The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1850-07-19

| poSoCo-
sons. confidence and harmony could be restored to the
Atlantic States as they existed before the war; would
regard il as no sacrifice to give them up
SPEECH OF MIR. RUsK.
| or TEXAS,
On The amendment of Mr. Benton; delivered The Sem
ale, Tuesday, July Is, 1880
| Mr.. RUSK Mr. President, desire very briefly to
few OF the observations made by the senator from
Missouri Mr.. BENroNl on this amendment-not upon
the general subject of bl but with reference to that
part of which provides for proposition to be made to
the State of Texas have Investigated this subject OF
title frequently during the last two three years. be-
has been matter Of great Importance TO the State
which in part represent And with the fullest exami-
nation which have been able to give it, have to
the conclusion that the title ls clear and conclusive in the
State of Texas and that the United States have title
which they set up against that State Had enter
aned any doubt on this subject that doubt would have
sive" evidence which the honorable senator from Mis-
s0u drew from the bowels OF the case" yesterday
When gentleman OF his known ability Is driven, in
support Of the claim OF the United States to this territory
TO such testimony has been Produced and desgnates
il as close" and conclusive" it to me that the
claim Of the United States mus DC entirely hopeless %
rtory this side of the Rio Grande down to the mouth
of the Rio Puerco belonged to the United Statss the
senator takes the bill reported by the Committee OF
Thirteen Now, what authority is there in this evidence
What does il amount o is the report OF acommittee
1t has not been acted upon by the Senate There is
authority in it. one way or the other, for or against
Texas Ii has not even received the sanction Of the Sen
ate 1t is not law: and if the honorable senator can
prevent it, imagine it never will become law. The
senator takes this conclusive" evidence to show that
the bill proposes to convey to the State OF Texas part
OF the territory belonging 70 the United States But
might show that he himself did not rely on this; for
after showing and proving by the bill, as he said be did
that this scutting of New Mexico below the hips,
the close OF his remarks he used the bill for directly
opposite purpose and says that il the bill passes proves
the title Of Texas to the territory this side OF Rio
Gande, and raises ''the slavery question" Now, this is
singular "eydencea that can operate conclusive in
favor of both sides This land belongs either to Texas
or the United States. II cannot belong 10 both.
The next piece of evidence which the honorable SEN
aor produces equally unfortunate. and even more so
than the other for his case This piece OF evidence rs
what he authentic map of the State of Texas,
certified to by Thomas Rusk, Sam Houson, &c. the
representative and governor OF the State Here Is the
map (holding it up) Ii can be by any gentleman,
and desire that il may be examined For what Is this
introduced As conclusive evidence drawn from the
the land on east bank of the Rio Gande. down to the
mouth of the Puerco river
Now. if my colleague or myself could make evidence
for against Texas BY any signatures tina, we might an
mex, there might be plausibly in the production
OF the map. II II proved any title But suppose we were
TO certify thousand iimes, it would make no evidence,
confer title, give claim 10 Texas nor to the United
States, for do the land. IL belongs TO our
State We have set up no individual claim TO IT. And,
therefore, whatever we might certify would amount TO
nothing evidence But am willing TO take thus map
will certify to again Allow, sir to read the la
of the legislature OF the State Of Texas which Immediate
ly preceded The making OF this map
An act to create and organize the county oil Santa re
Sxc Be swacsd by The kgiatwss Of tho STATE OF Isras,
That all that territory included in the following bounda
res, Beginning at the junction Of the Mo Puerco
Of the said Rio Grande 10 m soafcs and thence due north
10 the forty second degree OF north latitude thence along
the boundary line defined in the treaty between the
United STATES and Spain, he point where the hnndrcdh
degree OF longitude west of Greenwich n'efsects Red
river thence the principal OF said Red river to
its thence in direct line the of the pn
s % o. s o s1a created no
ss ssa es soIa n. qi s s.a., fs Of
sko b, 1t l.rthsy s~aefsd, That the citizens Of the
which the other counties OF this State
tlcd Prov'dd. That nothing in this act shall be SO CON
sued 10 rad county OF Santa re separate land
district authorize the county court of said coaniy to
issue land crtiticat.sN
the eleventh Judicial district OF the state Of Texas shall
designate the place, at which elections shall be held Tor
county officers. the first Monday in August next al
such other tme as he may think proper, and shall give
hurry days notice OF The same, and appoint the presiding
officers bold the elections and make MIN. and
he shall examine the returns and declare those resolving
TIE highest number OF votes Tor the respective one
Ssc. 5. BE u farihu tsaced, That this act lake effect
from its passage.
Approx, d March Is, lsls
This is the act OF the Legislature OF Texas. passed and
approved March IS, sas, This map made out i'm
mediaey Afterwards and the map adopts precisely the
boundaries ou, for the county OF Santa Fe show
ing the western boundary OF Texas TO be The Rio ande.
aud its northern boundary the t1d degree OF north latitude
II certified 10 the i2ih day OF August lsas Now,
tna evidence, proves tnAt every Oh
up TO the Rio Gande belongs TO Texas And there is
end OF the once.
i But, sir, have proposition to make to the senator
from Missouri he rely this map to prove
his position The Texas question is OF the principal
difficulties in this controversy which at present creates
this sectional agitation tits, regret to say. IN its pres
ent attitude, OF The most irritating, and the hrs in
which unpleasant action likely 10 take place Now.
propose TO the honorable that If he will intro
dnce bill resolution, and II to be passed into
law and have IL sanctioned by the President, declaring
thai the boundaries Of Texas shall be laid down
the map OF De Cordova, certified TO by Thomas J. Rusk
ever and dollar will be needed out OF the public
treasury Texas will be satisfied, amply satisfied with IT,
il the United States and the senator will be and there
will be an end Of this entire controversy nobody gum-
bling except perhaps few that want some capital TO ag'-
tate upon. Texas will accept this, for il will give her
her rghnl boundaryihe Rio Grande from its mouth to
its source
have now, think, essfully disposed OF all the
testimony which the honorable senator brought forward
in support OF the claim OF the United States But
other obser fell from the honorable senator
iahop to tAs matter. which feel il my duty to reply to
briefly One OF these observations that the posess
son of this country in United States adverse to
Texas, and that her duty. il it was necessary, by
force to mantain that possession against Texas re
getted exceedingly months SINCE to hear that dec
lara'ion fa from the distinguished senator from Mia
souri, regretted it more when, in communication from
the late amened Executive, the same ground agaiT
taken because 10 my apprehension. this view o tbs
subject brings about collision in which one party or tn
other will have to recede.
Now. deny that possession Of the territory held
adversely to Texas until the beginning OF this session o
Congress Never until the commencement OF this SEES