Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1850-02-16

I'he truth of law is, that there does not
exist at this time, slavery in any norton
oathe OF territories acquired from Mexico.
This truth was the conviction of his own
deliberations; he was aware that there
were other Senators who entertained diff
icrcnt ground; but when those Senators
nave considered the question more fully,
they will perhaps change their opinions,
If they should still hold to their opinion.
he thought it likely they would find them
selves in small minority. The next
truth stated in the resolution was ono of
fact. ltwas, that slavery was not likely
ever to exist in the Territories ACQUIRED
from MeAro. 1t was one evident to all
Senators. From all he had heard from
all that had been stated by the witnesses
OF AFFAIRS there; from all that had taans-
pred and all that would transpire, he
was satisfied that slavery would never
exist on one single foot of that TERRITORY.
not even if established there by authority
OF law. Facts are of Importance to the
consideration Of this subject. He asked
Senators, and particularly those from the
lree states, to pause and consider well
upon what had occurred since they had
met at the Capitol--what had occurred
since they had left their homes and their
constituents. 1t had been repeatedly
declared that slavery would never be all
lowed ii California; and California has. in
convention, by an unanimous vote, and
IN convention where some of the Nom
Ders SHAREHOLDERS, or from slave holding
States-from Mississippi, and perhaps
other Southern Statcs--declarcd against
slavery, and forever excluded il from her
limits From all this he was, he thought,
warranted in stating in the resolution, as
a truth, that slavery was not likely TO OK
lst in any portion Of the territory acquired
from Mexico.
Ihe latter part Of the resolution asserts |
1t to be the duty Of Congress to establish
territorial governments for the Territories |
not included in the limits of California
and that no provision should be made
either for the prohibition or admission of
slavery in those Territories.
Much as he was disposed at all time
to'hlgh authority, and anxious to find
himself in position to act in harmony
with the other branches of the Govern |
mcnt, he could not consent to any derc-
llctlon of his duty towards the territories
by abandoning them, and leaving them
exposed to all the dangers OF anarchy,
,Y@e -saose,l,ia to nrevant :. AAl,.-ai :
was the duty of Congress to legslate for
the territories, and to extend to them the
benefits and protection of a government
and laws.
The third and fourth resolutions should
be read and considered together. 1t
was not his intention then, nor perhaps at
any time, to enter into an examination OF
the question contained in these resolu-
tioas. 1t was very complex and some
what difficult subject to go into the ques
tion of what are the true limits of Texas
His own opinion was, that TXas has not |
good title to any portion of the territory
called New Mexico. Yet, while holding
this opinion, he was free to admit, that
looking at the grounds stated as the foun
dation of that title, first at the law of 1 s.
36 passed by Texas, then the treaty con-
cluded with Santa 1nna, and what hes
transpired between the commissioners
who treated with Mexico, and the fact
that all the country has been since given
up to the United States bv Mecico and
without giving to these facts all the
weight and Importance attached to them
by gentlemen, there was established
plausible show of claim, but not a good
title
without now going into the inquiry
whether the Nueces or the Del Nortc is
or was the true boundary ofTexas, he
had proposed, by his resol ltion, to fix
that boundary at short distance from
the mouth of the Rio del Norte, and
running along that river to the Southern
line of New Mexico, and thence along the
line of New Mexico Eastwardly to the
old line established by the United States
and Spain. She would then be coun-
try large enough, when pcoplcd, to
make three or four States.
The other resolution makes PROPOSE
ton to Texas. 1t proposes that the Uni
ted States will provide for the payment
Of all that portion, of her debts which have
been secured by pledge--made when