Daily Richmond times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1849-1850, 1850-06-13

slavery blessing deem evil and would neither
adopt impose it on others Yet am slavehoLdef
and among the lew members OF congress WHO holu
slaves in this District.
In refusing to extend slavery into these seventy thou
sand square miles, act in conformity not only to my
own established principles but also in conformity
to the long established practice of Congress Five
in four years did Congress refuse the prayer OF In
diana for temporary suspension OF the anti slavery
clause of the ordina nce of 81 On the I'd OF March,
1903, Mr. Randolph, of Roanoke, as chairman of the
committee to which the memorial praying the suspen-
sion was referred presented report against it, which
concurred in by the House. This is the report:
"That the rapid population Of the State of Ohio
sufficiently evnces in the opinion of your committee,
that the labor of slaves is necessary promote the
growth and settlement OF colonies in that region That
this labor demonsraby the dearest of any, can be
employed to advantage in the cultivation OF products
more valuable han any known to that quarter OF the
United States: that the committee deem 1t hlghly dan
gerous and nexpedent to impair provision wisely ca.
cuated to promote the happiness and prosperity OF te
northwestern country and to give strength and security
to that extensive frontier In the salutary operation OF
this sagacous and benevolent restraint it believed that
the inhabitants of Indiana will at no very distant day,
find ample remuneration tor temporary prlVatlon OF
labor and OF emigration.
This report of Mr. Randolph in 1903: the next
year. March, 1904 different report, on the pray
er was made by a committee Of which Mr. Rodney, OF
Delaware, chairman. 1t recommended suspen-
sion Of the antisavery clause for years it was not
concurred 10 by the House Two years afterwards, r e.
bruary 1906, similar report recommending suspen-
sion for ten years made by committee OF which
Mr.. Garrett, of Virginia, chairman: it met the
same tate-non concurrence The next year, loof,
both Houses tired. In February OF that year,
committee of the House. of which Mr. Parke was chair
man. repoedin favor OF the indefinite suspension OF the
clause the report was not concufrred IN. And In No
yember OF that year, Mr. Franklin, OF North Carolina,
as chairman of committee of the Senate, made a re-
port against the suspension, which was concurred in by
the Senate and unanimously, as it would seem from
the Journal, there being no division called tor thus,
five times in four years. the respective Houses Of Con-
gress refused TO admit even temporary extension, or
of slavery into Indiana Territory
which had been before the ordinance OF 81 slave ter
ritory holding many slaves at Vincennes These five
reusas suspend the ordinance OF S7, were so many
combinations OF it All the rest OF the action of Con-
gess the subject was 10 the same effect or stronger
The Missouri compromise line was a curtallment OF
slave territory the Texas annexation resolutions
the same the ordinance OF 81 ITSELF so often confirm
ed by Congress, curtaiment OF slave territory
in fact actual abolition ;or is certain that slavery
existed in tact the French settlements OF the Illinois
at that time and that the ordinance terminated it.
act then in conformity the long, uniformly established
policy of Congress, as well as IN conformity to my own
principles refusing to vote the extension of slavery
which the committees line would involve.
return to the point-the 10000 square miles of ter
the possession of New Mexico TO the possession of
Texas-and the question Of the extension of slavery
which grows OF that transfer There is slavery
on it now either in law in fact. 1t will be there by
law if the transfer is made. This leaves open but one
question; and that climate be relied upon to keep
it away! think not. There two climates in New
Mexlco-one frgid, the other temperate; and these
10000 square miles in the temperate part 1t is
long province stretching north and south, high and
mountainous in the north-ower and with broader val
ley lower down. Santa Fe has elevation of 1880
feet Ell Paso $500. The Rio del Norte called in the
upper part OF its the river above, Rio ArrivaD
in the lower part, river below Rio AbaoD and the eli
mate corresponds with this structure OF the country
rigorous at Santa Fe, mild at I'll PasO Humboldt thus
speaks of them:
New Mexico, though placed under the same lati-
tude with Syria and Central Persia, has climate emil
nently cold 1t freezes there in the middle of the month
of May, near to Santa Fe and little further north (un-
der the parallel of the Morea) the Rio del Norte is
vered sometimes several years succession with ice so
thick that and carriages pass on it. We do not
know the elevation of the country in New Mexico; but
doubt whether, under the 81 deg OF latitude the bed
of the river may have more than seven or eight hun
bred metres of elevation above the level of the sea
The mountains which border the valley OF the Del
Norte, those at the foot OF which is placed the
village of Taos, lose their already towards the
commencement OF the month OF June" -Vol l, p 302.
