The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1850-05-28


still the men who voted III Congress for
annexation should be so unpopular.
Thuse men saw what was coming, and
the moment of leaving these halls, they
fled for a city Of refuge as il the aven>
ger oi blood was eli their track, and they
never halted till, painting and brea,hess,
they stood under The same shelter with
Dix and Niles.
One part uf that territory was secu ed
10 freedom by the terms OF annexation
:" In such State or States as shall be form
ed out of said territory north Of said
Missouri compromise line, slavery or
involuntary servitudc Except for crime)
shall be p 'ohibiled. " That declaration
is positive, unconditional dependent
neither OH the assent Of Texas, nor the
people who shall form that State l.
there any possible way of avoiding that
contract The gentleman from Texas
Mr.. HowARo seemed to have made the
discovery. On the 22d Janudr, he made
this declaration:
" The two Governments did not undertake to
nbolish slavery H. any portion 4 Texas 10y the
resolutions Of annexation 1t was an insti,u
tion existing in the whole extent of Texas, and
must so continue TO exist. unless abolished by
the State itself or unless Texas Shall consent IL
the formation of new State entirely north of
35 > So. If there is any portion Of the new
State south of that line, Texas has right 10
insist upon its coming into the UniJn with
slavery and good faith to the South requires
that she should insist upon the terms Of the
compact. Sir, Tcxasw.ll stand up to the South
on the question OF southern rights, as one man
She will never consent under the prctcnce OF
settling her boundary, that her rights us a sou h.
ern State, under the resolutions OF annexation.
shall be impaired, by introducing within her
limits the principle Of frce-soil where slavery is
guaranteed to her by the compact
1t is now settled how Texas will stand
up to the South. viii the gentleman
take some proper occasion totell us how
she will stand up to the North J.!
That is in keeping with an nlimation
given IN the Senate, by MIR FooTE, just
six days before, that /, State would ever
be formed out Of that territory the "'odote
of whose territorial domain will be lo-
Gated north of the line Of 36 30'. 5"
All which being interpreted, means this {:
Whenever that part of Texas is formed
into State, it will lie united with a por-
ton OF territory south of 36 , 3p, and
that part south of 80 3J-though on
ly a rood in widih-will determine the
character of the whole new State, max.
ing it a slave State You have now al
most the entire State Of Missouri fer
slavery, north OF 36 30'. You design,
Contrary TO an express contract, to have
5 : 3J of Texas, north Of that line, for
the same purpose. now put it 10 the
gentleman, if that is not the fair infer
ence and the real meaning Of his lan>
gnagel Mr.. IlowAnD rose in his place
and assctted. The gentleman assen,s.
And ask him 10 show me, in the whole
history of this Govern nent, such an in
stance Of violated compact. Texas
voluntarily made that pledge her own
Representative now boldly declares that
she does not mean to keep it. Can that
gentleman, or any other approving such
conduct, turn round and talk about edo
ing justice and standing by comprom-
ises" The genus of Texas is prolific.
That was the most original thought of
this session, ill il was eclipsed by the
gentleman from Maryland, Mr.. Nc
LANE, in regard to this District. lie
says, if Congress shall abolish slavery
in the District of Columbia, Maryland
could resume her jurisdiction over the
same; her courts, her processes, and her
constabies, are all at command, and even
her militia. We nat supposed that
Congress had exclusive jurisdiction over
this territory but ii seems that Maryland
has reserved rights, which underlie all
her ceSsions. This is certainly the most
noyel-to lreemen the most insulting
doctrine Of the session. 1t assumes that
we are here the mere wards and tenants
at-will on the domain of Maryland. If
we do not legislate according 10 her
judgment, she is ready to spring upon us
with all her civil and military power.
Put yourself on that doctrine before
the people Of this nation. and they will
tell GU that you stand on slippery place
and the things thai shall come on you
make haste that the inhabitants of this
District will have their choice between
their slavery and their capital. Bat let
usreturn to Texas. There are twoques-
lions TO be settled has Texas a right to
SELF and If so, do we wish to buy ! have
examined with care, and trust with can
dor, all the arguments Of the eminent
Representatives in the past and present
Congress. admit their ability and APP.
parent sincerity. | must confess. at
least. some lingering doubts as to the title
at Texas TO lands which she claims as
against New Mexico. She cannot hold
by anv act of this Government. The
resolutions of annexation were passed
before the constitution nf Texas was a.
dupied, and, consequently, before those
expanded limits were auihoriiatiyely
claimed. We suppose those resolutions
admit as a State, that Texas which was a
Mexican province. By those limits, as
laid da%n by Humboldt, / am willing to
abide. She claims according To Dstur-
nel's map, because Tint map Was append
cd TO the treaty with Mexico 1t wa
acknowledged, before a committee o
Congress, by the publisher of that map
that the Texan boundaries were so ar
ranged as 10 make it saleabe in Texas
market | do not wish to abide suci
authority. Texas cannot hold by an,
act Of Mexico. 1t is asserted that q
treaty was made with Santa Anna while
he was prisoner. The validity of thai
treaty depended on the after ratification
of Mexico, which was never given. Tex
as may have been uniuslly treated in ,h'