Burlington hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington, Iowa) 1845-185?, 1850-12-05

der. AS to the extent Of the territorial
limits OF California, we all felt ,hat they
were quite large, and if they could have
been performed without rejecting the
State and remandng it back into terri
torial condition, perhaps some modification
would have been made in the limits.
But large as they are, it is not believed
that they embrace anything like as much
arabic land as is contained in several Of
the States of the Union, and comprehen-
sive as those limits are, not as extensive
as those Of Texas, which would have
been made still larger if they could have
accomplished it. by some of the very
members who objected to the size of Cal
i'ornia prior to the last session ofthe pre-
ceding Congress, and even no longer than
twenty months ago the great effort Of the
South was to avoid the Wilmot Proviso
being engraited on territorial bills it was
that odious restriction which created the
greatest complaint and occasioned most
excitement and agitation at the South
Well, the committee reported territorial
bills for New Mexico and Utah, and with
out the Proviso. The South triumphed; !;
triumphed by the liberal, magnanmous
and patriotic aid of Northern members
1t is true, that whilst the honor of the
South in that respect is preserved, she
may never enjoy the privilege of trans
porting slaves to California, New Mexico
or Utah but if she ever can, whose fault
is it? Not that Congress, which has eau
tiously abstained from all prohibition, and
has adopted the principle of non-interven-
ton: ii has left New Mexico and Utah
perfectly free, when they come respec-
lively to form for themselves State Gov
ernments. to admit or exclude slavery, as
they shall deem best for their own happi-
ness; and whether admitted or excluded
by their constitutions, upon their being
presented for admission into the Union,
they are to be received as members ofthe
con!ederacy. In regard to California, she
by her constitution, and not Congress,
has excluded slavery. The vote of her
constitution introducing it was unanimous,
nearly one-third of the delegates them
selves being from slaveholaing States. In
so deciding for themselves, they acted in
perfect conformity with every sound prin-
ciple Of theory and practice which has
ever prevailed in this country, and in en-
tire accordance with the highest Southern
authority. l ask then, if there is blame,
who is reproached for the exclusion Of
slavery in California, New Mexico and
Utah? Not Congress, most assuredly.~-
The reproaches must be directed against
the people of California for the exercise
Of an ineontestible right; against nature
and natures God for irrevocahle DEGREES
against the Introduction Of slavery into the
mountainous, barren and mostly unprotit-
able regions of New Mexico and Utah.
II these insusmountable obstacles can be
overcome, the people Of those territories
are left free 10 introduce slavery if they
think proper, but candor obliges me to
say that | think it never will be intro
duced there.
The most difficult, complicated and en-
barrassing question which engaged our
deliberations, was that of the boundary of
Texas; three different opinions in regard
to it prevailed and were entertained by
respectable members. According to one,
the limit Of Texas was the Nueces, and
did not extend beyond it. Another opin-
ion was, that j, stretched beyond the Nue.
ces to the Rio del Norte, and up that riv-
er from its mouth to the southern line of
New Mexico. The third opinion held
that it embraced the whole country east of
the Rio del Norte from its mouth to its
head, including nearly all of New Mexi-
co. All these opinions were maintained
with great plausibiIity, if not ability the
southern members almost unanimously
and with great zeal and earnestness,
urged the last proposition. 1t appeared
to me that il ever there were case upon
earth in which a disputed boundary
should be settled amicably, adjusted by
compromise, that of Texas was one We
offer, it is true, a very large sum of
money--ten millions OF dolars-for en-
clusion of New Mexico from her limits !;
but then we were previously bound 10 the
extent Of nearly one-hatf that sum to the
creditors Of Texas in consequence Of the
United States having, in virtue of the res
olution OF annexation, appropriated to
themselves all the duties of foreign i'm
ports receivable in the ports of Texas,
whilst independent, which had been pre-
vionsly pledged to their creditors. Tex
as therefore, does not in fact receive more
than about five millions Of dollars for the
REIMBURSEMENT Of her territorial claims
l voted with great pleasure for the ap-
preparation of the money, becauseI hoped
and believed that it would be an honorable
and bona fide extinguishment Of her pub
lie debt and TO her consequent relief from
all pecuniary embarras assments. And, Mr.
Speaker, wish that we had some lesiti-
mate ground, l regret that we have no
legitimate ground to advance to every
debtor State in the Union a sum sufficient
TO pay all its debts and to restore lis cred-
it wherever that credit has been furnished.
We are ali members Of one glorious con-
federacy, and commanding tue esteem, the
confidence and the appreciation of the
whole world. Il any State act unworthi-
" to her public debt, her conduct brings
more or less reproach upon the whole con-
tederacy. may hereafter have occasion
to say something in respect to the fugitive
slave BILL | will at present say nothing,
except that it was the will of the provis-
ions which are embodied to give fair, full
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