The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1850-08-07

1
can have no legal validity until it is recognized
: and adopted by the law-making power of the
United States. Until that is done it has no
: sanction, and can have no effect upon the rights
of Texas, or of the United States, to the terri
tory in dispute. And it is not to be presumed
that Congress viii ever give its sanction to that
constitution without first providing for the set
Element of this boundary. Indeed, no govern
ment, either territorial or State, can be formed
for New Mexico without providing for settling
this boundary. Hence he regards the formation
of this State constitution as a mere nullity.
4 1t may be regarded, indeed, as petition to
Congress to be admitted as State; but, until
Congress shall grant the prayer of such petition,
by legal enactments il affects the rights Of Meth
er party. Butts as it u.s. the right of all to petit
ton Congress for any law which it may consti-
tutionally pass, this people were in the exercise
of common right when they formed their Con-
stitution, with view of applying to Congress
for admission us State and as he thinks the
act can prejudice no one, he feels bound to ap-
prove of the conduct of Colonel Munroe, in is
suing the proclamation. ~
| am directed, Also to state, that in the Pres-
dents opinion it would not be just to suppose
that the late President desired to manifest any
unfriendly attitude or aspect towards Texas or
the claims of Texas. The boundary between
Texas and New Mexico was known to be dis
puted and it was equally well known that the
Executive Government of the United States had
no power to settle that dispute. II is believed
that the Executive power has not wished-it
certainly does not now wish--to interfere with
that question, in any manner whatever, as ques-
ton of title.
In one his last communications to Congress,
that of the 18th of June last the late President
repeated the declaration that he had no power
to decide the question Of boundary, and no de-
sire to interfere with it; and that the authority
to settle that question resided elsewhere. The
object of the Executive Government has been,
as believe, and as am authorized to say it
certainly now is, to secure the peace of the
country to maintain far as practicable the state
of things as it existed at the date of the treaty
and to uphold and preserve the rights of the re-
spective parties rs they were under the solemn
guarantee of the treaty, until the highly inter-
esting question of boundary should be finally
settled by the competent authority. This treaty,
which is now a supreme law of the land, declares,
as before stated, that the inhabitants shall be
maintained and protected in the free enjoyment
of their liberty and property, and secured in
the free exercise of their religion. 1t WILL Of
course, be the Presidents duty to see that this
law is sustained, and the protection which it guar
antees made effectual-and this is the plain and
open path of the Executive duty, in which he
proposes to tread. aalaa.s& #Hh$ e4E
Other transactions of very grave character,
are alluded to, and recited in your Excellencys
letter. To those transactions, am now directed
not more particularly to advert, because the only
questions propounded by you, respect the au-
thority under which Colonel Munroe acted, and
the approval or disapproval of his proclamation.
Your Excellency's communication and these
answers will be Immediately laid before Con-
gress, and the President will take that occasion
to bring to its notice the transactions alluded to
above. a aH1
|. 1t is known to your Excellency, that the ques-
tons growing out of the acquisitions Of Cali
/ fornia and New Mexico, and among them the
highly important one of the boundary of Texas,
have steadily engaged the attention Of both
Houses of Congress for many months, and still
engage it, with intense interest. 1t is under
stood that the Legislature of Texas will be
shortly in session, and will have the boundary
question also before it. 1t is delicate crisis in
our political affairs not free certainly from
possible dangers, but let us confidently trust that
justice, moderation, patriotism, and the love of
the Union, may inspire such counscls, both in
the government of the United States aal that of
I Texas as shall carry the country through these
with renewed assurances of the continuance of
mutual respect and harmony in the great family
| of States.
/ have the honor to be, with entire regard,
Your Excellency's Ill.,.
Most obedient servant,
| ~. DANIEL WEBSTER,
| Secretary of State.
| Mr.. BAYLY, Withdrawing the call for the pre-
vous question, said that he had moved to refer
these important documents in the hope Of thus
transferring the debate upon them, which it was
evident was about to occur, to the Committee
of the Whole on the State of the Union the pro-
per place for it, as there it could be more freely
conducted. These papers could hardly be printed
until tomorrow, and until printed, it was proba.
BILE that few would desire to discuss them. If his
motion to refer prevailed, he trusted that the post
Office appropriation bill could finally be disposed
Of to-day, and that on the morrow the Committee
of the Whole on the state Of the Union would pro-
coed to the consideration of the Civil and Diplo-
matte Appropriation bill, when there would be
a fair opportunity to discuss this important SUBJ
ject at length
Mr., HOWARD addressed the Committee at
some length. aaF gesl@n# a
Mr.. MORSE had been gratifed by what had
fallen from the last speaker. The recommends
tons and doctrines of this message were momen-
tous. He was opposed to printing these docu-
ments until they had been reported on by select
: committee. .aFsa a. .aa
Mr.. DUNCAN thought this no time for dis
cussing the message. He therefore renewed the
, call for the previous question.
Mr.. BURT trusted that the call for the previous
question would be Withdrawn, to enable him to
move to make the further consideration of these
papers special order for an early day. He de-
sired to discuss its positions and recommends
tons. tfr't GU,
The SPEAKER decided that this last motion
could only be entertained by unanimous consent.
When, objection was made
The House having next yoted--ayes 1O7 nays