The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1850-06-19

Involves, ana from winch tnerc IA no escape but
the total rejection Of their plan, and the adoption of
the line which propose-the longitudinal line OF
iO2-whlch, corresponding with ancient title and
actual possession avoids the question of slavery in
either country; which, leaving the population of
each untouched, disturbs no interest, and which,
in splitting the high sterile table land of the Stsked
Plain, conforms 10 the natural division of the coun
try, and leaves TO each natural frontier, and an
ample extent Of compact and homogeneous terrific
ry. To Texas is left all the territory drained by
all the rivers which have their mouths within her
limits, whether those mouths are IN the Gull of
Mexico the Mississippi the Rio Grande: to New
Mexico is left the whole course of the Rio Puerco
and all its valley; and which, added to the valley
Of the Del Norte Will make State OF the rst class
in point of territory susceptible of large popula-
ton and wealth, and in compact form capable of
defiance against Indians. The Staked Plain is the
natural frontier of both countries. II is dividing
wall between systems of waters and systems OF
countries. 1t is high sterile plain, some sixty miles
wide upon some five hundred long, running north
and south, its western declvity abrupt, and washed
by the Puerco at its base its eastern broken into
Chasms-cahones- from which issue the myriad of
little streams which, flowing towards the rising
sun, form the great rivers-Red river, Brasos, Col
orado, Nucces, which find their outlet in the Mis-
sissippi or in the Gulf of Mexico. II is salient
feature in North American geography table of
land sixty miles wide, five hundred long, and some
thousands feet above the level of the sca-and ste
rie, level, without shrub, plant, grass, and
presenting To the traveller horizon of its like
the ocean. Without a landmark to guide the steps
OF the traveller it, the carly hunters aud
herdsmen of New Mexico staked their course across
il; and hence its name-Ei Lian0 Esfdcado-the
Staked Plain. IL is natural frontier between New
Mexico and Texas; and for such line, quoting
all questions between them, all with the United
States, yielding near two hundred thousand square
miles OF territory to the United States and putting
into her hands the means of populaiing and defend
ing New Mexico by giving lands 10 settlers and de-
ienders--l ready 10 vote the fifteen millions
which my bill fairly and openly proposes. For the
line in this bill | would not give copper But il
would be great error 10 suppose would give ff-
teen millions for the territory in dispute Between
New Mexico and Texas That disputed territory is
only small part OF what the Texan cession would
be. 1t would embrace four degrees of latitude on
the north of Texas, and front of thousand miles
on the Arkansas, and would give TO the United
States territory Indispensable to her-to the popu-
laton and defence both OF New Mexico and Utah,
III front oi both which this part OF Texas lies.
The committee, IN their report, and the Senator
from Kentucky, (Mr. CLAY,) in his speech, arc
impressive i'll their in favor Of Civ
ing governments to New Mexico and the remaining
part of California. join them in all they say in
favor of the necessity of these governments, and
the duty OF Congress TO give them. mean terri
torial governments, and would not vote for State
governments III either OF them, if they sent
constitutions here. do not deem them ripe for
such governments; they are too young and weak
for that They are III our hands, and upon our
hands, and belong to US; and il is duty to pro-
vide for them, and take care of them; until they
are strong enough TO take of themselves
sovereign States. Both territories require govern
nient ut our hands. and protection along with it;
| New Mexico especially, now desolated by Indian
ravages, and suffering more in the three years that
she has belonged to the United States than in any
three years OF her existence--evep during the
helpless period of the Mexican rule. The Spanish
government under the vice regal system, appro-
pratcd two thousand dragons TO the protection of
the internal provinces from the Apaches, the Nav
ahocs, the Cumanchos, and other wild Indians We
have "A few companies of dragons and sta
tionary infantry, in sight of whose barracks these
Indians say men and women, carry off children,
fiFlUR NAn Cll anil .rsl hon
sands in drove. The Navahoes actually have
more New Mexican sheep now than the New Mex
leans have left single individual nhabitant of
FL Paso owned moro cattle and sheep when Pike
there in ls06 than the whole town and settle
ment own Single inhabitants Of the valley of
the Del NOrte owned iocks and herds then nearly
equal 70 those OF the whole province now. The
valley OF Puerco, then the sheep walk of millions,
is now reduced to some two hundred thousand, and
becoming lees every day.
All this is reproach to US. II is reproach to
republican government in persons. Ii is an
appeal to US for succor and protection, to which we
cannot be deaf without drawing down upon our
heads the censure of all good men But this bill is
not the way 10 give it. These governments arc
halked by being put into this bill. They not only
impede California but themselves. The conjunc-
ton Is an injury to both. They mutually delay
and endsnger each other. And it is no argument
In favor OF the conjunction TO say that the establish
mcnt of government for New Mexico requires the
previous settlement of her eastern boundary with
Texas. That Is no argument for lacking Texas,
Mexico, much less 10 California IL il indeed very
desirable TO settle that boundary and 10 settle il at
once, and forever; but II is indispensa bity
10 the creation OF government for New Mexico.
We have right 10 a government according to her
possession; and that can give her, TO continue
tilt the question Of title IL decided. The uti posi-
detis--as you possess-is the principle 10 govern
our leglslatiOn-the principle which gives the pos
right to the possession until the question of
title - decided This principle il the same both in
national and municipal lsw-both in the case Of
citizens or communities Of the same government,
and between independent nations. The mode Of
decision only j. different Between independent
nations II - done by negotiation by arms; be-
tween citizens, or communities OF the same gov
eminent, II II done by law. Independent nations
may invade and fight each other for a boundary
citizens or communities Of the same government
cannot. And the party that shall attempt IL com
nts a violation OF law and order; and the govern.
ment which permits such violation is dercct Of it,
duty.
have now examined, so far as propose 10 do it
on motion for indefinite postpOnernent, the three
bills which the committee have tackled together
the California, Utah, New Mexico and Texas bills
There are two other bills which ! have not men
toned, because they not tackled but only hung
on; but which belong 10 the SYSTEM il IL called,
and, without some mention ofwhich, injustice would
be done 10 the committee in the presentation Of their
scheme. The fugitive slave recovery bill, and the
District Of Columbia slave trade suppression bill,
are parts OF The system Of measures which the COM
mittee propose, and which, taken together, are 10
constitute a compromise, and 10 terminate forever
and most iraternay all tho discussions Of the sla
very agitation in the United States. They apply
10 two out Of the five gaping wounds which the SEN
ator from Kentucky enumerated ON the five fingers
Of his left hand, and for healing up all which at
once he had provided one large plaster, big enough
70 cover all, and cfiicacious enough 20 cure all;
while the President only proposed 10 cure one,
and that with little plaster, and IL Of no eff
cacy. do not propose 20 examine these two at
tendant or scquaciOus bills, which dangle at the
tail Of the other three will not 60 into them nor
mention them further than 10 say, that the atcrnA-
tive in tho report 10 pay the owner out Of the Fed
cral treasury for the loss Of irrccoverabc slaves,
might admit IN practice Of abolition in the States
by the legislation u Congress and the purse Of the
nation; and 80 suppress the slave trade in this Dis
trict AZ concession for absiaining from the alb
clifton VI slavery in this District expressed in
the report, page H. h 10 make concession Of some
thing valuable, for abstinence which we have
had Tor sixty ycars without concession and stil
% have on the same terms.
This is the end Of the committee labor-fyc old
bills gathered up from table. tackled together,
aud christcned a compromise, Now compromise
s pretty phrase az all times, and il a good thing
in itself, when there happens 10 be any parties ~