The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1850-06-13

The following resolution, heretofore submitted
by Mr. BoRLAND, was taken up and agreed TO:
Resolved, That the Committee on Pensions be in
structcd to inquire into the propriety of amend
ing the pension laws 10 place the officers and
soldiers of the army the same footing with the
officers and seamen OF the navy OF the United
States. And further, into the propricty OF provid-
ing by law for granting pensions to the widows
and orphans of those soldiers, whether volunteers
ar regulars, who served ON the frontiers of the
United States during the late war with Mexico,
and that the committee report by bill or otherwise
THE PUBLIC LANDS.
MIR. WALKER submitted the following resolu-
ton, which lies over:
RESOLVED, That the Committee ON Public Lands
be instructed to report back 10 the Senate the on
entitled ga bill to cede the public lands OF the
United States TO the States respectively IN winch
they are situated on condition that the said States
shall severaly grant and convey the said lands TO
actual occupants only, in limited quantities, for
cost of survey, transfer, and title munlmcnts
merely"
PUBLIC LANDS IN ARKANSAS.
Mr. BoRLAND moved, and the Senate proceed.
ed to the consideration of tic bill 10 grant 10 the
State of Arkansas the public lands remaining UNI
sold, on account OF overtiows IN that State. The
provisions of the bill were debated by Messrs
BORLAND, HALE, KING, SHIELDS, and DAVIS
of Mississippi The bill Was then amended, and
read third time and passed
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS eovERSMESrs
The Senate then resumed The consideration Of the
bill reported by the select committee of thirteen,
TO admit California as State in the Union; TO cs-
iablish territorial governments for Utah and New
Mexico; and making proposals To Texas for the Is.
adjustment OF her western and northern bound
aries,
The question pending was on a motion by Mr..
BENTON 10 postpone the further consideration Of
the bill till the 4th Of March, 1851.
MIR. DAYTON said that on yesterday he had con
cudcd what he desired 10 say upon the question OF
the title of Texas 10 New Mexico, He thought that
lac had shown that Texas had no title to amy part
of New Mexico She had claim OF right, but no
legal title Nor did he consider the suIn to be paid
to Texas for this claim be in any way proportion
ate tIe value Of the territory TO be purchased.
Eighteen millions only had been paid for the whole
OF New Mexico and California, and the whole ter
riory from Texas TO the Pacific ocean.
Now il is suggested that ten millions are fair
compensation for part of New Mexico, purchased
before by the General Government; or not for
part of that territory, but for claim 10 part OF
New Mexico. Tie did not consider the territory as
worth that sum, much less did he suppose that the
claim merely Was worth any thing likcit. lie did
not understand how the com nittec had hit upon
that sum.
Mr.. KING asked how the Senator knew that that
sum had been hit upon by the committee.
Mr.. DAYTON said that that amount had been
alluded TO by gentlemen III debate The Senator
from Texas about TO speak OF that sum when
he stopped in his remarks few days ago He
did not know how this sum had been settled upon,
unless it were sum about the supposed amount Of
the Texas debt
Of the sum to be derived from the sale of the pubic
lands was illusory. The lands were worthless.
He said that the whole question was the conncx-
ION which this subject had with the matter of sla-
very in the territory. He examined the effect OF
the bill that subject and maintained that it did
not settle the question at all, for ii left the question
Of slavery exactly as IL now stood.
he said that II was nothing more than gratuity
To Texas for the purpose OF avoiding a supposed
difficulty between State and the General Govern
ment. II there was latent equity in the claim OF
Texas, he was ready TO meet IL openly and boldly,
and To q amt a sum sufficient TO its value.
lie then referred TO the notifications to the Fugi-
tive Slave bill. This measure not under con
alteration, but II was reported by the committee
part Of this compromise, and was To be passed as
part oft, 10 swell the glory aud ecat Of this LII ~
The committee had discoveredA Mat this matter VA
part OF the agitaNons of the cc5Siry II had been
a matter OF cc0piaint sof years; ever since the
source of eonspisint by one section against sno.
.her' Durfng The administrations of jackson and
YEN Doren, and down to James X. Polk, the thing
Mas the same; ysk not until now was II discovered
to be gapin q bleeding wound. But never till
now had II been considered that II was the duty OF
the President Of the United States ~ send in a spe-
cial message 10 Congress, recommending a schcne
Tor catching runaway negroes. This matter had
been cause for complaint during the two last ad
ministrations, and this very bill had been before
the Senate for more than two ycars. Why j;
not discovered then that Il a gaping wound,
requiring healing. IL required lcryid cioqucncc
would appear that the old superstition verified;
that II required, for certain wounds % bleed, that
they should be touched by special hand
lie then proceeded 10 the examination Of the sec
lions reported by the committee amendments 10
the fugitive slave bill. lie opposed them at great
length and with much leryor, giving way for cx-
plantations 10 Messrs. BUrLER, CLAY, and MAsoS
Tie said that the bill on this subject laid the
table few days ago by the Senator from Massa-
ohusctts (NIr WEEsTER) met with his views, and
be would support it chccrfully. He referred TO
some remarks made by him some time since, IN
which lac had suggested a measure agreeing With
that now embodied in the bill Of Mr.. WEBsrEs
lie was IN favor Of the bill 10 abolish the slave
trade IN this District, and lac willing TO vote
Tor expression of opinion that slavery ought not
~ be abolished Ia the District Of Columbia.
Mr.. CLAY said that lac hoped the friends VI the
bill would iOrbear all debate until after vote could
be had On the motion now pending. II the motion
should be voted down, then the work OF amending
the bill could be resumed
Mr. DAVIS, VI Mississippi, replied 10 a portion u
the remarks Of Mr.. DAYToS respecting tho leg
islatiOn concerning runaway negroes.
Mr.. DAYTON replied, and read from the statutes
oi Mississippi 10 sustain him.
MIR FOOTE and Mr.. DAYTON continued tlic
debate.
Mr.. BENTON said that when he made the mo-
ton 10 postpone, be had given notice that II gentle.
men desired W offer amendments the motion would
DC Withdrawn. II any gentleman desired ~ Oiicr
an amendment, he would withdraw the motion. ilc
then withdrew the motion 10 postpone.
Mr.. CLAY said that before the Senator made the
motion 20 pospsnc, he had requested that il might
Do withheld 10 enable them W vote on the amend
Dients. The Senator however declined lie now
had another request 10 make Of the Senator II Was
that Ice would not Withdraw his motion, bat allow
vote 10 be taken upon IL.
The VICE PRESIDENT said, the motion 10 pest
pone being Withdrawn, the question pending was
on the following amendment, submitted by Mr.
DOUoLAs, 10 strike out the following portion Of tic
seth section.
F1sf. The northern boundary Of said State
Texas shall be follows: Beginning at the point
on the RiO del NOfte, commonly called VI PssO,
and running up that river twenty miles, measured
ny a straight line thereon and thence castwardly
70 point where the hundrcdth degree Of west
longitude crosses Red river, being the southwest
angie ~ the line designated between the United
states aud Mexico, and the same angle in the line
Ci the territory set apart for the Indians by the
United Ststes
And insert in hcu thereof the t. wing
'lhe northern boundary Of the State Of Texas
shall be line drawn due east FROM the Rio Grandc
at the southern end Of the tornado del Muerto or
Journey Of the Dead, 20 the Red river and thence
down the centre oi said river; and the eastern
boundary Of the Territory q New Mexico shall be
the range Of mountains or dividing fidge sr,ayot.