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puieon had been, of that of France. Jack- j perfect, and self-governed, before she wtn a
son, Van Buren, and Poinsett, took the place j State of this Union; and, in the very na-
of Adams, Clay, and Poinsett, but pushed on j tore of things, this has been the case with all
the negotiation, flow, or why it failed, it j the States heretofore admitted, and, must
were useless now to inquire. Whether it was j always continue to be so. Where then, is the
lost sight of amongst the vulgar and paltry I difficulty of admitting another State into this
controversies ol Scotinos and Yorkinos, or , confederacy 1 The power to admit new States
postponed by the massacres and plunderings ! is expressly given. “ New' States may be ad-
of the succado, or suspended by the ceaseless j mitted by the Congress into this Union.” By
revolutions of that fated country, is now of j the very terms of the grant, they must be
no consequence. This is certain, that Presi- j States before they are admitted ; when admit-
dent Jackson never lost sight of it, and that I ted, they become States of the. Lnion. The
lie continued to look to its accomplishment as j terms, restrictions, and principles, upon which
one of the greatest events of his administra- '• new States are to be received arc matters to
lion, to the moment when the title of Mexico j be regulated by Congress, under tlie consti-
was extinguished forever bv the battle of San j tution.
Jacinto. ! The power conferred by the constitution up-
And the object, sir, was well worthy of the i on Congress is not to create, but to admit, new
solicitude of a patriot statesman, for the coun- j States. The States create themselves ; Mis-
try lost to us by the fatal treaty of 1819, is ! souri and Michigan did so and exercised all
one of the finest upon the whole earth. Its j the functions of self-government, while Con-
beautiful prairies expand beneath as genial a i gross deliberated whether they should be ad-
climate as ever blessed the milder latitudes of mitted. In the mean time, the territorial or
tho temperate zone; and rising with a gentle i ganization was abrogated, and the laws ot
slope from the Gulf, towards the north, pro- j Congress superseded ; and if Congress de-
stmts the appearance of a vast lawn, inter- dined readmit them, they, of necessity, re-
spersed with streams and woodland. No ! mained foreign and independent States,
heavy forests encumber its surface, and pre- j Heretofore, in the acquisition of Louisiana
sent obstacles to its settlement; no barren and Florida, France and Spain both stipu-
w'astcs of sand disfigure it: no marshy swamps j lated that the inhabitants of the ceded territo-
mir hs atmosphere with unhealthy cxhal- ries should be incorporated in the Union
atious. Under a sun which ripens the su- of the United States, a.s soon as may ho
gar cane and coffee, the surface is as green as j consistent with the principles of the federal
New England: and it is as exempt from dis-J constitution and admitted to all the privileges
ease as any portion of the valley of the Mis- | rights, and immunities, '
tent and of tho decided character of lira op-j tiat interest; and Wisconsin is making up to us by restoring what you wantonly and un
constitutionally deprived us of. Grant us this
position which this measure encounters in a j rith rapid steps to take her station abreast of
large section of tho Lnion. A vast number of | tie States. At this moment the non-slave-
leraonstranccs, memorials awl petitions, with j folding States have in tlie House of Repie-
countless signatures, have been presented, j fentatives 143 members out of 240, a majority
characterized in almost every instance by aj jf one sixth; and a majority of 4 Senators in
very excited temper. Several of the most re-J his body; and then, Mr. President, when we
spectable States, too, have solemnly adjured j look forward to the next census, New-York,
Congress to decline my proposed measure, j with her two and a half millions; Ohio, w ith
Vermont led the way, in a violent and denun- her two millions; Indiana, with her seven
ciatory paper. The populous State of Ohio hundred thousand; Illinois,.Michigan, and the
followed, in such determined hostility that her, rest; where, sir, will he the South then ?
Legislature has volunteered a denial of the; Where the balance of the Constitution ?
constitutionality of that acquisition which af-j Virginia gave to the non-slave-holding
fords the outlet to her commerce. The gravity j States the populous Northwest, for their
and dignity of Massachusetts have been en- i growth and expansion. They have by law and
listed to the same end ; and, in short, all the j treaty secured to themselves, and denied to us,
Northern and Middle States, in one form or: all above the parallel of 36 deg. 30 min., from
other, have urged objections upon us. If the ; the Mississippi to tlie Pacific, a vast and fer-
views of so large and respectable a portion of tile region, larger than revolutionary America;
the country be determined by broad reasons of destined to receive the emigration from the
general policy, conceived in a spirit of patri-J teeming bosom of the North, swollen by the
otism, and embracing the various interests o ? ! annual importation of nearly one hundred
the whole Union in a just and equal conside-j thousand foreigners. While, bv treaty, we
ration, they would come recommended to us i were deprived of all west of the Sabine, and
by a very weighty authority; but, on the other I by law of north of 36 deg. 30 min., they have
hand, if this joint movement be a combination, kept open for themselves all the interior world
conceived in a spirit of hostility towards onejof the Upper Missouri and Mississippi, all tl
just and humble boon, by repairing the viola
ted integrity of your territory, by augmenting
your wealth and power, by extending the em
pire of law, liberty, and Christianity. Give it
to us, and you will accomplish that “ which is
the greatest interest of every, true American,
the consolidation of our Union, in which is in
volved our prosperity, felicity, safety—per
haps our national existence.” Mr. Presi
dent, with these words of Washington 1 con
clude.
