The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1850-10-11


Texas have any interest in this matter rs bondholders
Texas is not taxing her Rsop1s @ p,y her debt The bill
which they feel; and they have, therefore but little
less than the people OF Virginia II will be recollected
that General Hamilton. many years ago, disposed Of
James Iysr bonds gosanlisd BY the State and Texas
she received no money Events beyond his control made
il impossible for him 10 refund but in the honor.
able manner be hypoihecated Texan bonds - security to
the extent OF the hundred and thirty thou
sand dollars, principal and interest," my memory serves
h ssas Be ana psU
that Virginia s bribed, or that she will be Influenced
al all BY what have referred 70
Besides the United States 10 the bill we have passed,
has acknowledged her obligation TO provide Tor the debt
OF Texas She will. therefore, know that even she
reject this BILL cannot hereafter repudate that oblga
The interest Which Texas has in the bill is the interest
which every State has in preserving its credit and honor
It be doubted that will add ultimately greatly 70
her prosperity to have the incubus OF her public debt re-
moved from her shoulders Without credit she can con.
struct improvements to develop her vast resources IN
condition Of reputation men OF character and capital
are loah to connect their fortunes with hers the lear
that day another she will resort TO heavy taxation
pay her debt deters emigration from her borders Re-
long and rapid She viii Be in condition to be divided
into two States, if il shall be desirable long before New
Mexico will be in condition to come into the Unen as
dion in which her right be formed into four States
in addition to the present State secured in the articles Of
annexation and reassered in the bill under consideration
The question which will be submitted to Texas will
be, whether her prosperity will be promoted BY this bill
II will not s she vii rsiec, Il will she will a.
BILL will the South be- Whatever contributes to the
strength OF Of the southern States contributes TO the
strength OF ALL There be conflict in the interest
OF Texas and the other southern States willing to
trust Texas to decide where she is directly interested,
and where indirectly but decidedly interested on
the side with her; and the more so because be-
Il is also said that the b converts slave territory into
free soil This assumes two propositions absolutely r.
reconclabe with each other yet both OF them must be
established before the truth OF the assertion can be sus
tanned 1t assumes that the territory transferred s Texan
territory and that The constitution and laws Of Texas 90
not extend to H. II il be Texan territory IN which sla-
very exists will continue 10 exist after the transfer
for the act establishing territorial government does not
change its character III it be not Texan territory then
its character also unchanged. and slave territory
is not converted into free soil.
The assertion am commenting upon is not only un-
true but the reverse Of It is true The bill converts forty
three thousand six hundred and thirty. seven square
miles OF free soil into slave territory, il the people resi-
ding upon il shall so decide when they form constius
ton, preparatory TO coming in the Union as State. By
the resolutions OF annexation provided New States
OF convenient SIZE not exceeding four in number in ad
dition to the said State Of Texas and having sufficient
population, may hereafter by consent of said State, be
formed out OF the territory thereof, which shall be emit
tied to admission under the provisions Of the federal
stuhon and such States as may be formed out OF that
portion OF said Territory lying south OF SO deg 80 min OF
north latitude, commonly known the Missouri Compro-
mise line. shall be admitted into the Union NTH NTH
may desrs and in such Stale or States as shall be formed
out Of said territory north Of said Missouri Compromise
line slavery or involuntary serude (srcs for erime
is included within the limits Of New Mexico.
The act establishing territorial government for New
Mexico provides, that when admitted asa State the
into the Union. ok Or .sso ia assrs as s
ton may prescribe at the time of their 0dmisson" The
absolute prohibition OF slavery north of 90 de8 30 min.
But it is said that slavery 10 prohibited in New Mexico
by Mexican law How can that be, if is commended,
all Of il east of the Rio Gande, which contains nearly
suppose those who deny the title Of Texas, and maintain
that all the territory within the limits OF New Mexico is
Mexican territory are right still deny that there will
be any Mexican law in force In that territory which will
prohibit slavery am not gong into the question which
has been ably discussed, whether the Mexican laws
prohibiting slavery were abogaled or not BY the conquest
and treaty II ,oas the opinion OF the South that they
were abroga,ed and our support OF the Clayton com
promise was based upon it. Be that, however il may,
is clear beyond cavil doubt that the territorial bills
abrogate all Mexican laws and substitute others. The
civil law is the law OF Mexico The territorial
bills recognise the existence OF the common law The
section reave to the jurisdiction Of the courts declares
that the supreme and district courts respectively shall
possess chancery and common law Jurisdiction" To ad-
minister Mexican awi Certainly not but the common
law and the chancery law derived from England II may
be said that African slavery cannot exist under that law
know there Is an obiier dicium OF Lord Mansfield
that effect IL is but dicfum Tor the case OF Somer-
set turned upon the want oil remedy Both Lord Talbot
and Lord Hardwcke decided otherwise and has that
great jurist Sir William Scott, afterwards Lord Sowell.
late as 1927 in the celebrated case OF the slave Grace
Besides all know that slavery introduced into
the British colonies of America in the absence OF stat
ute, and solely under the protection OF the common law
But shall not 20 into that question In this case 10
for the territorial bills and the fugitive
bill each recognise the legality Of slavery in the Terrific.
fries. In the former il is enacted that:
"wr Of error and appeals from The final decision. OF
said shall be allowed and may be taken TO
Supreme Court Of the United States, in the
and under the regulations as from the circuit
OF the United Saies where the value OF the
or affirmation oil either party, other witness,
shall exceed thousand dollars, only that
eases involving title TO slaves the said wfits OF
peals shall be allowed and decided by the said supreme
tide in controversy; aud except also that writ of
appeal shalt also be allowed the Supreme Court Of the
United States from the decision Of the said
created by this OF Judge thereof upon
habeas corpus involving the question Of personal Free
dom"
will be perceived that there are classes OF cases
here provided for the last, between the negro and his
master. involving the question OF his personal freedom
the hrst between other parties, involving title TO slaves
This last clearly contempsies the existence OF slavery in
the Territories t.et E.5 ..I1 re
Besides this the providing for the recapture Of fug
tive slaves throughout coniempaes the escape OF slaves
from Territories II enacts that when any person
held TO service labor in any State Territory, In
the District OF Columbia, shall escape" &c. Slavery Is
prohibited in Minnesota and Oregon and ii IL Ii also pro-
hbited in Utah and New Mexico, only other Terrific.
RES then there is subject to which part Of that law
can refer. tH 8HN t8