The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1850-08-29


tion of new State entirely north Of $50 3d. II
there is any portion Of the new State south OF
that line, Texas has q right TO insist upon itE
coming into the Union with slavery and good
faith TO the South requires that she shall insist
upon the terms Of the compact. Sir, Texas will
stand up TO the South, on the question Of South
ern rights, as one man. She will never consent
under the pretence Of settling her boundary that
her rights as Southern State under the resolu-
tions of annexation, shall be impaired, by intro
ducing within her limits the principle Of Free
Soil where slavery is guaranteed to her by the
compact
IL is now settled how Texas will stand up to the
81 VIZ - 49,, - n pgo2,sr -
s 4sS,, ~, $50
-BOyiht
-NSr.,S. 80. sA>.S,;>.N.sl ,,NlS
the Senate by MIR FOote, justsix days before, that
no State would ever be formed out Of that terri
tory, the " whole of whose territorial domain will
be located north of the line of $50 3V." All
| which, being interpreted, means this: Whenever
that part of Texas is formed into State, IL will
be united with portion of the territory south
of 800 30, and that part south of 800 30--though
only rood in width--will determine the oharac-
ter Of the whole new State, making tia slave State.
| You have now almost the entire State Of Mis-
souri, for slavery, north of 500 30'. You design,
contrary to express contract, to have 50 30' of
Texas, north of that line, for the same purpose.
now put il to the gentleman, If that is not the
fair inference aud the real meaning of his Ian
guoge? Mr.. Howard rose in bis place, and as
sented. The gentleman assents. And ask him
to show me, in the whole history of this Govern
ment, such an instance of violated compact. Tex
as voluntarily made that pledge; her own Rep
resentative now boldly declares that she does not
mean to keep it. Can that gentlemsn, or any
| other approving such conduct, turn round and
talk about doing Justice and standing by com.
: -Aasessn Thegt1spsof Tezas - Fs::.ssS:. 'Thn,
was the most original thought Of this session, till
it was eclipsed by the gentleman from Maryland,
J mir, NcI.ane,1 in ressy5 20 this District. He
says dif Congress shall abolish slavery in the Dis
trict Of Columbia, Maryland could resume her
jurisdiction over the same her courts, her pro-
cesses, and her constables, are all at command
and even her militia We had supposed that
Congress had exclusive jurisdiction over this ter
ritory; but it seems that Maryland has reserved
rights which underle all her oessions This is
certainly the most novel-to freemen the most in
sulting-doctrine of the session. Ii assumes that
we are here the mere wards and tenants-at-will
on the domain Of Maryland. If we do not legis-
late according to her judgment, she is ready to
spring upon US with all her civil and military
power
Put yourself on that doctrine before the people
of this nation, and they will tell you that you
stand on slippery place. and the things that
shall come on you make haste; that the in
habitants of this District will have their choice
between their slavery and their capital. But let
US return to Texas There are two questions to
be settled; has Texas right to sell and 1t so,
do we wish to buyl | have examined with care,
and trust with candor, all the arguments of the
eminent Representatives in the past and the pres
ent Congress. admit their ability and apparent
sincerity must confess, at least, some lingering
doubts as to the title Of Texas to the lands which
she claims as against New Mexico. She cannot hold
by any act Of this Government. The resolutions
of annexation were passed before the Constitution
Of Texas was adopted, and, consequently, before
those expanded limits were authoritatively claim
ed. We suppose that those resolutions admit as
State that Texas which was Mexican province
BY those limits, as laid down by Humboldt, am
willing to abide She claims according to Distur-
nells map, because that map was appended to the
treaty with Mexico. hwas acknowledged, before
u committee Of Congress, by the publisher of tina,
map, that the Texas boundaries were no arranged
as to make it sa]eable in Texas market do mo-
' wish to abide such authority. Texas cannot hold
by any act of Mexico. 1t is asserted that treaty
, was made with Santa Anna while be was pris
oner. The validity of the treaty depended on
the after ratification of Mexico, which was never
given Texas may have been upjustly treated In
the transaction, but that does not make her treaty
good. She cannot expect to add to its force by
showing that she has been outwitted and cheated
. by an acknowledged rascal. The capitulation OF
Bexar, and the testimony of subaltern general
Filisola, and the Mexican Secretary Of War, are
good evidence to show that there was compul-
sorry consideration with Santa Anna. lie was
compelled to use that as means Of escape from
the tolls of his conqueror; but they prove moth
ing as to a consideration between Texas and
| hoI cd
consideration Of getting out Of the clutches OF
Gates, that the st, Lawrence should be the bound
airy between the United States and the British
provinces, should you expect that promise to be
| kept2 His master would have told him that he
was sent out to fight, not 10 sell territory set
tie boundaries. Mexico, with Roman sternness,
declares that she sent her general there to defend
and not betray the country that she Is not bound
by his treaty, because she never gave him power
to do that kind Of business
The great authority OF Mr.. Polk Is brought to
sanction the claim. do not propose to balance
it by the authority Of another President believing
exactly the reverse. There are many things In
which the opinion Of Mr. Polk would have great
| influence with me, some in which ii would be
final. This Is not one Of them With the strict
est integrity, which cheerfully accord him, he
had a strong bias to partial decision. Texas made
him President, and he must have felt bound by
|
expressed, II was for extending ibe territory Of
his own country against foreign Power. When
he reaffirmed IT, he had still stronger motive II
was the only defence for the Mexican war. Take
| away that and you leave him without apology for
one Of the greatest acts of injustice In modern
history. In questions Of this kind, MIR. Polk does
not carry the usual weight Of his own great au-
thority. When a man has made a "clear and
unquestonable" mistake Of FIVE degrees and two
thirds in northwestern boundary, you must not
quote him ON me, to decide point In southern
| geography.
! My deliberate conviction Is, that good bust
ness man would not buy farm Of mountain or
desert land with no better title than Texas can
give to that territory But II the title Is good, il
she could bring guarantee from the Creator Of
the world, why should we wish to purchase IL
| II Il is realty hers let her keep IL II not, we do
not wish TO buy II. Certainly we cannot think
of doing so with the amendment which the hon
orable member Mr.. Howard has offered TO this
| bill. That amendment proposes that the laws per-
hitting slavery shall continue in force In that Ter
ritory, ill II shall be formed into State We have
often been told that we are not called to legslate
for establishing slavery, but VIC have here one re-
markahle exception. We are asked not only to
buy territory, but to take II under the incum-
branoe OF slave law. IL any man consents to vote
for that purchase under those conditions, and has
not dolts or doughfaces for constituents, he had
better weigh it we'll, whether that vote will not
sign his own political death warrant. | osnnot
look upon the effort Of Texas In any other light
than bluiIiDg, brow-beatipg game, to wrench that
territory from a weaker neighbor. II we, by any
act, consent TO that usurpation, trust we shall
have sufficient selErespect forever TO keep silence
about the partition Of Poland.
| IL Is said we may as well take the land for we
are liable for the debts Of Texas because We have
taken her commercial revenues, which were
pledged for the payment Of these debts. That
may be true but did not Texas agree to raise