From tlie Augusta Constitutionalist.
A letter received in this city yesterday by
express mail from Philadelphia, dated the 31st
ult., states, that in consequence of the repeal
of the specie circular, the Banks in that city,
it was thought, wo’jlcl speedily resume specie
payments. A tweeting of the different banks
in that city v> d s to have been held on th.e 1st
inst., to take- the subject into consideration, and
for fixinr a day of general resumption, which
it was supposed would be in the cour.’.e of ten
or fifteen days. Should this resumption take
Vtaee, exchange on New-York, it was thought,
would go down to par in Philadelphia. The
sissippi. It is intersected at short distances
by large rivers, which form bays and estua
ries along tlie Gulf coast eminently fitted for
commerce. Under tlie quickening influences
>f our policy and our people, this fine tract of
f the citizens of tb
United States. Iu compliance with this stipu
lation, Louisiana, Arkansas,and Missouri, have
heen admitted into the Union, aud at no dis
tant day Florida will be. Now if we contract
with France and Spain for the admission of
our po
country doomed to be an eternal waste if pa 5 -j States, why shall wc not with Texas'? If
sessed by th
spring into ;
Mexicans or Camanches, will
glorious and vigorous existence.
Its fields will teem with the richest productions
of the earth ; its rivers will bear down to what
should always be considered in the policy of
this Government as our sea (mare nostrum) an
France can sell to us her subjects and her ter
ritory, why cannot the people of Texas give
themselves and their territory to us? Is it
more consistent with our republican notions
that men and territory can be transferred by
the arbitrary will of a monarch, for a price.
unbounded produce, to enhance the naviga- than that a free people may be associated with
tion of the Northern States, while an increas- us by mutual consent ? Can we buy, or ac-
ing population augments the demand (or their j cording to the report of the Massachusetts com
ma;) ufactures. mittee, conquer, and yet not enter into an am-
But the boundary line established by the icable agreement to effect the same object, in
treaty of 1819, not only deprives us of this ex- pursuance of the ascertained will of the parties
Ins Specie Circular repealed! Q
readers will learn, we doubt not, most of tl lf .
with great satisfaction, that the Joint R e< ,
tion repealing, in effect, the Treasury O r /
of July, 1S36, and prohibiting the Executft'
from making any discriminating and part T(
ordets concerning Government monev in *;
tr. j o . -’“‘miir
to come, which passed the Senate on Tn
section, and for the purpose of aggrandizing [ prairies and mountains of the central Y r est I following is an extract of a letter from Nicho-
the political power of another, then, both the all the valley of the Columbia, aud coast of las t0 Q- Atlams > on tl,c subject,
purpose and the temper in which it is con-j the Pacific; and with this rich and no and less j
ceived constitute an irresistible reason, on thej inheritance, with their own noble euuntrv, and I
part of all who value this Union, for urging with what the reckless muniUrence of Yir-
and consummating the measure. ginin endowed them, is it according to the'
Stripped of all circumlocution, the propo-j spirit in which the Constitution was conceived,
sition is this : We arc hostile to the institutions j is it in a spirit of kind nogs, is it. just, is it not
of the South, and propose their destruction; j an outrage, that the question of political power
powi
we have a predominating power, daily increas- j is raised againsl
mg, over that section ; and we do not intend J No one wiF venture to sav, that if the South
that it shall put itself in a condition to resist j extends herself to tlie Rio Grande, she can
oui power, when we may choose to exercise! under <my circumstances contain a population
“ Philadelphia, May 31st, 1S38.
“ Dear Sir:—In my letter of the 7th ult., I
stated my belief that there could be no safe
nor permanent resumption of specie payments
by the banks, until the policy of the Govern
ment towards them was changed.
“ The repeal of the Specie Circular by Con
gress, makes that change. I see now, what,
until now, I have not seen: the means of re-
1
rejoice very sincerely
it. I put it to every candid man, whether this j at nil equal to that of the non-slave-holdii
storing the currency.
at tlie termination of this unhappy controversy,
. - . . i i i o j— -- — a | and shall cordially co-operate with the Gov-
is not the just interpretation, the sum and sub-{ ^-ta^s. In the other branch of Congress wc ernment, by promoting what the banks are, I
s.ance, o tne P locc II] o s 111 - assac m-set.*' i 9.an never expect an approach to equality. 1 he ; ani sure, anxious to effect, an earlv resumption
^Ohm, an( | <)f aI1 those numerous petit’ 0 T.s J sceptre lias passed from ns, and for ever. | ot - specie payments throughout the Union.
