The Woodville Republican. [volume] (Woodville, Miss.) 1847-1853, 1850-06-25

through that very part Of her territory, her
night to which is now questioned. lier
boundary OF the Rio Grande TO - source
alone gave her ssiss e%9Hatry -ind thus was
recognized and ratified by the resolution Of
annexation. To vindicate this boundary
for Texas, as a member Of the Union, The
Mexican war took place and in the steaty
Of G~uadaloupe Hida.go, it was finally yin-
yicated and settled by a clause IN The irea-
~. designating the Rio Grande as the boun-
dairy between Mexico and the United
States. Thus by the laws Of Texas, by the
legislation of Congress, and by a solemn
treaty Of the United States, the Rio Grande
is the western boundary ofTexas. Yet the
pretention is set up, that her territory does
not extend TO within three hundred miles oil
the Missouri Compromise line, where o
press in receiving her into the Union, de-
termined that her territory should be divided
between the slaveholding and non-slaye-
holding States. Texas is the only State IN
the Unon 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, o to take from her nearly
one half of her territory. 1t is by virtue OF
such pretentions, that by the bill two States
are to be taken from the Southern and given
to the Northern States; and this wrong is
aggravated; by compelling us to pay forit,
through the Treasury of the United STATES.
1t is undoubtedly proper, that Texas snould
be quieted as to her boundaries but she should
be quieted by a law of Congress, plainly ac-
knowledging them. If after her boundaries
are settled, the General Government, to carry
ont the purposes Of the Constitution, or in good
faith to fulfil all the obligations, the annexation
of Texas to the Union requires, should think
proper to purchase any territory from Texas,
the arrangement may be unobJectionable.
But any arrangement concerning her terrific
ries. which leaves a shade of doubt as TO the
right of the people of the South to enter any
portion of the Territory, which according to the
terms of annexation are now free to them,
neither Texas nor the General Government
have any right to make. The terms o~fannex-
alton constitute the compacts of Union, be-
tween Texas and the other States of the con-
federacy-and this compact secures irrevoca-
bly, to the people of the slaveholding States
the right of entering with their property all her
territory lying south Of 36 Q 30 north latl-
tude--whilst from all her territory lying north
ofthat 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 people,
throughout all the territory proposed to be pur-
chased whilst many who support the bill de-
clare that in effect it excludes entirely the
- FIJI c u.l-n,. Ct,taa Gro., all thn ~
ritory purchased. The least evil therefore the
bill can bring to the people of the Southern
State on entering it, will be contention, har-
rassment and litigation.
But you will have a very inadequate con-
ception of the importance of the territory taken
from Texas by the bill, if you c~online 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 a slaVe-holding country: and must
be considered as a part of the South. Place
along their whole western boundary two non
slaveholding States, and how long will the In
dams be able to maintain the institution o.
slaveryl If the agency of Congress is mo-
used to abolish directly slavery in the Indian
territory, this end can be easily accomplished
by the very means now in operation against
slavery in the Southern States, which the In
dian will have bit little power to resist. Th
effect will be, that the Indian territory, large
enough for two more States, will be controlled
by tho non-slaveholding States. Thus By
these two points in the report, the South viii
lose four large States in Calitornia-two il
Texas and two in the Indian territory. Nor i
this all The non-Slaveholding States will be
brought to the western boundary of Missouri
and Arkansas, along their whole extent, anC
will bound Texas on her whole northern ant
western frontier. Thus the Southern State
will be hemmed in By the non-slayeholdins
States on their whole western border-a policl
which they have declared essential to the enc
of abolishing slavery in the southern States
What can compensate the South, for sue
enormous wrong and spoliation?
But this is not the end of your concessions b.
this report. We must not only yield to the in
%terests, but to the prejudioes of the northern
people. Slavery existed in the District of Ca
lumbia when Congress accepted the cession Q
the territory composing it from the States @
Maryland and Virginia. No one can suppos
that MARYLAND and Virginia, slave-holdini
States then and slave-holding States now, coul
have designed to give Congress any powe
over the institution OF slavery III tins territory
independently of the wrong to the people Q
the District, to emancipate their slaves,
would be an intolerable evil to have a Distric
between them, where emancipation prevail
by the authority of Congress. Congress, il
the bill reported as a part Of the so-called com
promise, now begins the work of emancipatio
by declaring that if any slave is brought int
the, District for sale, he shall be "liberated an
free" If slave is liberated because he i
brought into the District, the next step, to lib
crate him because he as IN the District, is nc
difficult. The power to emancipate the slave
in the District of Columbia is thus claimed an
exercised by Congress. Many of the ables
men of the South have denied that Congress
possesses any such power, whilst all agreed
until lately. that for Congress to interfere witt
this institution, whilst slavery existed in Mary
land and Virginia, would be a gross breach o
faith towards those States, and an outrage up
on the whole South. How long will that faci