Daily Richmond times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1849-1850, 1850-06-01

But now, that, under certain conditions Texas is in
with all her territories. slave State, with solemn
pledge that if she is divided into many States those
States may in as slave States South of &c 3d. how
are we to deal with it! know way Of honorable
legislation but, ,ohen the proper time comes for the
enactment, TO- carry into effect all that have stpu
lated to do. do not entirely agree with my honorable
friend from Tennessee, (Mr. Belly that as soon as the
time comes when she is entitled to another representa-
tive, we should create new State. The rule in
regard to it ! take to be this: that when we have
created new States out OF Territories we have general
y gone upon the idea that when there is population
enough to form State sixty thousand or some such
thing we would create a State: but it may be thought
quite different tn ng when State is divided and two
or more States made out OF it. 1t does not follow in
such case, that the same rule of appointment should
beagplied.
That, however matter for the consideration of
Congress when the proper time arrives. may not be
here. may have vote to give the occasion, but
wish to be distinctly understood day that according
to my view OF the NATTER this government is soemnly
pledged by law to create new States out of Texas with
her consent, when her population shall Justify such
proceeding and so tar such States are formed out of
Texan territory lying South of 36 &c. to let the income
in slave States. That is the meaning of the reso-
luton which our friends, the Northern Democracy have
left US to fulfil and for one mean to fulfil it, because
will not violate the faith OF the Government"
Near the conclusion of his speech, he touched
upon the subject of Northern partition of Texas
by the 34th degree, saying:
wish to say in regard to Texas, that if it Should be
hereafter at any time the pleasure of the Government of
Texas to cede to the United States portion, larger or
smaller, of her territory which lies adjacent to New
Mexico and north of the Bath deg OF north latitude for
fair equivalent in money in the payment of her debt
think it an object well worthy the consideration of
Congress, and shall be happy to concur in it myself
should be in the councils OF the country at the
time
Now, we ask, in what have the Committee of
Thirteen departed from Mr. Webster's positions?
Thew hoV cd lie for ho oJp Sc n,
liforna, the institution of Territorial governments
without the Proviso, and fugitive slave BILL All
these he proposed Instead of adopting the 34th
parallel, as the Southern line of enlarged New
Mexico, they have, in order to give the Territory
a seemy boundary, adopted diagonal from the
34th to the 32d parallel. And, finally, in regard
to the subdivision of Texas, the Committee do
not report bill for that object, (and Mr.. Webster
did not propose, as we have seen, that Congress
should make any enactment on the subject in ad-
vance, but they declare their unanimous opinion,
as he declared his opinion, that Congress is So
lemnly bound to assent to the admission of the
new States formed out of Texas. We quote the
language of the report, which is remarkable:
"The Committee unanimously of opinion that
whenever one'o more States, formed out Of the terri
tory OF Texas not exceeding four, having sufficient po-
pulation with the consent of Texas may apply to be
admitted into the Unon they entitled to such ad
mission beyond all doubt, upon the clear, unambguous
and absolute terms OF the solemn compact contained in
the solution OF annexation adopted by Congress and
assented to by Texas But whilst the COMMITTEE con-
ceve that the right of admission into the Union of any
new States carved out OF the territory of Texas not ex
ceedIng the number specified and under the conditions
stated cannot be justly conroverted, the Committee do
not think that the formation of any such new States
should originate with Congress The initiative in con.
formlty with the usage which has heretofore prevailed
should be taken by portion of the people of Texas
themselves, DESTROYS OF constituting new State, with
the consent of Texas And in the formation of such
new State it will be for the people composing to de-
eide Tor themselves whether they will admit will
clude slavery. And however they may decide that
purely municipal question: Congress is bound to ac-
quesce and to fulfil in good faith the spulatons of the
compact with Texas"
With these citations from the Committees re-
port and Mr. Webster's speech before him. every
reader must be convinced that the plan of Com
promise proposed by the Committee is built upon
the views expressed by the great statesman of
Massachusetts; views, which were received
throughout the Southern States with the most sig
nal manifestations of appreciation and gratitude.
Mr.. Scott was one of the many prominent men of
the South who openly avowed their satisfaction
with Mr.. Websters propositions. Now that they
are substantially recommended for adoption, he
flies off to the Missouri Compromise, and offers to
take and abide by that, even though the territory
below $500 be " so sterile that neither beast nor
man can live within its borders" In that case we
should subject five times as much territory as
would lie below $500 in California, to the Will
mot Proviso, whilst the Compromise bill applies it
to not foot of the public domain. We cannot
see what the South would gain by such an ar
rangement. If there were real ground to hope
that slave State could be secured in Southern
California, then we should be disposed to stand out
for the Missouri Compromise. But believing that
no such hope can be nationally entertained, we
think the plan of the Committee of Thirteen is
the better of the two for the South