The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1850-07-04

be very surprising lnueeu IL CoHFehloH,
without any knowledge Of the country for
which they were to establish government,
should chance to fall upon the best boundary
that could be established. 1t would be
strange if they could do it at the first guess;
and il would be stranger still if, after vary
ing with every extraneous pressure thus re-
ceived, they should finally by chance settle
upon the boundary best suited to the forma-
ton of the State. First, in ignorance of
the fact that the people of Deseret had form
ed government, it was proposed to include
that country. Then boundary was adopt
ed, including part of the country beyond the
mountains, and it appears that the belief
existed that the Sierra Nevada run down to
the Colorado river. After all this, we are
led to the conclusion, by what is found in
the debates Of the convention, that the
boundary finally adopted was selected be-
cause it covered the country in which Gen.
Riley had ordered delegates to be elected.
They considered, therefore, to adopt that
boundary, and they did not even claim to
inquire what limits Nature had prescribed.
Now, sir, are Senators of the United States
to lock up their intellects, to shut out all
sources of information and to adopt as the
boundaries of the State those which Gen.
Riley happened to select as that from which
he would call delegates to the convention?
The Senator also says that southern labor
could not be proftably used in this country.
Why, sir ? Do white men work in the
burning suns of South California Are not
the products there of that tropical character
which in our more temperate climate, de-
mands slave labor2 Is there too little soil ?
Those valleys, now, it is true, to great ex-
tent, desert; were once prolific of products
which form the staples Of the southern
States. Even now, amid the ruins Of the
old missions, are to be found aqueducts that
conveyed the waters from the mountains and
irrigated and fertilized the plains. Where
ever water is found in sufficient abundance,
our enterprising people will develop the ca
pabilities of the country, and it will again
be covered with the profitable productions to
which its soil and climate are adopted. 1t
may become the rival for the growth of long
staple cotton which is now produced on the
sea islands of the United States. So far
as we are able to learn, it is,' of the whole
country of the United States, the best
adapted to the growth of the olive and the
grape. Why, then, may not this country
become great in its agricultural resources,
if permitted to introduce that species of labor
which can bear the scorchng of tropical
sun? Now, they have it in the copper-co-
lored Indians, who readily pass into SER
vile condition, and serve for the irregular
demand which is made upon them for the
present limited cultivation. But after those
changes, which we must soon anticipate,
whence are they to draw the labor required
for that climate, save from the slaves Of the
United States'
Without that the country must long remain
uncultivated. will not now repeat what
have heretofore said of our right to transfer
this species Of labor to this country, and the
consequences which would result from it.
But leaving all that where it has been placed,
and remains mistaken by argument, | pro-
pose to inquire what is the position in rela-
ton to this set of measures which | and
those who think with me occupy. We of
the South have claimed equality Of rights in
the Territories Does this bill give it Does
it secure to US anything Do our opponents
in this sectional issue concede any point for
which they have ever commended Their as
serton is renewed that the local law Of Mex
leo continues in force. With tn: is cou-
pied the assertion that slavery can only ex-
ist by force of local law, and with that is
connected, following as effect from cause, the
prohibition of the Legislature to pass any law
for its introduction. Those who hold those
opinions and make that provision, certainly
do not intend to concede anything. In what
attitude do we then stand in regard to the
Territories We are not prohibited from
taking slaves, because prohibition is believed
already to exist. Now, then, if the reverse
should prove to be the case, would not the
prohibition then be resorted to But if we
are excluded by the Mexican local laws of
the land, then the repeal of those laws is re-
fused. This is to organize governments that
we may furnish the officers to execute the
laws which would exist without our action.
If the laws now there are to remain, the
condition after, will be very much the same
as before our organization. Then where is
the merit, the healing power of this great
bill ? What is there in the
whole scheme that Southern man should
desire so much as to sacrifice for it all the re-
strictions of time-honored presidents; should
violate all established usages, and his own
convictions Of propriety Is it that he may
fasten upon his constituents law which
gives them nothing, but takes from them
arge portion Of Texas, to which they have
now an equal right, secured by the juris-
diction of slaveholding State'
But, sir, on former occasion. was an
swered that the laws Of Texas would re-
main in force Now, let US see in what po-
sition we will stand then. Where is the
boundary Of Texas We have called upon
Congress again and again to decide that
question, and it has again and again shrunk
from the duty. When new line is drawn
there, who shall say whether the land be-
yond it was in or out of Texas before that
line was drawn? Being now undetermined
the dispute being as to whether that country
Is New Mexico or Texas-I ask what as
har tlot l. N H.