Daily Richmond times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1849-1850, 1850-02-12
WEDNESDAY FEB. 9Th.


The Senate then proceeded to the consideration Of the
special order, being the resolutions submitted by the
Senator from Kentucky
Mr. CLAY. Mr. President, if there be in this vast
assemblage of beauty grace elegance, and intelligence
any who have come here under an expectation that the
humble individual who now addresses you means to
attempt any display, any use OF ambitious language,
any extraordinary ornament or decoration of Speech
they will be utterly disappointed The season of The
year, and my own OF lite both admonsh me to
abstain from the of any such ornaments but above
all Mr. President the awful subject upon which it is my
duty address the Senate and the country torbds nv
saying any thing but what pertane strictly to that sub
lect and my sole desire is to make myself in serious
ness, sobeess, and planness, understood by you and
by those who think proper to listen to me.
When, yesterday, the adjournment of the Senate took
place. at that stage OF the discussion OF the resolutions
which had submitted which related to Texas and her
boundary, thought had concluded the whole subject
sufficiently explicit on single point and that is the
lation of Texas and the Government OF the United
States and that portion Of the debt of Texas for which
think responsibility exists the part of the Govern
ment of the United States.
Sir, it said that perhaps it might be under
Stood in regard to the proposed grant of three millions
in consideration Of the surrender of her title to New
Mexico this side Of the Rio Grande, that we granted
nothing that we merely discharged an obligation which
existed upon the Government ohe United States in con-
sequence OF the approprotionsf the imports receivable
in the ports of Texas whilst she was an independent
power. But that is not my understanding, Mr. Pres-
dent. AS between Texas and the United States, the
obligation the part OF Texas pay her portion Of
the debt referred to- is complete and unqualified and
there is as between these two parles no obligation on
the part of the United States to pay one dollar of the
debt OF Texas On the contrary by an express spula
ton in the resolutions Of admission, is declared and
provided that in event do the United States become
liable charged with any portion of the debt or La
biEs of Texas. 1t not therefore, for any response
bty which exists to the State Of Texas on the part of
the Government of the United States that think pro-
vision ought to be made tor that debt No such thing
As between those two parties the responsibility on the
part OF Texas complete to paw the debt and thera 10
responsibility on the part OF the United States to paw
one cent,
But there is third party who was no party to the an.
nexation whateyer-thatls to say the creditor OF Texas
who advanced the money the faith of solemn PLEDGES
made by Texas to him to reimburse the loan bv the
appropriatonbf the duties received on foreign imports
and he and he alone is the party to whom we are
bound according to the view which have presented of
the subject Nor the other creditors of Texas com
plain that provision is made only for particular nor
ton the debt leaving the residue of the debt unnro
vided tor by the Government OF the United States be-
cause IN SO lar as we may exngush any portion ofthe
debt OF Texas under which she is now bound in So far
will it contribute to diminish the residue of the debts Of
Texas and leave the funds derived from the public lands
held by Texas, and what other resources she NAV have
applicable to the payment OF these debts with NOR,
effect than the entire debt including the pledged nor
ton well as the unpledged portion, was obligatory
upon her. and she stood bound by it. Nor can the
creditors complain, for another reason. Texas has ali
the resources which she had when an independent
power with the exception Of the duties receivable in her
ports upon foreign imports, and she is exempted from
certain charges, expenditure and responsibilities which
she would have had to encounter if she had remained
separate and independent Power; for example she
would have had to provide for certain amount ofpaya
force and tor certain amount perhaps ofmtary force
in order to protect herself against Mexico or against
any foreign enemy whatever. But by her annexation
to the United States she became liberated from all these
charges and OF course, her entire revenues may be ap-
plicabe to the payment OF her debts those only ex-
cepted which are necessary the support and maine-
nance ofthe Government Of Texas.
With this explanation upon that part OF the subject
pass the consideration of the next resolution in the
series which have had the honor to submit and which
relates, i'll am not mistaken, to this District
Resoped That it is inexpedent to abolish slavery in
the District OF Columbia, whilst that institution continues
to exist in the State Of Maryland without the consent of
that State, without the of the people of the
District and without just compensation the owners of
slaves within the District,
Mr. President, an objection at the moment made
to this resolution by some honorable Senator on the
other side of the body that did not contain
ton of the unconstltuonaity of the exercise of the
power of abolition said then, as have uniformly main
tanned in this body as contended for in 1885, and ever
have done, that the power to abolish slavery within the
District OF Columbia has been vested in Congress by
language too clear and explicit to admit in my judgment
Of any rational doubt whatever. What sir, is the Ian.