The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1850-06-21
CITY OF WASHINGTON FRIDAY MORNING, JUNE q, 1850

the analogy between the two cases The State Of Geor
ga, as then said, claimed territory extending from th
Atlantic 10 the Mississippi The United States clame
the INDICATED lands within the limits Of Georgia, on III
principle asserted by many OF the States that as thes
were wresed from Great Britain by the joint efforts OF al
the States, they ought TO inure TO the benefit Of all
territorial government was established by the Unite;
States west OF the Chatahoochee river Georgia main
tanned her claim as Texas is doing An act OF Con
gress was passed which provided for the settlement o
these conflicting claims Georgia assenied to the propo
the two governments Articles of agreement were exc
cnted, by which Georgia reinquished all her claim ives
q the Chatahooche river, now constituting the States o.
Alabama and Mississippi, while those OF the United
States east OF that river renqushed Georgia
No question has been raised to the proprety 0i
nss y q me y eSas does now
red claim She asserted that her boundaries were
clearly defined in the Royal Charter which extended
them 10 the South sea- Texas rests upon her own de-
claaion OF boundary, made in her convention repeated
IN the face OF Mexico, when she armed to maintain
it, and notified to the United States, when. by the act OF
embassy. The United States asserted what may perhaps
il the Georgia have been considered mere color or
claim that the INDICATED territory in the several States
should be divided between all the people of the Union
and Georgia. as other States have DONE in the spirit oi
patriotism, acquiesced in the REIMBURSEMENT OF her claim
to that territory for considerations which very minor
when compared with the extent Of territory ceded Apart
from motives OF PATRIOTISM and the example OF her sister
States the chief nducement the cesso by Georgia was
the stipulation by the United States TO extnguish at her
own expense the Indian title to all the lands which re-.
manned within the limits OF Georgia that is those lying
east OF the Chatahoochee river That the only really
valuable consideration given by the United States for the
cesson. M
Now. sir, the question Of constitutional power which
was exerted in this has never been denied There
were conflicting claims in that case, in this, and the
parties had the same and no greater powerto adjust them
On the question of power, then, cannot entertain
doubt. II the question OF power be established, there
are strong motives to its exercise in the present condi
finn nf tno nnnfru do aha.A knA Aour ncf
danger which other senators believe to exist do not
fear the dissolution OF this Union anything like civil
comnoton; nor do believe that this bill, pass it in
what form you may, will settle the existing controver
sy, and restore that harmony which is desirable in
government like ours but commends itself TO me as
else beneficial influence over the public mind But sir.
the essential provision OF the bill is that Of which am
speaking. you strike that from the bill, you leave the
boundary between Texas and New Mexico open and
unsettled and that which intended as peace-ofier.
ing will become an incentive to discord
Mr. President. am not deferred by the apprehension
suggested by some gentlemen that the agitang question
OF slavery is TO be affected By this provsion and unfa
vorably TO the South. am here Q hope need not say)
with disposition to guard that important right Of my
out any disposition to yield, in any essential particular.
any portion OF their rights But am far from believing
that do so BY advocating this provision. shall not
laws all that has been sufficiently discussed The APP
prehenson Isl that the territory north OF the boundary
line which has been assigned to Texas and which is to
New Mexico and that that slave territory may become
free soil Sir, we are TO consider that the bill contains
no prohibition OF slavery in the Territories that at
tempt to introduce il has been put down by too decisive
vote 10 fear its repetition in this Congress- and that the
power OF future Congress could not be restrained by
any action OF ours, while these territorial governments
exist.
Sir, there is another consideration operating upon my
mind. Even II could entertain the apprehension that
future Congress, in the wanonness OF power, would pro-
hlbbit slavery where it is now allowed, would still
believe that advocating the best interests of the
South in sustaining this proposition. II Texas assents
TO it, she must do under the conviction that her inter-
esls will be promoted BY it, She is destined TO become
one oi the powerful OF the savehoding States
believe the grea, interests of the South will be much
essentially advanced BY relieving her from the n-
cumbrance OF that debt which she has incurred in the
achievement OF her Independence, thus allowing her 10
develop her energies and 10 take promptly that position
which she is destined 10 hold among her sister States of
the South than possibly result TO her them, by
preserving four degrees OF latitude from nerdcon OF
slavery, If successors, departing from the faith
upon which this bill will have been enacted shall i'm
pose ii.
hope | am understood now desire to explain my
views upon this subject with perfect frankness, and
pecally TO my constituents believe that southern
interests will be most etectualy promoted by giving
strength and vigor 10 southern States. believe that
Texas the youngest OF southern sisters possessing
vast and undeveoped resources is prevented from ad
vancng in career OF unexampled prosperity by her is
cal embarrassmenis willing, therefore, consid-
Grafton of this transfer OF territory 10 give TO her what
shall be considered fair equivalent for the territory pro-
posed to be ceded, and for equitable liability
der the resolutions oil annexation We take from her the
load Of debt which oppresses her we leave her TO the
full development OF her energesree 10 avail herself
OF the hounies OF Providence by rapid advance in that
bright and glorious to which trust she destined
la doing this, feel that shall much essentially
promote the great interests OF the southern States OF this
Union than by circumscrbng the limits OF free slave
soil within four degrees o latitude in such country as
that which extends from twenty miles above III Paso to
thirtysi degrees and thirty minutes OF north latitude