“ With great respect, yours,
“ N. BIDDLE.
Hon. J. Q. Adams, Washington.
which have been presented from the j-joi-; Whether it has been rightfully wielded, let
slaveholding States. I do not now speak of' the growth and power of this country answer,
ihat wild and blind fanaticism, or ?;dl blinder | All that is now left ns is to protect ourselves,
cant, which infects the public Tn\n t l upon this ! All that we want is some reasonable check
tensive and fertile territory, but winds with
“ a deep indent” upon tlie valley of the Missis
sippi itself, running upon the red River and
the Arkansas. It places a foreign nation in the
rear of our Mississippi settlements, and brings
it within a stone’s throw of that great outlet
which discharges the commerce of half the
Union. The mouth of the Sabine and the
mouth ol the Mississippi arc of a dangerous vi
cinity. The great object of the purchase of
Louisiana was to remove all possible interfer
ence of foreign States in the vast commerce of
the outlet of so many States. By the cession
of Texas this policy was to a certain extent
compromised.
concerned ? There is some display of learn-,
insr in the report, to show that conquest can
effect what consent cannot. Not so. War it
self i3 hut a mode of argument—ultima ratio ;
conquest is uti enforced consent. It. does not
terminate in actual physical restraint, perma
nently applied, but in the assent of the con
quered party that submission is preferable to
further resistance. A State or a people in
corporated with another by such means has
come to the conclusion that union is better
than other calamities to which it is exposed, or
of itself promises benefits greater than those
resulting from a separate existence!
It i3 supposed that there is a sort of politi-
On this subject, Mr. 4 an Burcn, in his in- j cal impossibility, resulting from the nature of
structions to Mr. Poinsett, holds the following | things, to effect the proposed union. The
speak of the grave language of distinguished I South is to restrain as far as possible the ac-
mcn, and the dignified proceedings of legisla-j tion of this Government. We never require
tive bodies ; and when the South finds in these ! any thing from it. Ours is the let-us-alone
a question of political power raised against j policy. All we wish is not to suffer aggres-
hcr, coupled with, or rather founded upon, an ! sion. All the power vve covet is the power to
objection to her social institutions, she ought, i resist, incursions. And this much, sir, you
she must, make up her mind to give up those i must allow to us. The ground upon which
institutions, or to demand a guarantee for | non-slave-holding States aud communities put
them. The question of her existence is forced ! their claim to political supremacy is an insult
upon her; and if you will not consent to adopt! to us; the claim itself is an aggression, and
some measure to protect her, (arul I confess the avowed purposes for which it is to be used
tlmt T see nothing but what I now propose,) it i are hostile and destructive.
language.
“ The line pro posed ns tho one most desirable to ns,
would constitute a most natural separation of the resources
of the two nations. It is the centre of a country uninhab
itable on the Gulf: and, on the mountains, so difficult of
.access, and so poor, as to furnish no inducements for a
! aid intercourse ; nn-l,of course, no theatre f-r those dif
ferences that are almost inseparable from a neighborhood
of commercial interests. It corresponds with tlie habitu
al feelings of the people ol Mexico, and with the avowed
policy of lhe Mexican Government, by causing a wide sep
aration and difficulties of intercourse between the inhabi
tants of thenvo countries, and by preventing those oxeite-
nu nts and bickerings invariably produced by the contigu
ous operation of corillinting laws, habits and interests. The
c tut nereial establishment which would he forthwith made
at the Nueces, and in its vicinity, would enable us to pre
serve, in a great degree, the morals of tho inhabitants of
both sides, by the prevention of smuggling; nttd the Mes
ial tl Government, by thus respecting the real interests of
the United States, without tictiril prejudice to its own,
would afl ird the srrongest evidence of that spirit uffriend
ship by which the United States have always been influ
enced towards it, and which shoo'd ever characterize tlie
conduct of neighboring republics.”
I have thus Mr. President, shown that the
territory of Texas was ours, that the constitu
tionality
at id that its re-annexation is desirable. I have
now to advert to tlie objections raised against
it; and fortunately these are presented in a
distinct and imposing form, in the report of a
committee of the House of Representatives,
of Massachusetts, now in session. I approach
with due deference, sir, whatever comes from
the functionaries of that great commonwealth
(for, although I think her opinions and policy
have not been exempt from serious mistakes
and errors,) still from the time of her Hancocks
and Adamses she has prosecuted her purposes
with a firmness and intelligence certainly not
surpassed by any Slate in the Union. She
has at all times been fertile in great men.
