The Woodville Republican. [volume] (Woodville, Miss.) 1847-1853, 1850-06-04

IN territory acquired, so long as it retain,
the territorial form Of government-leavin.
it to the people of such territory, whel
they have attained TO a condition which en-
titles them to admission as a State, to de
eide for themselves the question Of the al
lowance or prohibition of domestic slavery
The committee believe that they express the
anxious desire of an immense majority of the
people of the United States. when they de-
clare that it is high time hat good feelings
harmony and fraterna sentiments should
be again revived, and that the government
should be able once more TO proceed in il,
great operations to promote the happines.
and prosperity of the country, uhdisturbed
by this distractng cause.
As for California-iar from feeling her
sensibility affected by her being associated
with other kindred measures--she ought to
rejoice and be highly gratiied that, in enter.
ing into the Union, she may have contribu.
ted to the tranquility and happiness Of the
great family of States, of which, it is to be
hoped, she may one day be distinguished
member.
The committee beg leave next to report
on the subject of the northern and western
boundary Of Texas. On that question a
great diversity OF opinion has prevailed.
According to one view of it, the western
limit of Texas was the Nueces; according
to another it extended TO the Rio Grande,
and stretched from its mouth to its source.
A majority of the committee having come
to the conclusion of recommending an ami.
cable adjustment of the boundary with Tex.
as, abstain from expressing any opinion as
to the true and legitimate western and north.
ern boundary of that State. The terms
proposed for such an adjustment are con.
tanned in the bill herewith reported, and
they are, with inconsidcrable variation, the
same as that reported by the committee OH
territories.
According to these terms, it is proposed
to Texas that her boundary be recognized
TO the Rio Grande. and up that river to the
point commonly called T. Paso, and running
thence up that river twenty miles, measured
thereon by straight line, and thencc east.
wardiy to point where the hundredtll de.
gree of west longitude crosses Red river
being the southwest angle in the line desig.
mated between the United States and Mexi.
co, and the same angle in the line of the terri.
tory set apart for the Indians by the United
States.
If this boundary be assented to by Texas.
she will be quieted in that extent in her ii.
tie. And some may suppose that, in con-
elderation OF this concession by the United
States, she might. without any other equiv.
alent, relinquish any claim she has beyond
the proposed boundary; that is, any claim
to any part Of New Mexico. But, under
the influence Of sentiment of Justice and
great iberaity, the bill proposes to Texas,
for her accomplishment Of any such claim, q
large pecuniary equivalent. As consider
alton for il, and considering that d portion
of the debt OF Texas was created on n
pledge to her creditors of the duties on for.
eign imports transferred by the resolution
of annexation to the United States, and
now received and receivable in their treas
ury, majority of the committee recon-
mend the payment of the sum of - mil.
lions OF dollars to Texas, to be applied in the
first instance TO the extinction of that por-
ton OF her debt for the reimbursement of
which the duties on foreign imports were
pledged as aforesaid and the residue in
such manner as she may direct. The said
sum is to be paid by the United States in
stock, to be created, bearing FIVE per cent.
annually payable haIf.ycarly at the
treasury of the United States, and the prin.
cipal reimbursable at the end of fourteen
years.
According to an estimate which has been
made, there are included in the territory to
which it is proposed that Texas shall relin.
qulsh her claim, embracing that part OF New
Mexico lying east Of the Rio Grande, a lit.
tie less than 1888 square miles, and
about 79, 1857, 100 acres of land. From the
proceeds Of the sale Of this land, the United
States may ultimately be reimbursed a por.
ton, il not the whole, of the amount of
what is thus proposed to be advanced to
Texas.
1t cannot be anticipated Texas will de.
cline to accede to those liberal propositions !;
but if she should, it is to be distinctly under.
stood that the title of the United States to
any territory acquired from New Mexico,
east Of the Rio Grande, will remain unin-
paired, and in the same condition as il the
proposals Of adjustment now offered had
never been made.
A majority OF the committee recommend
to the Senate that the section containing
these proposals to Texas shall be incorpo-
rated into the bill embracing. the admission
OF California as State, and the establish.
ment Of territorial governments for Utah
and New Mexico. The definition and es.
adjustment of the boundary between New
Mexico and Texas has an intimate and ne
cessary connection with the establishment
Of territorial government for New Mexico.
To form territorial government for New
Mexico, without prescribing the limits Of
the territory. would leave the work imper-
feet and incomplete. and might expose New
Mexico TO serious controversy, if not dan.