melioration of the condition of the suffering and the oppressed, she will resist the execution of any project which professes to "extend the area of Human Freedom" by enlarging the torritory of Human Slavery.

It is not a little remarkable that the most strenuous and pertinacious advocacy of annexation,-a measure not warranted either by the letter or the spirit of the Constitution,-should proceed from a portion of our sister States heretofore especially distinguished by the most inflexible maintenance of the doctrines of "Strict Construction" and "State Rights." It is a warrantable inference that so sudden and complete an abandonment of long-cherished and loudly-professed opinions has been effected only by motives arising from the supposed insecurity of "a peculiar institution” of the South, rather than from an enlarged reference to the interests or the wants of the whole country. By this view of the case, we are admonished of the feebleness of the barriers of vaunted principle, when we are assailed by considerations of self-interest; and how easily pride of opinion, and a regard for consistency of opinion, may be surrendered, when they are found to stand opposed to a favorite object of pursuit..

Without desiring, however, to impeach the motives of those who are most urgent to consummate this scheme of annexing a foreign State to our Republic, the Committee consider the present an appropriate occasion to declare, that the aid or countenance of Vermont will not be likely to be given to any project, whose design or tendency may be to re-establish or strengthen the crumbling foundations of an institutions so incompatible with freedom, and so injurious to our national character, as that of domestic slavery.

The Committee recommend the adoption of the following resolutions :

Whereas, the Constitution of the United States confers upon the General Government no authority whatever to annex to this confederacy any foreign and independent State; and

Whereas, the exercise of such authority, even were it clearly conferred by the Constitution, would directly tend to weaken the bonds of our Union, by multiplying the various and conflicting interests of its members, and diminishing its power to foster and protect them; and Whereas, considerations of justice and humanity, of consistency and selfrespect, most sacredly impel the American people, whose boast it is to have erected an empire whose strong arm of defence is found in an enlightened love of liberty, and hatred of oppression, to denounce and oppose every project, whose design or tendency is to add an inch to the territory, or a moment to the duration, of domestic slavery:

THEREFORE,

Resolved, by the General Assembly of the State of Vermont, That, in the opinion of this Legislature, the annexation of Texas to this Union would be unconstitutional, inexpedient and unjust.

Resolved, That, in the name of our constituents, and for ourselves, we hereby solemnly Protest against, and declare the hostility of the State of Vermont to, such annexation, and request our Senators and Representatives in Congress, to use their exertions to prevent its being consummated.

Resolved, That the Governor of this State be requested to transmit a

copy of the foregoing resolutions to the Governor of Massachusetts, Mississippi and South Carolina, and of each of the other States of this Union, and to the President of the United States, and each of our Senators and Representatives in Congress.

JOSEPH WARNER, for Committee:

INDEX.

A,

Adjutant and Inspector General, Report of, 57, 64.
Amendment to resolution on Geological Survey, 31.

to Joint Rules, 34.

of resolution on Usury, 38.

of resolution to elect Reporter, 40.

of resolution relating to Vermont Reports, 41.

of resolution for election of Reporter &c., 41, 43.

of resolution for election of Judges of Supreme Court, 49.

of bill (S. 7,) 51.

of bill (S. 20,) 53, 73.

of bill (H. 1,) 55, 60.

of bill (H. 28,) 57, 59.

of bill (H. 27,) 57,

of resolution for adjournment sine die, 60.

of bill (S. 29,) 61.

of bill (S. 15,) 62, 67.

of bill (S. 28,) 65.

of resolution for a reduction of postage, 67.

of bill (H. 85,) 68.

of bill (S. 32,) 73.

of bill (H. 21,) 75.
of bill (S. 22,) 75.
of bill (S. 30,) 76.
of bill (H. 90,) 78.

of bill (H. 69,) 82.
of bill (H. 96,) 85.

of bill (H. 57,) 85.

of resolutions on the Protective Policy, 88.

of bill (S. 25,) 90.

of bill (S. 12,) 90.

of resolution on annexation of Texas, 91.

Appeal from decision of the Chair, 50, 89.

B.

Bank Commissioner's Report, 99.

Bank, United States, resolutions on, 92, 9:3.

BILLS of the Senate.

No. 1. An act in amendment of Chapter 95 of the Revised Statutes, en-
titled "Of Offences against Private Property," 12, 52, 76,

2. An act in amendment of Chapter 63 of the Revised Statutes, re-
lating to Divorce, 30, 69, 71, 78.

3. An act making provision for further compensation to County
Clerks in certain cases, 34, 38.

4. An act relating to the Grand List, 36, 39, 62, 65, 73, 81, 91.
5. An act to provide for a Geological Survey of the State, 38, 42,
43, 44, 59, 73, 77,

6. An act in amendment of Chapter 25 of the Revised Statutes, 40,

62.

7. An act in amendment of section 2 of Chapter 95 of the Revised
Statutes, 43, 51.

8. An act in alteration of Chapter 25 of the Revised Statutes, relat-
ing to Bills of Exception, 43, 52.

9. An act in relation to the settlement of Accounts of Administra-
tors, Executors, Guardians, and Trustees, 43, 49.

10. An act relating to Fees, 45, 61.

11. An act relating to the Corporation of the City of Vergennes, 45,
58, 61, 71, 81, 91.

12. An act in addition to an act incorporating the Champlain and
Connecticut River Rail Road Company, approved November
1, 1843, 46, 67, 71, 89, 90, 94, 95.

13. An act relating to Parties in Action, in addition to Chapter 95,
section 20, of the Revised Statutes, 46, 75, 80, 89, 93, 95.
14. An act in relation to the State Prison, 47, 58, 63, 65, 73, 81.
15. An act in relation to District Schools, 48, 62, 67, 71.

16. An act in amendment of sections 1 and 2 of Chapter 57 of the
Revised Statutes, entitled "Of the Limitation of Actions,"
51, 84.

17. An act relating to Interest, 51, 57.

18. An act relating to Costs in Civil Actions, 51, 75.