"The environs of Ell Paso are delicious country,
which resemble the most beautiful parts of Andausia.
The fields cultivated in and wheat. The vine
yards produce excellent wines, which are preferred
to the wines OF Parras and New Bscay The gardens
contain in abundance all the fruit trees OF Europe
figs, peaches pomegranaes and pears Vol 3, p. 3O6
Humboldt right, and recent travellers confirm
what he wrote in 1904 1t at the head OF the val
ley OF the Del Norte some three degrees north Of Santa
Fe that Col. Fremont suffered his great dsaser-had
to struggle through above the heads OF and
horses and found relief tread the river solid with
ice for road. AT Santa Fe, the Goth of February,
winter; eight days afterwards, on the Rio Abajo,
half way Ell Paso, and having descended $500 feet,
and still 200 feet above the level OF Ell Paso, it
spring-he farmers ploughing and seeding, the early
fruit trees in bloom, and the air so mild that he camped
out of nights and without tents though in settled and
hospitable country. Here, then, are two climates in
New Mexco-one barrier against the introduction OF
African slavery the other not and is that part which
is not barrier that is proposed to be transferred to
Texas. This applies to the Del Norte and its valley
it still of the Puerco and its valley Rising
in the latitude, and at the elevation OF Santa Fe it de-
sends below the latitude and below the elevation of
Ell Paso, and is mder in its climate throughout, be-
open the east, and sheltered the west
by long and lofty range OF mountains. Its more ge-
NAL climate makes it, have said the bucolc region
of New Mexico, to which the inhabitants of the banks
of the Del Norte send their hocks to find their
food and live without shelter, the year round And it
is precisely the southern half of this river and valley,
reaching degree aud half south OF New Orleans
and without sufficient altitude to counteract the effect
OF southern latitude that the committees bill would
transfer from the possession OF New Mexico the pos
session of Texas Climate there be no bar to the
introduction OF slavery; and thus its actual extension
into that quarter becomes the question which the
mees bill forces to tace-and which have faced
The committees line has the further ill consequence
law in the Santa Fe part even OF New Mexico lftheir
line is a compromise of the Texas claim, it admits the
right and sovereignty of Texas both above and below;
and will involve members IN an announcement vote-the
consequence OF which is readily seen.
This is consequence which the committees bill in
wolves, and from which there is escape but in the to-
tai rejection OF their plan and the adoption OF the line
which lpropose-the longitudinal line OF lO2-which,
corresponding with ancient title and actual possession
avoids the question OF slavery in either country; which,
leaving the population of each untouched, dsurbs no
interest," and which, in splitting the high sterile table
land OF the Staked Plain conforms the natural dvs
ion of the country and leaves 10 each natural from
tier, and an ample extent OF compact and homogeneous
territory To Texas is left all the territory drained by
all the rivers which have their mouths within her limits,
whether those mouths in the Gulf of Mexico the
Mississippi, the Rio Grande to New Mexico is left
the whole OF the Rio Puerco and all its valley;
and which, added the valley of the Del Norte, will
make State of the first class in point OF territory,
cepube OF large population and wealth. and in COM
pact form capable of defence against Indians. The
Staked Plain is the natural frontier OF both countries
II dividing wall between systems of waters and sys
TENS OF countries 1t high sterile plain, some sixty
miles wide upon some 500 long, running north and
south, its western decvity abrupt and washed by the
Puerco at its base its eastern broken into chasms
-eanones-from which issue the myriad of little
streams which, flowing towards the rising sun,
form the great rvers-Red river, Brasos Colorado and
nd thairo in ~,