She has always had the consideration abroad,
and that self confidence, (a main source of
strength,) that results from a glorious past; and
committee says that “ the measure is in fact
the union of two independent Governments.”
Certainly, the union of twenty-seven “ inde
pendent Governments;” but the committee
adds, that it should rather be termed the dis
solution of both and tlie formation of a new,
one, which whether founded on the same
will be her duty by her own action to provide
for her own ssfety.
It cannot fail to make a deep and mournful
impression upon the South, that the opposition
Ynd, Mr. President, but for the great re
spect which I have for the States which have
taken ground on this subject, I should lie dis
posed to suspect that the idea of checking the
to the proposed measure is cotemporaneous \ extension of domestic slavery was but a liol
with the recent excitement on the subject of; low and hypocritical pretext, to cover political
abolition. All men, of all parties, from all j designs. The slave-holding population and
or another written constitution, is, ns to its
identity, different from either. This can only
he effected by the smnmum jus, Ac.
A full answer to this objection, even if ma
ny others were not at hand, as far as Texas
is concerned is contained, in the fact that
the summum jus has been exercised.
Her citizens, by a unanimous vote, have
decided in favor ofannexation; and according
to the admission of the committee, this is suf
ficiently potent to dissolve their Government,
and to surrender themselves to be absorbed
by ours. To receive this augmentation of
our territory and population, manifestly, does
not dissolve thisGovcrnment, or even remodel
it. Its identity is not disturbed. There is no
f its alienation is at least doubtful, appeal necessary to tlie summum jus populi
for such a political arrangement on our part,
even if the summum jus populi could be pre
dicated of tliis Government, which it cannot.
Now, it is very obvious that two free States
mav associate for common purposes and that
these common purposes may be multiplied
in number or increased in importance, at the
discretion of the parties. They may e.stablish-
a common agency for the transaction of their
business : and this may include a portion or all
of their political functions. The new crea
tion may be an agency if created by States,
or a Government if created by the people :
for the people have a right to abolish and cre
ate Governments. Does any one doubt
whether Texas could rejoin the republic of
M exico. Why not, then rejoin this republic ?
No one doubts that the States now compos-
scctione, in and out of office, Mr. Adams most
conspicuous among them, desired tho acquisi
tion of Texas until tho clamorous interference
in the affairs of the South was caught up in
Ncw-England, from old England. Then for
the first time objections arc made to this mea
tho slave-holding political communities may
be multiplied by tho proposed acquisition of
territory ; but I do not see that slavery or the
number of slaves can be increased by it. Un
der the mild condition of Southern slavery,
the negro population increasesata greaterratio
Department, to embrace tlie Agricultural and
Mechanical interests of the country :—“ The
head of the Department is to have a sent in
the Cabinet, with assistants, to carry out the
objects of the establishment; power to for
ward to each literary institution, and each
teacher in the Union, blank reports, to be filled
by each teacher, assisted by a committee of
farmers, mechanics, professional men, artists,
architects, merchants, etc., as the case may
be, describing the soil, minerals, natural pro
ducts, crops, buildings, agricultural and me
chanical implements, of his school district;
saying what raw materials may be brought in-
day evening, passed the House of Repress
tatives yesterday, almost with the swiftness r
an arrow, and now needs only the Preaid eilt '-,
signature to be a law. The unexampled m,
jorities in both Houses, show the stienrrft, r
the general dislike justly entertained an ai0sI
this celebrated Circular.
Here is the end, then, of one Expcrim er .
and most sincerely do we rejoice at it. iy'
congratulate the country that Congress i ns
decisive a manner, has extinguished one
those measures which Lave so much annoy i
and distressed the community.
It is remarkable with what pertinacity i]
Executive has withstood public sentiment I
regard to this pernicious measure. The «<■::
citations of friends, and the reiterated deci
ions of Congress, have alike been unavailing
to produce its repeal. Three-fourths of ( r
Members of the last Congress pronounce*] !•<
condemnation by the bill of February, is;'
which Genera] Jackson put in his pocket ev
would neither sign, nor return to Conor**,
that it might be passed into a law without b-
signature. Then there was the sub-Treasur
bill of the extra session, which passed jC
Senate, and which contained a clause repe-.
ing the Specie Circular. Next, there is fi»
sub-Treasury bill of this session, w hich has a
so passed the Senate, containing (i n ft s 2;;,
section) a similar rescinding clau.-e, moved In-
Mr. Webster. And, now, here is the join-
resolution, in the identical terms of that <*,
tion, substituted by the Senate, on motion 4
tlie same gentleman, for the proposition of M r
Clay, which has received the sanction of over-
whelming majorities in both Houses. Thus
has the Senate four different times, and the
House of Representatives tieirc, declared in
effect, that this Jacksonian Experiment, Xu.
