The Port Gibson herald, and correspondent. (Port Gibson, Claiborne Co., Miss.) 1848-18??, 1850-07-05
the inhabitants Of California may


conveniences the inhabitants of California may
have suffered FOR want of civil government
established BY Congress; and therefore, are pre-
pared TO yield much on account of the circum.
stances in which they have been placed.
The next measures is in perfect keeping with
this first feature Of 'sthe report" 1t takes
from Texas, territory sufficient for two large
States, and adds them to New Mexico What
the bill contains with respect to slavery will be
of little consequence; for it is designed that
next winter New Mexico thus constituted,
shall follow the example of California and be
admitted as a State with Constitution exclu-
ding slavery from its limits-for without such
exclusion she cannot hope to be admitted by
the non-slaveholding States into the Union.
The effect will be that territory, over which
slavery now exists, equal to two States, will
be wrested from the South, and will be given
up to the non-slaveholding States. The pre-
text is, that there is some doubt as to the
| boundaries of Texas. Texas by her laws,
when she was admitted into the Union, had but
one boundary towards the West, and that
| boundary was the Rio Grande. Congress in
| the resolutions admitting her into the Union
recognized this boundary, by laying down
line of limitation between the slaveholding
I
| of SO deg. 80 min. parallel Of North latitude)
through that very part of her territory, her
! right to which is now questioned. Her boun-
dairy of the Rio Grande to its source alone
| gave her this country, and was thus recognised
and ratified by the resolutions of annexation.
To vindicate this boundary for Texas, as a
member of the Union, the Mexican war took
place; and in the treaty of Guadaloupe Hidal-
| 90, it was finally yindicated and settled, by a
clause in the treaty, designating the Rio Grande
as the boundary between Mexico and the Uni
ted States Thus by the lays of Texas, by
the legislation of Congress, Ind by solemn
treaty of the United States, the Rio Grande is
the western boundary Of Texas. Yet the pre-
tension is set up, that her territory does not ex
tend to within three hundred miles of the Mis-
souri, Compromise line, where Congress in re-
ceving her into the Union, determined that her
territory should be divided between the slave
holding and non-slaveholding States. Texas
is the only State in the Union which has the
solemn guarantee Of the Government of the
United States in every possible form to her
boundaries. Yet this is the Government which
disputes them; and under the pretext that they
are very doubtful, proposes to take from her
nearly one-haf of her territory. 1t is by virtue
of such pretensons, that by the bill two States
are to be taken from the southern and given to
the northern States; and this wrong is aggra-
waited, compelling US to pay for it, through the
Treasury Of the United States
1t is undoubtedly proper, that Texas should
be quieted as to her boundaries; but she should
be quieted by law of Congress, plainly ac-
knowedging them. If after her boundaries
are settled, the General Government, to carry
out the purposes of the constitution or in
good faith to fulfill all the obligations the an
nexation of Texas to the Union requires,
should think proper to purchase any territory
from Texas, the arrangement may be unob-
i iectionable. But any arrangement concerning
her territories, which leaves a shade of doubt
as to the right of the people of the South to
enter any portion of the Territory, which ac-
cording to the terms of annexation are now
free TO them, neither Texas nor the General
Government have any right to make. The
terms of annexation constitute the compact of
Union, between TeXassand the other States of
the confederacy-and this compact secures ir-
revocably to the people of the slaveholding
States the right of entering with their proper
ty all her territory lying south Of 36 deg. 80
min. north latitude-whilst from all her terri
tory lying north of that line, they are excluded.
The bill in the Senate makes no provision for
CARRYING out these terms Of the compact, but
leaves in doubt the right of the Southern peo-
pie, throughout all the territory proposed to be
purchased; whilst many who support the bill
declare that in effect it excludes entirely the
people of the Southern States from all the
, territory purchased. The least evil therefore
the bill can bring to the people of the South
ern States on entering it, will be contention,
harrassment and litigation.
But YOU will have very inadequate concep-
ton of the importance of the territory taken
from Texas by the bill, if you confine your
views to Texas If you will look at the map
, of the United States, you will perceive that
. the territory proposed to be surrendered by
Texas lies throughout its whole extent along
the western frontier of the Indian territory.
This is now sayeholding country; and must
be considered as part of the South. Place
, along their whole western boundary two nom
slaveholding States, and how long win the In
dians be able to maintain the institution of
: slavery? If the agency of Congress is not
used to abolish directly slavery in the Indian
territory, this end can be easily accomplished
t by the very means now in operation against
slavery in the Southern States, which the In
dian will have but little power to resist. The
effect will be, that the Indian territory, large
enough for two more States, will be controlled
by the non-slaveholding States Thus by
these two points in the report, the South will
lose four large States in California-two in
Texas and two in the Indian territory. Nor is
: this all. The non-slaveholding States viii be
brought to the western boundary of Missouri
; and Arkansas, along their whole extent, and
will bound Texas on her whole northern and
: western frontier. Thus the Southern States
} will be hemmed in by the non-slayeholding
: States on their whole western border-a policy
which they have declared essential to the END
7 of abolishing slavery in the southern States
What can compensate the South, for such
. enormous wrong and spoiation? al
D But this is not the end of your concession;
: by this report. We must not only yield to the
5 interests, but to the prejudices Of the northern
I people. Slavery existed in the District of Co
q lumbia when Congress accepted the cession o
Y the territory composing it from the States o
e Maryland and Virginia. No one can suppost
that Maryland and Virginia, slaveholdine
l States then and slaveholdng States now, coult
: have designed to give Congress any power owe
q the Institution of slavery in this territory. In
J, dependently of the wrong to the people of th'
e District, to emancipate their slaves, it woult
i be an intolerable evil to have District be
y tween them, where emancipation prevails b.
0 the authority of Congress. Congress. in th'