The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1850-07-19


ment but lately come to hand, but which ought TO
have its weight this occasion. ! allude TO the
new constitution of Kentucky, aud its salutary
provision against the runous practice OF clog roll
ing" In section thirty seven OF article two OF that
instrument there Is this provisions: EVERY BILL
SHALL CONTAIN BuT ONE susJEcT, AND THAT SHALL
he CLEARLY EXPLAINED IN THE TIrLA. This IL the
sentiment Of Kentucky on the fatal pracUce OF
lacking incongruous bills together. She has point.
ed her constitutional canon against II. True, we
not bound by the provisions OF her constitution;
but we are bound to respect the principle oil moral
ity in which il 10 founded, and OF course to condemn
and repudiate this omnibus bill, freighted with 20
many subjects, and dependent for !" passage on
the amount Of money to be voted out oil the public
treasury TO the State of Texas.
Sir, have myself, in a bill now before the Sen
ate, proposed q compact with Texas for the settle
ment OF her western boundaryj but proposed no
mutual cessions-no exchange OF territory-no
ACKNOWLEDGMENT of New Mexico-no purchase Of
the Santa Fe country-no giving away our own
territory, and paying Texas to take 1t. My pro-
posas steered clear Of all that folly and blunder
This ia what proposed
cart g. TIE State Of Ttras cedes TO the United
States all her territory exterior TO the mi!s 20 tohieh
she reduces herself by the first article Of M'' com
pact"
And the limits then proposed by me for her
duction were the same now proposed-lO20 OF west
longitude, and $40 of north latitude. This is all the
cession that my bill proposeda cession from Texas
only-and not of all the territory but OF all her ter
rtory exterior to her reduced limits. This avoided
the consequences of cession from her OF the whole
country, including New Mexico as part OF Texas
1t avoided the consequence OF holding the Santa Re
country purchase from Texas. 1t avoided the
consequence Of admitting all that country to have
been part of the State of Texas. 1t avoided all
the serious and disturbing consequences in which
the committees bill would involve us. For such a
line as proposed to Texas, cedng no territory to
| her, accepting title TO New Mexico from her,
leaving New Mexico intact, and conforming to an.
cien title and to present actual possession would
vote fifteen millions OF dollars for such q line as
|
The committee can find no excuse in my offer for
| theirs. And here address myself most especially
to that member of the committee (Mr. CooPEn, Of
PennsyiUania) who seems to have become its organ
at this point; and say TO him, and through him to
the committee, there is nothing in the ono to jus-
fly the other. The two offers different as the
two extracts from that parilla root-"henren
uide apart and infinitely issimilar, and not alike in
any ttoO particulars, and haring ttcO qualities IN
| Common" nebegins twenty miles, In straight
line, above FL Paso-the other three hundred miles
| in straight line below it. One is latitudinal-the
| other longitudinal. One runs cast-the other
north One cuts New Mexico in two-the other
goes round her. One cedes 900 square miles Of
| New Mexico to Texas-the other cedes nothing to
her. One accepts the remainder Of New Mexico as
cession from Texas-the other holds her as a ces-
sion from the republic Of Mexico. One conforms
TO ancient title, present possession, and geograph-
cal aflnities-the other violates all these conditions
One raises the slave question: and in its double as
pect Of actual extension of slavery into one hall OF
New Mexico, and its implied legal existence in the
leaving both New Mexico and Texas Just as they
are. One admits the Texan laws and constitution
| to be in force in all New Mexico east OF the Rio
Grandc-the other asserts the Mexican law to be in
| force there.
