Page:The History of Slavery and the Slave Trade.djvu/563

 American property — of the American constitution — of tho American Union, vanished into thin air. This must he the inevitable result, unless by a treaty with Mexico, the south can add more weight to her end of the lever! Let the south stop at the Sabine, (the eastern boundary of Texas J while the north may spread unchecked beyond the Rocky Mountains, and the southern scale must kick the beam!"

Mr. Gilmer, member of congress and formerly governor of Virginia, wrote to a friend in January, 1842:

"You ask if I have expressed the opinion that Texas would be annexed to the United States. I answer, yes; and this opinion has not been adopted without reflection, or without a careful observation of causes, which I believe are rapidly bringing about this result. I do not know how far these causes have made the same impression on others; but I am persuaded that the time is not distant when they will be felt in all their force. The excitement which you apprehend may arise; but it will be temporary, and, in the end, salutary.

"I am, as you know, a strict constructionist of the powers of our federal government; and I do not admit the force of mere precedent to establish authority under written constitutions. The power conferred by the constitution over our foreign relations, and the repeated acquisitions of territory under it, seem to me to leave this question open as one of expediency.

"But you anticipate objections with regard to the subject of slavery. This is indeed a subject of extreme delicacy, but it is one on which the annexation of Texas will have the most salutary influence. Some have thought that the proposition would endanger our Union. I am of a different opinion. I believe it will bring about a better understanding of our relative rights and obligations.

"Having acquired Louisiana and Florida, we have an interest and a frontier on the Gulf of Mexico, and along our interior to the Pacific, which will not permit us to close our eyes or fold our arms with indifference to the events which a few years may disclose in that quarter. We have already had one question of boundary with Texas; other questions must soon arise, under our revenue laws, and on other points of necessary intercourse, which it will be difficult to adjust. The institutions of Texas, and her relations with other governments, are yet in that condition which inclines he r people ("who are our countrymen) to unite their destinies with ours. This must be done soon or not at all."

Texas was also making movements for annexation; resolutions and a bill for the purpose were introduced into the legislature. A Texas paper announced that Mr. Upshur, our secretary of state, had proposed to Mr. Van Zandt, the Texas charge at Washington, to open a negotiation for annexing Texas to the Union. This proved to be true. A treaty was concluded at Washington on the 12th of April, 1844, by John C. Calhoun, secretary of state, on the part of the United States, and Isaac Van Zandt and J. Pinckney Henderson on the part of Texas. This treaty was communicated to the senate on the 22d, and ordered to be printed in confidence for the use of the senators. On the 27th of April, notwithstanding the injunctions of secrecy upon the action of the senate, the New York Post announced the [sic]couclusion of the treaty, and published the president's message and documents which accompanied it.

On the 8th of June, the question was taken in the senate on the ratification of the treaty, a majority of two-thirds being necessary to ratify. Only 16