Chapter LXXI: Appendix: F

The following is believed to be a correct exhibit of the legislative resolutions against the annexation of Texas--of the times at which they were passed, and of the _votes_ by which they were passed:--

1. VERMONT.

"1. _Resolved, By the Senate and House of Representatives_, That our
Senators in Congress be instructed, and our Representatives
requested, to use their influence in that body to prevent the
annexation of Texas to the Union.

2. _Resolved_, That representing, as we do, the people of Vermont,
we do hereby, in their name, SOLEMNLY PROTEST against such
annexation in any form."

[Passed unanimously, Nov. 1, 1837.]

2. RHODE ISLAND.

(_In General Assembly, October Session, A. D. 1837_.)

"Whereas the compact of the Union between these states was entered
into by the people thereof in their respective states, 'in order to
form a more perfect Union, establish justice, ensure domestic
tranquillity, provide for the common defence, promote the general
welfare, and secure the blessings of liberty to themselves and their
posterity;' and, therefore, a Representative Government was
instituted by them, with certain limited powers, clearly specified
and defined in the Constitution--all other powers, not therein
expressly relinquished, being 'reserved to the states respectively,
or to the people.'

And whereas this limited government possesses no power to extend
its jurisdiction over any foreign nation, and no foreign nation,
country, or people, can be admitted into this Union but by the
sovereign will and act of the free people of all and each of these
United States, nor without the formation of a new compact of
Union--and another frame of government radically different, in
objects, principles, and powers, from that which was framed for our
own self-government, and deemed to be adequate to all the exigencies
of our own free republic:--

Therefore, Resolved, That we have witnessed, with deep concern, the
indications of a disposition to bring into this Union, as a
constituent member thereof, the foreign province or territory
of Texas.

Resolved, That, although we are fully aware of the consequences
which must follow the accomplishment of such a project, could it be
accomplished--aware that it would lead speedily to the conquest and
annexation of Mexico itself, and its fourteen remaining provinces or
intendencies--which, together with the revolted province of Texas,
would furnish foreign territories and foreign people for at least
twenty members of the new Union; that the government of a nation so
extended and so constructed would soon become radically [changed] in
character, if not in form--would unavoidably become a military
government; and, under the plea of necessity, would free itself from
the restraints of the Constitution and from its accountability to
the people. That the ties of kindred, common origin and common
interests, which have so long bound this people together, and would
still continue to bind them: these ties, which ought to be held
sacred by all true Americans, would be angrily dissolved, and
sectional political combinations would be formed with the newly
admitted foreign states, unnatural and adverse to the peace and
prosperity of the country. The civil government, with all the
arbitrary powers it might assume, would be unable to control the
storm. The usurper would find himself in his proper element; and,
after acting the patriot and the hero for a due season, as the only
means of rescuing the country from the ruin which he had chiefly
contributed to bring upon it, would reluctantly and modestly allow
himself to be declared 'Protector of the Commonwealth.'

We are now fully aware of the deep degradation into which the
republic would sink itself in the eyes of the whole world, should it
annex to its own vast territories other and foreign territories of
immense though unknown extent, for the purpose of encouraging the
propagation of slavery, and giving aid to the raising of slaves
within its own bosom, the very bosom of freedom, to be esported and
sold in those unhallowed regions. Although we are fully aware of
these fearful evils, and numberless others which would come in their
train, yet we do not here dwell upon them; because we are here
firmly convinced that the free people of most, and we trust of all
these states, will never suffer the admission of the foreign
territory of Texas into this Union as a constituent member
thereof--will never suffer the integrity of this Republic to be
violated, either by the introduction and addition to it of foreign
nations or territories, one or many, or by dismemberment of it by
the transfer of any one or more of its members to a foreign nation.
The people will be aware, that should one foreign state or country
be introduced, another and another may be, without end, whether
situated in South America, in the West India islands, or in any
other part of the world; and that a single foreign state, thus
admitted, might have in its power, by holding the balance between
contending parties, to wrest their own government from the hands and
control of the people, by whom it was established for their own
benefit and self-government. We are firmly convinced, that the free
people of these states will look upon any attempt to introduce the
foreign territory of Texas, or any other foreign territory or nation
into this Union, as a constituent member or members thereof, as
manifesting a willingness to prostrate the Constitution and dissolve
the Union.

Resolved, That His Excellency, the Governor, be requested to
forward a copy of the foregoing resolutions to each of our Senators
and Representatives in Congress, and to each of the Executives of
the several states, with a request that the same may be laid before
the respective Legislatures of said states."

[The Preamble and Resolutions were unanimously adopted, Nov. 3, 1837.]

3. OHIO.

"_Resolved, by the General Assembly of the State of Ohio_, That in
the name, and on behalf of the people of the State of Ohio, we do
hereby SOLEMNLY PROTEST against the annexation of Texas to the Union
of these United States.

_And be it further resolved_, That the Governor be requested to
transmit to each of our Senators and Representatives in Congress,
and to the Governors of each of the States, a copy of the foregoing
resolution, with a statement of the votes by which it was passed in
each branch of the Legislature."

[Passed by 64 out of 72, the whole number in the House of Representatives--unanomously in the Senate. Feb. 24, 1838.]

4. MASSACHUSETTS.

"Resolves against the annexation of Texas to the United States.

