Speech of Mr. Barrow, of Louisiana, on the resolutions from the House of Representatives, for the admission of Texas as a new state into the Union. Delivered in the Senate of the United States, February 19, 1845. Page: 2 of 16
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nexation, any more than the people of Pennsylvania had meant to say that they desired
the tariff to b6 reduced to the South Carolina standard ; nor than the people in South
Carolina had meant to say, that while they were in favor of annexation they were also
anxious and willing that the tariff of 1842 should remain without modification. This
showed how very unsafe it was to lay down such a principle as a rule of action for the
Senate or for Congress. It was a pernicious and mischievous principle. The people
had determined no such thing in the late election as that they desired immediate annex-
ation. What they had determined was to defeat Mr. Clay, and to elect a party head
who, as such, should distribute the loaves and fishes among them.
It seemed to him that the representatives of the party here were going a little counter
to their theory, although, he admitted, in consonance with their practice. They profess
to bow submissively to the will of the people, and they proclaim with great confidence
that the people have decided in favor of annexation. Now, how stand the facts ? Had
the people, since the explosion of this Texas bombshell in the Senate, had any fair
opportunity to say what it was they did desire on the subject ? Did the present mem-
bers of Congress represent the popular wish on that subject ? They did not. The
people had had no chance to express their will by election since this measure had as-
sumed its present form. They had had an opportunity in some few of the States, and
they would have in the residue during the course of the year ; and their it would be
seen that it was with a view to smothering the wishes of the people that the attempt was
made to force this measure through at the present session. It seemed to him, that to
decide on this measure now would be to defeat the will of the people. It was not quite
regular to refer to transactions in the other branch of the Legislature, but he referred to
them as a matter of history, and it was notorious from the papers that many Represen-
tatives had been elected to the next Congress, who had voted against the bill now before
the Senate ; and a larger portion who had voted for it consisted of gentlemen who had
received leave to remain at home, and had not been invited by the people to return to
their seats in Congress. If the vote could be carefully analyzed, he had no doubt the
true cause would appear why so vehement an effort was made to force this joint resolu-
tion through the Senate. If a majority of the people desired annexation, they would
have annexation. He asked the Senator upon his left, (Mr. BUCHANAN,) if it was not
treating the people with some disrespect, for their Representatives to vote on a great
national question like this, involving peace and- war, and so deeply affecting both our
foreign and domestic relations, without waiting long enough to allow those who had
been elected since it was proposed, to say what the people desired ?
But he would pass over that. And now he would very briefly present the views he
entertained respecting the constitutional question. And on this part of the subject he
proposed to be very brief, because here the whole ground had been explored with an
ability which Mr. B. did not profess to possess. The question had been examined on
both sides of the Senate by able constitutional lawyers-gentlemen professionally ac-
,ctstomed to interpret and to compare laws. Another reason for brevity on this part of
the subject was this-that he felt it to be his duty to speak mainly to the question of
expediency. He did not believe that this question of annexation could be settled by
this Congress, even if the joint resolution now proposed should receive the sanction of
both Houses, and therefore he considered it his duty to look to the expediency of the
measure. The question would not be settled, and Texas would be no nearer in the
Union after, than before passing such a resolution. He perceived the Senator from Penn-
sylvania (Mr. BUCHANAN) to smile at this, but Mr. B. would give him good authority
for what he said. That honorable Senator, in common with many others who acted
with him, did not acknowledge the power of one Congress to pass a law of any kind
which a future Congress might not repeal. Unless Mr. B. was greatly mistaken, the
honorable Senator did not acknowledge the binding obligation even of charters them-
selves.' He recollected that he made a very able speech against what was called the
* Extractsfrom Mr. BUcANANs's speech, made at the extra session in 1841, on the Fiscal Bank bill.
" The people did not expect it, and have never demanded it at your hands. Public opinion is wholly
unprepared for it; and yet, at this hot season of the year, when we ought alt to be at home, here we are,
confined in the Capitol, while the friends of the bank are strainin' every nerve to ' push' it prematurely
through the forms of legislation, and fasten it upon a reluctant people. What willbe the consequences,
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Barrow, Alexander, 1801-1846. Speech of Mr. Barrow, of Louisiana, on the resolutions from the House of Representatives, for the admission of Texas as a new state into the Union. Delivered in the Senate of the United States, February 19, 1845., pamphlet, 1845; (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth498767/m1/2/: accessed June 30, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu.; crediting Schreiner University.