The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1850-08-09
THE UNION.


northern boundary Of New Mexico TO be 50 degs at least
he says that reaches from the 3ls the 3sh degree Of
north latitude ID North q ,hi: projects The long narrow
boundary and Of which i may be diftcult 70 say TO
wholfit did belong--to Mexico or Texas. The latter
thousand square miles q territory. importao, for other
purposes than tage settlement All this is know,
not worth the ten millions which propose 70 give Texas
territory which she surrenders by the b do not say
. rights - carefully make the observation-disclosures The
whole OF the country east OF the Rio Grande The
Senate very well know that am OF those who never
have believed in the validity OF those claims but cannot
shut my eyes the fact that there others who think
that these claims are perfectly valid While must nam
ental and respectful 10 gentlemen who entertain an
erent opinion. know that there are many gentlemen
on this floor who believe that Texas has always from the
time OF the battle Of San Jacno, rather the arrange
menl with Santa Anna, had valid and just claim TO
the whole Of the territory east Of the ko Grande also
know that there other gentlemen who do not enter
tain that opinion, and who, prior TO the treaty OF Guada-
upe Hdalgo thought that Texas bad no manner Of clam
to this country but that since that treaty she has acquired
good right TO it-that which was only claim having
pened into tile such IS the opinion OF the senator
from Georgia. Mr. BERRIEN,l whose integrity and whose
and Judicial ability ns my p'o
argument upon this floor prove that 10 be the effect OF
the teatyhat the limits Of Texas not having been iix-
ed by treaty between the United States and Mexico,
we are estopped from denying her claim to the Rio
Grande II is not necessary Tor me 10 80 into this agu
ment only desire 70 say that all THIS though y may
all events Then sir, the government OF the United
States has recognised her title 10 the Rio Grande
country and though the acts Of former Executive seem
contradict it, Yet il must be admitted that Mr. Folk
and his administration did in l847 express opinion IN
favor OF this claim. subscribed to the suiciency
of the for this opinion, and indeed held them 10
be wholly unsatisfactory; yet when an eminent iunc
onary OF the government bound BY nigh duty IN TINS
respect gives opinion directly contrary 70 my own
do not feel, like this that ought 10 question his
sincerity, deny all consideration to st On the con-
ary, is Of the very nature Of compromise 10 allow
weight to the opinions Of others which are adverse TO our
own think, therefore, that part OF the proposed ten
millions may fairly be set down to the account OF the
claims thus supported even il we be not satisfied Of their
validity
But sir there is another consideration; and it is 10
which have been exceedingly unwilling to give my as.
sent but which, nevertheless, have been unable TO
refuse The Senate aware that the State Of Texas
has incurred since her independence considerable debt
They know also that she has issued bonds her credi
tors in Of which the revenues from her customs are
specially pledged for the payment OF principal and nler
est Upon the annexation Of Texas to the United States,
her right levy duties upon imports surrendered to
the OF the United States that that source
became extinct or fe into the 81
the United States The revenue derivabe from this
present large, but it Is likely to become
very large and valuable in future. understand, from
authorities which can rely, that the trade OF Texas
this five millions OF dollars year. and
that the city OF Houston alone seven huhdred and nifty
thousand dollars worth of dutiable goods is consumed
annually We know that the population is increasing
with considerable rapdity and in the course Of lew
years will swell up TO such amount as would enable
the State if still possession OF the revenue derived from
the duty imports, to deray the interest on The bonds
and finally to extngulsh them by ull payment True,
Texas reserved to herself her public lands but II IS
also true that they are a present very Inadequate
source OF revenue, and likely TO continue Tor some
time When State pledges her revenue II is with an un-
Outstanding that the current expenses OF the government
shall be deducted because, ii not. the government un.
supported by fiscal means, could exists anarchy would
and The responsibility and obligations TO the cIedi-
tors would become absolutely vaueless But, SIR these
creditors, whom the revenues of Texas pledged
Tor payment OF their bonds, must undoubtedly have
relied upon that OF revenue; they must have
looked not to the present poductveness OF these Iexan
OF income, but TO their future produciiveness
and although they had legal right to compel Texas to
appropriate the derived from that source TO the
payment OF The bonds. and utterly poweress TO
pei the United States yet the very fact that they
powerlessslhai they rest entirely upon moral force
Tor the performance OF these obligations 10 hemgyes
them higher clam to The equity and consideration OF
the Congress of the United States will not iken ii
the Of mortgage, because do not suppose the OPP
eraions OF the government be kened TO mortgage,
being things different their natures but, so lar as
there any analogy at all II is undoubtedly IN favor OF
the case which now present The creditors OF Texas
had moral caIm al all eyeas, upon the duties on I'M
ports into Texas Those duties have been taken by the
United States under the terms OF annexation; and al
though there special stipulation IN the JOINT resou
lions Of annexation that these creditors OF Texas should
not claim OF the United States government the pay
ment OF these duties yet IL may well be doubted whether
that agreement between the United States and Texas
release the United States from its moral obligation
10 the creditors whether, these duties having been
specifically pledged by Texas for the payment OF these
bonds, II the duty oil the Uued States, al all events,
to make some compensation TO these creditors Well,
sir, this being the case, think | perfectly safe
in saying that the Congress OF the United States need
expect to get nd OF the clam OF these creditors OF
Texas until they paid Considering the vast extent OF
Texas, the large population which must soon fill her SET
Elements, that her productive capacity will soon be quad.
rupled. aad that her ability 10 consume will keep pace
with increasing production must that no neon
siderable tribute 10 treasury will 1ow from The
TONS duties on Texan commerce II is not a sufficient
say that without annexation Texas would have
had security, and therefore no increase oil commerce.
for know that her Independence would have been ac
knowledged by Mexico on the condition o. eternal sepa
ration the United States; and that If this scheme.
guaranteed by England France, had gone into opera
ion she would have gathered strength and grown
in prosperity. Besides, su, remember that when we
opposing annexation, prominent objection
that we should come under obligations TO pay part OF
her debt One oil her bonds exhibited in the Senate
and told TO mark the pledge and heed the liability
which would devolve All these considera.
lions which have weighed with me in determining the
amount OF ten millions allowed in the bill
have been furnished with a statement from the Of.
fce OF the auditor and comptroller Of Texas, which gives
the OF all the holders OF Texan bonds, In which
the revenue from import duties specially pledged
and the amounts Of principal and interest respectively due
10 each calculated up TO time in S4S. The aggre.
gate amount is 81 ,045,027 IA which, by this time
must be about four millions and half II TO this sum,
which equity strongly calls on us TO allow, we add lib
eral amount Tor the territory which Texas undoubtedly
cedes. and allow literally also Tor the territory which
she claims, and which think she is justly entitled
to- though 1, with Others differ 10 that you will have
reached the aggregate amount OF the Si0000000 which
Is proposed 10 be paid IN the bill am aware that this