The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1850-07-19
I H E R p U BLIC
SPEECH
MIR. BENTON, OF MISSOURI,
Delivered IN the Senate Of the United States,
,Julu Is 1850

ment was not obtained. Its purport will be gath.
cred from his speech.
The amendment having been read
Mr.. Is. said The motion is to strike out and
lnsert-to strike out the committees proposed line
Tor the western boundary Of Texas and 10 insert a
aitercnt one In place of 1t, The committees line
begins twenty miles, on straight line, above FL
faso, and runs northeastwardly 10 the point al
which the Red river is crossed by the hundredth
uegree Of west longitude. The line propose be-
gins In the middle OF the channel of the Rio Grandc
DEL Norte, where 1t Is crossed by the one hundred
and second degree OF west longitude about three
hundred miles, on a straight line, below FL Paso,
and runs north with that longitude to the thirty
fourth parallel of north latitude, where it strikes
the committees line; and thence, with that line
Its termination at the intersection of the red river
by the onc-hundredth degree Of west longitude.
These are the two lines, and the difference between
them is a difference of seventy thousand square
miles cut off from New Mexico and given to Texas.
My objections to the committees proposed line
were stated in former speech, and nothing which
was then said will be repeated now. The point of
those objections was, that that line dismem-
berment of New Mexico, cutting off seventy thou
sand square miles OF its territory, and giving it to
Texas. My reasons for the line propose were also
stated in the same speech, and Will not be repeated
now. Their point was, that a line along the one
hundred and second degree of west longitude would
be the proper boundary between New Mexico and
Texas-the one that would conform TO the ac tual
possessions OF both countries, and to their civil and
geographical divisions. Without repeating argu-
lnents formerly used my design is to rise higher,
and establish the game points by new and closer
evidence, drawn, as the rhetoricans express it,
riscertbus causG-irom the bowels of the case-that
is 10 say from the bill and report Of the committee
itself, and from the authentic map of the State OF
Texas.
begin with the committees bill and show from
1t that cession OF part OF New Mexico Texas,
and not the ascertanmcnt of the true line between
them, was the object of the committee; and that in
fact they make cession of one half OF New Mexico
To Texas and then accept cession of the other
hal frnrn bsT nd thgn Ia INV hpr lara
sum Of money besides. Here is the ceding clause
III the committees bill:
Second. The United States cede to the State of
Texas all right, claim, and title which they have to
any territory lying south Of the line aforesaid And
the said State of Texas cede TO the United States
right, claim, and title which II has to any territory
lying north of the said line"
These are the words of the committees bil-a
ccssion-a mutual Cesslon Of territory from each to
the other, and in terms which imply title in each
The United States cede to Texas all the territory
that lies south OF the committees line; Texas cedes
TO the United States all the territory that lies north
OF il. Ii is the of two owners acting indepcnd
entity OF each other, and making an exchange OF
land, and in terms which imply equality OF title
IN the respective cessions Upon the words Of this
clause, then this transfer TO Texas IL cession from
the United States, and conveys 10 Texas the right
title, and claim of the United States to all the ter
rtory coded. Another part of the bill Is equally cx
plicit in treating this transfer as cesslon The
sixth clause IL in these words:
'SirM. If the said State Of Texas shall refuse or
decline TO accede to the preceding. articles, they
shall become null and rOid, and the United States
shall be RENTED back to all their territorial rights
IN the same state and condition as if these articles
of compact had never been rendered 10 the accent
ance OF the State of Texas"
This is confirmation, both of the cession and of
the title of the United States. Ii makes provision
for resuming the title the United States il the cx
change Is not agreed 10 by Texas. IL RENTS the
title-sends it back-to the United States if Tex
as does not accept and, to give more emphatic
meaning to this remission return TO its former
oSner, The e1pletive back Is superaddcd-a re.
