The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1850-05-21
Gle lflioNlchurp Rroistcr,
Middlebury, May 81, 1850.
Senator Phelps on the Compromise Report.

oSudJVI TutlpS vi Jue SOiipiVDlloe IsepOlt L.
We referred last week, in brief terms, to
tho position Of Senator pnELps in relation
to the report Of the Committee of Thirteen
of which he was reluctantly a member
expecting 10 be able to give his remarks on
that subject in the Senate, in our present IS
sue. This we now have the pleasure Of do
ing, through the full and accurate report of
the Daily Globe.
The question being on printing the report
accompanying the bill
Mr.. PHELPS. 1t was my purpose, Mr..
President, to commit my own views upon the
several topics referred to this commil,e to
writing, and to present them to the Senate
III the form OF Il minority report. Upon re-
Election, however, have deemed it no. rX
pedient to do so. This determination rem
ders it proper for me to SAY, in general terms,
that, as was anticipated, it was my mistor
tune to differ with the committee on most of
the prominent features Of their report. or
course, sir, am not to be considered respon.
siblc for the rcasonings of the report. There
are indeed many things in that report from
which think nobody will dissent but there
are other matters upon which there prevails
in the country great diversity of opinion.
1t is enough for me to say now, dscIalming
the responsibility for the report, that | do
not deem it proper on this occasion to detan
the Senate with a more particular expression
Of my views | will reserve hem until these
measures shall come before us for discussion,
when may think it proper to go more par
ticularly into defence of my views
There is, however Mr.. President one
thing upon which think it expcdent 10 say
a word now; that il, the subject Of the con
strucion to be given to the resolutions of An
nexaion by which Texas came into the I'm
ion. That, sir, is subject which | should
have preferred &c have permitted to pass
without the expression Of any opinion. 1t
will be Observed, however, that the report
processes 10 presen; the unanimous opinion
Of the committee on that point So far as
the subject is discussed in the report, am
compelled to say hat my opinion comedies
with that of the rest OF the committee that
10 to say, as mere question Of construction
OF thkt resolution. ! deem the resolution it.
self too explicit. and too clearly expressed
to admit Of cavil or doubt. So far as re.
spects the power of Congress to admit States
located in Territories not originally within
the Union, it is my decided opinion that il
isa qurs,ion considered settled by the long
continued practice OF the Government.
There is, however, another point which
the committee have not discussed, upon which
checso now briefly 10 speak 1t has beer
argued, that although these resolutions ar,
valid so far as to admit Texas as member
Of the Union, vet the terms of the resolution
are not in all respects, binding upon Con
gress The argument is founded upon III
objection taken at the time of the passage o
the resolution, that it was not competent t.
bring Texas into this Union by means of al
act OF legislation. 1t was objected that
should be done through the medium, aecn
cy, and exercise Of the treaty making po y
or. | was most decidedly of that opinion
myself at the lime this resolution was passed
But caunot say Mr.. President, that | an
rs vet, satisfied with the argument draw
from the supposed unconsitutonaity Of n
doping that resolution by legislative powe
alone | am still inclined to the opinion tina
if Texas is admitted into the Union at all
she must be admitted upon the terms ex
pressed in the resolution. But, sir, inasmuc
IS no action Ia now proposed on that subject
have not deemed it my duty to give to hi
branch Of the inquiry the examination whic
would be necessary aud proper If | wer
now TO be called upon TO act ! have mere
~ TO add, therefore, that, should it be m
tate hereafter to be called upon to act upo
this question, | should reserve to myself tn
liberty Of changing the opinion which | \
present hold.
My object, therefore, in relation to thi
portion Of the report, is merely to qualif
the opinion expressed, and 10 reserve for fiji
ture consideration and future decision III
force OF the argument drawn from the con
sl'utiona objections to which have alluded
Indeed, so far as this whole topic is concern
ed, it would have been more agreeable I
my wishes, and more coniormable to my ow
judgment of the propriety Of The measur,
if the subject had been permitted 10 rest,ir
stead Of being introduced into The discussion
as a new topic Of discussion and controver
sy. would have said in regard to it, "Su
hcient unto the day is the evil thereof"
With this explanation, MIR. President-a
explanation which | would not deem it proT
or 10 make, if were able to 90 INTO it NOR
particularly have only to add that shout
my own opinion be deemed Of any impoi
lance TO anybody. when a future opportLn
ty shall be afforded, and when these sewers
measures shall come up for discussion ma
deem it my duty to express them more
large.