Weekly national intelligencer., 1850-06-15
DEBATE IN THE SENATE.
THE COMPROMISE Bill L.
SATURDAY, JUNE 8, 1850.

8. u,
SATURDAY, JUNE 8, 1850.
The Senate. in Committee of the Whole, resumed the
consideration Of the bill for the admission Of California
State into the Union to establish Territorial Governments for
Utah and New Mexico and making proposals TO Texas Tor the
establishment of her western and northern boundaries
The pending question was on the following amendment,
submitted by Mr. FOorE before the adjournment on Friday
Strike out the tenth line, and the word thereon IN.
elusive II the eleventh line Of the as ,oS aaS
latitude crosses said river" a s+
At the end of the bill add as follows:
Provided, That nothing in this act contained shall be 80
construed any impair rights which the
State of Texas may have to territory claimed BY her.
under and by authority Of her line Of boundary 40 the
that the proposed said State OF should
not be accepted the this act had not
passed And oud alo That nothing in this act contain
promise the subject OF slavery embodied in the Texas reso
utions Of annexation in regard to the the eesson
of which on the part OF Texas s provided 6by this act
Mr.. FOOTE. Mr. President il is unnecessary that I
should occupy much Of the time Of the Senate in explaining
the amendments which have proposed to the BILL They
three number The first Of them proposes make the
northe boundary Of Texas the 34h degree Of north atude
the second proposes to retain 10 favor OF Texas her present
title to all the territory embraced by her law Of boundary Of
1885, n the event of her rejecting the proposition about to
be made to her regard to the cesson Of portion Of that
territory and the third rearms the validity Of the Texas
resolutions of annexation in like has been already
done in their report of the Committee of Thirteen do not
regard any Of these amendments Indispensable but am
satisfied that they would make the bill acceptable to
many members of the two Houses Of Congress- and tend to
impart additional satisfaction to the country hope that
they will all be adopted
Mr.. CLAY. have doubt sr Of the amicable purpose
for which the Senator from Mississippi has offered these
amendmens but regret to say that, whilst shall not
announce what will make and what will not make sine
qua no cannot agree with him to any Of his amend
think two Of them according to my conception,
wrong and the third is unnecessay though as to that have
objection its being adopted, any body thinks it neces
Misoies ad knn
the great trouble the extraordinary pains which was taken
consider what the most suitable southern boundary tor
New Mexico. We had the subject before the committee
from time to time, and from day to day. This very PROPOSE
ton making the 34h degree of north latitude the northern
boundary Of Texas, and the southern boundary Of New
Mexico before considered it. discussed it, decided
against it, and determined line twenty miles above FL
Paso and thence the Indian errtery will
take up the time Of the Senate 60 into the various
sderaions which operated upon the committee. One was
deviate little from what supposed to be the eastern
boundary of New Mexico, possible. was extremely
desrous myself that Ell Paso should have been retained
the northern boundary of Texas and the southern boundary
of New Mexico, believing that that the point of the
ancient boundary Of New Mexico | still think SO, and
should still myself prefer it. But, sir, yielded as the
members of the Senate know, finally to the adoption Of
line twenty miles above Ell Paso and thence to the Indian
territory That change made for this purpose it was
said that there were some settlements between FL Paso
and twenty thirty miles above, which had necessary
intercourse with New Mexico, but had intercourse with
Texas. II said indeed, by some that this was in-
accessible TO New Mexico, for that there inter-
vening desert which, however, upon further information
called the Desert Of DEATH which extends for about nineteen
twenty miles above Ell Paso and which supposed to
impossible that there should be any connexon by
commerce travelling between Santa Fe and Ell Paso It
turned out inquiry, that for ninety hundred miles
opinion varying the precise eItenno water whatever
to be obtained, and hence is called the Pass of Death
but in point Of fact is bowling green, covered with
the grass of the praewith mountains it, or bills Of
cia thoroughfare from Santa Fe chihuahua and the
provinces below it. Finally however, in consequence Of the
alleged anpahy of the inhabitants Immediately above Ell
Paso and within thirty miles Of to be connected with New
Mexico and their desire to be attached to- Texas yielded
with reluctance did with considerable reluctance
mysef-to the adoption of point twenty miles above Ell
Paso giving Texas Ell Paso ITSELF which New Mexico
wanted to divide with her, and giving her twenty miles above
Ell Paso
Now, what it proposed do' Ell Paso is about 32o
of north latitude from that to Santa Fe where you reach
about 3640 nearly the line mentioned in the annexation
solutions, would be just 41o Now is proposed by this
amendment to take off about half of that at side
the Rio Grande-that is to say, to reduce 40 to 2Io
The inevitable effect of that would be to diminish, very
materially, the pecuniary equivalent which is proposed
to offer to Texas for the surrender of territory 1t gives
her land which she does want and it takes away from
her money which she does want and portion Of which
we bound to give Now, sir, do hope my friend from
Mississippi will waive this amendment. This matter
which fully considered amply considered in the
mtee and we begin to disturb the result of their labors
where is it end know that some gentlemen from Texas
desrous Of this line 34o and perhaps, in their
place. might find myself in thesam position them,
ing to receive all the money and land could get but after full
consideration, the committee found mpracticable 10 comply
with what understood be the wishes of the Govern
ment OF Texas and took the subject considered fully,
and agreed upon this point Now, why disturb it If you
begin to disturb it. where is it end Besides these are but
proposals to Texas She reject and accept them she
peases hope therefore, that there any change what
ever in that line from the point twenty miles above Ell Paso
will be rather to bring the line down Ell Paso than
carry up, the effect Of which, convinced would be in
furious Texas giving her what she does want dis
tubng what regard the ancient limits of the province
which have been desirous to preserve intact.
The amendment which the Senator from Mississippi
proposes, said in my opinion unnecessary, but the
time have objection to il as find it in the printed
amendment though sometimes the printed copy and the
ucrpt exactly the The amendment reads in
these words:
"Proud That nothing this act contained shall be
any impair the rights the State OF
Texas all the territory claimed by her. the that
the proposed said State of Texas should be
cepted 4"
Well, sir thought of that. There is a provso in the
bill retaining to the Government Of the United States oil its
rights unimpaired, and Why limited the Govern
of the United Saesl Because the parties
ing proposing, making overures The other party could
be eff c,ed f il chose reject proposals. but
might by possibility have bad right impaired and there
fore that put in the proviso that the terms proposed
to Texas acceded nothing should be construed
to impair the rights of the United States. But, sir have
objection the amendment II is not necessary, in my
opinion, but still have no objection to it.
With regard to the third amendment, really think our
Southern friends ought be satisfied with what have
done What has the committee proposed What the com
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