The Port Gibson herald, and correspondent., 1850-12-20

the Mississippian for the purpose of condemning
It, but merely to show the progress of The age.
The prospect os free States on the Pacific gave
US no alarm, but since the predictions Of few
years back have been realized some among us,
would destroy this Union, because what they
foretold has come to pass. The great question
to be decided SO far as relates to the admission
Of California is this. Has the constitution of
the United States been violated? Without pre-
tending to enter into constitutional argument
upon this subject, content myself by saying that
the general usages of the government in regard
TO the territories has been violated, but cannot
say that there has been any violation Of the con-
slituton. | cannot believe that such men as
/ Cobb and Toombs, of Georgia, King and Elop-
kins. OF Alabama, Freeman and Sharkey, Of
Mississippi Conrad and Downs, of Louisiana,
Rusk ond Houston, of Texas and in fact ma
! lorty of the Southern Senator'S and Represen-
tatives in Congress ever would have stood ST.
lently by and suffered palpable violation Of the
constitution of the United States But allow
shat admission Of California may be of doubtful
constitutionaliiy, are we prepared to break up
this coniederacy upon doubt? for an opinion?
upon an abstrdctionl If lhen as we have seen
the admission of California is merely a violation
OF the ordinary usages of the government, and
does not involve clear violation of the consti-
tulion, are we not bound as good citizens to
acquesce in and abide by this part of the great
plan of settlement? Looking at all the facts
connected with the admission Of California, al
though have some objections, can wave'them
and give her the right hand of fellowship as
worthy member in this family Of States, and
rejoice to see the extension of republicanism
and one more stripe drawn along our flag, and
another bright star flaming up from the farthest
west | can but rejoice inthe fact, that the wings
of our Eagle, at once the emblem os peace and
defiance, now touch the two great oceans.
i now proceed. Mr. Speaker, TO notice the pro-
posals made TO the State Of Texas for the settle
ment Of her boundary. Quite number Of dis
tingushed gentlemen heye expressed doubts as
to the title of Texas to this disputed territory. /,
however, have never doubted the title of Texas
was clear and indisputable. The Congress of
the United States declared that war existed by
the act Of Mexico, and that American blood had
been shed upon American soil, The very pro-
posals which we are now considering do. in ef-
feet. acknowledge the title of Texas; but it is
said that the title of Texas is identified with the
South on the subject of slavery and that, conse-
quently, she cannot sell any portion ol her terri
tory without doing injustice to her sister States Of
! the South. 1t should be borne in mind, however,
that the State Of Texas when she came into the
Union, retained all her public lands for the pay
ment of her debts and, nasmuch as the 10000,
600 which she offered is so much thereof as is
necessary to pay her liabilities is to be appropr
ated to thai object, cannot see any want Of good
faith in this transaction The main objection tothis
sale yet remains to be noticed, it is this, that by
this transfer 1f portion of her territory she has
converted or been privy to the conversion of an
immense district of slave territory to the denim
ion OF free soism. This assertion is not only
untrue. but the reverse os it is true. The bill
converts 43,037 square miles Of free soil into
slave territory, if the people residing upon it so
decide. when they form a constitution preparato-
nv to coming into the Union as a State. By the
resolutions of annexation it's provided that new
States of convenient size, not exceeding four in
number, in addition 10 the said State of Texas,
and having sufficient population may, hereafter,
by consent Of said State, be formed out of the
territory thereof, which shall be entitled to ad.
mission under the provisions of the federal con-
siitution; and sneh States as may be 70. med out
OF that portion OF said territory lying South Of
36 deg. 80 min of North Latitude, commonly
known as the Missouri compromise line, shall be
admitted into the Union with or without slavery,
as the people Of each State asking admission
may desire And in such State or States as
shall be formed out of said territory North Of said
Missouri compromise line. slavery or Involuntary
seryitude, Except for crime shall be prohibited
Let it be borne in mind that most Of the territory
above described, is embraced within the limits of
New Mexico, and that the act establishing a
government for that territory provides, "that
when admitted as State, The said territory or
any portion of the same, shall be received into
1.-THE Union with or without slavery as their con
siituiion NAV prescribe at the time of their ad-
mission" Now is it not clearly, beyond the
possibility ofsa doubt, proved that by the terms
of the treaty os annexation of Texas, that slave
ry was utterly prohibited North of SO deg. 3d.
min. and that the principle Of annexation mere
! ly, was established South of that line, and that
| BY the late adjustment bills, known as Pearce's
bill, all this vast territory lying North OF 36 deg
80 min. containing about $4,000 square miles, is
now opened up to the emigration Of the South
/ lerner and his slave property. But supposing
/ grant you, Mr.. Speaker, that Texas cannot sell
any portion of her territory without doing inlus-
tce to her sister States Of the South, can Mis-
sissippi secede from the Union without doing in
Justice to Texas, Louisiana, Arkansas, Missouri.
| Kentucky. Tennessee. Virginia, North Carolina
and Maryland? Your own argument estops yon
from taking any step without the concurrence
of all the slaveholdiDg States. Besides all this,
look at the absurdity Of the objection. You claim
for Mississippi the right to withdraw from the
general government whenever she may feel ag-
! grieved by its legislation. and yet. deny to Tex
las the right to sell part Of her territory: is not
this the doctrine Of State Rights with ven-
geance. The true ground upon this subject
however, is this, that if Texas in the exercise of
her sovereign right as State, sees proper to sell
any part of her territory, no other State has any
just ground Of complaint; and when we take in
to consideration the probabilities Of bloodshed
growing out of this boundary question, every
true patriot should rejoice in its settlement. /
am willing to trust Texas; she IS identified with
The South in feeling and interest, and while |
concede TO her the right Of settling her inter-
nal concerns in her own way" would wiling
| ly defend her from the encroachments Of the
general government.
The next feature in this plan Of settlement is
the abolition of the slave trade n the District Of
Columbia. The South has always been sensi-
tive on this subject. | believe the interest Of
slavery would have been promoted the trade
never had existed there. The District has been
mere depot for negro traders. They buy
slaves in Virginia, Maryland and Delaware,
chain and drive TO the prisons, there to be con-
] fined until the drove is completed, and brought
| South I euhrnif Mr. Sneaker fn uoi1 ind ava-