Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1850-02-21

tod with the
lns ;n,o the question of Texas. i ne - -,
runs mo 'e 6y;ons TO contract Texas within
aie' P-,rest possible limits, in order u eAeiuue
le Ind them. and to make it free terftory--
M Sinh on the contrary, are anxious 10 ex-
iH5 -, hints 10 the source CT the Rio Grande
&C. Tho nurnose of obtaining an additional thea
az fr slavery and it is the question OF the lin
i,s of Texas, and the settlement OF her oounda-
RES which precedes all others. You VIII per-
ceiye that these difficulties Of the boundary
question meet US al every step we take, IN "iieh
there is also third question also adding 10 the
difficulty.
By the resolution of annexation, all territory
north of &c degrees 30 minutes was ln,eidcted
from slavery. But of New Mexico, all that
which lies north of 30 degrees 30 minutes, en-
bra es about one-third of the whole OF New
RE co east of the Rio Grande - SO that free AMI
slave territory, slavery and non-savery, may en-
counter each other All these difficulties are
10 be met And a'lQw me 10 say, sir, that among
.he considerations which induced me to think II
was necessary 10 settle these questions, was the
state Of things that now ex~ts IN New Mexico.
aud state of things to be apprehended both
here and in the territories Why, sir, at this
moment, and think | shall have the concur
renee of the two senators from that state, when
] mention the fact, there Is a fe' ling approx
mating to adherence, on the part OF the people
OF New Mexico Of any union with Texas.
Mr.. Rusk. Only on the part OF office holders
Office seekers, and those they could influence
Mr.. Clay. Wei! sir, that may be, and am
afraid that New Mexico is not The only place
where office holders and office seekers compose
the majority of the population of the county
Q4aughter) They are terribly large class
assure yol sir. Now, if the questions are set
tied which relate to Texas, her boundaries, &c.
Il. .la,,, aIh ,r
Texas, and included in New Mexico, all these
questions will but tend TO agitation, confusion,
disorder, and anarchy there, and agitation here.
There will DE, have no doubt, parties at the
North crying out that if the question is not set
tied BY the Wilmot Prouiso or some other re-
striction upon them, we absolutely do nothing.
And in my opinion absolutely do nothing II
we do ,ot provide against these difficulties, and
the recurrence of these dangers.
With respect to the state of things in New
Mexico, allow me to call the attention Of the
Senate to what consider the highest authority
] could offer, as to the state of things there ex
isting--I mean the act of their convention, un
less that convention happened to be composed
of Office holders and Office seekers, &c. Now,
sir, call your attention to what they say of
their situation, If my colleague will be so kind
to read for me.
Mr.. Underwood read as follows:
1--WE, the people of New Mexico in conven-
ton assembled, having elected delegate 10
represent this territory IN the Congress OF the
Unned States and 10 urge upon the supreme
government redress of our grievances, and
the protection due us as citizens of our common
county, under the constitution, instruct HIM as
follows: That whereas for the las three years
we have suffered under the parayzing effects Of
q government underlined and doubtful in its
II IL. 8 H.
people, or 10 discharge the high and absolute
duty Of every government, the enforcement and
regular administration Of lis own laws, III conse-
gucnce o. which industry and enterprise are par
alyzed, and discomfort and confusion prevail
throughout the land the want Of proper protec
ton against the various baTbarous tribes of In
dams that surround Us every side, has pre-
vented the extension Of settlements upon our
valuable public domain, and rendered utterly fu-
tie every attempt 10 explore or develope the
great resources Of the territory. Surrounded by
the Utahs, Camanches, and Apaches on the
North, east, and SOUTH by the Navilos on the
west, with Jicarilas within our limits, and with
out any adequate protection against their hostile
inroads, our flocSs and herds are driven off by
thousands; our tcilow citizens men, women,
AMI chiidren-are murdered or carried into cap
tiv,y; many Of our citizens of all ages and
sexes, are at this moment suffering all the hor-
rors Of barbarian bondage, and 1t Is utterly out
Of eur pow er to obtain their release from con
dtion to which death would be preferable The
wealth Of our territory is being DIMINISHED
We have neither the means nor any adopted
plan by government for The educston of the ris
ing generation. In fine, with government tem-
pcrary, doubtful, uncertain, and Inefficient in
character and operation, surrounded and dcspaii-
cd By barbarous foes, ruin appears inevitably be-
unless SrQpty and pifacfual ba
extended 10 US BY the Congress OF the Uuited
S,atesn
Dir. Clay. Now, sir, there is set of resolu-
tons indicative CT the state of things there
and If we 90 beyond the Rio Grande, 10 that
par; not claimed by Texas, we fad 10 better
state of things. In fact, cannot for moment
reconcile 1t to my sense of duty TO suffer Coz
aress TO adjourn without an effort at least being
made to extend the benefits and blessings OF
government to those people who have recently
been acquired by u.s. Wnh regard To that por-
ton of New Mexico which lies east q. the Rio
Grande, undoubtedly if,t were conceded TO Tex
US, there would be two portions there, dislikinp
each other as much as the office-seekeis and o.
fee holders in New Mexico and the Texans
would dislike each other if they were thrown to-
gelher. That, however, might be remedy, as
relates to New Mexico. But all beyond Deser.
eli und The north OF California would be s,ill open
90 all the consequences OF disorder, confusion,
and anarchy, without some stable government
cmanating from the authority Of that nation OF
which they form now part, and with which
they are but little acquainted. | think, there
fore, that all these questions, difficult and troub-
lesome as they may be, ought 10 be met in spir-
1t Of csudor and calmness, and decided upon as
a matter of duty. Now, sir, the resolutions
which have Immediately under consideration
propose decision OF rhUse questions. | have
said that there is scarcely resolution in the
series have offered that did not contain some
mutual concession, or evidence of mutual for-
tearance that the concession was not altoce,h-
or from the non slaveholdIng States or the slave
holding States These resolutions propose a
boundary TO Texas. What is it: We know the
diversity of opinion which exists in this country
upon the subject of boundaries. We know that
very large portion Of the people Of the United
States have supposed tina: the Western limit Of
Texas was the Nueces- that it did not extend 10
the Rio Grande. we know that the question of
what is the Western limit and the Northern
limit of Texas was an open questIon-has
been all along an open question when the
boundary was run in virtue of the act of 1888.
marking the boundary between the United
States and Texas. Sir, at that time, the boun-
Diary authorized by that act of 1888 was to begin