2, ought not only to be revoked, 1 >ut that i:
ought to be made unlawful for the Executive
ever hereafter to issue or authorize any similar
order. Yet, up to this moment, has the Ex
ecutive clung to the measure, regardless «’
the injury which even his partisans avow tha:
it inflicts on the country; regaidless of tbv
public will, most emphatically spoken throne ;
the Representatives of the People. Y?-
clung to it with a tenacity which is totally un
accountable upon any other hypothesis than
that the Executive will has been controlled liv
some “ malign influence,” either proccedinj
from the Hermitage, or exerted here by tlie
original concoctors and advisers of the niea.<-
ure. Be that as it may, the fate of that “ex
periment” is sealed. The odious and uncon
stitutional discrimination must now he given
Congress has pronounced its fate in a
up.
to use advantageously to the proprietors and i \° u , ia must , 11
to the country; what new crops may be intro- 1 * a l ea ' e9 no h°P
duced beneficially, and why; what rotation of U,. eto -
sure; then those very statesmen who were than that of the whites throughout the Union,
anxious to make the acquisition of Texas their ! augmented as the latter is by the accession of
glory r , found out that it would subvert the con-! foreigners. To this natural increase, your
stitution and ruin the country. YYe of the j laws, making the introduction of slaves a felo-
South, Mr. President, bear with such compo-1 nv, forbid any addition. Extend the territory
sure as we may the pious horror and self-right- j as you may, you can have only those you now
eous indignation with which many of our breth-1 have and their natural increase. They may
ren speculate upon us ; but it is a different af- j he diffused over a wider surface, intermingled
fair, when ignorant and impertinent denuncia
tors rise up and demand tlie control of the
policy of this Government. You are called
with a larger free population, but not one ad
ditional slave can be made. Nay, Mr. Presi
dent, this annexation will produce the precise
these advantages, combined with her superior : ing ibis Union might have joined Great Britain
magnitude and wealth, have constituted her | n ff er t ] ie declaration of Independence. The
the head and leader of New England. What learned committee would not contend that
she says and does is therefore entitled to the
greatest consideration, and this is the more es
pecially demanded at my hands by the tem
perate and courteous manner in which the
. committee has done me the honor to treat mo
and tho resolution which is now the subject of
.our deliberations.
The report says : “ The committee do not
believe that any power exists in any branch of
this Government, or in all of them united to
consent to such a union, (viz: with the sov-c-
reign State of Texas,) nor, indeed, docs such
authority pertain, as an incident of sovereign
ty or otherwise, to the Government, however
absolute, of any nation.”
Both of these propositions, I controvert;
there was a political impossibility in the
union of Scotland and England, or of Ireland
I and Britain: or that, in the nature of things,
it would be impossible for Louisiana, if she
were a sovereign Stale out. of this Union, to
join with the sovereign State of Texas in form
ing a new Government.
There is no point of view in which the prop
osition of annexation can he considered, that
any serious obstacle in point of form pre
sents itself. If this Government be a confede
ration of States, then it is proposed to add an
other State, to the confederacy. If this Gov
ernment be a consolidation, then it is proposed
to add to it additional territory and population.
That vve can annex, and afterwards admit, the
and, first, as to the powers of this Govern- | cases of Florida and Louisiana prove. W r e
merit.
The committee, it appears to me, has been
led to erroneous conclusions on this subject by
a fundamental mistake as to the nature and
character of our (rovernment; a mistake which
has pervaded and perverted all its reasoning,
and has for a long time been the abundaut
source of much practical mischief in the action
of this government, and of very dangerous
speculation. The mistake lies in considering
this, as to its nature and powers, a consolida
ted Government of one people, instead of a
federated Government of many States, under
the constitution, as one people. Even in the
popular branch of Congress this distinction is
maintained. A certain number of delegates
is assigned to each State, and the people of
each State elect for their own State. When the
functionaries of the Government assemble here
they have no source of power but the constitu
tion which prescribes, defines, and limits, their
action, and constitutes them, in their aggregate
capacity, a trust or agency, for the perform
ance of certain duties confided to them by
various States or communities. This govern
ment is therefore a confederacy of sovereign
States, associating themselves together for mu
tual advantages. They originally came to
gether as sovereign States, having no authori
ty and pretending to no power of reciprocal
control. North Carolina and Rhode Island
stood off for a time refusing to join the confed
eracy, and at length came into it by the exer
cise of a sovereign discret ion. So too of Mis
souri, who was a State fully organized and
can, therefore, deal with the people of Texas
for tlie Territory of Texas, and tbepeojde can
be secured in the rights and privileges of the
constitution, as were the subjects ol'Spainand
France.
