The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1850-04-11

the honorable Senator from IN regard TO the
obligation admit slave States out oil Texas con
fess sir that somewhat surprised by The argument
which he addressed TO was aware that no one had
more zealously opposed the admission o. Iehss an al
shed Senator H. his strongest language-and no
man stronger langusgehe had denied me eonsutu
tonsty Of the resolutions of annexation Aher the adop
ton Of these resolutions and AFTER compliance with the
conditions and acceptance oil lhe guarantees W
them on the part OF Texas; when, according TO the argu
men Of The senator from George delivered upon that
occasion, the faith Of the Government was hrmy bound
he had still spoken and voted against lsI ~,
determined and unyieding opposition was undersoou 10
be based not only upon convection OF the unconstuh
atty OF The measure, but also upon nxeu au segu
hostility the extension OF slavery aud TO the increase ID
either branch Of the Legislature, or IN any "
the Government Of the slave power Twas startled, hete
FORE when heard the Senator declare not only tha ne
regarded the cOnstDtionay OF the admission OF IeNs AZ
matter adudged, and not now open to question IN any
shall arrive Congress will be bound admit four new
slave States Of Texas Sir, deny this obligation
The history OF those resolutions was known 10 te cou
try and known Texas II is and at the time, known
and well known, that those resolutions could not nave
been carried except upon the assurance OF Mr. fok e
President elect that he would adopt the latter Of the alter
natives presented by them which contemplated negota
President Tyler, awaiting himself OF the last days OF las
official power, took te matter out Of the hanas oil the
President elect aud adopted the course OF proceeding au
thorized by The first OF those alternatives .
Sir, will go far any TO maintain and uphold
the constutonaly plghied faith of the Government; but
when claim Is put forth under resolutions, adopted
and so acted upon, be shown that the claim is war
ranted by fair construction OF the stipulation, and must
be shown further that the stipulation itself is warranted by
the Constitution We have had too much quite too much
oil constitutional amendment by legislation and resolution
Now, sir, undertake further TO say that the guaranty
asserted to exist by the distinguished Senator from Masa
chuses that new States shall be made out Of Texas and
that such States TO be formed out Of that portion OF
Trying south OF 80 deg 80 min may come in. 10 the number
Jour- IN addition to the State thea in existence. aud adj
United by these resouicns is not TO be found in the
lutons In the first place. the resolutions do not say that
any States shall" be formed out OF Texas. They
provide that new Sates not exceeding four in number
population MAY hereafter by the consent OF said State be
formed out Of the territory thereof which shall be entitled
ton" Where absolute sLaA7o And what are the
provisions referred The shall does not exist The
visions these "No State shall be formed within he
usdruoh any other state nor any State be formed by
the junction OF two States parts OF States with
out the consent of the States ncerned well Of the
Congress" Now this is elmer an absolute prohibition
upon the erection Of any State within the limits OF
existing State or Is prohibition Of such erection with
out the consent OF Congress IL at least certain them
that the resolutions themselves make the admission Of
States erected out OF Texas dependent the consent Of
the Congress in being at the time the application may
made Consent OF Congress is important qualification
OF the asserted guaranty. need say no more on this
point
lion oil the resolutions their obligatory force under the
Constitution, II is quite certain that under obga
ton 10 be active at this Time IN carving new State out OF
Iekas and there for apprehension that
Texas will soon propose divide herself if Congress does
As TO the Texan debt Mr. President, disposed TO
leave that where the resolutions Of annexation ef -wh
lexas Let Texas keep her lands and her debt That
me sense q Congress Them and see no reason for any
Change or position. II there ebs for which the Un
liable, default OF by Texas let
wait all the default is established and then look into the
good faith require
The unadused boundary Of Texas presents other but
not very difficult questions The resolutions of annexation
do not provide for the admission State Of the entire
Republic OF Texas with the boundaries claimed by her
This Is the language of the resouons Congress doth
consent that the territory properly included rithin and
righy belonging 10 the republic Of Texas may be erect
Ell into State, to be called the State of Texas" All
questions Of boundary reserved subject 10 adjustment
by the Government of the United States The simple
wa
within and rghtfully belonged to Texas, ndepend
en republic, prior to annexation Two propositions re-
speeding this matter TO 10 be clear FIRST all the
territory between the Nueces and the Sabine and extend
ing north to the Red River and the Ensenada, compre
hendng, according 10 the report OF the Commissioner OF
the Land Office 1859 square miles being four and half
times large Ohio, was properly included within and
did rghuly belong TO Texas at the date OF annexaon
and is therefore properly compreended within the new
State secondly none OF that territory north OF line drawn
from Paso del Nor TO the Ensenada and with that stream
TO Red river known as New Mexico or the Santa Fe coun
try was properly included within or did rightuy belong TO
Texas at that date and of therefore part OF
Texas admitted into the Union.
