Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, IA [i.e. Ind.]) 1839-1854, 1849-07-25

Congress and:of the people But the exte mt and
boundaries of the state were, at The time OF the
annexation, and yet are, unsettled / he " higs
cont-nfed, and ia this opinion. they were su>-
tanned By Col. B-nton.} that Texas extended
westward no farther than the Nueces River: and
northward to the southern boundary OF New
Meaico, as located by the Mexican Congress
On the contrary, Texas cont-nded that the RIO
Grand- was her western boundary, and that the
province, and State of Texas eate ndea far to-
wards The north as to embrace the town oil Santa
Fe- We have admitted Texas slave State:
but shall We sanction and sustain her claim OF
jurisd teton TO the RIO Grande. and northward
embracing large portion of New Mexico, anu
thus render all the intermediate country slave
territory Under the articles Of annexation,
and By the inh- rent power vested in Congress
tina, body alone has the power Of settling and
defining the limits OF the state of Texas. Shall
we sit taineiy by, and suffer Congress acqui-
in the claims of Texas, and thus permit
chattei siaverv to be extended over section Of
country, double the just aud proper bou ndary of
the state Shall We fold in CARELESS
apathy, and suifer the arbitrary CLAIMS OF Texas
10 be enforced, aud thus become missionaries Of
the peculiar institution, ami the apostles OF sla /
v-ry propagands,n' Not only will do this /
If submit 10 the claim Of Texas, but We Will
devote and set apart large portion OF territory,
10 be represented in Congress by theos who rep
resent slave property, aud Shareholders am
IA favor Of instructng our Senators and request
ing our Representatives, To oppose any act. eN
tending the limits of the state farther than the
Naeces the West and southern boundary of
New Mexico on the north and pledge myself to
use nv efforts to secure the passage OF re>olu-
ION TO that effect. by next Legislature -
How my Democratic competitors viii dispose OF
this question cannot conceive. Mr. Beard and
Mr.. Elder at least, cont-nIet ZealouSlv. that in
the attack of the Mexicans upon Fort Brown,
which was upon the Rio tirand-. ..Amcrican
blood was shed upon American soil OF course
then they must contend (and they have :" con
tended on oil occasions that tie territory he
tween the Rio Graute and Nurc-s - Ithin the
nf Toy he hey StI n Il Al
rexis extends TO the RIO GRANITE, aud Yet pie -
themselves TO favor an act Of Congress confin-
ing slavery to that portion of the State which
lies east of the NUrces, they I'll ace themselves IN
the awkward dilemma Of men ASKING Congress
to interfere with the institution OF slavery, with
in the known and defined limits of a sovereign
7 state, doctrine which all opponents of slavery
repuGate.
| am in favor Of the immediate abolition of
: slavery. and the slave trade IN the District of
Columbia, for | regard it a disgrace moon our
7 character as people. ami as a strain upon our
national escutcheon. that the Capital OF nation
prol-ssediy free, should be the great slave mart
: OF the Union
One thing more the subject Of slavery. and
the relations growing out of IT, and shall Close
THIS portion OF my aedr-ss Article l. Sec. =.
: of the Constitution of the L. :. declares that,
The migration or importation of such persons,
any OF the states now existing shall think
proper o admit, shall not be prob bitrd by the
Congress, prior to the year l-oS." Under tn is
It claus. Congress was restrained from preventing
, the slave trade tIt the time Specifled had trans
r pred. When that time arrived, the foreign slave
trade declared Piracy, punishable with death.
The clause by adopting the migrating, was in
tended to apply 10 The domestic, as well as the
$ foreign slave trade; aud although forty years
have elapsed since Congress had full power over
the whole subject, Vet the slave trade between
: the States still suffered to ist it'll all its at
: teEdalt atrocities ana uafneess horrors. 1t is I,
n constant and standing reproach upon II
christian people. living proof. that our practice
: IS at variance with our proiessed love OF free
i dom, aud II should at once be lntrecscted.
n The question Of Land Reform is one to which
;. my attention has been directed for some years.
|, in common it'll other wings. have been an
= oJvocate OF the distribution of the proceeds al
ID the sales Of the pubic lands, among the several
States; The propretv OF that course OF policy Is
:, no longer in issue before the people, and | hope
to see Congress pass IA law bestowipg the public
lands, i" limited quantities upon actual settlers
:, the setters defraying the cost Of surveys, and al
other actual expenses These lands are thu,
;. common property Of the citizens of tn. Union
the government Goes not require them Il soul rec
:" Of revenue, and they should not be held for III,
st benefit of those who choose to purchase qnantI-
l. for speculation.
The last legislature passed an act permitting
- the people TO vote at the next annual election
J. IN favor or against calling convention to anne no
o our present State Constitution. | believe thai
h constitution should be nded, to
render the Supreme Judges. the Auditor, Treas
'e urer. and Secretary of State. elective by the
Id people of the whole State: and the Circuit Judges
D. by the citizens Of the respective counties.
;. 1t must be apparent TO all persons, who have
bestowed any attention upon the subject, that
> laws unstable and uncertain; in the gre al
1T of legislation, which has been inflicted III
- on US it couG not be otherwise; we can easily
:. remedy the evil by providing for biennial ses-
~ sons of the legislature. Each session of the
se legislature involves expenditure of nearly
10 $40 900 which sum would be saved to the State
J. once in two years, were the legislature to meet
. at that interval
y am also in favor Of 50 anne ndinp our consti-
TINT n o de hayO md mi ted and
ID necessary amount, shall be contracted without
y, submitting the loan proposed 10 be fected TO
vote of the people, who will be taxed for its
= payment.
In regard to our Black Laws. they have long
n since been decided TO be unconstitutional, ana
;, even if constitutional, they would he mere
: deaf letter. AMI should be at repealed and
If elected, shall vote in favor of this repeal.
II has been urged as objection to me- that
m have resigned the office of Probate Judge
O. der TO be a candidate for another Office. | was
- elected to I'll the unexpired term OF Jus SUIT
and was commissioned TO hold nv Office for three
y years only. which term expires at the next an.
n, uual election. Gov Whtcornb undo rstood tina
n | was elected only 10 fill a vacancy ana SO wrote
-, my commission; but many attorneys suppose
that Probate judy is elected for the full term
OF OF seven years. | did not intenr 10 hold on t.
that office. TO be a candidate for another teru
i but doubts existed as 10 whether my successor
chosen before had s-rvet seven wears, " Guild be
legally elected without 4 formal resignation on
my part 10 prevent any suCn ElhlcutN from
arising. | made out nv res snatioa aud forwar-
ded IL to the proper officer
Taos- who have arrsv we'd the msefves in oppo
o' si'ion 10 the Wing ticket. no, content t.
Of make the contest issue Ct principle aloue
ye they are not disposed to 90 before the citiz-ns
Wayne couaty aud present their vi-ws oppo
sitIou TO those ertan-d by the " iig n.
> ana let the people decide III favor Of those houf
! they Deem be-, qualified TO faithfully r-pr->en
T. them l W i>hed 10 Law views before the De o.
pie. TO contrast the with those advocated by N
oppone ntS. and che-rfuliy submit 10 the decs
< which will be given at the b. Hot box. But the
e. who stand opposed 10 me have chosen TO ATTACK
= my profession; to assert. that because practc,
Law for livelihood, am the refore unworthy til,
- confidence Of my fellow citizens, nd will prov,
De an unfaIthfui exponent of their wishes. | hay.
of Yet to learn. that any business in life honorabl,