Daily Richmond times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1849-1850, 1850-05-01
THE COMPROMISE COMMITTEE.


The Washington correspondent of the North Anne
rcan, gives the following important information f be
infomation) concerning the proceedings OF the Com
mittee of 10;
WASHINGTON, April 81.
The Compromise Committee of Thirteen met on
Thursday. Mr.. Berrien, Mr.. Dickinson and Mr.. Mason
were the only absentees 1t is not true, has been
stated in several newspapers, that Mr. Clay submitted
programme OF measures at the first meetng-last Sa
turday-which adopted. So tar from it, the ques-
tons under consideration are still open, although the
Committee approached nearer formal expression of
opinion Thursday than they had done at any previous
conference.
After some discussion on the Southern boundary of
California the Committee voted to recommend the adj
mission with the present limits and Constitution Next
TO establish territorial governments for New Mexico
and Utah. without any RESTRICTION as to slavery d.
vision as demanded upon the question OF uniting these
propositions in one BILL and the union prevailed by de-
cided majority
The adjustment of the boundary between Texas and
New Mexico furnished the principal topic OF discussion
Most OF the Committee in favor OF running the South
ern line of New Mexico down to El Paso; while the
Delegation from Texas have stopped at the Bath degree,
nearly one hundred and twenty miles north OF that
boundary From present Indications it Is probable the
line will be fixed at the extremity OF the Dead Mans
Desert, which reaches within thirty miles OF I'll Paso
Texas anxious for the jurisdiction of this pointhe
Paso-under the persuasion that 1t destined to become
one of the highways the Pacific. This subject is left
open for future consultation No formal vote wasta ken
upon the amount of indemnity proposed to be granted to
Texas for the REIMBURSEMENT OF her pretensons to the
territory of New Mexico but is understood that the
committee are disposed to allow five seven and
half millions if necessary to consumnate the arrange
ment. A proposition substituted TO combine this
adjustment i'll the bill for California and the territories;
but it was deferred in order to ascertain the prevailing
inclination of Congress. Expedlency will entirely
control the combination or separation.
Mr., Clay brought forward an amendment, to be Of
ered the bill now pending before the Senate Tor the
reclamation OF fugitive slaves which was modltled by
Mr. Cas- to the following effect :-requiring proof to
be furnished from court OF record, lrst that the per-
son alleged to have absconded is save and second
that he or she has escaped from servce and whenever
said person apprehended satisfactory proof to be fur
nished to the Commissioner, whoever else may be
whereupon the captured person is to be remanded the
jurisdiction of the State whence he or she escaped and
it, upon his or her suggestion that he or she is
slave the claimant or his representative shall en-
ter into bond submit the question to Jury, giving all
facilities of proof ascertain the tact OF slavery or no
slavery. The object of this amendment as will readi
y be perceived is to apply the same principle to tugves
from service to ugitves from justice.
A bill will probably be introduced to extend the laws
of Maryland over this District, with some necessary
amendments, by which the odous slave traffic will be
abolished Ii is proper say that this object has al
ways been desired by many of the most leading men
from the South
II s not contemplated to introduce any new State to
be formed out OF the territory of Texas but the report
will doubtless rehearse the obligation contained in the
Resolutions OF Annexation tor the admission of future
States when the requisite population is obtained.
These are understood be the leading features of the
present programme, though perhaps imperfectly pre-
sented. They subject to amendment and revision,
and therefore, cannot be regarded representing the
dehnitve action of the committee.