Page:The History of Slavery and the Slave Trade.djvu/561

day and the next, and in which sundry questions of order, appeals, and of privilege were discussed. Several members having expressed a desire that Mr. Giddings should be heard in his defense, he rose and said: "I stand before the house in a peculiar situation." Mr. Cooper, of Georgia, objected to his proceeding, but at the request of his colleagues withdrew his objection. But Mr. G. did not resume the floor. He, however, addressed to the reporter of the National Intelligencer a note stating, that when he was called to order the last time, he had written and desired to state to the house as follows:

"Mr. Speaker: I stand before the house in a peculiar situation. It is proposed to pass a vote of censure upon me, substantially for the reason that I differ in opinion from a majority of the members. The vote is about to be taken without giving me time to be heard. It would be idle for me to say that I am ignorant of the disposition of a majority to pass the resolution. I have been violently assailed in a personal manner, but have had no opportunity of being heard in reply. I do not now stand here to ask for any favor or to crave any mercy at the hands of the members. But in the name of an insulted constituency — in behalf of one of the sovereign states of this Union — in behalf of the people of these states and the federal constitution — I "demand" a hearing, agreeably to the rights guaranteed to me, and in the ordinary mode of proceeding. I accept of no other privilege; I will receive no other courtesy."

The resolution of Mr. Botts was adopted by a vote of 125 to 69; the preamble, 129 to 66.

Mr. Giddings then addressed to the speaker a letter of resignation, which was the next day laid before the house. He immediately departed for his residence in Ohio — was reelected on the 26th of April, at a special election called by the governor of the state, by a majority of about 3,500 votes over his opponent — and returned to his seat in the house on the 5th of May.^[1]

 

CHAPTER XXIX.

Period from 1842 to 1849. — Annexation of Texas.

Object of the acquisition set forth by Mississippi, Alabama and Tennessee legislatures, and by Mr. Wise and Mr. Gilmer, 1842. — Tyler's treaty of annexation — rejected by the senate. — Presidential campaign of 1844. — Clay and Van Buren on annexation. — Calhoun's Letter. — Session of 1844-5; joint resolution passed, and approved March 1, 1845. — Mexican minister protests. — War with Mexico. — The $2,000,000 bill. — Wilmot Proviso. — Session of 1847-8. — Bill to organize Oregon territory. — Power of Congress over slavery in the territories discussed. — Dix and Calhoun. — Mr. Calhoun controverts the doctrines of the Declaration of Independence. — Cass' Nicholson letter.

The project for the annexation of Texas had not been abandoned. The object to be attained by the acquisition is thus set forth in the report of a committee of the Mississippi legislature:

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1. American Statesman.