did not go upon any general idea that new States might be admitted; he did not proceed to a general amendment of the Constitution in that respect.  The amendment which he proposed and submitted to Mr. Adams was a simple declaration, by a new article, that “the Province of Louisiana is hereby declared to be part and parcel of the United States.”  But public opinion, seeing the great importance of the acquisition, took a turn favorable to the affirmation of the power.  The act was acquiesced in, and Louisiana became a part of the Union, without any amendment of the Constitution.

On the example of Louisiana, Florida was admitted.

Now, Sir, I consider those transactions as passed, settled, legalized.  There they stand as matters of political history.  They are facts against which it would be idle at this day to contend.

My first agency in matters of this kind was upon the proposition for admitting Texas into this Union.  That I thought it my duty to oppose, upon the general ground of opposing all formation of new States out of foreign territory, and, I may add, and I ought to add in justice, of States in which slaves were to be represented in the Congress of the United States.  I was opposed to this on the ground of its inequality.  It happened to me, Sir, to be called upon to address a political meeting in New York, in 1837, soon after the recognition of Texan Independence.  I state now, Sir, what I have often stated before, that no man, from the first, has been a more sincere well-wisher to the government and the people of Texas than myself.  I looked upon the achievement of their independence in the battle of San Jacinto as an extraordinary, almost a marvellous, incident in the affairs of mankind.  I was among the first disposed to acknowledge her independence.  But from the first, down to this moment, I have opposed, as far as I was able, the annexation of new States to this Union.  I stated my reasons on the occasion now referred to, in language which I have now before me, and which I beg to present to the Senate.

Mr. Webster here read the passage from his speech at Niblo’s Saloon, New York, which will be found in a previous part of this work, pages 429, 430, beginning, “But it cannot be disguised, Gentlemen, that a desire, or an intention, is already manifested to annex Texas to the United States.”

Well, Sir, for a few years I held a position in the executive administration of the government.  I left the Department of State in 1843, in the month of May.  Within a month after, another (an intelligent gentleman, for whom I cherished a high respect, and who came to a sad and untimely end) had taken my place, I had occasion to know, not officially, but from circumstances, that the annexation of Texas was taken up by Mr. Tyler’s administration as an administration measure.  It was pushed, pressed, insisted on; and I believe the honorable gentleman to whom I have referred[2] had