The North-Carolina standard., 1850-08-21
LEIGH CAROLINA WEDNESDAY MORNING AUGUST a. 1850

o. one Of the frss Of the questions growing ont o
the acquisition Of California and New Mexico, and
now requiring decision.
leo, either State Territory until it shall be first as
certained what New Mexico and what are her mit
and boundaries. These cannot be fixed or known
till the line of division between her and Texas shall
be ascertained and established-and numerous and
weighty reason conspire, in my judgement, to show
that this divisional line should be established by
gress, with the assent of the government of Texas
In the first place, this by far the most prompt
mode of proceeding, by which the end can be ac-
complished. If judicial proceedings were resorted
to. such proceedings would necessarily be slow.
and years would pass by, in all probability, be-
fore the controversy could be ended. So great de-
lay, in this case, is to be avoided if possible. Such
delay would be every way inconvencnt, and might
be the occasion of disturbances and collisions. For
the same reason, would, with the utmost Difference
expediency of the appointment of commissioners,
and of an examination, estimate and an award of
demnity to be made by them. This would be but a
species of arbitration, which might last long
suit at law.
So far as am able to comprehend the case, the
general facts are now all KNOWN and Congress is
capable Of deciding on it, justly and properly now,
as it probably would be after the report Of the
missioners. If the claim of title on the part of Tex
as appears to Congress to be we'll founded in whole
OF III pdIts IL Is In the competency Oh OOuXIeSS 10 O.
fer her indemnity for the surrender Of that claim.
In case like this surrounded is by many cogent
considerations, all calling for amcab1e adjustment
and immediate settlement, the Government OF the
United States would be justified, in my opinion in
allowing an indemnity to Texas, not unreasonable
and extravagan but fair and liberal, and awarded In
just spirit of accommodation.
think no event would be hailed with more graft
fcaion by the people of the United States, than the
amicable adjustment of questions of difficulty which
have now. for long time agitated the country, and
occupied, to the exclusion of other Subjects the time
and attention of Congress.
Having thus freely communicated the results Of
my own reflection, on the most advisable mode OF
adjusting the boundary question, shall. nevershe-
less, cheerfally acquesce in any other mode which
the wisdom of Congress may devise.
And, in conclusion, repeat my conviction, that
every consideration of the public interest manfests
the necessity of provision by Congress for the set
Element OF this boundary question: before the present
session be brought to close: The settlement Of
other questions connected with the same subject.
within the period, is greatly to be desired but
the adjustment OF this appears to me, to be in the
highest degree important. In the train Of such an
adjustment, nay we'll hope that there will follow
return of harmony and good will, an increased at
Of the country. w. MiLLAR6 FILLMORE.
WAsHlNeToN, August 9, 1850.
Mr.. Howard, of Texas, said, after the Message
had been read On the present occasion l desire to
make only very few observations on the message
of the President Of the United States. is unfor
tunate it is extraordinary 1t can have no other
tendency at this critical juncure of public affairs than
prevent adjustment of this boundary controversy,
by defeating the passage Of the bill introduced into
senator from Maryland, which might, in all probabiI
ity, have been amended as to have secured the
rights of Texas and the honor of the South.
In what attitude has the President placed the issue.
in the communication which he has made to Con-
gress as to Texas! So far as the right of posses
sion if not the title ITSELF is concerned, all the
try on the east bank of the Rio Grande is assumed
by the message to be in the United States. This
possession, in exclusion of the jurisdiction of Texas,
the President declares he will maintain by the mill
tary arm of this government.
1t is true that while he assumes that the country,
to the extent of the ancient limits Of New Mexico,
belongs to the United States under the treaty with
Mexico, he recommends to Congress to make to Tex
as liberal compensation in noney for her claim. He
draws the sword upon Texas, and then calls upon
her to cede her territory.
As one of the representatives of Texas, never
will vote. without positive instructions, to cede any
portion of her territory, while the sword is thus point
ed at her throat. By vote of mine, sir, is the
State to be coerced and overawed into transfer of
her territory and civil jurisdiction.
Sir, this message is an artful and studied misrep-
resentation of the most material part of the history
of this subject The President assumes that he is
doing than to maintain the condition of things
it existed after the conclusion of peace with Mex
leo. He remembers to forget that one of his prede-
cessos, in February, lS47, in reply to the governor
of Texas gave assurance to that State that the tenn
porary military established there for the
purpose of the would cease on the conclusion of
a peace with Mexico. The Secretary of State, by
order of President Polk, gave to Texas the following
pledge as to this military government:
st is merely such government as must exist,
under the laws of nations and of war; TO preserve or
der and protect the rights of the inhabitants, and will
cease on the conclusion of treaty of peace with
Mexico.''
The President, inhis message, chooses to overlook
the fact that after the treaty of Hidago, on the lsth
of October, 1648 the Secretary of War, Mr.. Marcy,
gave directions to the military governor OF Santa Fe
that all the country on the east bank of the Rio
Grande, formerly pertaining to New Mexico. was
within the rightfu limits Of Texas and that the ju-
risdction of it was to be turned to that State,
and that her civil authorities not to be sustain
ed all proper occasions. 1t was to this effect:
In regard to that part of what the Mexcans call
civil authority which Texas has established may
establish there is to be respected and in no manner
whatever nterfered with by the military force in that
department, otherwise than to lend aid on proper oc-
casions in sustaining it,"
This order was expressly recited and adopted by
Mr. Secretary Crawford in his instructions to the
same officer Of the date of the Goth Of March, 1s49
with the single modification that was not antcipa-
ted that Texas would extend her jurisdiction to that
remote region; but, If she attempted to do so, he
would so arrange his command as not to oppose or
come in conflict with the authorities and jurisdiction
of Texas. That portion Of it was ia the following
language:
will undertake to extend her civil government over
the remote region designated but should she do so,
von will confine your action, under the clause above
cited to arranging your command in such manner ~
not to come in conflict with the authorities so consti-