35 that nothing should be said, which should offend the fanatical men of the North. But, sir, the honorable member did. avow this object himself, openly, boldly, and manfully; he did not disguise his conduct, or his motives. Mr. Calhoun. Never, never. Mr. Webster. What he means he is very apt to say. Mr. Calhoun. Always, always. Mr. Webster. And I honor him for it. This admission of Texas was in 1845. Then, in 1847, flagrante bdlo between the United States and Mexico, the proposition I have mentioned was brought forward by my friend from Georgia, and the Northern Democracy voted straight ahead against it. Their remedy was to apply to the acquisitions, after they should come in, the Wilmot proviso. What follows ? These two gentlemen, worthy and honorable and influential men, and if they had not been they could not have carried the measure, these two gentlemen, members of this body, brought in Texas, and by their votes they also prevented the passage of the resolution of the honorable member from Georgia, and then they went home and took the lead in the Free-soil party. And there they stand, sir! They leave us here, bound in honour and conscience by the resolutions of annexation; they leave us here, to take the odium of fulfilling the obligations in favor of slavery, which they voted us into, or else the greater odium of violating those obligations, while they are at home making capital and rousing speeches for free-soil and no slavery. [Laughter.] And, therefore, I say, sir, that there is not a chapter in our history, respecting public measures and public men, more full of what should create surprise, more full of what does
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