The miners' express. (Dubuque, Iowa) 1849-1854, 1850-05-29
WE SINK OUR DRIFT
#."" CITY OF DUBUQUE, IOWA, MAY 80 1880

DUBUQUE IOWA, " M
cure as much as we can Of what we wish, and
| be consoled by the reflection that what we do
not exactly like is friendly concession, and a
greeable to those who, being united with us in a
| common destiny, it is desirable should always
live with us in peace and concord. .fsnn -
"a majority of the committee have, therefore,
been led tolhe Recommendation to the Senate that
| the two measures be united. The bill for estab.
fishing the two territories, it will be observed
| ornits the Wilmot proviso, on the one hand, and
! on the other, makes provision for the intro.
duction of slavery into any part of the new ten
ritories That proviso has been the fruitful source
of distraction and agitation fit were adopted
| and applied to any territory, it would cease to
have any obligatory force soon as such terri
tory were admitted as State into the Union
There was never any occasion for it to accom-
plish the profcssed object with which it was orr
ginally offered. This has been clearly demon
strated by the current of events. California, of
all the recent territorial acquisitions from Mexi-
CO, was that in which, if anywhere within them,
the introduction of slavery was most likely to
take place; and the constitution of California, by
the unanimous vote of her convention, has ex
pressly interdicted it. There is the highest de-
gree of probability that Utah and New Mexico
will, when they come to be admitted as States,
follow the example. The proviso is, as to all
| these regions in common, mere abstraction
Why should it be any longer insisted ono To-
tally destitute it IS, of any practical import, it
has, nevertheless, had the pernicious effect to
excite serious, if not alarming consequences. 1t
is high time that the wounds which it has inflict-
ed, should be healed up, and closed; and that, to
avoid, in all future time, the agitatons which
must be produced by the conflict of opinion on
<,,<:o
does, in some of the States, and prohibited, as it
is, in others-the true principle which ought to
regulate the action of Congress, in forming ter
rtorial governments for each newly acquired
domain is to refrain from all legislation on the
subject in the territory acquired, SO long as it
retains the territorial form Of fgovernment-leav
ing it to the people of such territory, whent they
! have attained to condition which entities them
to admission as State, to decide for themselves
the question of the allowance or prohibition OF
domestic slavery. The committee believe that
they express the anxious desire of an immense
majority of the people of the United States,
| when they declare that it is high time that good
feelings, harmony, and fraternal sentiments
should be again revived; and that the Govern
ment should be able once more to proceed in its
great operations to promote the happiness and
prosperity of the country, undisturbed by this
| distracting cause
GAS for Californa-far from feeling her SEN
sibility affected by her being associated with o.
ther kindred measures-she ought to rejoice and
be highly gratifed that, in entering into the I'm
ion, she may have contributed to the tranquility
| and happiness of the great family of States, OF
which, it is to be hoped, she may one day be q
distinguished member.
sThe committee beg leave next to report on
this subject of the northern and western bounda-
ry of Texas. On that question great diversity
of opinion has prevailed. According to one view
oft, the western limit of Texas was the Nueces;
according to another, it extended to the Rio
Grande, q stretched from its mouth to its source
A majority of the committee, having come to
the conclusion of recommending an amicable
adjustment the boundary with Texas, abstain
from expressing any opinion as to the true and
| legitimate western and northern boundary Of
that State. The terms proposed for such an ad.
justment are contained in the bill herewith re.
ported, and they are, with inconsiderable vari
alton, the same as that reported by the Commit
tee on Territories. ."I .4"T III. l"' G.. .
! "According to these terms, it is proposed tc
Texas that her boundary be recognized to the
Rio Grande, and up that river to the point COM
monty called Ell Passo, and running thence up
that river twenty miles, measured thereon by a
straight line, and thence eastwardly to point
where the hundreth degree of west longitude
crosses Red river; being the southwest angle in
the line designated between the United States
and Mexico, and the same angle in the line OF
the territory set apart for the Indians by the y
States.
slf this boundary be assented to by Texas
she will be quieted to that extent in her title
| And some may suppose that, in consideration Of
this concession by the United States, she might
without any other. equivalent, relinquish any
claim she has beyond the proposed boundary
that is, any claim to any part of New Mexico
| But, under the influence of a sentiment of Jus
tice and great lberality, the bill proposes to Tex
as, for her REIMBURSEMENT of any such claim,
large pecuniary equivalent. AS consideration
for it, and considering that portion Of the deb
of Texas was created on pledge to her credit
| by the resolution of annexation to the UniteC
States, and now received and receivable in the
treasury, a majority ofthe committee recomment
4 the payment Of the sum OF -- millions of dol
liars to Texas, to be applied in the first instance
to the extinction of that portion Of her debt TO-
the reimbursement Of which the duties on for
eign Imports were pledged as aforesaid; and tht
d residue in such manner as she may direct The
said sum is to be paid by the United States in ;
est annually, payable half yearly at the Treasu
ry of the United States, and the principal REIN
| bursable at the end Of fourteen years.
i "According to an estimate which has beer
made, there are included in the territory to which
it is proposed that Texas shall relinquish hel
clam, embracing that part of New Mexico lying
east of the Rio Grande, little less than 124 ,93:
square miles, and about 76, ,957 ,120 acres ofland
From the proceeds of the sale Of this land, tho
United States may ultimately be reimbursed {
portion, if not the whole, Of the amount Of wha
is thus proposed to be advanced to Texns
j IsIt cannot be anticipated that Texas will de
cline to accede to these liberal propositions; bu
if she should it is to be distinctly understood tha
the title of the United States to any territory ac
|quired from Mexico east of the Rio Grande vii
remain unimpaired and in the same condition al
if the proposals Of adjustment now offered hat
never been made. 3hf41F-'hsEA - e'at6s' '' 90
i9"A majority Of the committee recommend t,
the Senate that the section containing these pro
posas to Texas shall be incorporated intothe bill
embracing the admission Of California as q State
J and the establishment Of territorial governmen
!, for Utah and New Mexico. The definition ant
establishment of the boundary between New
Mexico and Texas has an intimate and necessa
ry connection with the establishment of a terri
torial government for New, Mexico To form
, territorial government for New Mexico, withou
prescribing the limits of the territory, woul'