The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1850-08-06
THIRTY-FIRST CONGRESS.
MONDAY, August 8, 1850.
SENATE.
FIRST SESSION.

SENATE
Petitions were presented by Messrs, SEWARD,
ATcnisoN, SoulE, DAVIS Of Mississippi, BRIGur,
and JoNIs.
Mr.. BALDWIN presented a petition from citi
zens of Connecticut, praying modification of the
tariff of 1910
RAILROAD IN ALABAMA.
Mr. BELL asked and obtained leave to introduce
a bill granting TO the State of Alabama the right
of way and donation of public land TO aid in the
location and construction Of railroad in that
State
Mr.. JONES submitted the following resolution,
which considered and adopted:
Rssolued, That the Committee on Pensions be
ted inquire into the oxpediency of grant
in.c a pension to the widow of Lieutenant Brown
ing, late Of the United States navy.
MILITARY OFFICERS IL civic POSTS.
Mr.CASS moved, and the Senate proceeded TO
the consideration of the resolution introduced by
him, directing inquiry by the Committee on
Affairs into the expediency of prohibiting
by law military officers from performing civic
duties
Mr.. DAVIS, of Mississippi, addressed the Senate
in opposition to the resolution, because it too
indefinite, and in reply 10 the speech of MIR. Hous
TON, who had commented upon the conduct of Gen.
Taylor towards Texas and Texan troops He de-
tailed the various events OF the war upon that
column of the army under General Taylor's com
maud and denied that any charge Of hostility
prejudice to Texas could have any foundation in
any thing which occurred during its operations.
The subject was then postponed till to morrow.
THE TEXAS BOUNDARY.
Mr.. PEARCE, consent being given, introduced
the following bill:
A Bill proposing to the State of Texas the estab-
lishment of her northern and western bounda-
ries, and the REIMBURSEMENT, by the said State, of
all territory claimed by her exterior to said
boundaries, and Of all her claim upon the United
States.
BE II enacted by The Senate and House Of Represent
dfires Of the United States Of .inierca Congress
assembled, That the following propositions shall be,
and the same hereby are, offered to the State of
Texas, which, when agreed TO by the said State III
an act passed by the general assembly, shall be
binding and obligatory upon the United States
and upon the said State OF Texas Provided, The
said agreement by the said general assembly shall
be given before the first day OF December,
eighteen hundred and fifty.
First The State of Texas will agree that her
boundary on the north shall commence at the point
at which the meridian of one hundred degrees west
from Greenwich is intersccted by the parallel Of
thirty degrees thirty minutes north latitude, and
shall from said point due west to the meridian OF
one hundred and three degrees west from Green
witch; thence her boundary shall run due south to
the thirty second degree of north latitude, thence
on the said parallel of thirty two degrees north
latitude To the Rio Bravo del Norte, and thence
with the channel of said river to the Gulf of Mex
leo.
Second. The State Of Texas cedes TO the United
States all her territory exterior TO the territory and
boundaries which she is TO establish by the first
article Of this agreement
Third. The State Of Texas relnquishes all claim
upon the United States for liability of the debts
of Texas, and for compensation or indemnity
for the surrender 10 the United States Of her ships
forts arsenals, custom houses, custom house rev
enue, arms and munitions of war, and public
buildings with their stcs, which became the prop
erty Of the United States at the time of the anncxa-
ton
Fourth The United States, in consideration of
said establishment of boundaries, cession of terri
tory, and REIMBURSEMENT of claims, will pay TO the
State Of Texas the sum of ten millions Of dollars,
in stock bearing five per cent interest and
deeuable at the end of fourteen years the interest
payable half yearly at the treasury of the United
States
Fifth. Immediately after the President of the
United States shall have been furnished with an
authentic copy Of the act of the General Assembly
Of Texas accepting these propositions, he sha
cause the stock be issued favor of the State OF
Texas provided for in the fourth article Of this
agreement PrODided also, That five millions Of said
stock shall be issued until the creditors Of the
State of Texas, holding bonds of Texas for which
duties imports specially pledged shall first
file, at the treasury Of the United States, releases
Of all claim against the United States for, or on &C
count of, said bonds.
Mr.. p said that one Of the greatest obstacles in
the way Of legislation by Congress was this ques-
tiOn OF the Texas boundary; and il must be adj
United that il was one of great difficulty IL was
certainly great obstacle the passage Of the On
niOus bill, IL not the Of rs defeat. He ac-
knowedged the full force Of the reasons which sug-
gested that 1t should be united TO other measures
The union Of measures sometimes might unite to
their Joint support some who would oppose some
portion Of them If taken separately. But be though
the effect Of such combination TO combine, in
opposition 10 them, various elements Of opposition.
which, separately, could not defeat either of the
combined measures. He would prefer at all times
70 consider and vote upon every measure separate.
ly and distinctly The bill he now presented was
framed with any degree of nice calculation as to
the exact value Of the lights of the parties Itcon
tanned proposition 10 pay Texas ten millions OF
dollars for what she cedes Of her territory to the
Union, and for the REIMBURSEMENT OF her claim to
the territory which is in dispute preserves 10 the
United States whole Territory.
He adyerted 10 the boundaries proposed by ths
bill 20 Texas, and pointed cut the different points
embraced within them
lie advcrted to the fact that, before the annexa-
ton Of Texas certain Of her bonds were Issued up
the pledge TO her creditors Of the duties arising
from her imports. These bonds were in the nature
of deb, against the United States, the revenue
arising from imports into Texas having been trans.
ferred 70 the United States lie stated the probable
amount Of these bonds this date was at this time
about four and halfmilions Of dollars lie thought
the sum stated in the bill was reasonable and Just
He urged that something be done for the settlement
Of THE important and distractng question.
The bill was then ordered 10 be printed, and was
postponed till to morrow.
CALIFORNIA
TIE Senate then resumed the consideration Of the
bill Tor the admission of California.
Mr. YULEE said, ne IL was late, he would move
the ubjcct be postponed. Lost.
The bill was then reported from the Committee
Of the Whole TO the Senate, and the amendment
was concurrcd IN.
The question then on ordering the bill 10 be
engrossed.
A long debate ensued on the propricty Of post
poning the question till 10 morrow, when, at four
O'Clock
Mr.. ATCfIISON moved the Senate adjourn
The question being taken by yeas and nays, was
rejected, follows:
YEAS.-Messrs. Atchson, Badger, Barnwcll,
Bell, Berrien, Butler, Clemens Davis Of MISSES
sippi, Dawson, Downs, Foote, King, Mason, Nor.
ton, Rusk, Sebastian, Soul6, Turney, aud Yulec
10
NAYS cssrs. Baldwin, Benton, Bradbury.
Bright Cass, Clarke, Cooper, Davis ol Massachu.
scts Dayton Dickinson, Dodge of Wisconsin bod &c
Of Iowa, Douglas, Ewing, FelchG recne Hale, Ham.
lin, Houston, Jones, Norris, Phelps Seward Shields
Smith, Spruance, Underwood Upbam, Wales,
Walker, Whitcofnb and Winthrop-32.
After some further remarks by Mcssrs. Der.
RIEN and IULEE,
The Senate adjourned.
HOUSE or REPRESENTATIVES
DISTINCT o. COLUMBIA.
Mr. BROWN of Miszi.sipui. sakcd tbc mani