These some Of the points of difference between
| my offer and the committees, and which will
| thank the Senator from Pennsylvania Mr.. Coop
ERR to recollect the next time he speaks on the sub
jec, and credit the differences the right side of
the account But there is another difference, and
Of another kind between the two offers, and which
| may be fully developed when we come TO the work
| OF hlling up that coy and sensitive blank, upon
which the committee are SO dumb, and the know
| ing ones 30 knowing. My offer affects no other
| bill, measure 1t is in a bill by itself 1t is a
Texas bill, and confined to Texas. The money it
proposes carries no influence, good or bad, to any
other bill, or measure-has no effect on the life or
death Of California, the two Territories IL car
ries no votes for or against them-exctes no stock
jobbng interest, for against them. Ii is a par
liamcntary bill, confined to its own subject, I'M
mixed with any question, claiming decision on its
own merits alone, and leaving all other bills TO be
decided, in like manner, upon their own merits
This is particular difference between the commit
tees bill and mine, in addition 10 all the other dill
ferenccs between them, and which, at the proper
time, shall more fully dcvelope; and, in the mean
| time, must remind the Senator from Pcnnsylvania
not TO overlook these differences when he comes
again to fortify his intended vote for sacrificing
New Mexico by a reference 10 my bill for saving
her
The committee, as a justification for cedng the
ono half of New Mexico TO Texas, and then pur-
chasing the other half from her, argue that ii Ia the
only way 70 prevent Texas from swallowing her
all up. This great mistake in law, and
| further mistake in fact, in supposing that the
President-the then President, General Taylor
would not do his duty There were three ways TO
save New Mexico without giving up any part or
her 20 Texas First, for the United States TO oc-
cupy her az she the day Of her cession by
the republic Of Mexico; secondly, by suit in the
Supreme Court thirdly, by offering iairoompsct.
based upon the true boundary. BY either Of these
three ways New Mexico could be saved and the
late President, in message before his death, let US
| know that he would do his duty, and maintain the
possession until the question Of title should be do
cided by the competent authority. This IS ms
message
81 have already. in n former message, referred
to the fact that the boundary between Texas and
! New Mexico is disputed. ] have to state
that information has been recently received that
certain Robert ). Ncighbors, styling himself COM
missioner OF the State Of Texas, has proceeded %
Santa Fewith ayiew Of organizing counties in that
district, under the authority OF Texas. While !
have no power 10 decide the question Of boundary,
and desire " interfere with IL as question Of
title, have TO observe that the possession Of the
territory into which IL appears that Mr.. Neighbors
has thus gone, was actually acquired by the United
State. from Mexico, and has since been held by the
United States and, in my opinion, ought 30 10 re-
main until the question Of boundary shall have
been determined by some competent authority.
Meanwhile ! think there il reason for seriously
apprehending that Texas will practically interfere
| with the possession Of the United Statcs"
Inns ~ the mf~sage OF the atc frcsidcnt, aho IL
IL the law and the prophets, brief and simple, but
true and wise, and putting 10 flight the main ar
gument for the disnombcrmcnt Of New Mexico.
lie tells you that he will maintain the possession
| such a. il was when the United States received IT,
until the question Of boundary should be decided
by the competent authorities. This is enough for
Va. We are In possession, and have only TO retain
IL. These were tho resolves Of the late President,
and there il no dispute about them. lie spoke for
himself, and bis words will stand monument 10
his mcmory-a monument TO bis judgment 60 sec
the right and TO his hrmncss in maintaining IT, IL
was his last message, and the symbol Of his chsrsc
tcr-brief plain, honest, vice, firm. IL was worthy
| TO be the last mosssge Of General Taylor and will
go into the heads and hearts Of the people and will
remain on the memory Of his country longer than
craven words remain upon stone brass.
make no alusion TO the present President. IL
would be supplementary and indecorous 10 do 90
lie has sent us message. But bound to
believe that be will do his duty, as he understands
It, and at all events VIC have right TO act upon
contrary supposition-to suppose that the President
will not maintain the attitude Of his predecessor,
and thereby make II necessary for Congress TO do
something in his place.
Mr.. President, we are a government OF divided
powers-lcgslatire, executive, and judicial and no
one department has a right TO assume that another