The Charlotte journal. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1835-1851, 1850-03-27


leave an acre of land capable OF being cu'ii.
waited hv slave labor between this Capitol ana
the Rio Grapde or the Nueces, or whatever
!, the proper boundary of Texas-not an a.
ere. not ore. From that moment ine who're
co,o,rv from here 10 The western boundary
of Texas, was fixed, pledged. ias'eneo' ue'
ciiad TO be a slave territory iofese'' oy tue
solemn guarantees Of law. And l no" say,
sir. as The proposition upon when ! STAND
this day, and upon The truth and titriness oil
which | intend TO act until it's overthrow,
that there 10 not at this moment within the
United States, or any territory OF the United
States, a single foot of land the character OF
which, in regard 10 its being free soul terrific
nv or slave territory, is not fixed by some
law. and some iyrepealabe law beyond the
power or the action of this Goyerument.-
Now, is it no, so with respect TO Texas!-
Whv, i, is mos, manileslIy so. The honora-
BILE member from South CsroIipn, at the time
of the admission of Texas, held an important
post in the Executive Department Of The Gov
eminent: he was Secretary Of Stale. Ano-
Their eminent person Of great activity and
adroi,ness in affairs, | mean the late Score.
,ary of Treasury, (Mr. Walker,l was lead.
ing me mber Of this body and took he lead IN
the business Of annexation; and must say
they did their business faithfully there was no
bo,ch in it. They rounded it of, and made
as close homework as ever was put together
Resolutions of annexation were brought into
Congress fitly joined together-compact,
firm, efficient, conclusive upon the great o.
lect which they had in view.
Allow me 10 read the resolution. It's the
third clause of the second section of the reso-
luton Of The Is, March, ls45. for The admis,
sion of Texas. The clause reads IN these
words:
New States, Of convenient size, not ex.
ceedinc four in number in addition TO said
State Of Texas, and having sufficient. popu'a.
ton, may hereafter, by the consent OF SAID
State, be formed out of the Territory there.
OF, which shall be entitled to admission under
the provision of the Federal Constitution
And such States as may be formed out OF that
portion of Territory lying south oil thrty-s'x
degrees thirty minutes north latitude, COM
monty known as the Missouri Compromise
line. shall be admitted into the Union with or
without slavery, as the people of each SAFE
asking admission may desire; and IN such
State or States as shall be formed on, of said
Territory north of said Missouri compromise
line, slavery or involuntary servitude Except
fer ciime) shall be prohibited. !"
Now what is here stipulated enacted, Sc.
cured 1t is, that all Texas. south OF 81
80, which is nearly the whole OF 1t, shall be
admitted into the Uuion as slave State--li
was slave State and therefore came in as a
slave Stale-nnd that new States shall be
~ :, and hat at n ia a
formed cut of that portion Of Texas lying
south Of sc 80 may come in as slave States
TO the number Of four, 10 addition 10 the State
them in existence end ad mil cd o, H.. ..----
BY these resolutions. | know no mode OF re-
cognition that an add TITLE of weight 10 it
listened respectfully to the resolutions Of my
honorable friend from Tennessee Mr. Bell.
He proposed TO recognise that stipulation
with Texas. Bot any additional recognition
would weaken the force OF it; because il
stands here on the grodnd Of contrac. for a
consideration. Ii is law founded on con.
tract with Texas and destined TO carry that
contract into effect. A recognition founded
on any consideration and any contract would
no. be so strong as tt now stands on he face
Of he resolution. Now know no way, |
candidly confess, in which this Goyernmen,
acting in good faith, as trust i, always will
can relieve itself from that stipulation anc
pledge, by any honest course Of Legislation
whatever. And therefore,, ! say again that
SO far as Texas is commemorative whole 81
Texas sot b Of 36 80, which ! suppose en-
braces all the slave territory IS ne
land, not 40 acre, The character Of which IA
not established by las, which cannot be re-
peaed without the violation Of contract.
hope, sir, il is now apparent tia, my pro.
position, SO far as Texas is concerned, has
been maintained, and the provision IN TIN:
artce-snd il has been we'll suggested b,
nv friend from Rhode Island tba, that par
Of Texas witch lies north of thirty four de
gfees OF north latitude NAV be formed into
three States-is dependant 10 like manner
upon the consent of Texas, herself slave
State.
Well now, sir, how came 4? How camt
i, that within these walls where il is said b.
the honorable member from South Carolina
that the free States have majority this re
solution Of annexation, such as ! have descrl
bed il, found majority IN both Houses o
Congress? Why, sir, il found that majority
BY the vast addition Of northern votes addef
to the entire Southern vote, or a; least near
~ the whole of the Southern votes. Ii wa
made up Of Northern as well as Of Southern
votes. ln the House Of Representatives j
stood, think, abou, eighty Southern vote:
for The admission Of Texas, and abou, fify
Northern votes for The admission ni Texas
In the Senate the vote stood fpr the admis
zion of Texas twenty seven and twenty fv'
against il and Of those twenty seven vote
constituting a majority for the admission o