Daily Richmond times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1849-1850, 1850-01-19
THE TERRITORIES AND DISTRICT.
In the II s Senate on Wednesday,

Mr. SEWARD presented the petition OF large number
OF citizens of the State OF New ork praying the abo
ition of slavery in the District of Columbia. Without
knowing precisely the course pursued by the Senate IN
relation this matter he moved the petition be received
| and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary: -,
Mr. BERRIEN moved to lay the motion to receive the
petition on the table
And the question being taken, on the motion of Mr.
BERR1EN it decided in the affirmative, follows:
YEAS-Messrs. Atchson, Badger, Bell, Benton Ber-
ren Borland, Bright, Butler, Calhoun Cass, Clemens,
Davis of Mississippi, Dawson, Dayton, Dickinson,
Dodge of Iowa, Douglas, Downes Foote, Houston,
R uaeE oaa surgeo m and e
NAys-Messrs. Baldwin Chase, Clarke. Cooper,
Corwin, Davis Of Massachusetts, Dodge OF Wisconsin,
Felch, Greene, Hamn, Norris Phelps, Seward, Shields,
Smith, Spruance Upham, Wales and Walker-l9.
Mr. BENTON, pursuant to notice. asked leave to intro
duce bill proposing 10 the State Of Texas the reduc-
ton Of her boundaries the cesson of her exterior terri
tories &c, for consideration to be paid her by the
United States and accompanied the Introduction OF the
bill with explanation OF the objects contemplated by
its provisions. The State of Texas was too large
One corner of her territory in the region of per-
petual sprng-another in the land of eternal SHOWS
Texas was too large to be conveniently governed He
had anticipated all the difficulties which have arisen in
relation her boundaries, and unsuccesstuly endea-
yored to settle them previous to the annexation OF
Texas. He now offered this bill as quiet mode OF set
Ting all the agatlpg questions involved IN the subject
of her boundaries, which, if satisfactorily arranged
would lead to trouble and strife. He offered the bill in
the spirit OF the old adage that ounce OF prevention
was worth pound OF cure.
The reading Of the bill being called for, it read
follows:
A bill proposing to the State OF Texas the reduction
of her boundaries the cesson of her exterior territories
and the REIMBURSEMENT of all her claims upon the United
States, for consideration to be paid her by the United
| States.
Be it enacted, &C. That the following propositions
shall be, and the hereby are, offered to the State
of Texas which, when agreed to by said State, in an
ACT passed by the General Assembly, shall be binding
and obligatory upon the United States and upon the
State OF Texas.
First The State of Texas will reduce her boundaries
the west to the l02 deg OF west longitude, from the
meridian of Greenwich and the north to the south
fork OF the Red river between the parallels Of hun
bred and one hundred and two degrees OF west longi
tude
Second When the population of said State shall
equal, exceed hundred thousand souls, west Of
the line formed by the ninety eighth degree OF west
longitude and by the river Colorado from the mouth OF
its intersection by said parallel then the State Of Texas
will further reduce her western boundary to that line;
and the part OF Texas lying west OF that line uced
by the trst article OF this agreement shall be and
main separate State, entitled to immediate admission
into the federal Union, on an equal footing with the ORR
ginal States;
all her territory exterior to the limits to which she redu-
ces herself by the first article of this agreement
Fourth. The State of Texas relinqushes all claim
upon the United Statesfor liability of the debts of Tex
as and for compensation indemnity for the surrender
to the United States OF her ships FORTS asenals, Gus
houses, custom house revenue, and munitions
of war and public buildings, with their sites, which be-
the property OF the United States at the time OF
| the annexation.
Fifth. The United States, in consideration of said
reduction of boundaries cesson OF territory and ren
quishment of claims will pay to the State of Texas the
sum of fifteen millions of dollars in stock bearing five
per interest," and redeemable athe end OF fourteen
years. the interest payable half yearly the treasury OF
| the United States.
.Srth Immediately after the President of the United
States shall have been furnished with authentic copy
of the of the General Assembly OF Texas, accepting
these propositions he shall the stock to be issued
in tayO at 10
fifth article of,hese provisions.
The bill was then referred to the Committee on the
Judiciary.
Mr. Foote then presented his Terrtor ial BILL of which
we have stated the main points. He complained sorey
that Mr.. Benton had stolen his thunder!