The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1850-08-12

fleet, lies not only south Of the northern boun-
dairy of Texas--that is, AGO north latitude-but
it is in fact south of the Compromise line of
$50 go by many miles Not only has the Pre-
sdent in setting aside the legal boundary of
Texas, as defined in her constitution and recog-
nized by this Government in various forms, out
ragged her rights, and covered at one sweep
every inch of ground in dispute between the
United States and Texas, but he has gone
further, much further; he has established, or
attempted to establish, a principle which threat
ems the very existence Of Texas az separate
State.
| What says the President! That he is bound
by the highest official obligations, to protect the
| Mexican Inhabitants of Santa Fe or New Mex
leo, he is pleased to call it, against the autho-
rty OF Texas. He has announced, that if Texas
attempts to assert her authority in that country,
and to punish those who commit overt acts Of
treason against her, he will resist her with the
whole naval and military power Of the Govern
ment. Bear in mind, that this country Is within
her limits, as defined by her constitution of
1886, and within the limits of the slave portion
of this Territory, as defined by the resolutions
| of annexation.
Now, where does the President look for his
authority thus to resist the authority of Texas!
Not, sir, to the treaty of annexation, but to the
treaty with Mexico, and to the eighth and ninth
articles of that treaty. He finds here that Mexi-
cans residing in the Territory ceded to the
United States by Mexico, shall be protected in
their lives liberty property and religion. Plant
ing himself on these stipulaions, he announces
his fixed determination to defend the Mexican
Inhabitants against the authority of Texas. The
treaty with Mexico is the only law for his gov
eminent in this regard. He wholly discards and
He looks to but one boundary-that established
by the Mexican treaty. He looks to but one
acquisition, and that the acquisition from Mexi
co. Now, sir, what is this boundarys and what
| this acquistion? The boundary is TIL Rio Grande
to the southern limit of New Mexico, thence to
the ella river, and to the Pacific. The acquisi-
ton embraces all the territory lying between
Louisiana and Arkansas and the Indian territory,
on the one side, and this Mexican boundary on
| the other We must recollect that Mexico never
recognized the Independence Of Texas; and
when we treated with her, we treated for Califor-
4 mia and New Mexico, and Texas from the Loui-
siana line to the Rio Grande. The President
does not respect the line of Texa, rs defined in
her Constitution and recognized by the resolution
of annexation, He kicks this line out of his
way, and has announced his intention to be gov
erned alone by the treaty of HidalSo. He says
he will resist Texan authority below the line OF
forty-two degrees; aye, he will resist it below
thirty -six and half degrees. Iknow Of no other
line. The President admits in his message that
he does not know where the true boundary is.
Then it becomes matter of interesting inquiry
where his authority is going to stop. II the only
boundary known to any law as existing between
the United States and Texas, is disregardcd, and
the President is resolved to protect all Mexicans
living on territory ceded to the United States
by Mexico, and it is true, as we have seen, that
\ Texas was as much cession, so far rs the treaty
Of Hidalgo is concerned, as New Mexico and
California; and if the President is going to pro-
tect Mexicans against the authority of Texas in
Santa Eel should like to know how much
further down he is going to extend his protect
! ing care. Will he 60 down to Austin! VIII
he push MS far down as Houston ! May Mexi-
cans expect the shield of his protecting care in
Galveston? Il the authority of Texas every
where to fall before the triumphant march Of this
most valiant hero--this commander-in-chief of
the army and navy Of the United States 1t
might economic blood, sir, if this conquering
chief would only deign to fix boundary--put
up sign-post at the point where he intends to
stop hanging and chopping off heads
| Mr.. Chairman, have great respect for true
and genuine herosm; but i confess myself
IdtHtT IcSuNc III VIC pICScnCC VI lHC DdShfu
progeny which this slavery agitation has brought
forth When we were threatened with thirty
nine western regiments, grew impatient when
we were threatened with ten thousand Ken-
tuckians, led on by the great compromised, felt
| still more provoked; but when Willard Fillmore
mounts his Pegasus, and attempts to drive over
us with the whole naval and military power of
the nation, Icannot think or speak with patience.
When Jackson threatened, there was dignity in
! the threat When Taylor threatened, it was not
| quite contemplate; but for Willard Fillmore, a
mere come-by- chance-a poor little kite, who
has fallen by accident into the eagles nest
when he attempts to play the hero, and to
threaten the South, one scarcely knows what
limit to fix to contempt and scorn. If these
feelings haze deeper depth in the human soul,
let the upstart hero, not yet warm in the seat Of
accidental honor, know and feel that he has
reached that deeper depth in the heart of every
true and faithful son of the yet proud and indie
pendent South.
What, Mr.. Chairman, is the meaning of all
this Why does the President disregard the
most solemn obligations? Why, sir, does he
manifest SO much OF impatience to wrest sue
cessfuly from Texas that which Is so justly her
own, and which she never can surrender without
dishonor? And why, sir, independent of all con-
Of the South bound to make common cause
with Texas! Because, sir, you and !, and every
other Southern man, know that the question of
slavery lies at the bottom of all these move
ments. That question out of the way, and the
President and his Cabinet and his friends on this
floor, would not care single rush whether
Santa Fe, was In Texas or New Mexico. That
question out of the way, and we should have no
disputing about this country.
The treaty obligations between the United
States and Texas would be faithfully maintained
and harmony would be restored in twenty-four
hours. Is it not melancholy, is it not alarming to
every true patriot to see that this war upon a
section, this eternal and never-cnding assailment
Of the South, has not only warped the judgment
Of the best and purest men of the North, but has
so far influenced the action Of the President of
the United States that he not only does not exc
cute treaty for the advantage of slavery, but in
dereliction of the plainest dictates of duty, alb
solutely refuses to do so Can any man look at
80. II