Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, IA [i.e. Ind.]) 1839-1854, 1848-08-09

and | know very we'll that he will be will
ing 10 accord to me the same rule of ac
ton. the same independence that he has
used: and fear when come to speak o
the bill, | shall be under the necessity o
availng myself Of what the gentlemen
has called a especial demurrer" for dc
not think there is such pressing necessit,
for the passage OF the bill as 10 obIige u
TO forego the statement of such objections
as we may entertain. Suppose You en-.
act no law, what will happen! Oregon
has 6rmany years taken care of herself
and believe on one or two occasions
made better laws for herself than she is
likely to get at our hands. She has taken
care Of herself ever since she became an
integral portion Of the Union, BY the set
/ tlement of the dispute between us and
Great Britain. How the new provinces
may fare, what may happen to New Mex
leo and California in the intermediate
time which will clapse. if we should no,
be able to act upon this matter at the pres
cnt session. IS not a matter of much con-
Germ or apprehension with me. because
know they have been in your custody for
year or two and have not complained al
all for the want of legal enactments. they
have only complained that you have made
too free use of gunpow,ler. Rather than
not act i'll the matter fully and definitely.
as | would If there were 10 emergency.
I | would allow those provinces 10 take care
Of themselves for another twelve months.
and come here at the beginning of new
session. ready to act upon the subject rs
my judgment should dictate.
Now, sir, in the first place, under
stand we have Message from the Pres-
dent. although believe it has not been
adverted to by any one. calling upon us
to designate the boundaries of these terri
tories of New Mexico and CALIFORNIA;; and
another branch Of the Legislature has
been anxiously looking to the geography
of those countries, and tracing their his
tory. and arc as yet incapable of determ-
ming where Texas ends and New Mexi-
co begins: and they have been under the
necessity of applying TO The Chief Magis-
tratr to give them a lesson in geography
What the substance of the information
they have received was do not know. but
have been informed. upon the floor of the
Senate. that Texas extends to the banks;
Of the Rio Grande.
If this be SO, must be permitted to
look to the gentlemen OF the Committee
for inforrnation as to how much IS len FOR
New Mexico. what extent Of territory and
what amount of population! Is il WORT,
while TO establish IL Territorial Govern
,nent there, if il be true that Texas extends
10 the Rio Grande? ! think it will be
found that there will be but u fragment oi
New Mexico left, SO far as population is
concerned. it Will be very convenient,
perhaps. to attach it to the Government OF
California. If You send your Governors
and other officers there without establish
ing the boundaries. there will be a conflict
OF territorial jurisdiction.
Is it not cxpcdicnt 10 settle it now, when
YOU are founding new Governments there,
and placing side by side institutions which
NAV DO very di-similar! 1t is perfectly
ccrtain that Texas will extend her laws
to tie Rio Grande, and if sho does, she
/ will comprehend within her jurisdiction a
large proportion Of the population Of hat
was formerly New Mexico. Hero then
is my special demurrer. Under Other
circumstances am sure the Senotor from
Vermont would agree with me that il Is
indispensable to the governments which
VIC arc about TO establish, that the limits
Of their Jurisdiction should DO defined, al
though do not know that this would be
an insuperabie objection with inc if the
other portions Of the bill were such as
could give my assent TO.
! And now ! intend, in few words, tc
state why ! object to this Compromise bill
Sir, there is no One-therc can be no one
who docs not desire that every subject
of legislation which comes before the Sen
ate should DC settled tremendously, and
j! it might be SO, with tho unanimous con
currcnce Of every Senator. But, Sir. II
my Judgment, with this subject as it stand:
before US, it would be arrogant prcsump'
!. ton to undertake to vote upon This bill
with question before US which We un
dertako to tranfer to tho judiciary Depart
men, Of the country. How is this! Is i
no, now thing in your legislation. whcf
system Of policy is proposed, and the
Constitutional rropriety Of that policy Il
questioned, to pass an act for the purpose
Of getting a case before the Supreme
Court, that that Cour, may instruct thu
Senate Of the United States as TO cons,itu
tional duty in the matter! SIR, 1t W.
know certainly what that law will be. neet
,hore be any hesitancy how we shall so'
upon this bill! Can any ono suppose tina
the Senator from Georgia. or the Senate
from South Carolina, if they believed tina
The litigation that is proposed by this bill
to be brought into the judicial tribunals Q
the country would result contrary to thci
: determination Of what the saw should be
, :ha, they would 6e in favor Of such b
as thise
Does any one believe the Senator fro'
| Vermont could anticipate that the 81
. preme Cour; of the United Suites m'gi
: decide that Congress. being silent upon tn
subject, had allowed Slavery to pass, ;
; its pleasure, into these newly acquire
$ Territories. and to become parts OF Il
: municipal institutions Of these IeFrnor,e
and 10 decide, also, that If Congress ho
4 enacted prohibitory law. 1t could n
It have gone there. he would vote for tn
y bill. Certainly he would not. Is the
e any necessity that there should be pr
o hibitory law passed in order that The que