The territory between the Nueces and the Rio Grande
and south OF Paso and the Ensenaa, be regarded as
open To controversy Petitions have been presented IN this
Chamber since the commencement of the session, from
portion Of the Inhabitants declaring their conviction that
the country within the rghul limits OF Texas and
asking for Territorial Government Another portion
ognse the jurisdiction of Texas We need take action
at present, but may await further information and future
Some reliance has been placed on Dlsurneps map, a
copy oil winch ~ annexed TO The treaty with Mexico, as
showing all the territory east of the Rio Grande to be with
III the limits OF Texas That map is now before and
also earlier map from the same plate published in lSi4
by White, Gallagher White Upon this latter map the
territory between the Nueces and Rio Grande and south
Of the Ensenada represented constituting parts OF Ia
maupas, Coahua, and New Mexico Santa Fe. Dis
turnelPs map was published in iSi7 The plate al.
tered in conformity with information obtained from the
Departments Of the Government here The line of the
Nasees Is marked a. the original boundary Of Texas in
~. Hs'c s '~',.' , ss $780,
Tamaupas longer appears 10 extend the lower
Rio Grande to the Nueces. But Coahuia still extends
md ahnya pa do Anrfa aaItl Enaa
naa the whole country is designated Nuevo Meico, Of
Santa Fe see not what aid the claim of Texas derive
from this map which certainly contains no language
its face which will sustain H. and which is referred 10 in
the treaty only to fix the western and southern boundaries
of New Mexico west OF the Rio Grande.
is said also that the United States having been cons
tued the abter between Mexico and Texas by the reso
hons oil xaoh ana having become possessed OF me
territory In dispute by conquest or purchase is estopped
from denying the claim OF Texas Is this sol Let me put
Two neighbors dispute about their boundary and
refer the question TO an arber Pending the controversy,
the arbiter buys the interest OF one Is he therefore
bound to concede the tract in dispute to the oiher Clear
y not He has acquired the title OF one, aud, with II,
whatever rights his granor possessed And IL his
business to adjust the controversy fairly and peaceaby if
he can; il not, to refer Il TO another arbiter
In my Judgment therefore, plain duty present is
provide Territorial Government for New Mexico, which
should embrace within its jurisdiction the whole country
north OF Paso and the Ensenads But il does TO
indspensaby important that the precise limits Of its
jurisdiction should be defined The valley of the Rio
rande the only part which at present peoped except
by Indians and the only part therefore which urgently
qires established Government The territory between
Mexico, be left open to f adjustment, upon fr
Their Information as to the views Of the people and the
rights Of Texas.
Mr. President the fifth, sixth, and eighth resolutions Of
the Senator from Kentucky embrace three propositions,
which propose to consider together:
That slavery IN this District should be abolished,
except with the consent of the District and of Maryland
That the slave trade in this District ought TO be abol
ished
That Congress has power prohibit the slave trade
among the States
concur fully in the second Of these propositions and
thank the honorable Senators from Kentucky MFR CLAY
aud from Alabama Mr. KrsG for the favor they have
shown 10 this measure.
cannot concur in the first proposition have already
said that in my judgment, the Constitution coniers on
TO the disposal Of another man properly. II s
my opinion that all legislation adopted enacted by Con-
whether in this District elsewhere. | listened with
great pleasure TO the emphatic declaration OF the Senator
from Kentucky, in respect TO the extension of slavery by
wrongs1" What wrongsi Why, sir, those wrongs, null
,iplied and complicated, which are summed up in one
wori-SrAvERy And where is the warrant for this com
prehensive condemnation of slavery II is found in that
to assert the supremacy of which here seems
censurable law Of submer origin aud awful
sanction than any human code, written in nefiaceabe
characters upon every heart OF man. which condemns all
injustice aud all oppression as violation Of that punc
ton which commands US to do unto others would
that others should do unto US.
If the Senator from Kentucky rght-and who did
feel that he right lin saying that he would give
vote TO propagate rrongs, am not right in saying that
will give no vote To perpeuate irroagsf Sir will give
for the perpeluaton continuance of slavery in
this District, deny any implied obligation the people
OF Mary land Ia continue slavery here as long is
tinued there No evidence be produced any
Outstanding The state OF public sentiment IN Maryand and
in Virginia the time OF the cession the belief
that the understanding and expectation II there any
very different from that supposed But whatever the
undo rsianding exprctaton may have been, duty
seems me plain The power OF exclusive legislation
this District is couhded 10 We bound to
II establish justice and secure the blessings Of lib
erty for all within It's reach
was surprised, Mr. President by the proposition that
Congress has power prohibit the slave trade between
the States Why, sir that trade prohibited now except
upon certain conditions. is prohibited in vessels OF less
capacity Not slave be shipped coast.
wise without permit IRON officer Of the United States
a slave shipped be landed without such permit
ANY one who will take trouble consult the OF 1877
,i0 howl stands ln think