The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1850-06-21

to apply to the whole line of the river But the
fact is altogether different Admitting IN Il Trx,s,
by conquest, settlement and occupation, is entitled
to the line of the lower half of the river, she
no shadow OF claim from this part To The territory
of New Mexico on the upper h,f, beginning at her
Southern boundary near Paso del Note
The mistake of MIR Webster H. no dpubt, the
result of carelessness on his part; bni il does not
the less require Of him a specific and prompt cor
rection. II no doubt arose from the constant dis
cussion upon this bill, of the disputed territory in
connection with New Mexico, AS if New Mexico
composed all the territory in dispute
With regard TO the capacity Of the new territories
to support slave labor, they are. from all reliable
authorities, not worth straw From the frontiers
Of Arkansas, west by Santa Fe, across ths Rocky
Mountain chain, down the CHA. aud across 10 the
mountains that look over the Pachc, near > IN
Diego, a journey of 200 miles, the whole country
is desert of rocks, mountains, ravlnes. and sand
plains 300 900 square miles of the Great B ,sin
and the territory south of the ella are desert OF
volcanic ruins, with mountains and hot springs
still in action from the hires below-wl'hout timber,
without rain, without soil, without a living
thing TO be seen, often for many dtvs of weary
travel, except, perchance, cricket, or a
lizard crawling in the rocks, or a half
starved Indian, lost in the arid waste The
great Colorado river and its tributaries have
some strips of good land but they lie wide apart,
segregated by almost inaccessible mountains on
every side, the course Of the river being for hun
dreds of miles through deep chasm in the basaie
rocks. From the sources of the Colorado to its
mouth, il has fall of probably not less than 5000
feet, through a labyrinth of mountains more for
midable than the Cordilleras of Mexico. till it
passes out into the open and uneKplored desert ex
tending South to the Gulf Of California; see the
Official reports of Fremont, Emory, Albert, Rear
nv, Cook Lieut. Beall, Colonel Washington, Lieut..
Simpson and others. The mere patches of this
vast desert, such the riband of the Rio Grande,
and The oasis of the Mormons of the Salt Lake,
but scattered islands in the waste breaking the
horrid monotony of the general desolation
Such is the country about which the quarrel Is
pending on the subject of slavery. For all pract-
cal purposes, there is nothing in dispute except Ca
lforna on the Pacific II the North get that, they
get everything and law for the Introduction of
slavery, at bounty of 500 per negro man, into
the residue OF our Mexican acquisitions outside OF
Texas, would be a nulli,y.
The friends of General Cass would be willing to
90 for the Missouri, if il did not strengthen Mr.
Buchanan. The friends of Mr. Buchanan would
probs bly, agree to the omnibus. without much
trouble, if its success did not To the benefit
of General Cass and the friends of the id minis
bill of the committee of thirteen. if there were not
a state Of hostlities existing between the admins
tration and Henry Clay. The freesoilers, and the
Northern outsiders of all Sorts are of course, de-
termned TO keep the question open as long pos.
sible and TO break up existing parties, by its agia-
ton, as their only chance.
And thus the terrible danger of the dissolution
of the Union resolves itself into pitiful squabbe
for the Presidency yet ptiiul . is. the chances
are still in favor of its being kept open, nowith-
standing all that Mr. Clay and the moderadoes may
|
| remain issues quite enough to break dem parties,
| as they now exist, and 10 lead TO a thorough re-
organization. The cabinet will go first-the whe
| party next-the Northern democracy next; aud,
out Of their ruins, we shall have new structure oil
parties, and new candidates in the field by the
quantity. The Union is safe enough till 1852.
WASHINGTON, June l9, 1850.
The Compromise and the Presideacy- The real
Merits Of the Game.
The Omnibus looks better to-day. Its success
depends upon three or four doubtful votes and we
understand that they good as pledged for the
bill.
The proceedings of this day are worthy of brie
review.
The amendment of Mr.. Jefferson Davis, repeal.
ing the Mexican (muncipa) laws in the territories
(Which abolish slavery, and for throwing the
said territories, in lieu of these Mexican laws the
Constitution and the laws OF the United States,
was rejected to-day by a very decisive vote-l9
TO %. This vote the result, to great extent,
Of belief that the constitution. proprio rgor, is
spread over the territories, and that the amend
ment is therefore unnecessary. But a considerable
number Of Northern men, IL not every of them,
believe that the Mexican laws remain in force till
expressly repealed and that till this is done. sla-
very rs prohibited under these existing Mexican
laws.
jected in very summary manner.
| Mr.. Underwood next put m a very important
| amendment, providing for Texas or the United
| States TO bring up suit in the Supreme Court for
the settlement Of the boundary Of Texas, provided
she shall not accept the terms OF adjustment pro-
| posed in this BILL
legal debate upon the powers TO sue between a
State and the United States, Of course had fol-
low and the difficulty suggested by the amend
mcnt led to suspension of the days discussion.
Al this juncture several other verv ugly amend
menis were introduced for information, TO be pro-
posed in their order.
1. BY Mr.. Dayton, proposing that on the pay
ment OF the ten or fifteen million, more or less, for
the disputed territory Of Texas the State Of Texas
shall retroccde to the United States all the public
| lands within her limits.
We suppose this amendment will be rejected.
because the public lunds Of Texas scarcely exceed
IN value the amount given TO the other new States
| Of the Union.
2 By Mr.. Benien, proposing to send back the
present California delegation, Ia be elected over
again, end 10 reduce her delegation in the House,
| from two 10 one.
This will give some trouble Il involves a nice
question or two with the South. and such questions
as those upon which they will be apt to resist the
| bill. without some concession IL made.
| This amendment gave great anxiety to Mr.. CLAW,
coming, as u did, from Mr.. Berrien. who is re-
| gAIded as scarcely second To any man in the
Union, upon constitutions questions, aud the funda-
mental laws and principles and practices of the
| government. MIR. Clay expressed his moriiica-
ton and regret rather sharply, ut the emharrass-
W blli. dilu WI replied,
with equal decision. that he should never submit
in silence, to any imputation Of his motives, in any
amendments he might propose.
3. by MIR. Sebastian, providing, among other
things, that this ect shall not alter or impair the
| provisions Of the Texas annexation for four new
Slave states from that State, with the consent of
| Texas.
This amendment may be concurred in without
at oil disturbing the character Of the bill for il
| simply proposes to adhere TO an existing complct
Another amendment has yet 10 be acted Upon
the Missouri line for Caliornia-aud upon this the
extreme South will make their insl stand, ani we
anticipate some splendid speeches IN support Of this
lime az the Southern boundary Of the new State.
Mr.. Claw desires TO have the final vote on the
bill by Wednesday or Thursday next; but the
amendments named will be quie sufficient, we ar-
prehend, 10 keep the debate going I'll the end Of
next week at least, and perhaps A week longer.
We think the amendments will be disposed of 40
rs To maintain the bill in It's general Character a. II
Is. The see.saw Is 60 nicely balanced that any
additional weight on either eide will be apt 20
upset it. And we think. from the outside pressure,
and the increasing outside pressure of public opn-
ion that the bill will finally mass the nv t,o