Whereas a proposition to admit into the United States as a
constituent member thereof, the foreign nation of Texas, has been
recommended by the legislative resolutions of several States, and
brought before Congress for its approval and sanction; and whereas
such a measure would involve great wrong to Mexico, and otherwise be
of evil precedent, injurious to the interests and dishonorable to
the character of this country; and whereas its avowed objects are
doubly fraught with peril to the prosperity and permanence of this
Union, as tending to disturb and destroy the conditions of those
compromises and concessions, entered into at the formation of the
Constitution, by which the relative weights of different sections
and interests were adjusted, and to strengthen and extend the evils
of a system which is unjust in itself, in striking contrast with the
theory of our institutions, and condemned by the moral sentiment of
mankind; and whereas the people of these United States have not
granted to any or all of the departments of their Government, but
have retained in themselves, the only power adequate to the
admission of a foreign nation into this confederacy; therefore,

_Resolved_, That we, the Senate and House of Representatives, in
General Court assembled, do in the name of the people of
Massachusetts, earnestly and solemnly protest against the
incorporation of Texas into this Union, and declare, that no act
done or compact made, for such purpose by the government of the
United States, will be binding on the States or the People.

_Resolved_, That his Excellency the Governor be requested to
forward a copy of these resolutions and the accompanying report to
the Executive of the United States, and the Executive of each State
and also to each of our Senators and Representatives in Congress,
with a request that they present the resolves to both Houses of
Congress."

[Passed MARCH 16, 1838, UNANIMOUSLY, in both Houses.]

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5. MICHIGAN.

Whereas, propositions have been made for the annexation of Texas to the United States, with a view to its ultimate incorporation into the Union:

"And whereas, the extension of this General Government over so large
a country on the south-west, between which and that of the original
states, there is little affinity, and less identity of interest,
would tend, in the opinion of this Legislature, greatly to disturb
the safe and harmonious operations of the Government of the United
States, and put in imminent danger the continuance of this happy
Union: Therefore,

_Be it resolved, by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
State of Michigan_, That in behalf, and in the name of the State of
Michigan, this Legislature doth hereby dissent from, and solemnly
protest against the annexation, for any purpose, to this Union, of
Texas, or of any other territory or district of country, heretofore
constituting a part of the dominions of Spain in America, lying west
or south-west of Louisiana.

And be it further Resolved, by the Authority aforesaid, That the
Governor of this State be requested to transmit a copy of the
foregoing preamble and resolve, under the great seal of this state,
to the President of the United States; also, that he transmit one
copy thereof, authenticated in manner aforesaid, to the President of
the Senate of the United States, with the respectful request of this
Legislature, that the same may be laid before the Senate; also, that
he transmit one copy thereof to the Speaker of the House of
Representatives of the United States, authenticated in like manner,
with the respectful request of this Legislature, that the same may
be laid before the House of Representatives; and also, that he
transmit to each of our Senators and Representatives in Congress,
one copy thereof, together with the Report adopted by this
Legislature, and which accompanies said preamble and resolves."

[Passed nearly if not quite unanimously, April 2, 1838].

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6. CONNECTICUT.

"_Resolved_, That we, the Senate and House of Representatives in
General Assembly convened, do, in the name of the people of this
State, solemnly _protest_ against the annexation of Texas to
this Union."

[Passed, it is believed, unanimously in both houses.]

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(Those which follow were passed by but one branch of the respective Legislatures in which they were introduced.)

7. PENNSYLVANIA.

_Resolutions relative to the admission of Texas into the Union._

"_Whereas_ the annexation of Texas to the United States has been
advocated and strongly urged by many of our fellow-citizens,
particularly in the southern part of our country, and the president
of Texas has received authority to open a correspondence with, and
appoint, a commissioner to our government to accomplish the
object;--_And whereas_ such a measure would bring to us a dangerous
extension of territory, with a population generally not desirable,
and would probably involve us in war;--_And whereas_ the subject is
now pressed upon and agitated in Congress; therefore,

_Resolved_, &c, That our Senators in Congress be instructed, and
our Representatives requested, to use their influence and vote
against the annexation of Texas to the territory of the
united States.

_Resolved_, That the Governor transmit to each of our Senators and
Representatives a copy of the foregoing preamble and resolutions."

[Passed the Senate March 9, 1835, by 22 to 6. Postponed indefinitely in the House of Representatives, April 13, by 41 to 39.]

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8. MAINE.

"_Resolved_, That the Legislature of the State of Maine, on behalf
of the people of said state, do earnestly and solemnly protest
against the annexation of the Republic of Texas to these United
States; and that our Senators and Representatives in Congress be,
and they hereby are, requested to exert their utmost influence to
prevent the adoption of a measure at once so clearly
unconstitutional, and so directly calculated to disturb our foreign
relations, to destroy our domestic peace, and to dismember our
blessed Union."

[Passed in the House of Representatives, March 22, 1838, by 85 to 30. Senate (same day) refused to concur by 11 to 10.]

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9. NEW-YORK.

"_Resolved_, (if the Senate concur,) That the admission of the
Republic of Texas into this Union would be entirely repugnant to the
will of the people of this state, and would endanger the union of
these United States.

_Resolved_, (if the Senate concur,) That this Legislature do, in
the name of the people of the State of New York, solemnly protest
against the admission of the Republic of Texas into this Union.

_Resolved_, (if the Senate concur.) That his Excellency the Governor
be requested to transmit a copy of the foregoing resolutions to each
of our Senators and Representatives in Congress, and also to the
governors of each of the United States, with a request that the same
be laid before their respective Legislatures."

[These resolutions passed the House of Representatives in April, by a large majority--the newspapers say, 83 to 13. They were indefinitely postponed in the Senate, by a vote of 21 to 9.]

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