
a ure in the acquisition and subsequent defense OF
II Texas.
= Now, sir, will answer his question in respect
n to California The treaty of peace brought Cali
% fornia and New Mexico into the Union. OuI
l. people moved there, took possession of the lands
Of settled up the country, and erected State OF
t. which the United States have right to be proud
)r We have expended millions upon millions fol
$ Notifications in California, and for navy-yaris
lie and mints, and public buildings, and land surveys
le and feeding the Indians and protecting her peo
pie believe the public land sales do not amount
to than tenth of the cost of the surveys
I'd according 10 the returns that have been made II
1t is true that the people of California have dug
III large amount of gold principally out of the
t. lands belonging TO the United States) and sold i
IS to us; but am not aware that We are under an,
lie more obligations to them for selling it TO US, thar
G. they to for buying il of them. The peopl,
A. of Texas, during the same time, have probabl,
al made cotton and agricultural productions TO
&c much larger value, and sold some of IL 20 eN
D. England and some to Old England. | suppos,
te the benefits of the bargain were reciprocal, anC
nt the one was under Just as much obligation tn,
of other for the mutual benefits of the sale and pur
IN chase.
le The question remains, whether, after paying
re SIS 900 900 for Califonia-as the Senator from
n Texas has callel my attention 70 that State-anc
A. perhaps as much more in protecting and defend
ing her, she has any moral constitutional right :,
n annul the compact between her and the Union
ID and form alliances with foreign powers and leave
c. us TO pay the cost and expenses? | can not re
IN cognize any such doctrine In my opinion, tn
e, Constitution was intended to be bond of per
til petual Union. 1t begins with the declaration il
ed the preamble that is made in order "to form
Sc more perfect Union" and every section and par
IN agraph in the instrument implies perpetuity. j
a was intended to last forever, and was so under
rs stood when ratified by the people of the severa
of States. New York and Virginia have been re
Nv ferred having ratified with the reserved rgh
ed to withdraw or secede at pleasure. This is mis-
he take. The correspondence between General Ham
nv ilton and Mr. Madison, at the time, is concusiv
ur on this point. After Virginia had ratified tn
il, Constitution, General Hamilton who was a mem
he ber of the New York Convention, wrote TO Mr.
e, Madison that New York would probably ratif
er the Constitution for term of wears, and reserv
RS the right to withdraw after that time if certa
he amendments were not sooner adopted; 70 whic
n Mr.. Madison replied that such ratification wonl
n not make New York member of the Union
v that the ratification must be unconditional IN tot
ef and foreUer, or not at all; that the question
SIS was considered at Richmond, and abandoned whe
ne Virginia ratified the Constitution. Hence, th
ne declaration of Virginia and New York, that the
had not surrendered the right to resume the dele
bv gated powers must be understood as referring {
he the right of revolution, which nobody acknOwl
er edges more freely than do, and not TO the rgh
he of secession.
IN The Constitution being made as bond of per
ID petHal Union its trainers proceeded 10 provid
,y against the necessities ofrevolution by prescrbin
ma the mode in which it might he amended; so tina
he it. in the course oftime the condition of the cour
rv try should so change 10 require siifiereu
.se fundamental law, amendments might be mad
ms peaccaby in the manner prescribed in the instru
m inent and thus avoid the necessity of ever resort
,s- ing to revolution Having provided for perpetua
on Union, and for amendments to the Constitution
nd they next insert a clause for admitting ne
We States, but no provision for the withdrawal ,
X any of the other Statss. viii not argue III
in question of the right of secession any further tina
In to enter my protest against the whole doctrn'
m deny that there is any foundation for it in III
Nd Constitution, in the nature of the compact in ii
lal principles of the Government, or injustice. or
on good faith
.ht Nordo sympathize at all in the apprehension
he and misgivings | hear expressed about coercion
ar We told that inasmuch our government
ate founded upon the win of the people, or conse
the of the governed, therefore coercion is ncompat
the BILE with republicanism. Sir the word goverl
re ment means coercion. There can be no goverl
ces ment without coercion Coercion is the Wit
the principle upon which all governments rest. Wit
ay draw the right of coercion and you dissolve yol
If government. Ii every would perform b
dutv and tho riphfs of his ueifrhbors Vo