The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1850-05-16
Union undo, HIGH polite. s.sissasat which fear Aa.

cude il territorial goyefnlnent ieriitory wing be-
yond the Rio Grande, 10 which, as have said, Texas
y he d IL Unsd 1 States ss from w Mexico
The amendment Of the senator from Mississippi tMr
DAvl wss presoms intended 10 act upon thai terrific.
@ express any doubt 0: the just rights Of The State Of
Texas g ths territory as far as The Rio G1aaas
Mr. DAVIS. Of Mississippi certainly did not intend e.
Grands That was The boundary which she had defined
before she was annexed the United States With that
definition Of her boundary she was annexed the United
States merely reserving the right 10 adjust her limits by
negotiation with Mexico Negotiation failing. we went
10 war we acquired the territory, and feel that we &C
qu,sd the territory Or every acre i hers &C.
an Independent Stale had object to involve the
question Of Texas boundary at all II was the remark
Of the senator from Kentucky who made an application
the Rio Grande which thus brought up this question
My opinions Of the boundary Of Texas are such as
have advanced y former lines and such si as are
we are 70 have he right recognised 70 60 into the
s1ss hy with S.. s S,s s e ss not o an
CURED the constitution extended t and gave pro-
lection 70 all rights BY shield broad the territory
acquired BY the United States was one who held that
the local Mexican laws were cxtinguished wherever
they concted with the rights Of citizen Of the United
States because the constitution and laws Of the United
States were over The territory hs That sm
the question can be presented untrammelled by legisa
ton. Nor does the amendment proposed by me touch
that question, contemplate its decision by Congress
With great Difference 10 the senator from Kentucky.
think he has put construction upon the amendment
which win not bear II il contained language
ing no than the original BILL then should have
thought the senator need not have wasted time upon
it, but if il proposed to change the language without
changing the meaning II might have been allowed 70
pass less evil than would be debate upon it.
The object Of the. amendment is to restrict the
territorial legislature from action hostile to property, but
not from making necessary provisions for its protection
kote Irf that hall he
in respect to African slavery it should declare that no
law shall be passed interfering with those rights proper
ty which grow out Of the institution Of African slavery
as 1t exists any Of the States OF this Union" As
ted, laws in respect African slavery necessary
wherever such slaves held The senator from Kentucky
that ss Ts a. any one ne knows aa there
that species Of property is held. hold that we have
right to 60 into these Territories with that species
retaining his right 10 the possession and enjoyment
OF that property in, his new home. We are giving
or proposing to give government TO Territory,
provision We suppose we have right to confer power ii
so, may mark out limit 10 which they may egslate.
and bound not 10 confer power beyond that which
beyond that, commit fraud or usurpaton as may
be done openly, or coyery, and indirectly If Congress
has right % legislate upon this question Of admitting
the territorial government created by Congress shall not
under grant, egslate outside OF the limit which
cGng,ss. may smsas ~.
the powers Of the territorial Legislature the rghto inter-
ferewth the rights Of properly slaves, they pos
States Of the Unonto prevent Legislation hostile to the
equal right OF all citizens 10 ocsupy and enjoy the
mon property Of the United States with any property
held either OF the sovereign States the true propre-
tors Of all territory held by the United States
The senator from Kentucky asks If meant to apply
thsto the legislation in the Territores' Certainly did
Mat else could mean Did fear that Utah or New
Mexico would pass laws against holding slaves in Mis-
ssspp! The idea would have been too preposterous to
be supposed My object was to prevent the passage of
laws hostile 10 rights in the Territories where they
have may have right to egslateto prevent the pas
sage Of laws which fAsre would interfere with the rights
Of property growing out OF the existence of African
the constitution, and prevent the discrimination OF
restriction against Legislation for the protection Of that
species Of property to the same extent for every other
But The senator from Kentucky has avowed his pur.
pose that the Ter io shall remain that the right to hold
this property shall be determined by the isr loci Now
this strikes me as strange, coming from one who two
days SINCE in language decided, eloquent even fer
vent, araigned the action policy OF the admnisa-
ton, which would leave the local law still in force To
us where 10 the difeencei The senator's vew equally
with the policy he condemns, would prevent our south
citizens from going there with this species OF proper
sncs Of Mexican laws his position shows The easn
which our rights are TO be respected and maintained
Thi. is important to me. though. in common with most
southern men, hold that the law OF Mexico was re-
pealed (except within the narrow limits Of the relations
OF pesson and property preexstng and remaining i the
country the acquisition OF the territory That is my
opinion; and hold that political laws exist in the
country 70 which this bill refers. except those resulting
from the egsation OF Texas. The senator from Ken
lucky holds different opinion; and therefore is 10 his
opinion that my remarks apply His object is to leave
the laws Of Mexico in force II misunderstood the SEN
aior, will listen TO his correction.
Dir. CLAY. The senator understands me perfectly
Mr.. DAVIS. am happy not 10 have misconsrued
him. only judged from the motion OF his head that per-
haps had committed an error do not. Mr.. President
have inducement TO labor here, at least on this
occason, to due regard for the rights OF the
South feel IL II the grain sheaf should oppose the
have reason to believe will crush any proposition which
viii require explicit avowas. and be substantially for the
benefit Of the South se $3.50 I'm N
make this amendment to the bill for establishing
government for New Mexico, 10 show 10 those whom
represent hat the terms of the law, il il shall be-
come one how Il 10 construed by s framers and how
rolls with imnoating wheel over the rights Of my con-
Mr., CLAY. shall say only few words in reply to
what has been said BY my friend from Texas mr. Rusx
have no purpose IN any observations which make 10
enter nlo the discussion OF the question OF title on be
part Of Texas 10 the country this OF the Rio (rande
My friend from Texas in his zeal in behalf OF the rirhts
Of his own State, 10 entitled to the highest
though he might have saved himself the necessity of
making any observations upon the subject The whole
claim he well knows is founded npon putting aside
country in question pa OF this relates to Texas and
assumes that she has title. and that has claim to
the country and proposes large pecnary equivalent for
that claim In other words we propose By our peace
with Texas 10 give certain equivalent and am sure
that when my friend comes TO the liberal terms we
propose, whether there s good bad, valid or an
Invalid title be Will say these terms conceded and