Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1841-1853, 1850-07-25


it be sad that the American name less potent claim
TO justice and right and that, too from Gov
ernment This, indeed, would be bad No, sir let
the American citizen feel wherever he may be- that the
flag of his country will afford him projections that its
soaring eagle will shelter him by its wings and defend
him with both bcak and taons, and his heart will swell
with manly PRIDE and his hand and blood will ever be
ready Offering in her Protection the part of
Government the price of allegiance the part of the
citizen, and default the side is but little better
than treason on tie other.
Lastly, sir, though not least. soemnly bound
by treaty provide without delay for the people OF those
Territories What is the provision of the treaty with
Mexico in this respect! II is vague it is not infer
cntial-t is express and positive Ii is in the follow
ing emphatic words:
WHO in the Territories Aforesaid preserve
tic character of czen of the Mcxican Repuc coormay with
the Union of the United States and L admitted the time
OF ali the rights United according
The principles OF the Constitution and in the time shall be
property and secured in the free exercise of le religion without
Now, sir have we fulfilled this stipulation-have we
Incorporated the citizens of the United States in those
Territories into the Union upon the principles of the
Federal Constitution or have we maintained and pro-
tected them in the time % in the free enjoyment
OF their liberty and property" and secured g thea
the free exercise of their religion without rcst,ant
Who will say sol None will be so hardy. And il not,
and continue to refuse them government and protec
ton, what must be the consequence Unavoidaby we
suffer much not only in opinions, but in
the good opinion of the world; for in this enlightened
IL is not permitted great moran ulDunal 10
which all nations are, in sort, amenable, for any
Of them to break its engagements and forfeit its
plighted faith with impunty. The Pateans promised
to restore the Theban prisoners but restored them after
putting them death; and all posterty have denounced
the treachery and cruelty of their conduct.
Now shall we only abate the enormity of this
pie not by Strengthening the people of New Mexico our
selves, but by leaving them to be slaughtered by the
savage hor6es who surround them? trust not. Trea-
ties sacred things-they the only means, short
OF appealing to the sword to adjust the differences be-
earth They are the OF nations for the good
OF nations, and therefore the welfare of the
whole human Let unhallowed hand be laid
upon them-et them be treated lightly, much less
by Republic claiming TO be based upon good faith and
Justice and which should pride itself for the obser
of these noble qualities. As generous conquer
or becomes study and relieve the condition of
those whom the fortune of war has placed in our power
Policy dictates this duty demands it for in truth it is
only by such treatment that the tremendous evil inflicted
tue most Just be at all excused in the eye of
science and humanity. Nor sir would stultify my
Government by saying that incapable of perform
Ing its constitutional functions. would endorse this
SANDER this reproach which is implied, if not prolessed
Now sir having disposed of the ''proviso," and the
'non- action polcy'-having shown that the is
less and pesterous and that the other Gull able and
cOwardy, come next inquire what should be done?
For one, sir, have hesitation upon this subject
say, admit California and provide governments for the
Territories and conformity by the act; and
if not by act by several acts but still in the short
and this will be my course. In conformity with this
view (and it is due to you say with the aid of
your experience and valuable COUNSEL have prepared
BILL at some expense of labor and time, providing
first, for the admission OF California second for the
ritora government of Utah. third, for the territorial
government of New Mexico; and fourth, for the ar
rangement of the northern boundary of Texas. Such
the provisions and objects of the bill, and
This bill is printed, and is now upon our tables. l am
prepared for it in its present form, with the
Texas boundary stricken out Or will vote for it with
IF he in i'm
so far they not Incompatible with the Constitu-
ton and laws of the United States and the rights of per-
and property secured and protected thereby,
will for it with this clause stricken out-he object
being in good faith, disturb the legal status in
the Territories, but to leave it precisely 1t is Or,
sir will vote with great pleasure for bill framed up
on the basis Of scheme which you had the honor to
originate early period OF the session, and which
you kind to show some time before either
my project the in the Senate was brought for
ward and which understand to accord with the basis
of both. (Mr. Nee. here referred to Mr.. Boyd, of
Kentucky, who occupying the Speakers chair) Or
willing for any other udicious and pract
cable plan of settlement This 1t appears to me- is all
| need to say for myself
But sir, in another view: what must follow if these
unhappy differences not settled? This is momen
ous question: rising far above all others have yet con-
sdered and concerns only the condition of ter
rories, but the welfare OF twenty millions OF free peo
ple yea, the of human liberty throughout the
world hesitate approach it it too vast for finite
comprehension; it fearful for voluntary contem-
plation. We read sir of the rise and fall of great
empires, whose career makes up the history Of anti
quityof Assyria, and Of Persia, and of Greece and
of Rome who successfully swayed the desnies of the
world and are now dwarfed persisted among the
ruins Of earlier times But the fall Of this Government
this Union would mark still disastrous anc
doef period in the annals oil the world would mari
not merely the reux of dcspoc power upon its devoted
authors and agents, not merely the retrbuton of the
sword upon the conqueror and destroyer of the human
race; but alas it would trace in letters of blood ant
despair still appalling epitaph-the relapse o
liberty and civilization the night of ignorance
barbarsm-he collapse of nature herself in the aspiring
struggle to elevate and ennoble mankind The mighty
convusion of the moral social and political condition
of the world which would result from such
himself; and may he avert it! To the feeble pow
ers allotted far limited view is allowed; ant
only the extent those powers authorize is 1t proper o
n me, would attempt to speculate the future.
a Within this limited range it appears to that thu
first and obvious consequence of nonsaction mus
be the destruction of the existing political parties, ant
erection of geographical parties on their
: raging section of the Union against the other in
J, CRY and rreconcabe strife and hatred. This would b
! the first step towards dsunion indeed it would be IL
itself moral disruption of the Union, ultimately to b
followed by armed efforts to widen the breach into per
y manent political and physical one.
III The consequence would probably be the aban
donment of territories acquired from Mexico, whic
= would be almost certainly followed by collision be
tween Texas and New Mexico. And in the event O
such collision, what part could take! Should w
side with Texas and employ the army of the Unite
States suppress what considered nsurrection IN
of State obedience the Constitution; should
side with New Mexico in defence of the rights of perso
and property that territory obedience both to tn
Constitution and treaty with Mexco2 Which alter
4 native could consistently adopt! And II neither, an
we should orbear interference, would not Mexico b
tempted become party the contest, and thus
m portion of her lost territorys Let these ques
if tons be answered by those who object to acton-wh
n object to a seasonable pacifcation.
Again, in the of the loss of the terrtorc
in question: still more important result would follow