The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1850-06-22

TO go through the political history OF this transac-
ton, to ascertain the views taken upon this sub
ject by the Legislative and executive departments
of the government,
1t seems TO me, sir, 1t would be very singular
certainly it would be very unfortunate, if we, in
the exercise of our legislative powers, familiar as
we are with the political history of this transac-
ton in which most of us have been actors, can
not devise mode by which satisfactory settle
ment Of il can be accomplished. In my judg-
ment, sir, that mode is provided IN the section OF
this bill which is under consideration. ltpro-
poses to have this matter settled upon principles
which Texas shall acknowledge to be equitable
and JUST by her assent to the terms OF the ADJUST
ment Ii seems to me that if we have the consh-
tutional power to do this, the considerations
which recommend it are unanswerable. linen the
only question is, have we that power! Ii Is SAID,
i'm the course of this debate, that you cannot go
ntoa State and purchase portion OF her territory
Mr.. President that is a petitio prineiptt 10 au-
thorize that objection you must first prove that
the territory proposed to be purchased is part OF
the State of Texas. Is the territory which II Is
proposed that Texas shall cede, part of that
Stale? In my judgment, it is; in the judgment
of other senator's, it is; but IN the Judgment OF
others, it is not. 1t is not settled, decided
question: question upon which the state or
Texas may rest without being subjected to dis
pute 1t is not res adjudicaia it is queso rerata;
and il is for the purpose of relieving it from that
vexation and this controversy, that THIS proposal
is to be made.
Why, sir the government has at all times eX-
ercised this power. referred the other day to
the cession made by the State of Georgia. III IL
utterly impossible to deny the analogy between
the two cases. The State of Georgia. as | then
said claimed territory extending from the At
lantic to the Mississippi The United States
claimed the INDICATED lands within the limits of
Georgia, on the principle asserted by many OF
the States, that as these were wrested from Great
Britain by the joint efforts Of all the States, they
ought to enurc to the benefit of all. territorial
government was established by the United States
west Of the Chatahochee river. Georgia main
tanned her claim as Texas is now doing. An act
of Congress was passed which provided for the
! settlement Of these conflicting claims. Georgia
assented To the proposal Commissioners were
| appointed under authority of the two governments.
| Articles of agreement were executed, by 1eorga
relinqushinS all her claim west of the Chatahoche
river, now constituting the States OF Alabama ana
Mississippi while those Of the United States east
of that river were relinquished to Georgia. NO
question has ever been raised as to the proprlety
Of that cession. Georgia claimed, as Texas does
now, an extent of territory to which the United
States also preferred claim. She asserted that
her boundaries were clearly defined in the Royal
Charter, which extended them to the South sea-
Texas rests upon her own declaration OF bounda-
ry, made in her convention, repeated IN the hce
| of Mexico, when she armed to maintain II,
and notified to the United States, when, by the
act Of annex ation, she yielded her sovereign pow
or of war and embassy. The United States as
serted what may perhaps III the Georgia case
have been considered mere color OF 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 of patriotism, acquiesced in the rellnauish-
men Of her claim to that territory for considera.
tons which were very minor when compared
| with the extent of the territory coded. Apart
| from motives OF patriotism, and the example
| Of her sister States, the chief inducement to the
! cession by Georgia was the stipulation by the
United States to extinguish at her own eX-
pense the Indian Title to all the lands which re-
manned within the limits of Georgia; that 49,
those lying east of the Chatahochee river. hat
was the only really valuable consideration given
by the UHied States for the cesson,
Now, sir, the question Of constitutional power,
| which was eXerted IN this case, has never been
denied. There have been conflicting claims IN that
case, as in this, and the parties had the same and
no greater power to ad Just them. On the question
Of power, then, cannot entertain q doubt. Ii the
question of power be established there are strong
motives its exercise in the present condition OF
the country. | do not apprehend the degree OF
| danger which other Senator's believe to exist
| do not fear the dissolution of this Union, or any
thing like civil connections nor do beleve that TINS
bill, pass il in what form you may, VIII settle the
| existing controversy, and restore that harmony
which is dcsigable in a Government ike ours;
but it commends itself to me MS measure OF peace,
which nav to a certain extent, exercise bench
cial influence over the public mind. But, sir, the
essential provision OF the bill is that OF which am
apeaking If you strike that from the bill, you
leave the boundary between Texas and New Mex
leo open and unsettled, and that which was IN
tended aaa peace offering, will become an incentive
to discord,
| Mr.. President, am not deferred by the appre-
tensions suggested by some gentlemen, that the
agitating question of slavery is to be effected by
this provision, and unfiy orobly to the South. |
| am here q hope need not say with disposition
|
| to the utmost of my ability; certainly without any
disposition yield in any essential particular, any
portion Of their rights. Blu, am far from believ-
ing that do so by advocating this provision.
shall not enter into the question of the operation
of the Mexican laws; all that has been sufficiently
discussed. The apprehension is, that the territory
north of the boundary line which has been assign
ed to Texas, and which is to be transferred to
the United States, will become part OF New
Mexico, and that that slave territory may become
frcesoil Sir, we are to consider that the bill con-
tans no prohibition of slavery in the territories;
that an attempt to introduce it has been put down
by too decisive vote 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 if could entertain the APP
prehension that a future Congress, in the wanton-
ness Of power, would prohibit slavery where 1t Is
now allowed | would still believe that 1t was ad-
| NocauiS tne pest interests OF the oouth III
ing this proposition. If Texas assents to 1t, she
must do it under the conviction that her interests
will be promoted by it. She is destined to become
one of the most powerful of the sayyeheldng
States believe the great interests OF the South
! will he much more essentially advanced by re-
lcying her from the incumbrance OF that debt
which she has incurred in the achievement Of her
independence. thus allowing her to develop her
energies and to take promptly that position which
she is destined to hold among her sister States OF
I har than
by preserving four degrees Of latitude from in
terdiction of slavery, il our successors, departing
from the faith upon which this bill will have been
enacted, shall impose it.
hope ! am understood now. | desire to ex-
plain my views upon this subject with perfect
frankness, and especially to my own constituents.
i believe that Southern interests will be most
efiectually promoted by giving strength and vlgor