Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1850-01-19

jurisdiction and the primary disposition Of the soil is ndspen-
sable to the United States We protect New Mexi-
Cove cannot to her. TO California, upon any direct
line upon any line within the United States south of 42o
without going through the State of Texas subject to the i'm
pedments which State rights may inerpose without the
rights the soil which the protection of the roads REQUIRE
The right ofunsdcion and the primary disposition of the
soil is indispensable all that part of Texas which in
tevenes between New Mexico and Cafoma-which lies in
the mountains at the heads the Red river and Arka
saswhich stretches from the Rio Grande to the edge of
South Pass in latitude 42o It tract Of 200 600 square
miles, and cannot be obtained without price, Texas is in
no condition to make such gratuy the United States
she owes money, and wishes pay it, She needs improve
men and desires to make them She young requires
system of schools and needs a school fund.- And for all
these objects her principal reliance these 900 square
miles of territory containing her vacant lands and 40 nds
pensabe to US The bill offers her fifteen millions of dol
lars-a sum not arbitrarily assumed, but adopted from the
offer made, and for less extent 1874 The treaty. of an
negotiated but not ratified in that year. gave her
millions OF dollars five millions more, some say ten were
offered TO Mexico Adopting that offer to Texas and Mexico
the same sum Of fifteen millions is proposed to Texas
and with better reason for get country and that
whlch mas become indispensable from the acquisition of
New Mexico and California II is but a small sum consi
derng the objects be attained Even if il took the
out of the treasury, the attainment these Objects now
amounting to positive duties would Justify the sacrifice but
it will take money from the treasury The land coded
after all deductions for the sterile and the appropriated would
still contain enough arabic and vacant raise the
But land not all that Texas cedes She required to re-
nqush all her claims upon the United and these are
neither few small She is to renquish all claims for pro-
perty surrendered to the United Staesshps forts
munitions OF war; custom houses customhouse revenue pub
lie squares and public edfces She is enquish all claims
for her debts the of paying which her custom
houses, already surrendered and in the vacant lands now
proposed to be ceded She is further renqush all other
claims embracing serious item for the depredaons of In
dams colocaed her borders by the United States before
annexation and bound to be restrained from mischief by the
existing treaty with Mexico and which Texas became party
These the great of national policy and Of ma
ona duty which make this reduction of limits and csssion
OF territory indispensable to They sufficient in them
selves; but there is another reason Of different kind and
new and pressing urgency, which shut our
eyes, nor avoid the nvovment which it threatens if allowed
to go Texas and New Mexico are about coming into
collision the United States are, and be- party to that
collision 1t is their duty stop it before becomes more
serious and stop amicaby and paernay by exnguish
ing the claim OF Texas to the territory in dispute This BILL
agreed to by Texas and the United States will have that
effect 1t will give Texas defined western boundary four
degrees east of Santa Fe and will all cause of COL
lision. '."-''.s
These of the reasons which make this reduction
of limits and cession of territory desirable and in fact nds
pensabe to the United States. There why it
should also be desirable to Texas 1t would give her the
means of getting rid of debt which discourages emigration
bsobs her resources parayzes improvements
the establishment Of school system would release her
the management Of wild lands, always nconyenent sub
ect of State legislation will give her at once her ultimate
and proper form and limits and enable her give all her
public establishments and highways their proper localities and
directions II will free her from all questions of dispute
controversy at home abroad and enable her to direct all
her energies to the prosperity of the State with the to
promote it. .s.
1t would relieve her from the anomaly of free-so-preg
nant of future mischie-whch is within her limits
and would give to that quarter of the Union additional
weight this body by the addition of the Senators to which
the second State would soon be entitled
These my reasons for offering bring in this bill
myself say that have not taken this step with
out the knowledge of the Senators from Texas it to
them to say that they have expressed opinions upon the
merits of my plan have proceeded upon my view of
what best both for Texas and for the United States and
now ask leave 10 bring in the BILL
Mr. Benton then submitted his BILL which read first
time, follows
boundaries the eesson Of her exterior territory and the
of all her claims upon the United States for
enacted b. the Senate and Of Sla.e
the United States Congress assembled That the following
propositions shall be hereby offered
OF Texas which, when agreed to by the said State in act
passed BY her General Assembly shall be binding and oblea
First The State Of Texas will reduce her boundary on the
west the hundred and second degree of longitude
Main Salt Fork Of the Red river between the parallels Of
one hundred and hundred and two degrees OF
gitude .s ~. IT.
Second When the population of said State shall equal or
exceed one hundred thousand souls of the line formed
the degree of longitude by the river
Colorado, from its mouth its intersection by parallel
then the State of Texas will further reduce her boun
dairy that ne and the part Of Texas lying ne
reduced by the first article of this shall be and
remain State, entledo immediate admission into
the Federal Union equal footing with the original States
ihrd The State OF Texas cedes to the United States all
her territory exterior the limits which reduces her
self by the first article of this agreement.
Fourth The State of Texas renquishes all claim upon the
United States for liability the debts of Texas for COM
pensaon indemnity for the surrender the United States
OF her ships, ports arenas customhouses customhouse
revenue, arms and munitions of war; and public buildings
with their Sites which became the property of the United
States at the time Of the annexation.
F The United States consideration of said reduction
boundaries cession of territory, and REIMBURSEMENT
claims will pay to the State of Texas the fifteen
lions of dollars stock bearing FIVE per interest
redeemabe the end of fourteen years. the interest payable
half yearly at the Treasury of the United States.
~ Immediately after the President of the United States
shall have been furnished with authentic copy of the Of
the General Assembly Texas, accepting these propositions
he shall the stock be issued favor Of State OF
Texas provided for in the article of this agreement
The bill then read second time by its title. ..-
Mr.. BENTON. suppose il should now be referred TO
some committee.
Mr.. FOOTE. Refer it to the Committee on the Judiciary
Mr.. BUTLER. should suppose that would be more
properly referred to the Committee on Territories.
SEVERAL SENATORS, No the Judiciary.
The bill was referred to the Committee the Judiciary
accordingly.
CALIFORNIA, DEsERET, AND NEW MEXICo
Mr. FOOTE. In accordance with a notice given by me
weeks ago, rise for the purpose Of obtaining the
Of the Senate the introduction of the bill which now hold
in my hand, which bill is entitled GA bill to provide for the
organization of Territorial Government in California, Desc
ret, and New Mexico, TO enable the people of Jacnto,
with the assent of the State of Texas provide consitu
ton and State Government and for the admission of such
State into the Union, upon equal footing with the original
States in all respects whatsoever beg leave to dean the
Senate for few minutes, whilst explain the objects of this
BILL in conformity with parliamentary usage, and the excel
lent example this honorable Senator from
Missouri, (Mr BEsToS) who has just taken his Of
whom and of whose example may say that sometimes
quite convenient for who disposed asa but who