The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1850-09-12


the people thus annexed, thus treated, who have
thus involved the nation. threaten resistance To the
laws II the territory We have mus conquered IL ho
surrendered TO them; if the freedom that exists
there is not abandoned To tne curse OF slavery
/ am for peace am for just and honorable peace
am for the equitable settlement OF all disputes, Of
all times, and under all circumstances. But when
arrogance like this-when injustice and ingratitude
like this is offered to the people OF TINS country
when resistance 10 the execution oil the laws Is
threatened and the just rights of the people OF New
Mexico are assaulted for one would offer no bride
to the actors in such reasonable projects no bounty
TO such characterization. Such was not me treat
ment that President Jackson gave TO nulllhcation-
such is not the treatment that is WISE or that's rec
commended by the present Executive
We have duties to PERFORM not only to the present,
but TO the future only to the quiet oil the pres
ent hour but to that national honor and Integrity
that Is the only guarantee OF peace hereafter Inc
harmony that is secured at the expense oil rlght and
Justice Of the liberti Of any part OF the country Is
peace more dangerous than thousand Wanting
threats OF Texas Pursue the course marked out by
this BILL and what is government worth -! It's but
the prey of every band Of indictments; the subject
OF every plot the object OF plumber TO every rebel
league that cry out danger, danger and threaten
the violence of arms Under such a system no man
is safe in his life, liberty property. What is gov
eminent to-day, is chaos tomorrow. This bill, SIR
under the circumstances in which il appears, is
little else than an open bid for treason in all time to
come.
ya tp4 Say, : uIar to show the nature of the
case before US not that there is the least difficulty
to be apprehended. There is not now, and never
Sovu, uiv ,ras, NANCY. ,,,,,i,t
ruption Of the Union Slavery can buster but it
wants no war Liberty follows the sword" The
South with three millions of slaves ready to grasp
at every chance of freedom, is the last country on
earth that would seek war. They have generally
had war Of words, about once in 50 often, since
we have been Government, but it has ended there.
Indeed, such a war has always been sufficient for
their purposes. BY such means slavery has been
spread fonrfod and all the time against the real
timent Of a great majority of the American people.
There Is not one question between Texas and
New Mexico that has not arisen again and again in
this country. IL is simple question of boundary.
There is hardly State in the Union that has not
had such a question. Many of the States have the
same questions now. Are we 10 pay ten millions
every time TWO States dispute about their limits
Shall We pay tribute TO determine whether a strip
OF country shall be in Indiana or Ohio, Massachu-
sets or Rhode Island Was a proposition ever
more absurd
There Is the most ample power for the settlement
OF all such questions vested in the departments of
the Government, vested in Congress, and we ought
to settle this question, settle ii right; put the line
OF Texas where IL belongs, not give her one inch
that is not hers nor take an inch from her, unless
by, purchase.
such question this Z We have the same night
TO levy taxes 10 give ten millions to France, with
out cause, as TO Texas. Sir, | believe there is
N,ofe evil covered or thtu tx ttsHn By any that has
been presented since we were Government; and |
warn this House and the country against entertain
ing it for amoment.
This measure is offensive in all its influences.
is openly said out of doors that the millions
proposed by il is TO be the great power that is
to pass 1t. make no charges of this kind but
state what everybody hears. The compromise bill
gave forty thousand square miles more TO freedom
than this. 1t contained no provision for the pay
ment OF ten millions: il defeated. Sir in less
than ten days this BILL with its ten millions for the
Texas bondholders, and the stock Jobbers in Texas
debts, is knocking at our doors for immediate pas
sage. And, sir part of the public press, the pub
lie marts, the houses of the money changers, and
their hirelings that hang around this Capitol are
made to resound with one voice in its favor-are
impatient for the sacrifice. | trust they will be
disappointed.
l now come to another part of the subject. We
are told that this bill is an Administration measure.
