The following text was automatically extracted from the image on this page using optical character recognition software:
REPORT OF THE LEGISLATURE OF SOUTH CAROLINA.
61
them a Mexican national armed brig-was thi
consequence. Again, however, ourgovernmen
has retracted, and censured the conduct of it
officers, by restoring the captured vessel. Ye
the purpose of the marauders has been effect
ed, in a considerable degree, at least, as in thi
case of Gaines' invasion; anid the smugglers
contraband traders, and piratical insurgent!
have received convoy, pi otection, and encourage
ment, from the government of the United States
The hope is entertained, by those interestec
in this unholy crusade, that such an itterference
may create an impression among the
Mexicans to dissuade them from making fur
ther efforts to quell the insurrection, until arrangements
for the annexation of Texas to the
Uni!ed States may receive the sanction of Congress.
From the indecent haste already mani
fested, in the premature acknowledgment ol
its independence, it is expected that this measure,
also, will be acted upon with very little
further delay.
Hence, it will be seen, that the grand Marplots
of Mexican aggression have, tihus far,
been perfectly successful in their marauding
and oppressive designs. And in the confident
belief that they will speedily be able to accomplish
their object in full, they are said to
be taking thousands of slaves into the Texas
co.intrv. By a late Decrec of the Government,
these slaves will all be free, if that country
remains a part of the Mexican Republic.And
the time is, probably, not tar distant,
when the qiestion must be decided-whether
the ADVOCATES OF FREEDOM, in Mexico,
or the SUPPORTERS OF DESPOTISM
AND UNIVERSAL ROBBERY, in the United
Statt s, shall be triumphant ! !
It has ever been the practice of tyrants, and
usurpers, to co,nceal their designs from the
public in the commencement of the.r operations.
The ins(urgents in Texas and their
abetiors, as I have before shown, at first
merely demanded the establlishment of a State
Government, under the Mexican Constitution
of 1824. At length, they declared for independence
of all governments. And not
until within a very recent pemiod, have they,
generally, proclAimed their original intention
of joining the confederacy of the United States.
By this clandestine course of proceeding, they
lulled the people of the North into a perfect
apathy, while they were secretly perfecting
their measures to secure their ulterior objects.
Even the lynx-eyed guardians of northern
interests-the most zealous advocates of fiee
republican principles-statesmen who had
long acted as sentinels on the watch-towers of
American Liberty-were all deceived by their
sham professions and surreptitious policy.
But the time has come, when thev consider
it EXPEDIENT TO 'llHROW OFF THEf
MASK. They no openly atd boldly divulge
thrir secret purposes. They frankly unfold
their deep-laid plans and real objects. It is
true that a few of the advocates of justice had
e lifted the veil of their perfidy, and exposed
t their ultimate designs. The eyes of mtany
s were beginning to open, and tlie truth was
t becoming visible. They are, therefore, com.
pelled to hasten the constimmation of their
e work, or all is lost. I he FINAL CONFLICT
, is at hand.-It is " neck or nothing" with them
s now!
I have heretofore made numerous quotations,
. showing that it was the desire of tJe insurgents
i. to annex the Texas country to the United
States; but the first ptblic annunciation
(proceeding from a responsible source) of
their determination to make IMMEDIATE
APPLICA'IION TO CONGRESS, is con,tained
, in a Report and sundry liesolutions, lately
- adopted by the Legislature of Mississippi.
. This Report is too long to copy entire; but
f the following extracts embrace the substance
of the whole, aind present a clear view of the
ground assumed for the determination expressed
therein..
Mr. Phillips, of Madison, from the committee to
whom was referred the memorial of sundry citizens
of the county of Hinds, requesting the Legislature to
memorialize Congress in relation to the expediency
of receiving Texas into the Union, made the following
report thereon, to wit:
Mr. Speaker-The select committee, to whom
was referred the memorial and resolutions of sundiry
citizens of Hinds county, requesting the Legislature
to memorialize the Congress of the United States, in
relation to the expediency and necessity of receiving
Texas into the Union without delay, and desiling
that the Representatives of this State in Congress,
and the Senators, be instructed to vote for the same,
have had the same under consideration; and having
given to this highly important subject as thorough an
investigation as the limited time will permit. and
having duly considered the many important circumstances
connected with this subject, have instructed
me to make the following report as the result of their
deliberations: That their decided conviction is. that
the speedv annexation of Texas to this Republic is a
measure highly advisable in a national point of view,
and of most imperious necessity to the future safety
and happiness of the Southern States of this Confederacy;
and they feel fully assured that every consideration
will most completely sanction and justify
this important measure.
* I * * *
In recommending the speedy annexation of Texas
to the United States, the committee are influenced
greatly by the following cogent reasons.
It is evident that Texas is, at present fully autlhorized
by the laws of nations to form commercial treaties,
and treaties offensive and defensive, if she choose so to
do, with foreign powers. Treaties of the former
kind, varying almost infinitely in their stipulations,
exist between all the civilized nations of the world.
Treaties of the latter kind.have been frequently eintered
into, both in ancient and modern times; and,
indeed, several of this class are now known to exist.
It would be easy to imagine a commercial treaty to
be effected by her with Great Britain or France, for
example, which might prove highly detrimental to the
commercial interests of the United States; asi for
instance, a treaty by which, for a limited time or for
years, commodities of British or French growth or
manufactures, should be admitted into the ports of
Texas free of duty in consideration of reciprocal ad