The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1850-08-17


thiryfighh parallel and the Rio Gsands and the one
HUNDRED and bird degree of west longitude Now the
sinpls 4lespn, 80 lar as The amendment Of the senator
Iom Mas SCUM 40 concerned ihis Shall these limits be
SO extended as TO include that territory which majority
OF the Senate believe 20 belong the United States
acquisition from Mexico. and within which the inhabi
tanis are entitled to the privileges guaranteed by the
treaty! shall vote Tor that amendment And Twill
also say that cannot vote for this BILL which proposes
restricted taNus s4t&4k7. "a eEets t4
And. now that have the floor, Mr.. President. will
under the indulgence OF the Senate briefly express my
own view OF the proper mode to dispose OF the general
question between the United States and Texas: VI NJ
have disposition 10 take from Texas foot nor an
inch which rghifuy belongs 10 her; but lhaye regarded
from the beginning this question OF boundary be
adjusted the United States stands in the place
OF Mexce-by some fair and competent tribunal. have
been willing to leave TO commissioners and have voted
for propositions intended to effect that object have
been willing to commit its decision TO the Supreme Court
Of The United States and it seemed that organized
as we all know that court to be, nothing than this
could be desired by the advocates OF the Texan claim
Certainly the absence OF all bias against the claim OF
Texas on the part OF that tribunal will not be doubted
Ii neither OF these modes OF terminating the dispute
should prove acceptable to Texas, would. Tor one con-
ment Of intelligent and disinteesed individuals whether
Americans or foreigners But, in either case the ques-
ton submitted should be the question of boundary 10 be
lodged principles applicable 10 such cases But |
Texas territory which already belongs to US have
Uctii always OplOstl texas
one half Of the territory which belongs 10 Tie United
States east Of The Rio Grande, aud then paying her the
enormous sum OF ten millions OF dollars for abandoning
naked. worthless caimo ..caim" is the word in the
bill-to the other half Our whole progress has been
downward from the beginning OF the session. II has
been marked BY constantly enarging concessions to the
demands Of Texas. The first propostlon (Mr. BEN
ton's) was in my Judgment reasonable and fair with
out pecuniary considerations either side The second
MIR CLAYs) was substantially the the first The
third 1.-THE commees) conceded largely to Texas, be-
sides offering her ten millions OF dollars The last (Mr.
PEARcEs) conceded still more and made the offer
Of money And now the chairman Of the Committee on
Territories Mr. DoUGLAs proposes still further 10 cur
tail the limits Of New Mexico, diminished BY all this
tilation ! think i wrong and cannot vote FORT.
| Mr.. ATCHlSON. Mr. President, had thought after
the passage OF the bill introduced by the senator from
Mary land defining the boundaries OF territories that
propose TO purchase from Texas, that the question had
passed IRON the Senate h at least for the s Now
i from illinois Mr. DoUGLAs1 the east side OF the Rio
Graade, il includes nothing more than the territory de-
! lineated by the bill of the senator from Maryland
i Mr. DOUGLAS II takes the hundred and third de-
gree of longitude prescribed by the senator from Mary
land due north to the 3sh parallel OF latitude. and
thence west, so TO make it compact shape
Mr. CHASE. | ask the senator from illinois Mr.
DoUGLAs] whether am mistaken in saying that takes
the one hundred and third meridian
| Mr. DOUGLAS Ii does; the hundred and third me-
ridian upon the east side of the Rio Grande.
| MIR ATCHISON resumed Then Mr. President. sub
santally, this question between the United States and
Texas far as the action of Texas is concerned at
a
House OF Representatives. Ii that House concurs, and
the administration concurs il becomes law, lar as
this government Is concerned and acceded 10 by the
government oil Texas, that question settled II seems
to that the argument to the extent Of New Mexi
co. the extent OF the claims Of Texas TO territory east
OF the Rio Grande is not now egihmalely question be-
fore the Senate The senator from Illinois proposes, by
way of amendment to this bill that this law organizing
government for the territory shall not be operative until
the Legislature OF Texas shall decide upon the proposition
submitted to her Now, sir, how does this matter stand
you extend your jurisdiction there now, by establish
ing government this disputed territory, is 1t not al
sezing upon the territory pending these propositions
to the State OF Texas Ii seems to me Isl and, tina,
this act and this act alone, would be sufficient excuse
for Texas to reject the proposition Here is PROPOSE
on TO buy territory IRON me S,ae o. Texas upon ahe
ing the action OF the State oil Texas upon that propo.
ston, you seize upon the territory and take possession
of il, and you do il in the most solemn manner. II is
establishing troops thereit is protecting them in
their provisional govenmentbut extending laws OF the
United States to the territory in dsputeseizng upon II,
and saying TO Texas II refuse 10 accept our propo
sition. we take and hold the territory 10 defiance OF
YOU The proposition OF the senator from Illinois Mr.
DoUGLAsl is perfectly fair and perfectly just that the
very moment the Stale OF Texas shall accede 10 this prop
oson, that moment this territorial government is opera
tive, and not ill then. Now, SIR, il understand the
propositions they have been submitted, have stated
them fairly.
Mr.. BRADBURY. | do not propose TO discuss this
subject, but merely say that shall vote against the
amendment the amendment, and TO express the hope
that the amendment itself will receive some modification
Measures already in progress which, i 10 hoped,
may lead to the adjustment OF the boundary between
Texas and the United States The President, in his late
message, has said, with emphasis that we could not
with proprieiy, establish territorial government for
New Mexico, or admit her Stale, until We had hIst
ascerained what New Mexico or, in other words,
that should not undertake to set government over
the Territory until its boundaries were asceained and
established. Now, the objection which have 10 the
amendment OF the honorable senator from Missouri is.
that may conflict with the boundary which may and is
most likely be established, and that il proposes
that will be found 10 be indefinite when any attempt IS
made to apply it 10 the territory itself hope therefore,
tbathe amendment OF the honorable senator from Mis-
souri, will be rejected, and that the honorable senator
from Illinois will himself modify bis amendment, as
embrace in il the residue oil The territory acquired from
Texas embraced previous bills and then adopt the
language OF the Presidents message, that the act shall
not 90 into effect until the boundary is settled, by omit
ting The expressions that require the adjustment TO be BY
the agreement OF parties Ii may happen that this ques
ton OF boundary may not be settled by the parties IN the
manner stipulated II may be that hereafter Congress
will find necessary TO refer that question 10 the Su.
preme Court Tor adjudication; and see no necessity for
involving ourselves by this restriction.
Now that am up, will advert TO certain remarks
and do so with the view Of calling attention to the
seriion which has been repeatedly made here and else
where that in the bill which recently passed the Sen
ate for the adjustment Of the boundary between Texas
and the United States, we give up to Texas large
amount OF territory belonging 10 the United States, and
propose to pay her large besides The territory
referred TO by the senator belonging TO the United
States consists OF the tract south oil the thryseco0
degree OF north latitude between the Rio Grande ant
the one hundred and second meridian OF longude-a
one time claimed part OF New Mexico-and The
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