The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1850-02-14
[coNrlNuKD FROM FIRST pAeEl

soN0hu RESOLUTION proposes 10 pay on a certain |
amount Of the debt Of Texas A blank is LEFT in |
the resolution because have not heretofore been
able to ascertain the amount.
We propose TO offer her in this second resolu- |
ton a sum which the worthy Senator from Texas |
thinks will not be less than three millions of dol
lars-the exact amount neither he nor can fur
nish, not having the materials at hand upon which
to base statement Well sir you get this large
boundary and three millions of your debt paid |
shall not repeat the argument which urged upon
former occasion, as TO the obligation of the Uni
ted States to pay portion of this debt but | was
struck the other day, upon reading the treaty of
limits, first between the United States and Mex
leo, and next the treaty Of limits between the
United States and Texas, to find, in the preamble
of both of those treaties direct recognition of
the principle from which think springs our obi
cation TO pay portion of this debt, for the pay
ment of which the revenue of Texas was pledged
before her annexation. The principle asserted in
the treaty of limits with Mexico is, that whereas
by the treaty Of 1919, between Spain and the
United States, limit was fixed between Mexico
and the United States, Mexico comprising then
portion Of the possessions of the Spanish Govern
ment. Although Mexico was ut the date of the
treaty severed from the Crown Of Spain, yet she
as having been part of the possessions of the
Crown Of Spain when the treaty of 1919 was
made, was bound by that treaty much as if it
had been made by herself instead of Spain-in
other words, that the severance of no part of a
common empire can exonerate either portion Of
that empire from the obligations contracted when
the empire was entire and answered. And sir,
the same principle is asserted in the treaty of
1888, between Texas and the United States. The
principle asserted L. that the treaty Of 1898 be-
tween Mexico and the United States having been
made when Texas was part of Mexico, and that
Texas being discovered from Mexico, she
nevertheless remains bound by that treaty as
much as if no such severance had taken place
In other words, the principle is this-that when
an independent Power creates an obligation or
debt no subsequent political misfortune sub
sequent of the territories of that Power
can exonerate it from the obligation that ere
ated whilst an integral and independent Power
in other words, to bring it down and apply it to
this specific case-that, Texas being an independ-
ent Power, and having a right to make loans and
10 make pledges having raised loan and pledg
ed specifically the revenues arising from the GUS
toms to the public creditor, the public creditor be-
came invested with a right TO that fund and il is
right of which he could not be Invested by any
other act than to which his own consent was
given-it could be Invested by no political change
which Texas might think proper to make. In
cons S,ass q c!,a absorption merging of Texas
into the United States the creditor, being par
ty to the treaty which was formed does not lose
his rght-he retains his right TO demand the full
flmeut of the pledge that made upon this
specific fund, Just rs if there had not been any
annexation Of Texas to the United States. That
was the foundation upon which | arrived at the
conclusion expressed in the resouion-that the
United States having appropriated to themselves
the revenue arising from the imports, which rev.
enue had been pledged to the creditor of Texas,
the United States an honorable and just Power
ought now to pay the debt for which those duties
were solemnly pledged by power independent
in itself and competent to make the pledge Well,
sir | think that when you consider the large
boundary which is assigned to Texas-and when
you take into view the abhorrence-for think |
am warranted in using this expressiOn-wth
which the people Of New Mexico east of the Rio
Grande will look upon any political connection
with Texas--and when, in addition to this, you
take into view the large grant of money that we
propose to make, and our liherality in generating
her from portion Of her public debt, equal TO
that grant-when we take all these circumstances
into consideration, think have presented case
in regard to which | confess | shall he greatly
surprised if the people Of Texas themselves, when
they come TO deliberate upon these liberal offers
hesitate a moment to accede TO them.
/ have now got through with what had to say
in reference to this resolution, and if the Senator
from Mississippi wishes 1t, will give way for 8
motion for adjournment.
On motion of Mr. Foote, the further considera
ton of the resolutions was postponed until to
morrow ; and, on motion,
The Senate adjourned.
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 1850.
Mr.. Clay resumed and concluded his speech Al
follows:
Mr. President: If there he in this vast assem-
blage of beauty, grace, elegance and intelligence
any who have come here under the expectation
that the humble individual who now addresses yot
means to attempt any display, or TO use any am
bilious language, any extraordinary ornament
8 oh fhnxY mil ka NIT n
appointed This season Of the year, and my owl
season of life both aimOnsh me to abstain from
the use of any such ornaments but, above all
Mr. President, the woful subject upon which it il
my duty to address the Senate and the country
forbids my saying anything but what appertan'
strictly to that subject and my sole desire is tC
make myself with seriousness soberness anC
plainness, understood by you, and by those whC
think proper to listen to me-
When sir yesterday, the adjournment of thu
Senate took place, ut that stage OF the discussion
of the resolutions which have submitted which
related to Texas and her boundaries, thought
had concluded the whole subject but ! was re
minded by a friend that perhaps was not sufii
GENTLY explicit upon a single point and that is
the relation of Texas to the Government Of thu
United States in regard to that portion Of tn,
debts Of Texas for which think n responsibility
exists upon the part OF the Government of thu
United States Sir, it said that it might
perhaps be understood that in the proposed grant
of three milliOns--Or whatever may be the sum
when il may be ascertained-to Texas, in con-
sideration of her surrender of her title to New
Mexico, on this side of the Rio Grande, in that
grant we merely discharge the obligations which
exist upon the part Of the Government of the
United States, in consequence of the arproprla
ton of the imports receivable in the ports o.
Texas while she was an independent Power. Blu
that is not my understanding, Mr.. President, o
the subject, as between Texas and the United
States I pass to the next resolution in the series
which had the honor to submit 1t relates, II
am not mistaken, to this District
Resolrfd That il is inexpedient to abolish
slavery in the District of Columbia, whilst tina
institution continues TO exist in the State o
MARYLAND, without the co, sent of that State
without the consent Of the people of the District
and without just compensation TO the owners o
slaves within the District
Mr. President an objection was made 10 thi
resolution by some honorable Senators upon thu
other side of this body, that it did not contain
an assertion of the unconstitutonality of the ex
ercse of the power of abolition on the part o
Congress with regard to this District. ! sai'
then, as | have uniformly maintained in thi
body as contended in 1888, and ever have done
that the power to abolish slavery in the Distric
of Columbia has been vested in Congress by Ian
guage too clear and explicit to admit, in my judg
ment, Of any rational reply whatever
What, sir, is the language Of the Constitu
tom Congress shall have power
"To exercise exclusive legislation in all case
whatsoever over such district, not exceeding tel
miles square, as may by cession OF particula
States and the acceptance Of Congress, becom
the seat of Government of the United States"
Now, sir, Congress by this granting Of power
is invested with all legislation whatsoever owe
4. l.. L. -. Lo.a fa1 huti