The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1850-08-09
SPEECH Or MN. PEAacE,


/
M or MARYLAED,
On Me introduction Of tH 10 settle Ms bopndary Of
Ieras, &C. dsUered IN the Senate Of the United States,
Monday. August s, 1850.
Mr. ParsrDEsr: think i must be admitted that the
great obstacle in the pathway OF legislation during
the present session has been this disputed boundary OF
Texas That the final diligently OF the Compromise
snd 9sy @ e
duced the combination Of several measures in one,
know is supposed that sometimes such union produces
combination oil ntere favorable the passage OF the
united bill but think il just often happens that
this union produces concentration OF the elements OF
opposition insufficient each Of ITSELF to defeat the
measure 10 which II applies, but which, when combined
have sufficient force 10 overthrow the whole. Besides
sir, confess that ii 10 to be right that each
measure should be determined BY the considerations
which properly applicable TO itself alone being neither
helped peudced by what relates TO another subject
have therefore, determined to present to Senate bill
Tor the establishment OF the boundary OF Texas. uncon
nected with any other subject Il is subject Of great
importance because il involves only the rights and
claims Of State. and Of the United States but what is
OF far more importance, involves the peace and harino
of the Union vital 10 the welfare and prosperity OF
all Of the States, and SO dear, am sure may say, TO
every patriotic heart.
The bill present. sir, is not the result OF calculating
bargain, ia which the rights Of each party have been es
mated with exact precision. and their money value count
cd at the market rate neither does i disregard the rights
and obligations Of the respective parties, aud surrender up
Everything TO the demands OF one have eadeavored 10
frame il with view to allow Texas literally for what
territory she may cede TO the United States. well
as for whatever claims she may renquish the United
States, TO relieve her from the burden OF obligations
which have been supposed BY many 70 DO eqataby bind
The government Of the United States entire territory,
and TO secure 10 the people OF that territory such proec
ton as was gnaaniied to them BY the late treaty with
Mexico. The bill proposes boundary which cannot
suppose will be agreeable 10 every one, ! think
however, that il is more free from objection than any
sad
which | yet think can defend upon the principles OF
justice, Of equity and Of patriotism. was very des
differently from the shape which was finally compelled
to give it. may remark before proceed that three pro-
visions Of the bill are taken with some and
the addition OF the last provso, from the bill which was
introduced into the Senate in the early part OF The session
by the senator from Missouri, [Mr BENToNl Il struck
me as a very desirable thing 70 avoid two difficulties !;
First TO give such boundary will avoid the objection
which has often been urged by southern gentlemen 10
other proposed boundaries that they proposals 10
surrender to the North territory which, by the joint reso
utons oil annexation, and in the spirit OF the Missouri
Compromise, guaranteed to the South TO southern
institutions. Secondly i very desirable 10 avoid
tactf in the whole Of its original extent contend
ed for by some, at least far the territorial authority
has practically been exercised. have endeayored to
keep both these objects in view, and think have ap.
proxmaed to i, though may not perfectly have accom-
plshed both In order avoid the southern objection
have begun the northern boundary At the intersection o.
80 deg 80 min north latitude That cuts of portion of
the undoubted territory Of Texas The Senate well
that by the treaty with Spain OF 1919 our bounda
ry up the Sabine river the 32d parallel of north lat
lude thence north the Red river with the Red river,
to the tooth degree Of west Longitude and thence north
then, the boundary between Spain and the United
States al the time OF that treaty BY the treaty OF lsas
with Mexico we recognise that boundary as applied To
Mexico and the territory of II belonging 10 Mex
leo. BY the convention OF 1885 with Texas, proposing
TO appoint commissioners aud marx part OF this
boundary recognise her the OF the soil west
OF the tooth degree Of west longitude There il no dis
putting, therefore-and il there were, abundant facts
could be shown Tor my purposethai large area Of ter
ord ;na
belong and does belong 10 Texas portion Of that
territory propose to cut OF and cede 10 the United
States, but do propose cut off any Of the territory
south OF SO deg. 80 min. My proposal is 10 run the
northern boundary line three degrees the parallel
OF 80 deg 80 min, until shall reach the lo3d degree OF
longitude west from Greenwich The bill introduced by
the from Missouri early in the session
plated degrees from Greenwich as the boundary
Of Texas the west, and that boundary perfectly
from Texas whom desirable TO conciliae, yield
ed it, partly that account. and partly because did
think il absolutely necessary to adhere to it.
4 Running my eye the latest map OF this country
which have seen-the map OF DR. Wislizenus, 10 which
my attention kindly called by the senator from Mis-
souri, find that between the medians OF 100 and 1903,
and extending than two and half degrees OF lat-
tude, lies the Llano Esaeddo, the staked plain, OF
which have heard befoe-high, and. table land, in
fact desert, and barren of vegetation the
waves OF the Dead Sea- II had fixed the boundary on
the l02i degree OF longitude, this arid desert, worthless
tract Of country. would have been thrown outside of
Texas and into New Mexico, with small portion
of cuuvable country on the OF il, which, II il
had belonged 10 New Mexico, as would have been
the by such arrangement, would have been
cut OF by the desert from all communication with
the settled parts OF the country OF which il por
ton. North OF this the land is better, though
| cannot SAY what proportion Of IL IS valuable. IL
lies however, the upper waters OF the Red nver and
the Canadian FORK of the Arkansas, which here riv
ers OF Texas The object Of the from Missouri
was TO provide such western boundary for Texas
would give her the command OF the heads OF all the
Texan rivers This objeci is fully accomplished BY the
meridian of I03, which have taken By this arrange
men also, liberal margin Is lett 10 New Mexico not
oBy 10 protect her present settlements, but 10 allow room
for her expansionenough make her, in time, pop
uation fills up, respectable and toerably strong State
| The line TO the Rio Grande ~ Objectionable, know
TO members OF the Senate, and should have been
glad to consult their wishes BY running ilile fur
Their SOUTH but find that that would meet with as much
or more opposition The Senate, however, can change
il II they please This line does, TO be cut OF New
Mexico, according TO the estimate Of the senator from
Missouri. (Mr BEEToN,1 TO whose superior geograph-
cal knowledge cheenuly defer. He proposed TO
carry New Mexico down TO the mouth OF the Puerco
nveI and said OF the line in the Compromise bill that cut
of the legs of New Mexico-ampuaied her at the hips
But there is very little objection To this, because
the Senate s aware that the recent convention OF New
Mexico which met 10 form State institutions, perform
ed that process OF ampuiaon for themselves not pre-.
cisey at the exact line which propose but nearly
make 1t not worthy the attention OF the Senate
suppose that, nasmuch Ms they have amputaed these
members themselves II is not OF very material
quence for take the trouble TO splice them together
again. Now this line strikes the Rio Bravo del Norie
near FL Paso-accordng 10 several MAPS little south OF
I'll Paso. But am bound TO say in candor 10 the SEN
ate that more recent maps and the have mentioned,
made IRON actual observations, give the latitude OF III
az DAG min nht Ia