The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1850-08-29


then the motion for the suspension OF the rules was not
Hrhs Clerk having reported from the Senate an act
ioi inc JOHNSON Of Arkansas called for the reading Of
the said BILL which was read at length from the Clerks
table.
holding valid land claims, which would have been good
il the had mol neglected TO locate them TO repair
their mistake Il proposed TO authorize their location
now. bill TO the same end had passed the Senate al
the last session. and had failed In the House only for
wan, Of time i le n lis regular order now this bill
would probably ia ne moved therefore, thai DC put
passed through its various stages
TEXAS BOUNDARY.
The Texas boundary bill from the Senate having been
reported from the Speakers table, it read the first
And the Clerk being about to read the bill second
Mr. INGE objected, and demanded that the 10th rule
should be applied That, he said, made it incumbent
upon the Speaker to put the question, Shall this bill be
On objection being made to its second reading,
The SPEAKER replied that, under these crcum-
stances svch was he question before the House
pending question. Shall this bill be rejected when
MIR. billiard addressed the House, declaring that il
was in the S the House to give ad
for the condition Of the public mind which could be set
tied in determining the fate Of this bal
holding thai the Rio Grande was the legitimate western
boundary Of Texas. Jefferson and Madison had con.
tended that the Rio Grande was the western boundary OF
Texas up 81 Paso He further held it TO be clear that
she could subsequently change her boundaries by the
sword and he proceeded 70 show mat she had done So
step by step the revolutionary circumstances and points
OF law which the claim of Texas TO the Rio Grande
boundary above Ell Paso based. Mr. Polk had in
structed Mr.. Sldel to offer some twenty millions to
Mexico for the transfer OF Upper California and New
Mexico and the recognition Of the boundary claimed to
be that OF Texas He had been authorized TO offer less
sum for peaceful recognition OF the western boundary
of Texas The government had afterwards sent General
Taylor to defend the left bank OF the Rio Grande as
MI. ASHMUN Gnteuupting Mr. H. held that these
were the acts of but single branch OF the govern
ment - Of the Executive. Congress, he held, had
soemnly refused to recognise the constituonalty OF
Mr. HOWARD reminded the gentleman from Massa
chuses that in his orders General Taylor Secretary
Marcy had directed him take post the Rio Grande,
which to be the western boundary of Texas, in case
the annexation then pending took place.
Mr. billiard I'm reply TO the remark OF Mr. ASH
NUM- commended that the original vote of supplies TO
Taylors army solemn recognition of the boundary
demanded by Texas otherwise, instead OF voting those
supplies the troops should have been instantly Withdrawn
some point east Of the Nueces. In fact the whole
OF the legislation OF Congress upon the war in
volved series OF ecognitions OF the validity Of the
claim OF Texas, as he proceeded TO show.
Mr. H. also related the efforts which had been made by
this government to induce Texas to enter the Union,
among which were pledges to maintain the integrity OF
her Territory claimed by herself. IL wrong he
held after having thus brought about that act for Con
gress to refuse to acknowledge the validity OF her claim
He was in Europe, in ls44 when II came TO his know
ledge that Texas was offered peace and an acknowledg
ment of her claim by Mexico condition that she would
pledge herself against annexation to the United States
He had sent despatch TO the government learning the
fact, and shortly after il became notorious
Mr. H, then went on to show that, by the enactment
Of this bill. part Of the country known to Mexico
q portion OF New Mexico proposed TO be surren-
defed Texas He argued further that the pledge OF
the treaty not to the admission OF New Mexico as
State, but the people thereof the enjoyment of all the
rights and privileges OF American citizenship other
words, the protection and enjoyment OF American laws
and institutions. His belief in the validity Of the title OF
Texas to the territory in dispute implicit. Yet he
respected the opinions OF those thinking differently He
trusted that Texas would not listen TO the voices OF
those who counselled her TO take up arms. This
q government in which il proper to settle such
disputes by force OF arms. He believed, he trusted
that Congress would in the end do her justice Her
senators and representatives were content with this bill
and believing that the settlement OF this question the
terms under review impenously demanded Tor the
preservation OF the peace and the integrity OF the Unon
he should vote for the bill, he understood TO say)
Mr.. H. then turned from the Texas question, and ar
gued AT length to show the proprey and importance OF
making territorial governments proposed
The application oil The W1no Proviso TO them would
endanger the continuance Of the Union by alternating
from il earely the affections OF the people OF the South
This was government depending, in great measure
opinion The maintenance oil the rights of the States
also necessary 10 it's Continuance,
He held that the United States government was the
nobest structure in the world, blending all heathiul.
great public principles known the history Of the world,
as he proceeded show. He ready to for the
Texas boundary bill, provided the general government
did not stretch ITS authority by enacng tue Wllmot FRO
vso for the exclusion OF his constituents from the Terri
tories He believed Congress had power 10 egsaie for
the Territories in all matters, with limitations against the
infection OF injustice to either section He not one
OF those desiring The dissolution OF the Union if there
were such, he inclined 10 question. Mr. III. ICON
tnuing urged all gentlemen who disposed TO desire
discon inuance of the connexion between North and
South pause IN their blind lie believed that
the great body OF the southern people opposed 10
the dissolution Of the Union, being willing live under
the government of the United States long justice
was prsctsed towards them. Such event dis.olu
ton Of the Union would be great calamity, he went
on 10 prove.
Mr. McCLERNAND, having mex, obtained the floor,
said he understood MIR scr TO say that he had objected
the second reading 10 test the strength OF this bill in the
House
He (br MoC) was opposed to debating this question
now All debate had would likely have TO be gone
over again, when the bill up It's third reading
He was willing to meet Mr. Iscr on his motion, believ.
ing that there would be few members found willing 10
Jet this BILL without aHordng The House opportunity
to amend H.
Here followed conversation between Messrs. WOOD.
WARD, McCLERNAND and INGE, not sufficiently au.
dble at the UnIon reporters desk to be skechedREP
Mr. seldom appealed TO Mr. IseE TO withdraw bis
objection TO The second reading of the bill
Mr. lNGE replied that that motion having passed from
his control, II was out OF bis power TO Withdraw IT,
ton.
And then after points OF order betwee
the SPEAKER, MIR. CLINGMAN, MIR. INGE, MIR
GORMAN, and others
The SPEAKER decided that il not competent fol
Mr. INoE to withdraw his objection to the second reading
OF the bill.
The demand for the previous question having been se