The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1850-07-17

| runaway shall condescend to relieve him from the
penalty Of his bond Is Federal domination con-
tent with thiss No, it proceeds to the State
House. II commands the sovereignty Of the
State and compels the Legislature 10 carry into
effect its high behests; to extend to the slave the
| trial by jury, in controversy between himself
and his master. 1t passes from the Senate House
to the Courts, and dictates forms Of proceeding
there All this is done---the home Of the citizen
violated and profaned--tle sovereignty of the
State overthrown and despoiled, to satisfy the
y Aboitonists that slave is not free negro, and
that a free negro has not been kidnapped by one
4 Of the sons Of the Old Dominion!- So far from
receiving this provision as boon, regard it as
clog and hindrance, making it impossible to re-
cover fugitive. ,4k>
u It places the stakeholder under unjust and un-
reasonable conditions, and EFFORTS from him sub
mission TO Federal authority as the price of aid
and assistance which he has a right to demand
under the plain and explictprovisions of the Con-
stitution.
1t asserts the jurisdiction of the Federal Go
vernment over the subject Of slavery, within the
limits of State. 1t rudely interferes in the do
mesc relations of our citizens, and speaks the
7 language Of command to sovereign States.
i The propositions made TO Texas, assume that
there is disputed bOundary--when there is no
just ground for dispute. Texas holds the Nueces
and Santa Fe countries, by the same title which
she holds the city of Austin or the island Of Gal
weston, viz: the title Of the sword, won on the
glorious field of Jacinto, acknowledged by treaty
signed by public authorities Of Mexico, having
full power to negotiate and bind by treaty. If
this title fail, she has none to any part Of her do
minions. She asserted these boundaries before our
i governmentrecognzedh erindephndenc Of Mexico
and before her annexation to the States of our Union
which involve an implied recognition of those
boundaries But there is erpressrecogniti ofthe
title of Texas to the Santa Fe country, in the re-
solutions of annexation, which contains clause
In these words, viz: /" New States of convenient
size, not exceeding four in number, in addition to
the said State of Texas and having sufficient pop
ulaton, may hereafter, by the consent Of the said
State be formed out Of territory thereof which shall
be entitled 70 admission under the provisions Of the
Federal Constitution. And such States as may be
formed out Of that portion of said territory lying
| south Of SO deg. 80 min. north latitude, common
j ly known as the Missouri Compromise line, shall
be admitted into the Union, with or withoutslave-
ry, 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 Mis-
souri, Compromise line, slavery or involuntary
seryitude Except for crme) shall be prohibited.
Turning to the map, we perceive that this
line of 30 deg: 80 min. runs through the Santa
Fe country, dividing its whole length from east
to wes-and that there is no other territory claim
| ed by Texas touched by that line at all. BY con-
sequence there is no other territory to which the
/ above clause can be construed to refer But this
| clause expressly enacts that, by the consent Of
Texas four new States may be formed out Of Terri
tory thereof, viz out of territory of Texas. And
pointing to the tract of country with still greater
precision, it declares that States formed of said
territory, lying south of 36 deg. 80 min., shall be
admitted, with or without slavery, as each State
may desire. In States formed out Of said territory
north Of said line, slavery shall be prohibited.
i This clause establishes that Texas owned terri
tory North Of 35 deg. 30 min. North latitude, and
land contiguous and adjoining thereto South of
80 deg. 80 min. divided by that line. THERE'S no
land claimed by Texas North of SO deg. 80 min.
North latitude-except this very territory now
pretended to be in dispute. And the lands touch
ing that line on the South are the remainder or
Southern portion of territory known as the Santa
Fe country, now pretended to be in dispute. But
4 this provision Of the resolution Of annexation
proves that the lands divided by that line were
this same Santa Fe country, now pretended TO be
in dispute. l submit, it is thus demonstrated.
that this same Santa Fe country, now pretended
to be in dispute, is the property of Texas.
The resolution of annexation contains not
mere recognition of the title of Texas, but an ex-
press stipulation in the nature of contract, entered
into by the United States, binding the United
States to admit States into the Union formed of this
territory only with the consent of Texas, and to
treat these lands as the property of Texas. These
are the provisions Of actual contract, solemnly
entered into by the United States in the resolu-
ton ortreay Of annexation; and if the obligation
Of this contract shall be disregarded by our Gov
eminent, the act will be condemned by the moral
| sense of the world.
| The outrage would be aggravated il a part of
| the domain should be rfed from Texas, and
forced into connection with other territory, having
uncongenial institutions and altogether forced into
the Union, as State, without the consent Of
| Texas "S
/ Whatever may have been the original merits of
this title, it must now be considered as case adj
! judged. The objection to the title was taken be-
fore the date of the resolutions Of annexation and
earnestly enforced. The topic was carried before
the country. 1t entered into the discussions of
party politics. 1t was expressly objected that
| Texas had no just or legal claim to the territory
comprehended within these boundaries, except
such as known the province Of Texas
| during her political connection with Mexico The
subject was considered by the people, and Texas,
with her present boundaries, was trumphantly
admitted into the Union BY the votes Of an over
! whelming ma jority of the American People.
Again-At the opening of the Mexican war,
Congress, by large majority, indeed by vote
! nearly unanimous, declared that hostilities had
commenced; that war existed by the act of Next
co, in attacking the American forces and shedding
| American blood on American soil. That blood
was shed between the Nueces and Rio Grande,
| beyond the limits Of the old Province Of Texas;
| but within the boundaries of the new, independent
sovereign State Thus the title has been adjudged,
both by the people and government of the Union
| At the opening of the war, no power under
/ f1edFen pTeteHueu 10 assert any SnauOW OF claim
to the territory within these boundaries, except
Texas and the Republic Of Mexico. The United
States, in the prosecution Of the war, expended
| immense treasure and sacrificed thousands OF lives
in defending and indicating the sovereign rights
| of Texas against Mexico over all the territory
comprchended within her asserted boundaries
The war terminated in success. Mexico was van
pushed and her claim relinquished in favor Of
| Texas, the only power which asserted claim
adverse to that of Mexico. And now the Gov
eminent of the United States, instigated by fana-
| ticism and abolitonism, is ungraciously brought
forward to assert against Texas, a member Of our
own confederacy, the very claim which was con-
quered from Mexico and which we resisted by
,oar when asserted by foreign power.
| II would be difficult for the Government of the
United States and the General then in command,
to offer the world plausible apology for the bat
ties the Rio Grande, if the title ofTexas to the
land were then bad and not entitled to the respect
OF the United States. Ifthe title of Mexico to the
land were then good, by what system Of casuistry
can the United States be justified in conouerner II