So much for the formal difficulties. I now
approach those which have exercised a more
decisive influence over that portion of the
Union which is offering a determined opposi
tion to this measure.
The Massachusetts committee experience
much difficulty in ascertaining the mode of ac
tion by which the proposed annexation can be
effected, and demand “in what form would
be the practical exercise of t he supposed pow
er? In what department does it lie ?” The
progress of events already in a great measure
answers this objection, Texas lias taken the
initiative. Her minister lias introduced the
subject to that department which is alone ca
pable of receiving communications from for
eign Governments, and the Executive has sub
mitted the correspondence to Congress. The
resolutions, before you propose an expression
of opinion by Congress, which, if made, the
Executive will doubtless address itself earnest
ly, in conjunction with the authorities of Tex
as, to the consummation of the joint wishes of
the parties, which can be accomplished by
treaty, emanating from one department of
this Government, to be carried into effect by
passage of all needful laws by the legislative
department, and by the exercise of the express
power of Congress to admit new States.
I am aware. Mr. President, ©f the full ex-
ujion to declare that the Southern portion of! opposite result. It will prevent the increase
vour confederacy, by reason of certain domes-; of slaves. It is well known that it has tasked
tic institutions, in the judgment of your peti- j the vigilance and power of this Government to
tioners, wicked and detestable, is to he exclu- ! enforce the laws to which I have just alluded,
ded from some part of the political benefit of j against the temptation of the vast profit which
this Government. The assumption is equally j would reward the introduction of slaves; and
insulting to the feelings and derogatory to the ! it is also known that tlie combined energies of
constitutional rights of the South. It is an j the civilized powers of the world have not yet
arrogant pretension to superiority on one side, J succeeded in putting an end to the slave trade,
and denunciation of inferiority on the other;
which, if sanctioned by Congress, either by
assuming it as the reason of legislating, or of
refusing to legislate, makes us at once two
people, two races—a superior and an inferior.
We neither can nor ought—I say it, Mr. Presi
dent, in no light mood or wrong temper—vve
neither can nor ought to continue in political
union on such terms.
But, Mr. President, wrong, and dangerous,
and subversive of our institutions, as these
positions are, they have their origin rather in
the apprehensions of those who urge them,
than in actually existing facts. The Massa
chusetts report asserts that, at the institution
f this Government, the predominance of po-
which continues to supply the West Indies
with African slaves. Our laws, sustained by
our public opinion and enforced by our power,
would 110 doubt prevent tlie possibility of the
further introduction of negroes; but none of
these checks will operate with the same force
upon Texas. Her extended coast, watched
by a small navy; her uninhabited territory,
subject to a necessarily inefficient police, afford
facilities for the introduction of negroes, v\ hile.
on the other hand, the temptation to introduce
them will he greater than any other portion of
this continent has ever been exposed to ; nor,
sir, will the proposed annexation deteriorate
the condition of the slaves now held in bon
dage. Such as would be transferred to Texas
litical power was in the non-slaveholding I would be placed in a more healthy climate,
States, and that the representation of the three- | more fertile soil ; they would be less crowded
fifths was allowed in a spirit of compromise, j together in large masses, and, from the en-
to make an approximation towards equality, i hanced value of their labor, enlist a more in-
l believe, sir, that the committee is mistaken ' tense interest on the part of their owners to
crops ; what improvement in the construction
of buildings; what discoveries in natural his
tory; and the state of education in his dis
trict. Premiums to he given by the Depart
ment fi>r valuable discoveries. The micros
cope, barometer, thermometer, and rain gauge,
to be used in the schools, to aid in the study
of natural history; to ascertain the habits and
changes of insects that are destructive to
our crops, fruits, vegetables, flowers, plants,
shrubs, ornamental and forest trees, and ani
mals, together with the changes of tho weather,
records of which to he kept, not only with a
view to observe its effects on vegetation, but
to guard against its changes. To have all
newly invented implements tested by a Com
mittee of farmers and mechanics, to report
thereon. Foreign seeds and plants, with all
information on such subjects, gathered by our
officers, to ha sent to tlie Department, reported
on and sent to each teacher for the purpose of
imparting information to the pupils and' citi
zens of his district. By adopting this course,
vve shall thus have a professor of agriculture
and the mechanic arts, in every teacher of the
Union, the establishment of which in the col
leges of Europe, has been highly beneficial.
