Texas, its claims to be recognised as an independent power by Great Britain : examined in a series of letters Page: 21 of 58
56 p. ; 21 cm.View a full description of this book.
Extracted Text
The following text was automatically extracted from the image on this page using optical character recognition software:
19
difficult question is TEXAS: and that country was, in reference to
this very difficulty, adverte(d to by Judge UPsnIEn, in his address
to the Virginia convention. The learned judge said, "' Tlle value
of slaves as an article of property (and it is in that view only
tlhat they are legitimate subjects of taxation) depends much on the
state of the market abroad. In this view, it is the value of land
abroad, and not of land here, which firnishes the iatio. It is
well known to us all that nothing is more fluctuating than the
value of slaves. A late law of Louisiana, reduced their value 25
per cent. in two hours after its passage was known. If it should
be our lot, as I trust it will be, to acquire the country/ of TEXAS,
their price will rise again." For some years past, all the slave
States, with the exception of Louisiana, MIississippi, Arkansas,
and Missouri, as I am informed, have passed laws to prevent the
further importation of slaves fiom other States into them, and
as the time must come when they will be closed also against a
further supply of slaves, Texas is the last hope, the dernier resort
of the slave holders of the older slave States, against irretrievable
ruin, or the liberation of their bondsmen.
In Judge UPSHER'S views the Honourable PHILIP DODDRIDGE
fully concurred. He said, "The acquisition of Texas will greatly
enhance the value of the property (slaves) in question." Mr.
GHOLSON, to whom I have before referred, " believed the acquisition
of Texas would raise their price fifty per cent. at least." Such
is the view taken by Virginians of the institution of slavery, not
only in the impoverishment of land, the tortures which it inflicts
on the servile population, and the deep degradation which it brings
on all connected with it, but in the certain ruin which follows in
its train. Virginia, in a period of two centuries, in some of its
most extensive and fertile districts, has become a wilderness; and
we have the confession wrung fiom the lips of some of her most
accomplished sons, that the salvation of the " ancient dominion"
depends upon a foreign market for the sale of ler slave population,
and that she looks to TEXAS to sustain lier in tile hour of her extremity
and peril. What said the Honourable HENRY CLAY, of
Kentucky, one of the present aspirants after the presidential chair,
2
Upcoming Pages
Here’s what’s next.
Search Inside
This book can be searched. Note: Results may vary based on the legibility of text within the document.
Tools / Downloads
Get a copy of this page or view the extracted text.
Citing and Sharing
Basic information for referencing this web page. We also provide extended guidance on usage rights, references, copying or embedding.
Reference the current page of this Book.
Scoble, John. Texas, its claims to be recognised as an independent power by Great Britain : examined in a series of letters, book, 1839; London. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth6108/m1/21/: accessed April 26, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting UNT Libraries Special Collections.