The Camden journal. [volume] (Camden, S.C.) 1836-1851, 1850-06-25
THE BOUNDARIES OF TEXAS.

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THE BOUNDARIES OF TEXAS.
Is the Senate debate of Wednesday, Gen.
Houston, of Texas, made the following re-
marks, which, with the exception Of one ILL.,
natured fling at Southern Senator, are high.
spirited, inely expressed, and indicate truly, rs
we believe, the temper of his State. All the
information we have, confirms what we have
before published, that Texas will neither be bull
lied nor bought out Of her territory.
Mr.. Houston. Mr.. President, have enter.
tanned great anxiety for the progress of the bu.
siness of the Senate, and it is therefore with
great reluctance that intrude myself in this
discussion; bnt some remarks have fallen from
an honorable gentleman this morning, respect
ing Texas, which, as co-representative OF
that State, cannot permit to pass without no.
tice. MY silence might be deemed submission
10 anindignity
The honorable Senator from New York,
iMr, Seward) has thought proper to give an
opinion upon the title of Texas to the boundary
which she claims, and we have been asked to
show the authority by which that boundary has
been claimed. will not enter into the discus.
sion: of that subject after the arguments which
have been submitted by gentlemen who have
participated in this debate, amongst whom is
my very able colleague, who has left nothing
for me to say. LIZ he has failed to convince the
Senator from New York, | certainly DO not ex-
peos to succeed in convincing him that the title
Of Texas extends beyond the Sabine. Yet,
sir, the Government Of the United States must
be placed ID. peculiar circumstances in relation
to the national honor, if Texas has not claim
even beyond the sNueces. 1t was not objected
after the annexation of Texas to the United
States that Corpus Christi was then o territory
Of Texas; and it will be admitted that the war
grew out Of the position taken by the Mexicans
opposite Matamoros on the Rio Grande.
But, sir, Texas was annexed with her declar-
ed boundaries of the Rio Grande from its mouth
to its source. No question then arose respect
ing the boundary which we declared in 1886.
Texas then conceded to the United States the
right to settle the question of boundary with
Mexico, but she did not concede the right after
the acquisition Of ell the territory which the
United States acquired from Mexico, of adjust
ing it between Mexico and the United States.
The United States was the agent of Texas, and
as such acquired limits beyond the boundary
which Texas claimed, and consequently secur.
ed to her all she had assumed for herself II,
however, this bill should pass, it will not be de.
cisive with Texas, as the subject will be referred
to her Legislature to Judge Of the fitness Of dis
posing of this territory or retaining it, as she
may think proper. 1t imposes nol obligation
upon Texas, it infringes none of her rights. it
eoerces her to no submission to the action of
Congress; but recognizes all the rights which
she originally possessed. Gentlemen say this
is an sindignity, aud indeed the honorable gen.
tleinap from Florida was SO kind as to remark
that it would be prostitutiDs Texas if she SUBJ
mitted to such degradation. Iswill, with great
Difference to the honorable gentleman, assure
him that / think all Texas will return him
thanks, and in the name of Texas return him
my thanks, for becoming the special guardian
Of her purity and her honor; and | hope it will
suffer no danger from his friendly interpositton,
The gentleman has exhibited degree of SO.
licitude that would have been favorable to Tex.
as at one period. when shs was surrounded by
temptations and difficulties, aud when she was
wooed on all sides, aud was in situation to
weld to solicitations. The honorable gentle.
man then steps forward and exhortsher to main.
tain her purity, and also to maintain her stan
dard ,psullied by prostitution. Sir, Texas has
neycf b,cp prostituted. If she were incapable
of vi rtlieating herrights here throug ii her rep.
rescn; tives, the collective wisdom of Texas, in
her d,liberatiye assemblies, will have the propo-
sition submitted to them; and Texas, through
her agents, can then say whether it is conform
able to her wish that she should relinquish her
rioht to this territory, or whether she will main,