[ New- York American.
voice that must be heard, and with a unammiir
e to its friends, even from
l\
Blameable, however, as vve hold the Presi-:
dent for adhering with such obstinacy to this ;
oppressive measure, which he could at ar.t.
moment have abrogated with a dash of tie:
pen, it must yet be admitted, in candor, that,
he has only acted in accordance with the s |
lemn pledge which he crave, on entering upon|
his high trust, “ to tread in the footsteps of El
illustrious predecessor;” and those who ap-l
prove of such pledges, under any circunistaii i
ces, must award him praise for the fidelity
with which he has redeemed that pledge-
lie has certainly “trod in the footsteps” at
long as he could, though they have led him
through a thorny path. General Jackson*
popularity, it was arrogantly asserted bv hi-
adulators, “could stand any thing.” A sad
popularity.it has heen to the country! For
tunately, though he left 1 is obnoxious niea?-
in its view of the facts. Of those who made ! attend to their wants and necessities. These
the Constitution, and of those who sat in the j remarks I make, Mr. President, to show how
first Congress, two-thirds were slave-holders, blind and mistaken is that humanity which has
Excluding Pennsylvania, where slavery never { permitted itself to be enlisted against this
existed, and the Nevv-England Stales, in some I measure. How narrow italsois, let me briefly
of which slavery existed to a small extent at j illustrate. It is obvious that, if our law's, in-
the time of the adoption of the Constitution, i stitutions, spirit of enterprise, and habits of
the slave-holding States represented in the j order, were extended over that region, and
first Congress, according to the provisions of j sustained l>v the vigor of our Government, it
the Constitution, werc-
New-4 ork,
New-Jersrv,
Delawnro.
Maryland,
V irpinin.
North Carolina,
South Carolina,
Georgia,
Kentucky,
42
New-Hrunpf hire,
Massachusetts,
Rhode Island,
Connecticut,
Pennsylvania,
Vernion t,
Non-slavelioldin:
27
would rapidly become the seat of civilization
3 I and religion. The waste of useless fertili-
8 | ty would be subjected to a vigorous culture,
1 j towns would spring up, churches be built, and,
8 i in the place of the wild Caddoes and Caman-
2 j ches, woultl appear a race of men rapidly ful-
! filling the high destiny of civilized man.
j It is against that spirit of aggrandizement
i and recklessness, which is, in the prosecution
| of its mad career, blind to such obvious con-
There being niue slave-holding and six non- siderations as these. It is against that self-
By the apportionment under the first census
the Representatives stood thus—
New-York,
10
New-Hampshire,
4
New-Jersev,
r>
Massachusetts,
14
Delaware,
1
Rhode Island,
2
Maryland,
8
Connecticut,
7
Virginia,
19
Pennsylvania,
13
North Carolina,
South Carolina,
Georgia,
10
6
0
Vermont,
0
42
chastisein others every tiling different from it
self. It is against that prurient and drunken
Kentucky,
Tennessee,
and "he Senators 20 to 12.
Thus, it appears that, at the adoption of the
Constitution, the slave-holding interest pre-
it with massacre and burning, and all the name
less horrors of servile war. It is against the
perpetual and irritating agitation of bitter
and unprofitable topics, which cannot conic to
good, that this measure is intended to provide.
I wish no power for the South but enough to
protect herself: no boon but to be let alone;
no influence here, but enough to check in
this body the mad caprices of unbridled pow
er. I expect a majority in neither branch of
dominated; and that, therefore, the idea of j the Government. In tlie popular branch we
tlie committee, that the growth of the South
should be prevented, for the purpose of pre
serving the original balance of the Constitu
tion, is wholly erroneous.
And now, Mr. President, turn your attention
for a moment to the present relative condition
of the sections,
New-York, New-Jersev, and Delaware,
now belong to the non-slaveholding section.
From the bounty of Virginia, Ohio, Indiana,
Illinois^ and Michigan, have been added ta
are destined to a hopeless minority. Here
we must be strong enough to be heard, to be
felt, to be able to check, to be able to insist up
on deliberation.
We stand entirely on the defensive, we de
sire safety, not power, and vve must have it.
I know of no mode so easy, so direct, and so
efficacious, as this which I propose. Give us
safety and repose, by dbing now what all
your most trusted and distinguished statesmen
have been so long anxious to do. Gp c them
The Correspondent of the Baltimore Pat
riot, gives the following account of a late ap
plication to Congress for a pension :
One of the cases acted on was a very pecu
liar one. It was that of Benjamin Gannet,
who claimed a pension in right of his wife,
Deborah Gannet, who, before her marriage,
and under the name of Robert Shartleff, en
listed in April, 1781, in one of the Massachu
setts regiments, and served two years in the
war of the Revolution, after which she was
honorably discharged, having been seriously
wounded at Tarrytown, in 1783. She mar
ried, received her pension, and died, and her
husband now claims her pension, as in the case
of widows of revolutionary soldiers. Here
is a romance in our young history, as well as
in those whose distance from our times throws
a doubt over such marvellous tales when re
lated thereof. “ Truth is,” indeed, “ stranger
than fiction.”
