Southern shield., 1850-05-25
Report of the Committee of Thirteen.


 This important document was read before the Senate by MT. Clay, Chairman of the Committee, on the Sth. It occupies up- wards of five columns in the National h. telgencer. We give condensed report of it, together with the proceedings of the Senate, immediately following it's introduce | ton.
 MT. Clay made report from the commit | tee of thirteen, which he read at length. The committee report thatthey entered on the discharge of their duties with an anxious desire to perform their duties to the Senate and the country. They deemed it unnecessary to state the various motives which actuated them. The committee deemed it highly important to settle all the questions growing out of the acquisition of territory from Mexico.
 They first took up MT. Bells resolution. They were of opinion that when any new States applied for admission from Texas, they should be admitted in accordance with solemn compact; but the initiation in form ing new State must be taken by Texas and not by Congress. Some were of opin- ion that Texas was unconstitutionally an- nexed; but no one had doubted the propriety of admitting States from Louisiana on ac- count of any aledged defect in her annexa- ton into the Union. If any State should be formed out of Texas, Congress would be bound to admit her into the Union, with or without slavery, as the people desired. Coli ,;ot J fo and applied for admission. She had com piled with the acquisitions of the constitu- tion, and had sufficient population. As to the boundaries of California, the committee had not full information; but the quantity of good land in California was not dspro- portionate to other States. It might be better to restrict the boundaries on the sea coast; but, at future time, the State would be divided: but, the majority of the com mittee thought that it was expedent now to admit California with her present boun- diaries.
 The committee believed it mperatively necessary to establish territorial govern ments for Utah and New Mexico. It would be long time before they would come into the Union as States, and they needed the protection of organized governments. The committee also determined to con- bine in the same bill the State government of California, and the territorial governments of Utah and New Mexico.
 It had been objected, that it would en- barrass some Senators in voting-desiring to vote for one measure and not the other. But spirit of mutual concession ought to induce Senators to accommodate diversity of opinion, and for the sake of great good, to relinquish objections to what might be deemed exceptionable. The constitution was adopted as whole, though many ob- jovtol te eonac Uf ito parts.
 The bill was silent as to saverv-neither excluding nor abolshing it. There was a probability that Utah and New Mexico, would, when they become States, follow the example of California, and exclude slavery. The Wlmot proviso was viewed by the committee as mischevous abstraction.
 The committee believed that it was time to harmonize the feelings of the country on this dominating subject.
 The committee also report on the northern and western limits of Texas. They pro- posed an amicable adjustment. They pro- posed the Rio Grande 10 longitude 100 degrees as the western boundary. The bill proposes as compensation to Texas for the extinguishment of the claim to New Mexico, sum of blank millions of dollars, to be applied first to the payment of her debt The lands to be ceded to the United States embraced 79,000,000 of acres. The majority of the committee agreed to incorporate the offer to Texas in the bills admitting California, and establishing terri torial governments.
 The committee reported bill marked A. embracing the three measures, and recom- mended its adoption.
 The committee next considered the sub- ject of enforcing the constitutional provis- ion for the recovery of fugitive slaves The law of l793 had been found wholly inefficient for its purpose. The Supreme Court must have meant in its decision on that law to condemn the legislation of States evasive of their constituted obligations.
 But in enforcing the law, regard must be had to proper guards 10 prevent abuses. The bill proposed 10 try the fugitive in the place whence he fled, and not where found. The owner or agent was to take record, |, with evidence that the fugitive owes labor or service, and nothing was then wanting but to identify the person. Many citizens had asked for trial of the fugitive by jury. It would be better for the owner to give up his property than to watch it at great ex- pense and delay. This objection would not apply to a trial by jury in the place whence the fugitive fled. The committee, therefore, recommend such trial. The claimant is to be placed under bond to give