Democracy And Texas

If ever there was a crisis in our national alfairs, which called upon lhe party, entrusted with our government lo rise nbove party, and be patriots - it is the present. The trust of our government is fearfully rr?ponsible. lts depository is trustee not merely of the politica) hnppiness of 17 millions, bul of the noble American principies of 7. Liberty is committed toilscare; thegreat riglits of man Jfind no rest ing place, amid a world of Mor.archies, save in its hands. Let this trustee be faith'ess, and the last hope for repöblicnri inslitutions, is blotted out. But what ís our present crisis? It is one which presents the unblushing detnand ofslavery to aliberly debased peopletoaugment its domains, - to swell its victims - to perpetúate its power. From time to time it has presented the same demand, and ever received a favorable answer. Now it was our national district: then it was a State: anon it was a territory it wanted: at this time it was a Louisiana, and atthat, a Florida t wished to "be purchased for its new dominion. To its cry a Missouri and an Arkansas were abandoned. Like an over pelted child, h had but to ask and receive. Again it demands indulgence. The fair fieldsofa country, which God has blessed with Fertilitv for nobler purposes, than those of slavery are to be acquired for it. And how acquired? At the expense of national honor - of the miseries of war - of p'underinga sister republic - and tictingthe bully over the wenknessof a neighbor. We are to tax our treasury to abanJon our principies: totnrnish our nstion's faith: to stand dishonored before the world, and disunitedat home - and all that we may do slavery's behest. Slaverv'sbehest! and how communicated io us? With the most high handed arrogance, and the most determined demand. For 20 years, since Mr. Clny as Secretaryof State, souglit io purcliase Texas has this measure been pursued. We wili not trace its phases, but it waned not for a moment: it was negotiation - or was ihreat - or revolution - or recogmtion - and at last it comes out fuJJ and elear in its bold demandof unconditional annexation. For this purpose it uses both parties, though in different shapes. but our present object is with the democracy. In order to subjugate this party it bides its time, but that time at last is af hand. It is a season, which is to turn defeat into victory: torestore the supremacy of the past: to heal wounds - and to advance cherished principies. It is a period of aspiration and excitement with the party. But, northern democracy and soutbern democracy have distinct principies of cohesión. That of the north is the supremacy of party - that of the soulh - the interest of a section. The northern democrat will smother feeling, and yield to a mnjorily, rather than jeopnrd the party: the southern democrat will do the same, provided his favorile interest be previouslv cared lor - but touch, or neglect, orlower the paramount lace of - that, and he pitches the party to the winds - the democrat being lost in the slaveholder. Upon this known principie of the north, slavery played a remarkable game at the Baltimore Convent ion. Anti-Texas Van Buren m-jst be killed, & pro-Texas Polk be put in his place - whaf, though three-fuurths o( the Stfvtes had declared for Yar Buren, and by instmctions 1icd ip their delegates to n specified task! - Whafr, though democratie principiesquired a mnjority to rule! These were cobweb difficuliies. Kor the sake of Union the majority agree that #.he minority shall rule: for the same object they abandon Van Buren to take up Cass, and for the saine - they at last forsake even the General, and take Polk. All this while South Carolina, like a eoquette, remains outside, peeping in and pouting, but refusing to enter or take She must be c'onciliated. Union is every thing. But she is reasonable: all" she asks is the sncrifice of Van Buren- of Cass - of democratie principie - o!' nonhern men - and the ossumpiion ot Polk - Texas - and Slavery witha bitter denunciation of abolition, and a slnveholding President: these are all conceded: she enters: cheers ofgrat gratulation shake the building, in homage to thevictocy achievcd by the master spirit of John C. Callioun. The same love of paity which induccd this tame submission in convenlion was manifested during the Canvass. Democratie feel ing was choked dop, lest its expression should peril the chance of vic tor.y. Bui the a-Mk is over, and viclor . perches - wherel on democracy? No but on Slavery and CalhounL Democracy of Michigan,, we know tiiai: you. hate slaveny. W hutever maj be youj opinión ns to its course of treat ment, as now existing in southern Siates you bavfijbut.pnex3pinion-or we grently cr-M to eatending it, or itfding new Vslcveterrhory. If the evils of present ftlavery are fenrful, would you willingh' add io them, by inercasing its exlent? - The selection of Mr. Polk removes ihe obl gation of silence. You can'now speak your honest seniiments fearlessly. And we cali upon you to do so. Speak out - and repróbale annexation: petition against it, and petition your state representatives, tliat theymay toke slateaction on it. You have nssumed the government of the country: it is as we said a fearful responsibility. Peace nnd plenty are ours. The republic rcars its ihrifty Jieaë bigher each yenr: it is the hope of the oppressed, and the dreadof the tyrant. We are rising to eminence nmong the world's nations. Let not ihis state of things pass away; nor let our growing strenglh net the part of a bully, or pander to the enslaved. As for us the Liberty party, wc have never fnllered in our duly, or principies. Come what will our skirtsare clear. To a man we have been and areutterly opposed to annexation. We have opposed it in evcry shapc - at all times ond by consistant action, and shall continue to do so, till the last hour of admission. We had our anti-annexation candidate: our t:oneidea" cnrelully removed all obstacles o" a confiicting opinión out of the way of anti-annexationists joining us. No other partv ofiered us the sameopportunity Polk was for annexation immediately, and Clay was for it, whensome comparafively trivial obstacles were removed. The convention of democracy. was for annexation: that of the whigs was silenl. Both parties had a number of issues, which were either foreign to us or hostile to many of our party. Wbere then could the nníi-annexniionist deposite his vote nnd make it teil against the scheme? - Surely but in one place - the only place where the issue was met - where it was met distincily and unequivocally, by the whole party too and not by a section of t - and where it was so mef, pure and apart from all else, that could mistify or conccal it - in a word, in the Liberty ballot box.