The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1850-06-29

if an umpire selected to adjust a matter Of contro-
yersy, should purchase the claim, however exor-
bitant, of one oflthe parties, and then, decide in
favor OF himself. So, sir, whatever doubt may
have reasonably existed upon this question Of
boundary prior to the annexation of Texas, the
whole world is now estopped from making 1t u sub
ject of inquiry.
But what is meant by the specious phrase ad-
just the disputed boundary with Texasi" "Ad-
just with whom Not with Mexico. g Dis
puted by whom' Not by Mexico. For so far
as she is concerned, the boundary claimed by
Texas is conceded. And as the power 10 adjust /"
was given to this Government only when Mexico
was party to the controversy, its powers as an
umpire, or negotator are fancins cDfcio. And any
portion of the territory claimed by Texas, which
this Government may seek to appropriate to itself,
will he taken in its character OF an undisguised
and shameless punderer.
But, SIR, let us view this subject from another
point by the resolutions Of annexation il is ex-
pressly stipulated ..'.s 81. &c.,. ..... 4.+H
THAT new States, not to exceed four in num-
Der, IN addition TO the State of Texas, may here
aiier, by consent OF said State, be formed out OF
States as may &c Formed o'it % Sxsi pbfaS0sso of'
territory lying south Of $50 80 north latitude,
commonly known as the Missouri Compromise
shall be admitted into the Union ariih riihot siaps-
ry, as The people o. each State asking admission shall
desire. '...
Ii will be seen that the old line of separation
between the slaveholdng and non-slav eholding
States, is hereby re-asserled. But the boundary
which is proposed for Texas in this Senate COM
promise, takes four and half degrees Of terrific
ry lying south Of that line and turns it over to
the dominion Of Free-soil. At this time the cit!-
zen of the South may settle with his slaves in
any portion of that territory, free from all moest-
alton But pass this measure, and bring it under
the jurisdiction of this Government, and from
every foot of it he will be forever excluded. ~.
But this is not all. g A suitable equivalent "
in the form of some twelve or fifteen millions of
dollars is to be paid to Texas for this surrender
Of her domain. But whenceis to be derived this
) large amount of money! The South contributes
her ful! proportion of it and is thus made TO pay
! for the privilege of being feeced.
trust that young and gallant State, although
she struggles under the pressure Of large debt
may have virtue and frmness enough to reject
the glittering bribe. | trust she will endure it,
and look for relief to her own energy and the un-
developed resources Of her boundless domain,
rather than yield this great advantage to the
mon enemy of the South, in this gloomy period
of its fortunes.
But what is offered to the South, in the second
proposition OF this article Of the compromise
Why, that "the North shall honestly and faith
fully carry out the compact of anneXation," in
reference to the admission of slave States to be
formed out Of Texas hereafter. That is to say,
the North pledges itself to redeem pledge already
made. 1t enters into an obligation to discharge an
existing obligation, to the fulflment Of which its
faith and honor are already pledged. Why, sir, is
the plighted faith of the North better than 'di
} GERS oath, growing but the more worthless from
its repettiOn? Are Northern "vows written in
: sand!" The proposition is at once reflection
upon her own integrity, and an insult to the South! !!
| will not accept as consideration, the pledge of
her :. honor - and faith to perform that, which
E" honor " and :. faith already enjoin, by every
sanction which belongs to truth and Justice. AS
the Union has remarked -" This proposition in
wolves nothing but AN act of single justice. "
Why, then, ask, should it be urged as a consider
alton, i'll a measure of comproplsc; Every ad-
vantage dervablc from the pligAted faith Of the
North already belongs to the South and to ret-
: crate that pledge, would be but to weaken its
force, and exhibit its worthlessncss.
} now proceed TO examine the next proposition
in this plan of compromise, which is thus set
: forth by the Union:
4thly. 4" The passage Of q bill more effectually
carrying out the provisions Of the Constitution in
relation to the securing of persons bound to ser
vice. This, also, is an act of justice, enforced by
every obligation Of good faith and good neighbor-
hood" -. 4.
Mr.. Chairman, the right of the master to recap
ture his fugitive slave, in any State to which le
may have fled, is IL right arising under the Consti-
tuition, and one which the North in good faith, is
bound to respect, and assist IN enforcing aud il
being right already secured by the CONSTITUTIONS
! the surrender OF other rights the part Of the
: South, should not be the condition on which the
y North will observe It's guarantees. The terms of
: that instrument are perempory and unconditional.
u Ii declares, that slave escaping shall be drr-
cred up claim Of The party to whom his services
or labor may be DUE
The Supreme Court Of the United States, also,
in interpreting that clause Of the constitution, thus
, declared: s. ..I J.. . .,s .
the owner of fugitive slave hns the same
! right to take him in State TO rhich he has es-
capped fed, that he had in the State from ,rhieh
he escaped; and il is well known that this right
of seizure or recapturc is universally acknowl-
edged in all the sluvehoding States" Prigy vs.
Commonwea Of Penn, lG Peters, 539
Now, sir, let us briefly advert to the provisions
of the bill on this subject II, in substance, pre-
scrlbes that the owner If n slave escaped shall
first prove, before some court of record in the
State of his residence, the fact Of such escape, az
, also his right Of property in the slave. This en-
/, titles him to an authenticated transcript Of the
4 record in the case, whi,h, when presented to the
proper officers of the State to which the slave has
He'd, is to lie taken and held as full evidence of the
fact of escape but not of the identify Of the slave,
If other evidence be deemed necessary. That such
a necessity would be deemed to exist in every case,
s no man can doubt in view of the public sentiment
of the North upon this subject az proclaimed by
its representatives here from day 10 day.
Q Now, sir, to say nothing about the trouble and
expense necessarily to be incurred in proving the
the State of his own residence in the procure
ment Of the Transcript; in defraying the expenses
ofwiuesses in passing from one State into another
to identify the slave; in paying the costs of the
court, incurred in the State to which the slave has
|, fed; to say nothing of all this, these conditions
| are such as Congress has no right to impose.
| They are such ~ are not imposed in any OF "the
s!av veholding States" They are, in fact mere in
:. tcrpoations upon the Constitution itself, which
I imposes condition, but peremptorily declares
that the slave " shall be delivered up, claim of
the party to whom his labor service may be due
; And far from more eifectuay carrying out
the provisions Of the Constitution" OIL this SUBJ
ject, they embarrass the maserin in the exercise of
aplain right secured by that instrument. Nor can
= the complaints made/by the North, that under
+ this clause of the Constitution their free negroes
= are sometimes kidnapped and sold into slavery,
justify the attempt to alter that instrument in this
: informal manner. il such outragrs arc ever
A committed against their laws, the same Consiitu-
ton which protects the Southern master is equal
ly explicit in afIording them remedy. .a