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58
THE WAR IN TEXAS.
different aspect. Our rights and our duties
are then both different.
The free states, and all the states, are then
at liberty to accept, or to reject. Whe;i it is
proposed to bring new members into this political
partnership, the old members have a
right to say on what terms such new members
are to come in, and what they are to bring
along with them. In my opinion, the people
of thle United states will not consent to bring
a new, vastly extensive, and slaveholding
country, large enough for half a dozen or a
dozen States, into the Union. In my opinion
they ouglht not to consent to it. Indeed I am
altogether at a loss to conceive, what possible
benefit any part of this country can expect to
derive froim such annexation. All benefit, to
any part, is at least doubtful an(d uncertain;
the objections obvious, plain, and strong. On
tle general question of slavery, a great portion
of the community is already strongly; excited.
The subject has not only attracted attention as
a question of politics, b,t it has struck a far
deeper toned chord. It has arrested the religious
feetings of the country; it has taken
strong hold on the consciences of men. He is a
rash man, indeed, little conversant with human
nature, and especially has he a very erroneous
estimate-of the character of the people of this
country, who supposes that a feeling of this
kind is to be trifled with, or despised. It will
assuredly cause itself to be respected. It may
be reasoned with, it may be made willing, I
believe it is entirely willing to fulfil all existing
engagements, and all existing duties, to uphold
and defend the co.,stitution, as it is establislied,
with whatever regrets about some
provisions, which it does actually contain.
But to coerce it into silence,-to endeavor to
restrain its free expression, to seek to compress
and confine it, warm as'it is and more heated
as such endeavors wotuld inevitably render it,
-should all th,s be attempted, I know nothing
even in the constitution, or in the Union itself,
which would not be endangered by the explosion
whichl miglt follow.
I see, therefore, no political necessity for
the annexation of Texas to the Union; no advantages
to be derived from it; and objections
to it, of a strong, and in my judgment, decisive
character."
Notwithstanding all the opposition to this
aggressive scheme, on the part of many of the
wisest men in our country; notwithstanding the
NOTORIOUS FACT, that its character, and
the persons concerned in it, are precisely as 1
have represented; although the members of
the National Legislature, as well as thle Executive
branch of our government, were possessed
of all the necessary information to prove
the reality of the monstrous iniqu.ty attached
to it; and even thoutgh the President, himself,
recommended inaction for a longer time-being
satisfied, from official investigation, that
any interference would be premature and improper;--yet,
every intelligent reader will re.
member, that a proposition for recognising
this band of insurgents, as an independent nation,
was made and hastily sanctiouned, just at
the close of the last session of Congress! Until
within a few hours of the time when the
vote was taken, no person, perhaps, anticipated
such a result.-And in what manner did
the usurpers thus contrive to over-reach the
opponents of their unhallowed scheme?-Why,
simply, by stealing a march upon them while
they were asleep-no, WHILE THEY WERE
AT DINNER'! ! Even such a veteran statesman-such
a long-tried and faithlul sentinel as
DANIEL WEBSTER, was found, ", napping,"
or lounging away fi.on his post, at soimportant
a moment! According to a published
statement of the proceedi.igs, he, with several
other members wh,o were opposed to the resolttion,
"had not returned from dinner" when
the vote was taken. I'rue, they subsequently
moved a reconsideration, but then, as time
had been given to make a "dotigh-face" or
two, the vote resultedl in a tie, and consequently
the motion was lost.
And it has ever been thus!-The slavehold.
ers have always ruled, and carried every measure
they wished, through the negligent supineness
or the political divisions amoig the
advocates of freedom and justice. The bturning
rebutke of John Randolph applies, with
ten-fold force, in eacl succeeding collision between
them. That sarcastic clhampion of slavite
aristocracy told the northern politicians,
long since, that they were all "afraid of their
own dough-faces;"-and that as many of them
could be moulded to southern patterns, at any
time, as might be wanted for any ptrpose.
Events have, so far, proved that he was correct;-and
it remains to be seen, whether this
state of things is to contintue, in all future
time, or whether THE PEOPLE of the nonslaveholding
States will take the matter in
hand, and inspire their representatives with
political honesty, and courage, and firmness,
for the faithful discharge of their solemn duties.
Immediately
after the SLAVEHOLDING
PARTY had thus succeeded in carrying their
measures through the Senate of tile United
States, the President (being now relieved from
all responsibility in the matter) appointed a
Minister, or Charge d'Aflaires, to represent
this nation at the Texian Court. The House
of Representatives appropri:,ted the money for
outfit,