The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1850-08-26


beers of this House, and OF course measures cannot
| be decided with reference 20 my opinions alone
| Then there is Senate, too, to be consulted, and
| which in this has acted, and sent us the
| bill which is now before If my will could be-
come law, this bill should not pass in its pres
| ent shape ] would reduce the limits which II
| assigns TO Texas, and the amount of money also.
But want the question TO be settled; and the SEN
ate, after serious labor of nine months have not
been able to send bill which is entirely satisac-
| tory 10 me. Shall for that refuse il my
sent in the last resort think not, because in the
event of its failure, my clear judgment ia, that we
shall adjourn without doing any thing. Is there
member who docs not agree with me in that! Not
| one And who among us Is willing to take the
heavy responsibility of terminating this session
without having accomplished one step towards
Adjustment Who, except those who desire that
"discord may reign" is content to return to his
| constituents, and declare the utter incompetency
OF this Congress 10 dispose of the urgent bust
ness that has ever come before il, and that he has
contributed 10 the result And, 1T seems to me that
we ought 10 proceed forthwith act upon this bill
not only because 1t the first in order upon the cal
cndar, but because It's passage will create most
happy influence upon the other measures which
are 10 follow. In this respect the language of the
President IN his message, is deserving OF great
consideration, and should move all TO the dis
charge OF the duty TO which his recommendations
point. He SAYS
al express my deep and earnest conviction of the
propriety OF an immediate decision, or arrange
ment, or settlement of the question of boundary
between Texas and the Territory of New Mexico.
Y,
and domestic tranquility call for this. Ii seems TO
be- in its character and by position the first, or ons
9r The FIRST Of the questions growing out OF the &C
QUESTION OF California and New Mexico, and now
% Ne government can be established for New Meri-
co, either State or Territorial, unfit 1t shall be first as
certained odt Nec Dieico and iDhat are her limits
ana boundaries. These cannot be fixed or known
TIL the line of division between her and Texas shall
be ascertained and established, and numerous and
weighty reasons consPlre, in my Judgment to show
that this divisional line should be established by
Congress, with the assent OF the government OF
Texas.
ella The irspl Of such an adjustment zoe may ,rsu
hope that here wiA Joiiouc return Of harmony and
good tcH increased attachment to the Onion, and
the general Satisfaction Of the country"
In such sentiments we should all concur; but,
| whatever VIC may think or do, am that they
will meet the hearty concurrence and appreciation
OF the country at large.
Again, sir, | am anxious that we should pass
this measure, for the reason that with its adjust
| ment will pass away the only truly dangerous
practical question which has grown out OF the ac-
QUESTION OF the Territories The admission OF Cal
| iornia, though bitterly opposed, cannot possibly
present Issue out of which any collision can
| grow. There may be high words, and loud sound
ing resolutions of conventions, or State Leglsla-
tures but no sensible man supposes that any thing
more than few broadsides Of words will be dis
| charged. There is no mode in which a collision
can be brought about South Carolina Will hardly
march to California to put down the State govern
| Inent by force, nor will she hang, except meta
phorically any OF us who may vote for the adInis
sion of California with constitution prohibiting
slavery. A few harmless resolves Will bring US to
| the end of the chapter.
| But not 80 with question of boundary like the
present. IL presents rallying point, not merely
fer the ardent Texans, who are bent upon viudlcat
ing their imagined rights but for all those in the
other southern States who are really desirous OF
| bringing about a collision with the General Gov
eminent as the free act IN the drama OF dissolu-
ton. That there are many such men eagerly
looking to the inflamed ate of feeling upon this
boundary dispute, and who are urging on Texas
TO the commission OF some rash act OF FOLLY, have
no doubt. All the signs indicate that their hopes
of mischief now staked upon the prospect Of
| this quarrel And, sir. 1t is not the least among
| the motives which prompt me TO support OF this
bill, that its passage will snatch from them the only
| ground upon which they can by any human posi-
| bIlity make fight.
| peaceable settlement of this issue will disap-
point them, and therefore they struggle against 1t.
And for this reason we shall see arrayed against
the bill the votes of those who desire peace. And
we shall also from the North-for it has already
| been iorshadowed to Us by the gentleman from
| Ohio-the opposition of those whose aim and voca-
ton are TO keep up agitation In that quarter. We
may therefore expect the combined hostility of the
| factionsts and disunionists from both North and
| South. They neither of them desire any peace
and will unite to prevent its contamination. They
have been zealously at work TO produce dissolu-
ton of this Union with their conventions and bully
ing resolutions at the South; and at the North,
| with their clamorous gatherings ofmen and women,
making day and night hideous; and their newspa-
pers, and their dissolution petitions to egisla-
lures. settlement which produces harmony will
destroy all that they live and atten on, and there
fore they cryto us to fight it out. From the South
they excaim, Texas has an honest and just claim
to every inch east Of the Rio Grande and n surren-
der of any part will be sacrifice of southern
| rights; therefore "let US fight il outn' From the
North we hear the responsive echo, Texas has no
| shadow of claim, and an acquiescence in II for a
single will be surrender Of free soil TO slavery;
therefore, let US fight il outp' But, sir / hope
enough in the nation, and in this Congress, 10
buke and put down and cxtinguish this hot, mis-
chicyous purpose, that would lead US headlong into
the iHthomless abyss of civil war
have already said that the line which is marked
in this bill does not suit me. Ii ID not in my udg
ment the best for either party. il is not so good
line as was offered by the Compromise line, IN some
respects but in others IT Is much better one. II
gives square miles of land, mere wild land, to
Texas; but, at the same time, it gives more popu-
lation and inhabited territory 10 New Mexico than
the Compromise line. IL Is not question
whether shall adhere the old line of division
the Nucccs river. That question has by general
consent become an obsolete one. ] never had any
doubt that the Nueces was the true boundary; but
| even the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. GIDDrsGs)
gives that up now, and be il willing 10 surrender
| 20 Texas all the lower part which lies between the
Rio Grande and the Nucces. The principle, there
Jre Of adhering 70 the ancient boundary is not in
sisted upon; and the only question IL, where We
| shall draw a new and conventional line. There
never more clamorous advocate for the line
| of the NucccH than the gentleman from Ohio; but
now he IL willing TO give up portion west Of It
| large enough 10 make a State, and lac says Of
| Texas
perhaps she may lay some color of claim 70 the
| whole Of that portion Of Tamauipa. lying cast Of
| the Rio Grandc. ] would, therefore, intcrpose no
| objection to her holding this country, which is az
| large as ono Of the mcdium.sizcd States Of this
| Union"
And yet lac in the same breath has attempted to
arraign here those northern Senators who have
deemed IL their duty 70 give their votes for Mr.
PEARcB's bill! The propriety Of his thus intcrfcr-
ing to crtcise the course OF Senators from other
States than his own and who have no opportunity
for defence this floor, IS somewhat questionable
They are responsible 70 their Statcs; not to
HE, to him. lie has a responsibility 20 his
| own constituents, which il large enough for him
But the gentleman wac but laborng Ia his voca-
ton when he went out OF the limits Of propricty
thus 20 assail northern Senators. Sir IL is not my
duty 20 defend them. They abundantly able
to take care OF themselves; but may be permitted
70 say Of the Senators from Massachusetts, and
their votes in favor of this BILL that their action will
be hailed at home with the most entire satisfac ton
aud appreciation.
But wherein is this bill liable TO any very heavy
| objections which were not equally chargeabc upon
tho line proposed In MIR. Claws bll DOcs IL not
, | leave territory New Mexico. wi