The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1850-06-11
CONGRESSIONAL.
DEFERRED DEBATE,
FRIDAY. JUNE z, 1850.


consideration The bill Tor The admission OF Iamofhih as
State into the Union, and 10 establish territorial govern
ments for Utah and New Mexico and making proposals
10 Texas for the establishment OF her western and north
sm boundaries and d Mr. cLsMEss having proposed an
Mr. CLAY said Mr. President the amendment, I be-
heve which has been proposed ny Inc seaa!Cr som Aa
purchase OF the portion OF her territory which Is desgna
led in the bha is 10 say, the territory claimed by her.
@ 9n mss s 10
settling the question OF her title to the territory which
have described and lieu Of them to recognise and con-
firm her rights as claimed by her. from the mouth TO the
Mr.. President, had hoped that would not be com.
PEELED TO address the Senate any more on amendments TO
this bill but the offered renders II necessary that
should say few words The effect of the proposition
Of the senator from Alabama is to leave the whole terri
tory claimed by Texas. including New Mexico, in
the possession OF Texas sovereignty and ALL and conse-
quently to place New Mexico under the permanent do
minion of Texas To that, for one cannot consent
This consider 10 be far the most important amendment
which has been, which probably will be- offered TO this
BILL conceive that there is good deal OF misunder-
standing this subject both in the country and in Con-
gess and desire, at this stage OF the bill 10 present
few considerations TO the Senate and to the country,
without, however, discussing at any length the various
questions connected with the boundaries Of Texas
The questions involvel in the amendment are very
complicated and requires earnest attention TO compre-
hend it, II involves questions OF ttle questions OF law,
and perhaps some other questions. Before consider
any Of these questions let say that the whole section
which il 10 proposed 10 strike out amounts to nothing
more than proposal on the part OF the government OF
the United Sates 70 the government of Texas to settle
and quiet disputed title That is the view take OF IT,
ii these proposals be acceded to by Texas then the ques
lion Of title in controversy quieled and settled II they
are rejected both Texas the United States revert back
respectively to all the rights which they possessed pror
to making the proposals II IL, therefore, mere over
re to settle territorial matter in dispute between Texas
and New Mexico and The United States.
Il has been said that the proposals involved great
concession of slave territory to the principle OF free terri
oy Sir, think shall be able 10 show that: upon a
certain hypothesis, which may be well assumed there is
great conversion OF free territory into slave territory
that there is concession OF tmeefourths OF the disputed
territory slavery by the terms OF the proposals to Texas
say upon acerain hypothesis. do net mean at this
time OF day. TO enter discussion OF the validity OF
the title Of Texas 10 all that portion OF the territory con-
ceded to us by Mexico lying east OF the Rio Grande.
That question has been discussed again and again II
has been very ably discussed by two three members
now i'm my eye Ii has been discussed BY the disiin-
guished senator from Missouri, [Mr. BESToN.l who,
upon that occasion, displayed as be does upon almost all
occasions the extent aud the value OF his dgent re-
searches II was discussed by member from Maryland,
mr. PEARcE,] also, who contended with great ability
that the Nueces the western limit OF Texas; and,
consequently, that the hypothesis which allude cor
rect do not deem II necessary again TO discuss and
to settle the question OF The conroveried title And
beg leave say those who believe IN one stale oil the
e and to those who believe that the opposite state OF
title exists, not to draw from any observations which
about make conclusions favorable or unfavorable
10 the one side or the other
Sir we knew this question has greatly divided the
people Of the United Saeswhetber the western bound.
ary Of Texas was or was not the Nueces believe
may say that one great party in the United States with
out as iar as know any exception, Of opinion
few years ago. that the Nueces was the western hm OF
Texas. But that opinion not confined to that party
The distingui senator from Missouri, TO whom
have referred on the other side OF the chamber belong
ing 10 the other party, always OF that opinion We
all emembernone OF US can forget great effect oil
the powerful speech of the honorable senator Though
NOT member of this body at that time, must confess
hat read the speech OF the honorable senator from Mus
sour with great attention, and went along with him
k.o twpra
upon the Senate and upon the public mnd but while
absain and cautiously 10 abstain, from going into
the general discussion, whether the Nueces or the Rio
Gande from its mouth 10 Its source, was the western
boundary of Texas declared by the act OF the Congress
Of Texas OF 1896. will say that think Texas would be
unwiseexiemey unwise, il she desires 10 increase the
sphere OF slave ternoryto submit that question 10 the
decision OF the Supreme Court Of the United States Sir,
assuming that the Nueces the western limit oil Texas
and that is the hypothesis to which have referred
upon that predicate there cessI0n OF free teroryto
slavery OF the country extending from the Nueces 10 the
Rio Grande and from the mouth OF the Rlo Grande up
90 deg 10 min OF north latitude That extent o ter.
ory UPON the Rio Grande s about 25o miles, about
lhreefouhs of which conceded BY the partsans OF
free territory 10 slavery, assuming the Nueces to be the
true western limit oi Texas.
On the other hand II you take fhe opposite prnciple,
which has been contended for, that the RIO Gande from
s mouth 10 lis source be the western limit OF Texas
what will be the RESULT We know that, besides the sen
aot from Missouri 10 whom have referred, there are
other gentlemen OF each party who entertain the opinion
That Texas has title whatever 10 any portion of New
Mexico The honorable member fiom Illinois Mr..
SHElDs Just before me, who made capital speech upon
that general SUBJECT which listened with profound at
ienioe and unelgned pleasurea speech alike worthy Of
his head and OF his hearta speech worthy OF an Amen
can htart-a speech worthy OF an Irshmans heart (and
that saying idenically the same thing )decared that
he did think Texas had the slightest claim 10 any por
ton OF territory contained within the limits oil New Mex
eo And the honorable clearly stated the whole
case in few convincing words So that, while there ~
o. was with party unanimous coaviction that the
Nueces the legitimate western boundary OF Texas
those who maintain that the Nneces the true bound
ary. l suppose, upon the assumption made that the
Nueces the western limit OF Texas will doubt
that there ~ of all that scope OF territory be-
tween tie Noeces and the Rio GFande and from the Rio
Grande mp 10 twenty miles beyond I'll Paso. In other
10 the Rio Gsande there - concession in the proposals
10 Texas, Of what in the hypothesis assumed, must be
REGARDED fee territory, TO those who desire the
son Of the theatre for slavery
Sir this question o disputed boundary presents
y one OF those which emnenty suitable for
eommodaiion and amcable arrangement II there be in
The circle of human affairs and transactions matter
ius,mentior Compromised is precisely the case OF dis
puted titles, whether IN national or an individual point
Of view.
One eide contend for the Nueces, and the other for the
Rio Grande according the or the other wish The
theatre for slavery 10 be contracted enlarged have
therefore, when looking nj II as question OF adjustment
the disputed title OF Texas thought that gentlemen from
the South ought be content in Withdrawing IRON all
future controversy large extent o territory, stretching
nine hundred and twenty miles the Rio Grande. and
edicang il 10 slavery, " ifs future population shall 90
ecide Now the other hand, what ls the concession
rom the saveholdng States 10 the free States istha
portion OF The territory comprehended within the bounda