The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1850-06-13
CONGRESS-.
THlRTY-FlRST COSGRESS-FIRST SESSION
SENATE.
FRIDAY, JUNE 2, IS

ShNE ipoO'
The Senate was occupied the larger part of the
day in the discussion of the boundary Of Texas,
on the amendment of Mr.. Clemens affirming that
boundary as settled by her law of limits passed
by the Congress of Texas in 1896. The debate
was various and protracted. In the course of it,
Mr.. Webster declared his opinion that il was
competent now for the United States to bring
suit against the State of Texas for the territory
to which each laid claim but he was in favor Of
settling the question by compromise.
The question was then taken on the amend
ment, and the vote stood
YEAs-Messrs. Atchison, Borland, Butler,
Clemens, Davis of Mississippi, Downs Foote,
Houston, Hunter, King, Mason, Morton, Pratt,
Rusk, Sebastian, Soule, Turney-l7.
NAys-Messrs. Badger Baldwin Bell, Benton
Berrien, Bright, Ciss, Chase, Clarke, Clay, Coop
er, Corwin, Davis of Massachusetts,, Dawson,
Dayton, Dickinson Dodge of Wisconsin, Dodge
of Iowa, Douglas, Greene, Hale, Hamlin, Jones,
Mangum, Miller, Norris, Pearce, Seward,
Shields, Smith, Spruance, Sturgeon, Underwood,
Upham, Walker Webster Whitcomb-37.
Mr.. Foote offered the following amendment ;;
after which, the Senate adjourned;
"Strke out the tenth line, and to the word
thereon inclusive, in the eleventh line of the
thirty-ninth section, and insert in lieu thereof,
where the thirty-fourth degree of north latitude
crosses said river'p
At the end of the bill add as follows:
Prorised, That nothing In this sct contained
shall be 80 construed ny in any manner to impair
any rights which the State of Texas may now
have to any territory claimed by her. under and
by authority of her line of boundary of 1896, in
the event that the terms proposed to said State of
Texas should not be accepted in the same man.
ncr as II this act had not passed Aad rropi7ed,
also, That nothing In this act contained shall be
so construed as TO contravene the principle of
compromise on the subject of slavery embodied in
the Texas resolutions Of annexation in regard TO
the Territory, the cession of which on the part
of Texas is provided for by this act"
SATURDAY, JUNE 8, 1850.
Mr. Chase presented some of the usual series
of petitions the subject Of slavery and fugitive
slaves.
Mr. Douglas, from the Committee on Terrific
res reported back the bill from the House, cnti-
tied "An act making further appropriation for
public buildings in the Territories of Minnesota
and Oregon"
Mr. d. explained the bill, and after some de.
bate upon it's provisions by Messrs Butler, King,
Jones, Underwood, Foote, and Dongas
The question WAS then taken, and the bill was
read third time and passed
The Senate then resumed the consideration of
the bill reported by the select committee of thir-
teen.
The question pending was on an amendment
to part of the 39th section, containing the pro-
posed boundaries of Texas
Mr.. Clemens moved to amend the amendment |
Mr.. Foote explained his amendment, and ac-
,epted the amendment Of MIR. Clemens mod
fcation of his own.
Mr.. Clay defended the boundary as reported
by the committee.
Mr. Rusk supported the proposition to make
he 34th parallel the southern boundary of New
Mexico
Messrs Mangum, Clay, Rusk Douglas, Foote,
md Pratt, continued the debate.
Mr.. Footc then withdrew his amendments.
Mr. Douglas moved to strike out the whole of
he provision, and insert the following:
"The northern boundary of the State Of Tex
IS shall be line drawn due east from the Rio
Srande Mt the southern end of the tornado del
or Journey of the Dead, TO the Red riv-
n, and thence down the centre OF said river; and
he eastern boundary Of the Territory of New
exico shall be the range of mountains or divi-
ling ridge separating the waters flowing into the
sio Grande from the waters flowing into the Ar
ansas aud Red rivers
Mr.. Pratt gave notice Of the following amend
lent
" Propided That nothing herein contained
hall be 80 construed as TO amend, abrogate, or
feet the resolutions of annexation, Il being the
rue intent and meaning Of this act that the said
es0iassoRs ssall not be altered, aDpyllod, or af.
ected by anything herein containedn
Mr.. Davis Of mississippi opposed the princi-
lie of buying this territory at all He denied
base this territory from Texas: the powers of
be Government 10 purchase territory within the
tates were clearly aud definitely limited
Messrs. Clay, Berrien, and Downs, all expressed
different opinion.
Mr.. Davis replied, and Mr.. Downs rejoined.
Mr.. Foote followed In support of the amend
rent, and in reply to circular lately issued
y General Wallace Of South Carolina lie
poke Of the effect Of this bill as Ia no wise deter
inning the question Of slavery
Mr.. Hale followed in response.
Mr.. Dawson replied to the Senator from New
hampshire, and read from several New Hump
hire papers 10 show TINT that Senator was In
s35 ultra In his opposition to Aboliiionists; and
srmly supported MIR. Van Buren," the North
IN with Southern principles
Mr.. Hale rejoined and then, on motion,
The Senate adjourned.
MosDAY, JusE 10, 1850.
After the transaction Of the ordinary morning
usiness, the Senate at 10 o'clock proceeded 10
10 consideration of the report Of the Committee Of
thirteen.
Mr.. Benton moved that the further copsidera-
on Of this bill he postponed till the fourth Of
iarch In the year one thousand eight hundred
nd ffty-one. lie alluded 10 the character Of the
III, and its avowed object to restore peace and
armony TO distressed country, lie said that
q did not believe there was any distress In the
ountry. He believed that the nstion was in the
alignment Of every blessing that Was possible.
lie did not imagine that any OF that distress
nd alarm 80 knowingly pictured by the Senator
rom Kentucky, existed among the people. He
I'd not believe In the existence Of those five gap
ng wounds 20 fssrfuly pictured by the Senator,