Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1850-02-21
Is SENATE. "Wednesday, Feb. 6


as follows:
NJ President. if there be in this vas, assem-
blage OF beauty, grace, eieg ance, ana inielii-
gence, any who have come here under the ex-
peclailon that the humble individual who now
addresses you means 10 attempt any display or
to use any ambitious language, any eXtrnord.na-
~ ornaments OF decorations at speech, they wi!i
be utterly disappointed. THIS season OF the
wear, and INV own seas m Of life, both admonisb
me 10 abstain from the use of any such orna-
men,s; but above all, Mr. PfesiJeni, the wniul
subject upon which It is my duiy to address the
Senate aad IT, Country. iorbds my saying any
thing but wnat appertauS strcily To ih1t suhJ c. !;
and my eoe IRE ~ TO make myself, with ser-
BUSINESS. soberaess and plAnness, III lersiocd b.
yoG, aud by ttois who inns proper - listen to
me.
When, sir. Yesterday tho adjournment o. the
Senate tocl: place, at tbs, s'aIc OF the Discus
SION Of the resolutions which have sub ilted,
winch related to Texas and Ter boundaries, |
thoaght had concluded the whole subject; bar
| was reminded By rIeni that perhaps was
not sufficiently explicit upon siuase polnt; and
tat Is, the relation OF Tcxss 10 the government
Of the Unned States, IN regard 10 that portion Of
the DEBTS OF Texas fer which think RESPONSE
biiity exists upon the part OF the government OF
tie United States. ST., It was said that II might
perhaps be understood that 10 the proposed
grant ut three u.IiiOHs- or whaiever may be The
sum Whenever 1t may be asccrtalned to Texas,
In Consideration of her surrender OF her title to
New Mexico, on lhs side OF the Rio Grande, in
that grant we merely discharge the obligations
wnicl exist upon the part OF the government OF
the United States. III consequence OF the appro-
praton Of the I'm ,orts receivable IN the ports OF
Texas while sne an Independent power
But that is not my understanding, Mr.. President,
of the subject, as between Texas and the United
States. The obligation on the part OF Texas 10
pay the portion OF the debt referred TO, is COM
pleIe and uncancelled; aud there Is, as between
these two parties, no obligation on the part OF
the United States to discharge one dollar OF the
public debt of Texas. On the contrary, sr, by
an express declaration in the resolution of ad-
mission, 1t is declared and provided that IN no
event are The United States 10 be liable TO or
charged with any portion of the debt or liabili-
ties of Texas. 1t is not, therefore, from any re-
spoaslbility which exists to the State of Texas
on the part of the government of the United
States, that think that provision ought to be
mad for that debt No such thing. AS between
these two parties, tie responsibility upon the
part OF Texas is comp etc 10 pay the debt, and
there is no responsibility upon the part OF the
United States to pay one cent oil ii.
But then there is third party, no party 10 the
annexation whafever-tlat Is 10 say, The ciedl-
tor of Texas, WHO advanced his money upon tie
credit and faith of solemn pledge made by
Texas 10 him 10 reimburse the loan, and by the
appropriation of duties receivable upon foreign
imports. The last is the party 10 whom we
bound. according TO the view presented upon
the subject. Nor, sir, can the other creditors
with Texas complain that provislonis made for
particular portion OF the debt, leaving the res
idue unprovlded tor by the government Of the
United States; because In 50 lar as we may ex-
linguIsh any portion of the debt OF Texas, under
which she Is now bound, IN so far we shall con-
tribute to the benefit of the residue creditors OF
Texas by leaving the funds of the public lands
held by Texas, and what other sources she may
have applicable 10 the payment OF those other
debts, wllh mure effect than If the eniie debt,
including the pledged portion of it, as well as
the unpedsed, was obligatory upon her, and she
stood bound by 1t.
Nor can those creditors complain for another
reason. Texas has all the resources which she
had when an independent power, with The ex-
cep'ion of the duties receivable in her ports up
OH foreign Imports and she /. exempted from
certain charges, ext eDCliures, and responsible
Ties, which she would have had to encounter If
she had remained u separate and independent
power. For example, she would have had TO
provide Tor cerain amount OF naval force, IN
order TO protect herself against Mexico, or a.
gainst any to:eign enemy whatever out, by her