The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1850-08-29

ITSELF or unless Texas shall consent 10 the forma
ton Of new State entirely north Of $50 30. /
there is any portion Of the new State south o
that line, Texas has q right TO insist upon il
coming into the Union with slavery and gOoC
faith to the South requires that she shall insis
upon the terms Of the compact. Sir, Texas will
stand up to the South, on the question of South
ern rights, as one man. She will never consent
upder the pretence Of settling her boundary, that
her rights as Southern State, under the resolu
tions of annexation, shall be impaired, by intro
ducing within her limits the principle of Free
Soil where slavery is guaranteed to her by the
compact"
1t is now settled how Texas will stand up to the
South. Will the gentleman take some proper oc-
casion to tell us how she will stand up to the
\ Norths
| That is in keeping with an intimation given in
the Senate by MIR Foote, just six days before, that
no State would ever be formed out Of that terri
tory, the 'chole of whose territorial domain will
be located north of the line of 800 3Vp All
| which, being interpreted, means this: Whenever
that part of Texas is formed into State it will
be united with a portion Of the territory south
of $50 30; and that part south Of $50 30-though
| only q rood In width--will determine the charac-
ter of the whole new State, making ita slave State
You have now almost the entire State Of Mis-
souri, for slavery, north of 500 80. You design,
contrary TO express contract, to have 50 30' Of
Texas, north Of that line, for the same purpose
now put il TO the gentleman, il that Is not the
fair inference and the real meaning of his Ian
guoge7 MIR. Howard rose in bis place, and as
sented. The gentleman assents. And ask him
| TO show me, in the whole history Of this Govern
ment, such an instance Of violated compact. Tex
as voluntarily made that pledge; her own Rep
resentative now boldly declares that she does not
mean to keep it. Can that gentleman, or any
other approving such conduct, turn round and
talk about doing Justice and stapdinS ,hy com
pronIisesln The genios of Texas IS prolific That
was the most original thought Of this session, till
Il was eciipsed by the gentleman from Maryland,
| MI AifEgne,l in regard TO this District. Tie
says if Congress shall abolish slavery in the Dis
trict of Columbia, Maryland could resume her
jurisdiction over the same her courts, her pro-
| cesses, and her constables are all at command
and even her militia We had supposed that
Congress had exclusive jurisdiction over this ter
ritory but il seems that Maryland has reserved
rights, which underlie all her cessions This is
| certainly the most novel-to freemen the most in
sulting--doctrne of the session 1t assumes that
we are here the mere wards and tenants at will
on the domain of Maryland IL we do not legis-
late according to her Judgment, she is ready to
spring upon us with all her civil and military
power
Put yourself on that doctrine before the people
of this nation, and they will tell you that you
stand on slippery place, and the things that
shall come on you make haste; that the in
habitants of this District will have their choice
between their slavery and their capital. But let
us return to Texas There are two questions to
be settled has Texas right to sell and ii so,
do we wish to buyl have examined with care,
and trust with candor, all the arguments Of the
eminent Representatives in the past and the pres
| ant \ al, ha,r Nv nd nj
sincerity | must confess, at least, some lingering
doubts as to the title Of Texas to the lands which
she claims as against New Mexico. She cannot hold
| by any act of this Government. The resolutions
of annexation were passed before the Constitution
of Texas was adopted, and, consequently, before
those expanded limits were authoritatively claim
ed We suppose that those resolutions admit as q
State, that Texas which was a Mexican province
By those limits, as laid down by Humboldt, am
willing to abide She claims according to Distur.
nelps map, because that map was appended TO the
treaty with Mexico. was acknowledged before
a committee Of Congress, by the publisher Of thai
, map, that the Texas boundaries were 30 ARRANGED
MS TO make il saleable In Texas market do no
wish to abide such authority. Texas cannot holt
by any act of Mexico. IL is asserted that q treaty
, was made with Santa Anna while he was a pris
oner. The validity of the treaty depended on
the after ratification Of Mexico, which was never
given. Texas may have been uDjustly treated IN
the transaction, but that does not make her treaty
good She cannot expect TO add to its force by
showing that she has been outwitted and cheated
by an acknowledged rascal The capitulaton OF
Bexar, and the testimony of a subaltern general,
Filisola, and the Mexican Secretary Of War, are
good evidence to show that there was o compul-
sorry consideration with Santa Anna. lie was
compelled to use that as means of escape from
the tolls of his conqueror but they prove moth
ing ms to a consideration between Texas and
Mexico Suppose Burgoyne bad promised, on
consideration OF getting out OF the clutches Of
Gates, that the st, Lawrence should be the bound
airy between the United States and the British
provinces, should you expect that promise to be
kept2 His master would have told him that he
was sent out to fight, not to sell territory set
| tie boundaries. Mexico, with Roman sternness
declares that she sent her general there to defend
and not betray the country that she is not bound
by his treaty, because she never gave him power
to do that kind Of business
The great authority Of Mr.. Polk Is brought TO
sanction the claim. do not propose to balance
it by the authority Of another President believing
exactly the reverse. There are many things In
which the opinion Of MIR Polk would have great
influence with me, some in which II would be
final This is not one of them. With the strict
est integrity, which cheerfully accord him, he
had strong bias to partial decision. Texas made
him President and he must have felt bound by
gratitude TO her. When that opinion was first
expressed, 1t was for extending ,he territory Of
his own country against foreign Power. When
he reafiirmed il, he had still stronger motive. IL
was the only defence for the Mexican war Take
away that, and you leave him without apology for
one of the greatest acts of injustice In modern
history In questions Of this kind, Mr. Polk does
not carry the usual weight Of his own great au-
I, haa ha nj and
unqucstionablen mistake Of FIVE degrees and two
thirds, in a northwestern boundary, you must not
quote him ON me- to decide point In southern
geography
My deliberate conviction u.s. that good bust
ness man would not buy farm Of mountain or
desert land with no better title than Texas can
give 10 that territory But II the title is good, IL
she could bring guarantee from the Creator Of
the world, why should we wish TO purchase II
II II Is really hers Let her keep II II not we do
not wish to buy It, Certainly we cannot think
Of doing 30 with the amendment which the hon.
orable member Mr.. Howard has offered 70 this
bill That amendment proposes that the laws per-
hitting slavery shsll continue In force In that Ter
ritory till 1t shall be formed into State We have
often been cold that are not callsd to legirlate
for establishing slavery, but We have here one re-
markable exception. We are asked not only to
buy territory, but to take II under the incum-
brance Of slave law. II any man consents TO vote
for that purchase under those conditions, and has
not dolts or doughfaces for constituents, he had
better weigh it we'll, whether that vote will not
sign his own political death warrant. | cannot
look upon the effort Of Texas In any other light
than blufipg, hrow-beatiDg game, to wrench that
territory from a weaker neighbor. If we, by any
act, consent to that usurpation, trust we shall
have sufficient selfrespect forever To keep silence
about the partition Of Poland
II Is said we may as well take the land, for we
are liable for the debts Of Texas, because we have
taken her commercial revenues, which were
pledged for the payment Of these debts. That
may be true but did not Texas agree to raise