Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1841-1853, 1845-02-20

the safety of the rest and the most perseverng efforts
were made to reduce them. AS early as 1850, they
were called upon BY the Continental Congress toeduce
their limits, and cede their surplus territory Some
yielded readily from feelings Of harmony and conc
atoa-tbcse feelings being rather stronger then than
than they now. Virginia coded gratuiiously all
her territory beyond the Ohio river Connecticut did
not cede for twenty years, and then got two and half
millions for her small claim the shore of Lake
Erie, Georgia held out until 1902 and then got
million and quarter in money, five millions Of acres
of land scrip, and obligation to extngnish Indian
titles and remove Indians, which has cost tens of
millions, for the territory alone which forms the
single State Of Mississippi. 1t required the most
pcrsevering exertions, as all know, aided by the
kindly spirit which then prevailed, and the oyerpow
ing necessity to provide for the revolutionary debt to
obtain from the great States the contraction Of their
limits and the of their surplus territory to the
Union Our ancestors accomplished the work, and
they took they believed, to guard against the
like danger in ell time They took care, at
once, and in tie very Of cesson to fix the number
and extent of the new States making them of proper
number and SIZE that the danger Of oyershadowng
States predominant in the House of Representatives,
of sm1l ones, to rule in the Senate, equally
avoided This was wise: it was necessary precau-
ton against future dangers and difficulties. And
shall such an example be lost upon us Shall we
voluntarily throw ourselves back INFO a cond ton far
worse than that from which fathers, with much
care wisdom patriotism and even money, succeeded
in extricating us Texas is far larger than the
Northwestern territory; yet ancestors would not
risk the danger of single Stale there, of
multitude of small they wisely fixed the number
of the whole, and the extent Of each to avoid
the dagger Of both extremes.
Gentlemen suppose that Texas will voluntarily
reduce herself: 1t is suYoosition contrary all
human, experience. But suppose she does; what
then! Consequences Immediately result which 1t is
impossible to encounter. BY the Joint Resolution
Texas is to keep her lands, and pay her own deb
These lands would lie within the liis of the reduced
State, and covered by Indian tribes 10 pay her
own debts out of these lands would therefore, involve
the administration of land system in different
State in territory belonging to the United States
1t would also involve the management of Indian
affairs in the State territory where Indian tribes
held the lands All this would be impossible No
body could think Of such thing. State quarrels,
Indi1n wars, distraction and confusion, and the In
vovment of the United States in the difficulties that
would ensue, would be the inevitable consequences of
such prorusion Of State authority into another State,
or into a territory. and among the Indian tribes.
Reduction of limit would be about az calamitous
retention of limits II would be for Texas TO decide
which calamity she would infct; for the United
States would not even have the poor privilege Of
choosing between them. All would be al the option
of Texas.
say this upon the assumption that Texas would
accept our proposal, and como into the Union upon
the terms Of the Joint Resolution but have idea
pose of prescribing her terms The price Of re-
ducing her limits and relinquShing her claims TO her
remaining territory. BY the terms OF the resolution
she is to surrender her custom-hUuses her main
source for moncy-and pay her debts out of lands
which are in the hands of the formidable Camanches
and other savage Indians, and which will cost
their value in money, and more than their value In
blood to obtain from these Indians. She never can
accept annexation such terms, except to make her
own terms afterwards for the reduction of her limits
and the cesson of her remaining territory and that
is tie precise reason why the United States should
settle these terms beforehand.
do not dwell upon the other Objectionable features
in the Joint Resolution but 1t Is impossible TO
look the defect In relation to naturalization. We
may be willing to receive the people OF Texas as
aliens, living within of States, and trust
ourselves to naturalze them hereafter but III mat
ter essential to their rights and honor, they may
wish it settled beforehand The Joint Resolution Is
silent upon this point cJmm Ssoners under the plan
propose, can settle it and without settlement of
that point, power settle it should deem it
less to send our proposals to Texas.
In Withdrawing from my bill the terms and condl-
tons which had been proposed a basis of negotia-
tion do not withdraw them from the cons Iteration
of those who may direct the negotiation. | expect
them to be dered, and, far judged proper
to be acted on. The compromise principle between
slave and non-slaveholdng territory is sanctioned by
the vote of the House of Representatives and by the
general voice of the country. In Withdrawing it
from the bill, do not withdraw it from the consider
alton Of the President: | only leave him free and
unrammelled TO do the best he can for the harmony
of the Union on delicate and embarrassing point.
The assent of Mexico to the annexation is judged
to be unnecessary, but no one judges her assent TO
boundary line to be unnecessary no one Judges
it unnecessary to preserve her commerce and good
Wills and therefore, every consideration of selfin;e:-
est and national policy requires fair effort to be
made settle this boundary and preserve this trade
and friendship; and shall consider all this as re-
naming lust as fully in the mind of the President
If submitted to him in bill.
The bill which l now offer is the which l
have presented heretofore dvested Of its conditions
and committing the subject the discretion of the
President to accomplish the ebjcct IN the best way
that he can and either negotiate a treaty to be sub
mited to the Senate, or to agree upon articles of
union to be submitted to the two Houses of Congress
deem this the best way of proceeding under every
aspect. 1t is the safest way; for it will settle all
questions beforehand, and leave nest egg hatch
future disputes. Ii is the most speedy way for
commissioners comforting face to face viii come to
conclusions much than deliberatve bodies
sitting in two different countries at near two thou
sand miles apart, and interchanging categorical pro-
positions in the shape of law. 1t Is the most salts
factory way; for whatever such a commission should
agree upon would stand the best chance to be salts
factory to all parties of the Union. 1t is the most
respectful way to Texas, and the mode for which she
has shown decided preference. She has twice sent
eHvoys extraordinary and ministers plenipotentiary
here to treat with us and the actual President, Mr.
Jones, has automatically declared his willingness to
engage in future negotiations. Ministers sent to
confer and agree-to consult and 20 harmonize-is
much more respectful than the transmission by mail
or messenger of inexible proposition IN the shape
Of law to be accepted in the precise words which
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