Question

"But let us admit Texas, and we shall place the balance of power in the hands of the Texans themselves. They, with the Southern states, will control the policy and the destiny of this nation; our tariff will then be held at the will of the Texan advocates of free trade. Are our friends of the North prepared to deliver over this great national policy to the people of Texas?" - Rep. Joshua Giddings, Ohio, May 21, 1844 This quote points to what major issue in the years leading up to the Civil War?

Answer 1

It points to the Texas Annexation. The Republic of Texas was admitted to the Union as the 28th state on December 29, 1845.

The Republic of Texas declared its independence from the Republic of Mexico in 1836. The majority of the Texian population agreed with the annexation of Texas by the United States. Those who opposed to the annexation were the Democrats and the Whigs, they wished to avoid war with Mexico, whose government refused to acknowledge the sovereignty of its rebellious northern province.