Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1850-08-17
TEXAN BOUNDARY.
Tx SENATE, JuLr 9, 1850.

Of Texas the establishment Of her northern and boun
dares the REIMBURSEMENT by the said Stale Of all the terri
tory claimed by her exterior TO said boundaries, and Of all her
claims upon the United States
The pending question the amendment offered yes
terday by Mr.. WIsrHRoP, to strike out all of the first article
from the word commerce" and TO substitute the following
in lieu thereof
the point in the middle Of the deepest channel in the
Rio Grande del Norte where the is crossed by the lo2d
degree of longitude west from the meridian OF Greenwich
thence NORTH along that longitude the saith degree
latitude thence eastwary to the point at which the Tooth
degree Of west longitude crosses the Red river
Nh WINTHROP. Mr.. President, believe that when
the Senate adjourned last evening the amendment pending
was offered by myself believe also that The yeas and
nays had been ordered upon the amendment Il viii
therefore be my privilege withdraw it. IN case should see
M to do Before doing however, DEERE 10 be INDUCED
in very few words.
The Senate will bear me witness that, in submitting this
amendment to their consideration last evening, stated dis
tnctly that did so, much with the view OF pressing
any precise line upon their attention, for the purpose of
ropenng the boundary question, and giving Us all an op
pouni for its further consideration stated Also not less
distinctly that had no purpose of making set formal
speech upon the subject and certainly there nothing in the
state Of the atmosphere Of my health to-day to induce
me to change that intention in respect No one Is more
conscious than myself Of the extreme desirabeness OF bring
ing this debate 10 close. No is deeply sensible
than myself that the great vice and evil OF the times Is
the proneness Of ALL in these Legislative assemblies, TO
indulge in prolonged and excessive discourse. No one
deeply sensible than myself of the Importance OF bring
ing oil these questions which have long agitad the coun
try and paayzed the action Of Congress- to decision and
more especially Of bringing 10 decision and settlement Of
sort the precise question embraced in the under
consideration.
the late Executive message, which alusion has been
made in the course Of this debate, and Of which hold
copy ct this moment in my hand hold sir, unhesitatngy
10 the right and the duty OF the Executive which has been
strongly asserted in this message maintain the possession
Of this disputed territory existed prior to the adoption Of
che treaty with Mexico. But while hold to this power and
10 this obligation, hold also, in the language OF the
sage that "it exceedingly desirable that occasion should
arise the of the powers thus vested in the Pes
dent by the constitution and the laws"
cordially respond to the expression given by the
President of bis deep and conviction of the mpor
lance Of an immediate decision, arrangement Or settle
ent of the question of boundary between Texas and the
rory Of New Mexico' agree with the President also as
to tho extreme nexpedency Of leaving this question to the
slow processes of Judicial tribunal to the hardly more
expeditions adjustment of board "Reminiscences. hold
also TO again the languageof the message, that nu
merous and eghy conspre 70 show that this dv
SIGNAL line should be established by Congress- with the assent
Of the Government Of Texas !" and taat the Government
of the United States would be justified inaowng ndem
nifty Texas, unreasonable and extravaganza but fair
liberal, and awarded in just spirit Of accommodations"
was not, then, Mr. President, with any view Of embar-
RAISING defeating this BILL but rather from sincere and
earnest hope that might find myself able TO support it, in
other form. ia this, that yesterday objected to
the summary and precpiate in which seemed about
to be pressed 10 vote.
For one, acknowledge that my attention had been
rousy turned to the precise provisions Of the bill until after
the adjournment last evening had presumsdand all of
had right presune-that final action this sub
ject would been demanded until the bill providing for
the admission Of Calona disposed Of and confess that
have been quite unable to understand upon what principle
of parliamentary equity Woprety that bill
moniously displaced make way for this. 1t would really
as II the right time to be permitted to arrive
either here elsewhere for the admission Of California
State into this Union.
But, sir win not be diverted by any ordinations or COM
plants this from brief consideration o the bill
before have only suggested the point furnishing
reason why of ready give vote upon
this BILL at moment when we had little to expect
that final action about to be forced upon it.
night has interviewed, Mr.. President, and we have
come hope, little better prepared this morning to pro-
nounce upon its merits cannot say that altogether
satisfied with s provisions have been able to find no good
for arranging the boundary line between New Mexico
and Texas literally towards Texas than proposed
by the late compromise BILL For one, i wish that thar
promise line could again have been proposed to wish
still more that the line offered yesterday by the honora
bic Senator from Ohio Mr. EwIse) might have met with the
acceptance of the Senate And may add s that there is
third line which, for myself should, in many respects,
prefer either Of themI the line which has been de-
sgnated by the convention of New Mexico the constitution
which they have formed for that State 55t
am quite aware sir the President has told US, that
this constitution is present nudity; but most hear
hly hope that il not Of that Of utilities which
the old Latin maxim is forever to apply, &c nib, mill h
=
be included within the limits Of the present session. of
the present Congresshen the National Legislature will
give its sanction that constitution and when New Mexico
well California shall be admitted TO the American fam
lily of States. And, sir will say that nothing would give
greater satisfaction this than prepare the
way for such contamination by the recognition and adop
ton of the line designated in thai constitution We must
member however, that the only hope of accomplishing such
result at all, must depend the establishment Of boun-
dairy OF some sort, and that, too, at an early day.
And, after all, Mr. President, must do the justice to the
honorable Senator from Maryland to say that after such
aminaton have been able give the line he has pro-
posed in the bill under consideration find it less obectona
Die than had imagined and that that examination has rather
tended to diminish than increase my reluctance to its adop
ton Believing them since the rejection Of the amendment Of
the honoisbe Senator from Ohio that other line 30 good
will be likely meet with the assent OF the Senate,
have determined 10 withdraw the amendment which yester
day proposed Il will have answered its full purpose in hav
ing afforded opportunity of to examine the sub
ject little carefully and dspassionatey and come TO
decision with better understanding of the proposition be-
fore us. aa &#~a+ 3"G .#ga 81. Il a#ta H#@
must say, however, Mr.. President that this bill to my
mind offers exorbitant remuneration 10 Texas for the
acceptance Of boundary like this. Sir, gave fifteen
million OF dollars Mexico for the whole Of this territory, in
GLIDING California, Utah. aud New Mexico, and embracing
as we supposed the very territory which about to pay
for again to Texas. raw Rs
Mr.. SMITH. Gin his seat.) And five millions
account OF Mexican claims. N, .....
Mr. WINTHROP. And five millions more, as am
minded by the Senator from Connecticut, making twenty
millions in the whole. And now it is proposed to pay
ten millions OF dollars for what many CT believe TO be
an apocyPha claim to this little fragment of territory Sir
do not forget the claim Of the Texan bondhoders, and
cannot deny that there equity in the appeal made
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