Meaning: This quote by William Seward, a prominent statesman and politician in the 19th century, reflects the complex and contentious issue of the expansion of slavery in the United States. It specifically refers to the question of whether new states, either slaveholding or free, could be formed out of the territory of Texas and subsequently admitted to the Union. Seward's statement highlights the critical role of Congress in determining the status of these potential states and underscores the significance of this decision in the broader context of the growing tensions over the expansion of slavery in the United States.

During the mid-19th century, the issue of slavery and its expansion into new territories and states was a central and deeply divisive issue in American politics. The acquisition of Texas and the vast territories in the West following the Mexican-American War intensified the debate over the extension of slavery into these new regions. The Compromise of 1850, a series of legislative measures aimed at addressing the status of slavery in the newly acquired territories, including Texas, further fueled the national conversation about the expansion of slavery and the admission of new states into the Union.

Seward's quote encapsulates the fundamental question of whether the institution of slavery would be permitted to expand into the newly acquired territories, particularly in the context of Texas. By asserting that Congress would have the authority to decide whether new states, regardless of their stance on slavery, could be formed out of Texas, Seward is acknowledging the pivotal role of the federal government in shaping the future of these territories and the status of slavery within them. His statement also implies that the decision regarding the admission of new states from Texas would have profound implications for the balance of power between free and slave states in the Union.

In historical context, Seward's quote reflects the broader dynamics of the struggle between the North and the South over the expansion of slavery and the political and moral implications of this expansion. The issue of whether new states carved out of Texas would be slaveholding or free was a source of significant contention and represented a critical juncture in the national debate over the future of slavery in the United States. Seward's position as an outspoken opponent of the expansion of slavery further underscores the significance of his statement and its resonance within the broader anti-slavery movement.

Ultimately, the question of whether new states could be formed out of Texas and their admission to the Union was a deeply contentious and consequential issue that would ultimately be addressed through legislative and political processes. The quote by William Seward captures the essence of this debate and serves as a reminder of the pivotal role of Congress in determining the course of the nation's expansion and the status of slavery within its territories.

In conclusion, William Seward's quote encapsulates the fraught and pivotal nature of the debate over the expansion of slavery and the admission of new states into the Union, particularly in the context of the territory of Texas. It underscores the central role of Congress in determining the fate of these potential states and the implications of their admission for the national balance of power between free and slave states. Seward's quote serves as a poignant reminder of the complex and deeply contentious nature of the issue of slavery expansion in the United States during the mid-19th century.