The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1850-11-22

most assuredly. The reproaches must be directed
against the people OF California for the exercise OF
| an incontestible right, and against Nature and
Natures God, for the irreversble decree against
the introduction Of slavery into the mountainous,
barren, and most Improbable region OF New Mex
| leo and Utah, II these insurmountable obstac les
be overcome, the people OF these Territories are
left free to introduce slavery they think proper;
| but candor obges me TO say that think II never
| will be introduced there.
The most difficult, complicated, and embarrass-
ing question which engaged our elaboration, was
that of the boundary of Texas. Three different
opinions in regard 10 il prevailed, and were enter
| tanned by responsible members. According to one
the western limit OF Texas was the Nueccs, and it
did not extend beyond il.
Another opinion maintained that it stretched be-
yond the Nueces to the Rio del Norte, and up that
river from its mouth to the southern line OF New
| Mexico The third opinion held that it embraced
the whole country east of the Rio del Ncrte, from
its mouth to its head, including nearly all of New
| Mexico. All these opinions were maintained with
| great pausibility, II not ability. The southern
| members almost unanimously, and with great zeal
| and earnestness, urged the last opinion. Ii APP
peared to me that if ever there a upon
earth in which disputed boundary should be set
| tied and amicably adjusted by compromise, that
| of Texas was one. We offer, II is true, a very
| large sum OF money--ten millions-for the excu-
sion of New Mexico from her limits; but then we
were previously bound to the extent OF nearly one
half that sum to the creditors Of Texas, in conse-
qucnce of the United States having, in virtue of
selves all the duties of foreign imports receivable
in the ports of Texas, whilst independent, which
| had been previously pledged to their creditors.
Texas, therefore, does not, in fact, receive more
than about five millions Of dollars for the ren-
punishment of her territorial claims. ! voted with
great pleasure for the appropriation of the money,
| because l hoped and believed 1t would be honestly
and bona ide applied to the extinction OF her pub
lie debt and to her consequent relieffrom all pecu
| mary embarrassments; and, Mr.. Speaker, wish
that we had some legitimate ground to advance to
every debtor State in the Union sum sufficient to
pay OFT its debts and restore its credit wherever
that credit has been furnished. We are all mem
bers OF the glorious confederation, and should
be most happy to see every State stand upright
and honorably in the general coniederacy, and
commanding the esteem, the confidence, the APP
probation OF the whole world.
If any State act unworthily in reference to
her public debts her conduct brings more or less
reproach upon the whole coniederacy.
will at present say nothing-l may hereafter
have occasion to say something-in respect TO the
Fugitive Slave Bill, except that it the aim OF
the provisions which embraced in II to give fair
and full and eficacious effect TO the constitutional
provision for the surrender OF tugitives.
No one was hardy enough upon the floor of the
Senate to deny the right OF the owner of fugitive
slave, in virtue of the Constitution be restored 10
his property. The only difference of opinion is as
to the mode OF effectng that object; but the mo
ment the constitutional right is conceded, every
thing is yielded, and all win admit that the cons,i
| tutonal duty on the part Of Congress should be
faithfully ehectuaily and not elusivey and made
quately performed.
The last measure in the series is, that abolishing
the slave trade in the District of Columbia. That
trade has lost much of its extent by retrocesson OF
Virginia and that portion OF the District OF Column
bia lying south of the Potomac, and by other events
il 10 reduced, think / was informed, to a single
prison depot in which slaves deposited.
These slaves were not bought In the District, but
were brought chiefly from Maryland and Virginia
into the District.
n. -. A. Al
trct had no sort OF interest On the contrary, they
wished II abolished. Southern gentlemen, years,
years ago, had expressed the opinion that 1t ought
to be abolished IL sometimes exhibited the inst-
tuition Of slavery in of its most banefui and
pleasant forms l have myself SEEM not often or
lately, gangs Of slaves chained together, driven
through Pennsylvania avenue, and what humane
person can contemplate such spectacle without
pa inlul feelings.
The existence of the trade gave rise to great
clanor and great exaggeration at the North Why
should il be continued In the District! Why not
let the trader, If he chooses to continue To prose-
cute his business, go TO Alexandria, TO Richmond,
4 to Annapolis, or Baltimore. If the States of Nir-
4 ginia or Maryland will not allow him to 60 there,
that is why he should be tolerated in the
District. II is within the clear and indisputable
| power of Congress TO abolish the trade.
| In putting end TO il Congress has done no
more than Kentucky has done in forbidding trading
| in slaves as merchandise; than the State OF Misss-
sippi has done, which inserted in her constitution
/ ing States have done. The law which has passed
does not touch affect in the slightest degree the
institution Of slavery it exists within the Dis
trict.
trict from selling or otherwise alternating their
slaves. IL does not prevent them even from going
| out of the District purchasing slaves, and bring
ing them into 1t, for their own The law is a
mere regulation OF police called for by all the
siderations which can unite in the passage of any
law, which, in the absence of all passion, excite
| ment and agitation, all impartial men would con-
cur In.
tenn Of measures recommended by the Committee
| of Thirteen. That committee thought it expedient
| 10 unite in one bill all those kindred measures
which related TO our recent territorial Acquisitions
they thought tha., considering the actual state of
opinion in Congress, il was best so TO unite them.
| When thus combined each party would what
it lost and would be that in the passage Of the
| common measure it would find its losses compon-
stated by its gains.
| Moreover, there unhsppily distrust engen-
dered between the parties TO what might be the
result Of the several measures which were separate
! ly proposed. One said TO the other, If we pass
what you want having got il, you will afterwards
| refuse 70 give US what we want. By the combna-
4 ton OF the measures, each party would see and
] know the exact extent Of what il conceded, and
what was conceded TO II; and being once passed,
\ there would be no risk Of bad faith.
The friends Of the compromise were in favor Of
all the measures, either In the aggregate or in the
| detail. Welded 10 no matter OF mere form, actu-
! ated by no pride Of opinion, they animated
! with no other desire than the peace and harmony
| Of the whole country. The opinions Of the com.
| mittee, with some exceptions, were against the
measures in the aggregate and detail and their
objections, therefore, their union not true
aud real objections. But for their ndscreet oppo-
| siton, the omnibus would have passed months be-
fore the separate bills passed.
| Happily, the whole system OF measures, as origi-
| nally proposed, finally prevailed in both Houses
| Of Congress. The propriety of the union Of some
| Of these was demonstrated in the HOuse of Repre-
sentatives by the fact that, when the Texas boun-
dairy question was presented a separate measure,
IL was rcjec ted by majority of more than forty
and when, afterwards, Il was united with the bill
for establishing territorial government for New
| Mexico without the Wilmot proviso it was carried
| by decisive majority.
And now, Mr. Speaker, let for a moment
pause and consider what the actual losses and
gains by the two sections Of the Union in the adop-
ton OF this system Of measures think, as to Cal
iornia, neither party, so far the action Of Con
gress is considered, be truly considered 10 have
i carried or lost. What has been done, then, has
been done by a competent and admitted authority,
| without the interposition of Congress.
As to the Territories of New Mexico and Utah, the
| wishes OF the South have prevailed the Wmot
proviso has been rcpudiated, and, although do MOI
believe that slavery will be tolerated in either o
\ them, both are allowed TO admit exclude IL ac
cording 20 their own pleasure.
! In regard 20 the Texas boundary, the South bhi