The Sumter banner. [volume] (Sumterville, S.C.) 1846-1855, 1850-09-11


such a law; but none such is in exist.
ence. Whether a law Of Congress
alone, without the consent Of Texas,
would be such law is not now be fore
us. il will be time enough TO discuss
that question when it arises. All ,ha,
we now have before us, is the message
announcing the opinion Of the Execu-
tive that il is question that he canuot
decide; but that, until ii is decided bv
competent authority, he will use force
to prevent the extension ofthe iurisdic-
ton Of Texas over territory lying with
timber limits as prescribed by her laws
Notwithstanding those laws are not in
consistent or in conflict with any supc..
rior law; and that he will do SO without
asking any authority from Congress in
addition 10 that conferred upon him by
the acts OF 1895 and 1907. have
shown conclusively, think, that those
uc,s confer no such authority on him.
And now, in conclusion on this branch
Of the subject, assert, that if he a,-
emp,s thus by force TO arrest the legal
authorities Of Texas, it will be gross
usupalion of power which should be
resisted.
And ifyou wish 10 know wnal mean
by resistance, or how mean il should
be resisted, sny distinctly, it should
be resisted by arms, as lawlcss force ul.
ways should be resisted.
cannot speak for Texas-I have no
authority to speak for hor-she has
men on this floor who can speak for
her. Blu, have mistaken the charac.
ter Of her people if the spiri, exhibited
al the Alamo and ST. Jacin,o would
submit tamely TO such wanton wrong.
The rights and duty Of Texas, 10 my
mind. are clear. If the question be
moi settled, she should extend her iu-
risdiclion over this territory-shc should
pass all laws necessary TO command
obedience to her sovereignty within her
limits.
And if the execution OF those laws
should be opposed by force, either on
the part Of the people residing in the
disaifected section or the army Of the
United, States, she should mee, force
with force, let The consequences be
l,yt,n: Z, s, L they n,ay,. And no man need
himself sit!I do opinion, ltag
in such conflict Texas would be
alone. have lately expressed the
opinion, ,ha, "Me first Federal gun
that shall be fred against the people of
Irras ,ciliom The authority Of lao, ,ciH
be signal for he. frecmcn from The Del.
airare to the RIO Grande 10 rally to The
rescue" repeat ,hn sentiment here
this day. The clangor Of battle al
Concord, Lexington. and Bunker Hill,
did not moro magically arouse every
friend ofhi country, from Massachu,
setts TO Georgia, in the time Of colonial
wrongs, than the first roar Of Federal
artillery in such n cause, at San,e Fe,
will start 10 arms, at This time, every
e-henrtcd man south OF Mason and
Dixon's line. The former was the be.
ginning o! one Revolution, and i! will
be well for those TO whom tho deslinies
OF this Republic are now committed, 10
take care that the latter may not be the
commencement of another. The pno-
pie in the slave. holding States Of this
Union cannot mistake the question.
They understand perfectly well that no.
thing would ever have beer heard of
this doctrine, Of its being the duty of
the President 10 maintain the posses.
sion Of the United States overlhs coun.
! try against Texas, ifit / ad not been
that Texas is slave State. We have
heard nothing Of it in California, or
Utah, or New Mexico, the other side
of the Rio Grandc. We have heard
nothing Of the obligations Of The treaty
securing "lifc, liberty. and religion"
10 those Mexicaus who have fallen
within the dominions Of the Mormons
or who have become n prey 10 tho saw
ages that foam over the immense tracts
Of country between the Del Nor,c and
the Pacific. No, sir, we have heard no.
thing Of these obi CATIONS Of the treaty, +,
and this doctrine Of holding possession
by force without the authority of law,
saving IN that comparatively y small por-
lion OF the territory lying east Of the
Rio Grande, which falls within the pre-
scrIbed limits ofTexas. "Libpriy, prop.
erly and religion" stand in no need Of
protection amongst the mixed and mot
Icy herd who have Hocked to Califor
mia from al! nations and climes-.these
sacred rights arc perfectly safe amongst
Mormons and savages. Ii is only in
slavcholding Texas that they need pro-
lection. Now, sir, say there Is no
mistakin9 the issue. And tell YOU.
the people Of the South will meet it,
and they will meet it as ireemen "who
know their rights, and knowing dare
maintain them"
Mr.. Chairman, it gives me no pleas.
uro 10 speak in this language. | do
not wish TO be understood as pc;ur.
ing stale ofthings which would afford
me any qualification TO behold. am
but procIaiming disagrceablc truths:
which pu'lic duty requires me to utter.
| am not insensible to Tho consequences
which would inevitably ensue from
such a collision, am, therefore as
anxious as any man can bo 10 avert
thnnl III n.u.tl,ta n, .