dundancy of phrase which could only be justified
by the extreme desire Of saving the title Of the
United States If the committee cannot succeed in
giving II away
The report of the committee, in explanation aud
support of their bill, fully accords With these two
clauses of the bill itself 1t treats the line they pro-
pose making a cession of United States territory
Texas and carefully recaims the title if the ces
sion is not accepted. Thus:
eff this boundary be asscntcd TO by Texas sh,
will be quoted 70 that extent in her title. Ant
some may suppose mat, in consideration Of thi.
conceSston by the United States, she might, without
any other equivalent, relinquish any claim she ha,
beyond the proposed boundary; that L. any claim
10 any part OF NeIc Merico But, under the inhu
ence OF sentiment Of justice and great hberality
the bill propose 20 Texas, for her rClinqushment
Of any such claim, large Pecuniary equivalent
And again:
"It cannot be anticipated that Texas will decline
70 accede 10 these literal propositions; but If she
should, Il IL 10 be distinctly understood that the
hne Of the United Statcs TO any territory acquired
from Me1ioo east of the Rio Grandc will remain
ttnimpdutd and IN the same condition as # ia,
proposals Of adjustment now offered had neycr
been made"
Here two distinct combinations Of the mean.
ing expressed ia the committees bill, and show
that tho import Of the words employed by then
duly and cautiously considered. "Couccs
sion' Is tho term they apply 60 il, which j. th,
equivalent OF cession which u itself equivalent {,
nHs.rIsv l"s.aF.
Of the United States title II the concession il no
accepted by Texas; and, an acquisition from
Teras, the remaining part Of New Mexico is pro
posed 10 be held. The words all imply ccssiOn anC
acquisition; and in that the bill and report arr
right II j. ccsson Of 20 900 square mics Of New
Mexico TO Texas for nothing! with propOFal {,
purchase the remaining part Of New Mexico from
her at a greater price The whole crowned by 4
bunglng salvo TO save our title "unimpaircd," j
Texas cannot be induced To accept these fin,
terms-terns which give her both our land and out
money. Thus, the report accOrds with the bill
and sustains nay proposition.
now proceed 20 other evidence.
Here IL a map tho title, contents date, and vcri
hcatiOn Of which vital 10 this inquiry n il en-
titled, MAP o. THE STATE or Texas, HY Como
"; aud II declares itself ~ be- complied from ia,
records Of the general land office o the state an,
h dated In the spring Of lS4s and processes 20 rv
every c0snty, every town, land district, river an,
stream IN the State; and Is verified by the sigma
lures Of the Senators and Representatives Of th
State in Congress, by the Commissioner Of the Gen
crsl Land Ohice, and the attcstatiOn Of the Gov
crnor, and Of the Secretary Of State u must be a.
suIned 20 be an authentic map Of the State such a
II was at the time Of its compilation spring q
lsfs-and will not be questioned by Texas and
the sole evidence for which the United States vii
have occasion in maintaining the possession Of al
New Mexico until the question Of title shall be com
pletoly disposed Of IL shows the possession q
Texas IL stood al the time that the United State
acquired New Mexico. Itis the map Of possession
the map Of the State AZ osscfscd-at that idcntica
moment vital TO this question IL extends from th
Sabine 10 lO2 degrees 81 west longitude Aud her
" reduced map IN the corner Of the large one
embracing the country from the Mississippi rive
% the Pacific ocean, and showing the whole cxtcn
Of the claim Of Texas / will explain the reduce,
map first. Here Il -, (holding IL up) The blu
color represents the whole claim 81 Texas, extend
ing to the head Of the Del Nortc, and thence q
north latitude ~ degree, where II corners witt
Oregon and California, having "San'a FG county
written upon II, near San Mguel-thc place whcr
the Texan expedition was taken prisoner in th
year 1871. The small red aud yellow squares il
the eastern part Of this little map rcpresent th
counties, land districts, and the colonial Ian,
grants in Texas; and they show that the longitud
81 l02 dcgrces-tbe same which ! propose Tor th
western limit Of Tcxss-wss the utmost limit q
which any land district or occupied county thel
extended. Fannin land district extended prccisel
u that longitude, and il bounded by ii. Bcxa