The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1850-08-22

west longitude. IL throws out also all north of
the parallel OF $50 Of north latitude west of the
| lo3d meridian. New Mexico then, is confined to
| the limits between the thirty-seeond parallel of
| north latitude and the thirty-eighth parallel
and, 80 far as the actual settlements are concern
| ed, between the Rio Grande and the one hundred
and third degree Of west longitude. Now. the
simple question, with respect TO the amendment
Of the Senator Of Missouri, Is this-shal these
limits be so extended TO include that territory,
which a majority Of the Senate believe to belong
TO the United States as an acquisition from Mex
ico and within which the inhabitants are entitled
to the privileges guaranteed by the treaty shall
| vote for that amendment. And | will also say
that | cannot vote for this bill, which proposes
for New Mexico limits on the east Of the Rio
Grande so restricted
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 dis
| pose Of the general question between the United
States and Texas
have no disposition to take from Texas a foot
nor an inch which rghtfully belongs to her; but
| have regarded from the beginning this question
| Of boundary as one to be adjusted-snce the Uni
ted States now stands in the place Of Mexico-by
some fair and competent tribunal have been
willing TO leave it TO commissioners and have vo-
ted for propositions intended TO effect that object
have been willing TO commit its decision 10 the
supreme Court OF the United States, and II seem
tadi IN % tesi s'S.Dr'7 - 3's''l .7".. ~
OSOi, NcN',o, noeaSg p1ore Ihsn ms eSsNsstIsa
/ nreo by advocates 4 exam cam Ger
tainly the absence of all bias against the claim Of
Texas, on the part Of that tribunal, will not be
| doubted. If neither OF these modes Of termina-
ting the dispute should prove acceptable to Texas,
would, for one, consent cheerfully TO refer the
whole matter to the arbitrament OF intelligent
and disinterested individuals whether Americans
or foreigners. But, in either case, the question
submitted should be the question Of boundary,
to be determined as matter of law and fact upon
the acknowledged principles applicable to such
cases.
But I have been from the beginning opposed to
buying from Texas territory which already be-
longs to us. have been, and always shall be,
opposed TO yielding TO Texas one-hslf Of the ter
ritory which belongs to the United States east of
the Rio Grande, aud then paying her the enor-
nous sum Of ten millions Of dollars for abandon
ing naked, worthless claim" claim 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
euarging concessions TO the demands of Texas
The first proposition Mr.. BENToN'sl Was, in my
Judgment, reasonable and fair, without pecuniary
considerations on either side The second Mr..
CLAYsl was substantially the same. The third
1.-The Clmmittee'sl conceded largely to Texas be-
sides offering her ten millions Of dollars The
last Mr.. PEARcR's conceded still more, and made
| the same offer Of money And now the chairman
of the Committee on Territories Mr. DoUsLAsl
proposes still further TO curtail the limits of New
| Mexico, diminished by all this mutilation.
think II wrong and cannot vote for it,
Mr. BRADBURY of Maine replied to Mr.. Chase,
insisting that New Mexico did not extend below
the 32d degree of north latitude, and that Texas
was rightfully entitled to the country between
1890 west longitude and the western boundary
line of the Indian territory of the United States,
yielded to Texas by Mr.. Pearce's bill In sup
port of the second Of these positions, he said
The honorable Senator will permit me to re-
mind him of one fact, which would have no little
weight If we came to settle this question of bound
airy in any court of law that the United States
in 1888 established boundary between Texas
and our own territory, and. II my recollection is
correct, extended this line up 10 the Indian Ter.
ritory apprehend that If we should undertake
to claim the territory west of that line, Texas
would hold up to us the treaty relating to
| this boundary and the proceedings under the
treaty, to show that we, by our own acts, acknowl
edged the territory to belong to Texas
Mr. CHASE The argument addressed to the
Senate by the honorable Senator from Maine
requires very few words of reply. | have not
said, nor have undertaken to say, where the exact
boundaries of New Mexico are to be found. be-
lieve with the Senator from Missouri, Mr. BEN-
roN,l that the ancient boundary of New Mex
leo, as described by Humboldt, commenced below
the Puerco The line which that distinguished
1 couupor propvyed w3 In correspsadence With
that boundary. am satisfied, also, that subse-
quently, by the DEGREES Of the Congress of Mex
leo, the southern boundary of New Mexico was
removed to point higher up the Rio Grande.
But the question in this discussion has never been
between New Mexico and Texas. a New Mex
! ico" has been referred to because, being an or
ganized Territory, and In danger Of dismember-
ment from the claims of Texas its situation has
necessarily been much considered But sir, the
real question, so far as boundary Is concerned has
always been between Texas and the United
States. That question must be determined by
the facts applicable to the law contained in two
instruments. | refer TO the annexation rcsolu-
ton and the treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo The
Texas annexed under that resolution embraced
only that territory propnly included wIhm and
rigMfully belonging 10 the Republic Of Texas at
the date of annexation That was The Republic
| of Texas annexed that was the State Of Texas
admitted The territory which that State may
| have come into the possession Of between the date
of annexation and the ratification of the treaty of
| Guadalupe Hidalgo Is subject to q class Of con-
sderations which shall not now 90 into. But
waving that--for this discussion is not now re-
ally in order--the question Of boundary between
| the United States and Texas Is to be determined
by their respective possessions the goth Of De-
cember, ls45 the date Of admission.
Now, sir, apprehend that the title of Texas
never went beyond her possession. That possession
was undoubtedly coextensve with her limits az
Mexican State Whatever she had added TO
that possession by conquest prior to annexation
was hers also. Beyond that her title did not 20.
And now ask the honorable Senator from Maine
IL he says the possession Of Texas, either origi
nal or acquired, ever went to the hundred and
second degree Of west longitude
Mr. BRADBURY, lin his sest) will answer
your question by and by.
Mr. CHASE. The honorable Senator says he
will answer by and by, and shall be glad to hear
his response
The President. That is the correct course
Mr. CHASE. ! say that It never did and the
Senator from Missouri demonstrated the fact be-
yond all question. Then, sir, the territory west
of that meridian and between that meridian and
the Rio Grande belonged TO the United States
Such believe TO be the judgment Of the Senate.
Could the sense of this body have been ascer-
tanned by a direct vote upon a resolution en-
bodying this proposition, no one, II seems to me,
can doubt what the result would be- Well, sir,
all that territory between the i02d degree and
the Rio Grande, and south Of the committees
line from point twenty miles above FL Paso to
the southwestern angle Of the Indian Territory
was surrendered to Texas by the Omnibus bill,
and that territory contained 10000 squsre miles
Of land, according TO the computation Of the Sen.
ator from Missouri. All that territory has been
surrendered by the bill OF the Senator from Ma
ryland, and thirty thousand square miles besides.
II is true that his Texas boundary bill retained
for the United States an angle Of eight or ten
thousand square miles, which the committees line
surrendered to Texas. This makes the quantity
actually given up by the bill Of the Senator from