Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, IA [i.e. Ind.]) 1839-1854, 1850-02-13

heard or read. from the testimony Of all
the witnesses have seen and conversea
with. from all ,ha, has ,ranspired and 10
transpiring. | do believe that not within
one foot Of the Territory acquired by ~
from Mexico will Slavery ever be planted
and believe i, could not be done even by
The force and power Of public authority.
Sir, facts are daily occurring to justify
me in this opinion. Sir, what has occur
red! And upon that subject. and indeed
upon this whole subject. invite Senators
from tho free States especially to consider
what has occurred even since the last ses-
! sion--even since the commencement OF
this session-since they left their respeo-
tive constituencies without an opportunity
of consulting with them upon that great
and momentous iact--the fact that Califor-
MIA herself. Of which it was asserted and
predicted that she never would establish
Slavery within her limits when she came
to be admitted as q State; that California
herself, embracing, of all other portions Of
the country acquired by Us from Mexico,
that country into which it would have been
most likely that Slavery should have been
introduced; that California herself has
me: in Convention, and by q unanimous
vote. embracing in that body shareholders
from the State of Mississippi as well ~
from other parts. who concurred in the res
oluiion-that California, by q unanimous
vote. has declared against the introduction
Of Slavery within her limits. think, then,
that taking this leading fact in connection
with all the evidence we have from other
sources on the subject. ! am warranted in
the conclusion which constitutes the Sec
ond truth which have stated in this res.
olution, that Slavery is mot likely to b
introduced into any OF the Territory ae.
quired by US from Mexico"
Sir, the latter part Of that resolution as.
serts that it is the duty Of Congress to es-
tablish appropriate territorial governments
within all the country acquired from Mexi-
CO, exclusive Of California, not embracing
in the acts oy which these governments
shall be constituted, either . prohibition OF
an admission of Slavery.
Sir, much as am disposed 70 defer Ia
high authority, anxious as l really am Ia
find myself in position that would ena.
ble me to Cooperate heartily with the 9th.
er departments of the Government in con-
Quoting the affairs Of this great people.
must say that cannot-without q dire-
LECTION Of do:y-consent to an abandon.
ment Of them without government, leaving
them to all those scenes Of disorder, con.
+ fusion and anarchy which | apprehend in
respect to some Of them, there 10 too much
reason to anticipate will arise. 1t 10 the
duty, the solemn was eoing to add the
most sacred duty-of Congress to legis..
late for their Government if they can, and
at all events to legislate for them, and to-
+ give them the benefit of law and order and
security.
The next resolutions are the third and
fourth, which, having an immediate con.
nexion with each other, should be read
and considered together. They are ~
follows:
Resolved, That the western boundary
) of the State of Texas ought to be fixed on
the Rio del Norte, commencing one marine
| league from its mouth. and running up
that river to the southern line Of NeW
Mexico; thence, with that line, eastward
f ly; and 50 continuing in the Same direc<
ton, to the line as established between the
5 United States and Spain, excluding any
portion Of New Mexico, whether lying on
, the east or west Of that river.
Reso1red, That it be proposed to the
: State Of Texas, that the United States will
} provide for the payment Of all that portion
of legitimate and bona Gde public debt Of
5 that state, contracted prior to its annexa.
? ton to the United States, and for which,
: duties on foreign imports were pledged
by said state to its creditors, not exceed
: ing the sum Of - dollars, IN considera.
, ton Of the said duties as pledged, having
: been no longer applicable to that object
after the said annexation, but having
I thenceforward become payable to the
8 United States; and, upon the condition.
also, that the said state Of Texas shall. by
some solemn and authentic act of her
: Legislature or Of Convention, relinquish
! to the United States any claim which II
: has to any part Of New Mexico.
Mr. President, do not meah now, do
not know that shall at any sime-it 10 .
very complex subject. and ono not FREQ
from difficulty-go into the question Of
what are the true limits of Texas. Ny
own opinion ISL must say without intend
ing by the remark to 60 into any argu-
7 ment, that Texas has not good title TO
D any portion Of what is called New Mexi.
! CO. And vet, Sir, am free to admit that,
2 looking at the grounds which her Repre-.
: senta.ves assumed. frs, in the war with
Santa Anna in 1886 tlren at what transpir.
I ed between Mr.. I'rist and the Mexican
nego,iators when the treaty Of peace was
q negotiated, and then at the fact that the
: United States have acquired al the coun-
try which Texas claimed as constituting .
portion Of her territory; looking as a.
s these facts. but without Attaching % tlIedn,
e either together or separately. sase same de-
e gree Of force which gentlemen who think
n that Texas has q right to New Mexico do.
y nnust say that there is plansibility. to 80
| the least Of it. in the pretensions that she
n sets up to New Mexico. do not think
n they constitute or demonstrate The exist
q ence Of good title, but . plausible one.
II Well. then, Sir, what do propose? With
o out entering into any inquiry whether the