The New-York American contains tlie
opinion of Chancellor Kent, at great length,
in direct opposition to that of Judge McKin
ley, given at Mobile, upon the inability of a
corporation created by one State, to enter into
contracts out of the jurisdiction of the power
that created it. This startling decision of a
Judge of the Supreme Court so amazed the
men of business about N. Y„ that the opinion
of Chancellor Kent was asked for.
ures as a legacy to the incumbent of tk
Presidency, he could not bequeath with it that I
popularity by which he was enabled to sustain I
them, and trample in the dust the acts of tb- f
people’s Representatives.—Nat. Intel. 31-tf *
The country is not perhaps aware that the
“Duelling affair”—odious words!—is yet be
fore the House of Representatives, in the
shape of a morion to print a number of extra
copies of the Report of the Committee—on
which motion a speech “during the morning
hour” is made every morning—much to the
annoyance of the House, and to the great loss
of time and patience.—Alexandria Gazette.
The Louisville Journal says:—“A friend
has sent us a copy of the Raymond, Miss.,
Times. There is not a single editorial remark
or a single communication in it. The whole
paper is filled with advertisements of “ Sher
iffs sales” and “trust sales”—SI in number.
How beautiful sounds the late boast of Sena
tor Walker, “There is no distress amon
constituents.”
my
The King Fish of Barren River Caught.
Oii this day week, wc learn that Messrs. Hob
son and Powel, (our most expert anglers,)
were fortunate enough to catch in our river,
three miles above Boling Green, with a small
perch hook, a blue catfish, which weighed 131
pounds, and measured at least 6 feet. Where
such fish can flounder, steamboats may in
safety flourish,—Kentucky Gazette,
We learn that Mr. William Butler, the
“ oldest inhabitant” of Philadelphia, closed
his earthly cai'eer on Saturday. He was in
the 108th year of his age, and until recently
continued to walk about the street. He was
likewise a soblier of tlie revolution.
A Domestic Tragedy.—A tragedy of u
painful and appalling character, was recent);I
pcipetrated in the western pars of Alabama.
Fhe particulars as recorded in the Lakeviilf
Express, are somewhat to the following effect
A young lady of great personal attraction-1
the daughter of a farmer in the neighborhood I
had formed an acquaintance with a youth oil
wild and dissolute habits, and her parents inf
consequence forbade him their house, and ei-
erted themselves to sever the connection, ft I
providing “ Miss Julia Maria” with a steady j
middle aged husband. The squire having ||
performed the ceremony, “ the happy couple' |
set off for their homes on the borders of the
great prairie, and for six months the lady ap
peared perfectly reconciled to her lot, and ex
erted herself to love, honor and obey her lie»e
lord. One morning as the farmer was return
ing home with his rifle and dogs, he met ft?
former rival who accounted for his sudden ap
pearance by saying, that he had just return^ 1
from New-Orleans, where he had made an"
speculation in Texian lands, and that it vie
his intention to emigrate to his new propel
so soon as he had completed some family £
raugements. The unsuspicious husband i*
vited his friend to pass a day or two with
saying, that although he should he going
Lakeville the next day, the other could aniu tf
himself until his return by shooting the ]f
l ie hens, or fencing-in a patch of corn, wbift
ever he pleased. The other consented, an“
returned to the house with the hospitable :
mer. The next day, the young man renewe*
his intimacy with his former sweetheart, an :
finally succeeded in exacting a proaiise tb’-
she would the next morning runaway wit-
him. The husband, in the mean time, k**]
gone on a tour to the prairies, in search‘"I
game, and was not expec 1
and was not expected to return •' |
several days. He had his misgivings howef'B
er, and returning home late at night, lie was 1 .
horrified witness of his own dishonor. Y it
out attempting to disturb the guilty' pair, 1 fe-,
fired his house in three different places, th*
flames creeping through the upper stories an
encircling the roof of his once happy hoffi'
The wretched woman and her paramour we”
aroused from their adulterous dreams by tl> f ,
flames, and rushed to the windows to sa'f
themselves by* leaping out, but below stt* -
the infuriated husband with his rifle, and k ,.
moment the casement was opened he
with unerring aim, and they both fell anii(L-
burning ruins.
There is now in Boston, a female Ourang
Otan r , one of three brought from Borreo, 1 -
other two having died on the passage.
Tft
eldest a male aged 3, and which died, trea ‘! ‘ I
this surviving or youngest as a child, and |
actions of the latter corresponded.
The!
slept on each ethers arms, and the parent ft
queutly caressed and kissed its more J' 0111 ^ 1
(Companion. The latter coughs, cries
laughs like an infant of three or ^ our 7c or k,J
liandles its cup to drink and its knife an
Inl
and makes its bed, dresse3 itself, & c > as . a
man creature. The preservation of its life I- ^
pujted to the accidental discovery of ft? F
chant for flesh, on which it is fed and git’"