Sir, deny utterly deny, this charge and challenge
The proof The present Executive of this nation in
favor OF surrendering into everlasting bondage a
country larger than his native Staiea country ca
pable Of containing more population than New
Y DIRK Sir, deny it, and read his own message
IN proof OF that denial:
"If the CLAIM TITLE the part of Texas appears
Congress TO BE WELL FOUNDED in whole or in part II in
he competency Of Congress to offer her an indemnify oI
he surrender Of that claim"
Here, sir, is the recommendation of the Execu-
live, and the whole of it. Do the suggestions con-
tanned in this single sentence Indicate in the re-
hottest degree that President Fillmore eniertains
favorable thought towards such bill as this His
only suggestion is, that we may offer an indemnity
10 Texas for well founded claim"-net for u
pretended one, for territory to which she has
no claim at all as is provided by this bill read
further, from the same message, to show, and to
show as | think, conclusively that the President
well knew, when he wrote that message, that Texas
had claim TO any part OF the country granted by
his bill
In the letter to the Governor of Texas my
given for believing that New Mexico is now Territory Of
The United States, with the extent and the same
which belonged TO while IN The actual posses
sion of the Republic of Mexico and before the late war
Ia the early part of that both California and New
by the arms United States and
in the military possession of the United States al
By that treaty, the title by conquest confirmed and
these territories provinces, or departments separated from
Mexico forever"
That every inch of country granted by this bill
lying north of the old line of 81 degrees is part OF
New Mexico, is too well known to admit of doubt
or require proof. But the same message so re-
CARDS it in express terms. ltsays
at is plain therefore, the face of those treaty stpu
laons, that all Mexicans established in Territories NORTH
of the line Of demarkaton, come within the pro
lection Of the OH article"
Now, the cline of demarcaton," by express
terms, is the southern boundary of New Mex
Ico" and is at point on the Rio Grande below
the 32d degree And still, sir, in the face of al
this, certain gentlemen have arisen on this floor
and affirmed this TO be an Administration measure
Was anything ever more preposterousl
1t is true the Executive is in favor OF the settle
ment of this boundary; and who is not2 would
do much to accomplish so desirable an object.
would act with hberaty, but with Justice, in lis
,Ii no has led a
terms of settlement, in his judgment, right and
honorable. But, sir, as | have shown by his mes
sage he regards every part of the country granted
by this bill now belonging to the United States
He is first pledged to the protection of New Mex
leo at all hazards, and in every contingency, and
this is the great point of his communication. The
rest is merely suggestive.
Now, sir, I agree with him, if we could accom-
plish so desirable object as the settlement OF
this boundary by the purchase of any part Texas
owns by swell founded claim" we have the power
to do so. And agree, further, that the inducemenr
to every lover of freedom 10 purchase out of slavery
any part of our country would be great indeed
While such course would be in harmony with
every act of the past life of the Executive, the
charged upon him, as being a supporter of this bill
would libel his whole history. No, sir, there has
been nothing in his course that Iustfes this charge
and there is nothing in his heart to verify the truth
of the accusation.
As much as / am in favor of the settlement of this
boundary question: am only In favor OF II upon Just
and fair principles. shall act under the influence
of no manufac tured buster or imaginary dangers
shall only act in such way as | believe will re-
dound to the benefit of freedom-not of slavery ms
shall be strength and security tolberty-not TO bond
age While the advocates of this bill would even Ia,
their constituents to enlarge the and increas,
the power of slavery, would tax, if tax at ALL tc
enlarge the bounds and swell the power of freedom
to limit the extent and weaken the influence of serv
tude. While they would, under the specious cry o.
peace and concord, enlarge a slave State more thar
INV thousand square miles and pay for the supper
OF slavery ten millions of dollars, l would lay tn,
foundation of enduring peace and harmony by tn,
golden rule of justice exact justice in the setemen
OF the limits of Texas. IL would pay anything
| would pay il TO buy the soil Of bondage-io o,
the chains of the bondman. And this, sir, would b
acting in harmony with the spirit of the Executive
recommendation before us.
repel the charge that this bill Is an Admins
iratinn nieasure for another reason. IL assumos