The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1850-07-25
THIRTY-FIRST CONGRESS.
FIRST SESSION.
WEDNESDAY,, July "a, 1850.
SENATE.


MILWAUKEE, AND MISSISSIPPI RIVER RAILROAD.
Mr. DODGE of Wisconsin, moved, and the SEN
ate proceeded the consideration of the bill grant
ing to the State of Wisconsin donation of public
lands aid in the construction of a railroad from
the city of Milwaukee to the Mississippi river. The
bill was amended so as TO conform to the other bills
for similar purposes passed this session The bill
was then ordered TO be engrossed for third read
ing.
MICHIGAN CANAL.
Mr.. FELCH moved, and the Senate proceeded TO
the consideration of bill granting the right OF way
and donation Of public lands 10 the State OF Mlchi
gan, to aid in the construction OF canal In mat
State. And the bill was ordered 10 be engrossed
for third reading.
NAVIGATION OF THE WESTERN WATERS.
Mr. SEBASTIAN moved, and the Senate pro-
ceeded the consideration of the bill TO provide adj
dtional security for the lives and property OF per-
sons navigating the western waters. And the bill
ordered TO be engrossed for third reading.
WIN. HARDIN.
Mr. RUSk moved, and the Senate proceeded to
the consideration of the bill for the relief of VIM
Hardin; and after discussion the bill was laid on
the table.
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES eovERSMEyTs.
The Senate then resumed the consideration OF the
bill reported by the select committee of thirteen
TO admit California into the Union as State; pro-
yiding territorial governments for Utah and New
Mexico; and making proposals TO Texas Tor the
settlement of her western and northern boundaries.
MIR. FOOTE withdrew his amendment for the
present.
Mr.. BRADBURY submitted the following amend
ment:
THAT the President of the United States be and
he is hereby authorized, by and with the advice
and of the Senate, to appoint three commits
sioners, who shall have power 10 agree with such
commissioners as may be appointed under the le-
gislativc authority of the State Of Texas, upon
line of boundary between the territory OF the
United States and the said State of Texas, com
mencing at the point where the Rcd river Is inter
degree
ing the southwest angle of the Indian territory,
and running 10 point on the Rio Grande, to be
agreed upon by the said commissioners; and also
10 agree upon the terms conditions, and considera-
ton upon which such line shall be cstabllshed and
the proceedings and agreements of the said com
mssioners shall be- as soon as possible transmit
ted TO the President of the United States, to be by
him submitted to Congress, with such recomnen-
dations as the circumstances, III his opinion, may
require for the approval and action OF Congress
thereupon and the said agreement when APP
proved by the Congress Of the United States and
the legislature Of the State OF Texas shall be obga
tory upon the parties"
Mr.. RUSK moved 10 amend the amendment by
striking out all after the first word that and in-
.'the boundary of the State of Texas hereby
admitted to extend to the Rio Grande, defined in
the statute of limits of the late republic Of Texas
passed in the year eighteen hundred and thirty
six"
And the question being taken, the amendment TO
the amendment was rejected by the following vote
fEAS.-Messrs. AtchisoR Barnwel, Berrien,
Foote, Houston, Hunter, King, Mason, Morton,
Rusk, Sebastian, Soule, Turney, and Iuee-lS
NAYS.-Nlessrs. Badger, Baldwin, Bell, Brad
bury, Bright, Csss, Chase, Clarke, Clay, Cooper,
Davis of Massachusetts, Dayton, Dickinson, Dodge
of Wisconsin, Dode c Of Iowa. Fe!ch, g reene, Ham
lin, Jones, Aangum, Miller, Norris, Pearce, Pratt,
Reward, Shields, Smith, Spruancc, Sturgeon, Tn
derwood, Upham, Wales, Walker, and Whit
comb-3i.
Mr. HALE moved to amend the amendment by
adding thereto, land until such commissioners
shall have been appointed, and the duties dcyolved
upon them by this act shall have been executed
and performed, and the boundary between the
State of rexas and the territory Of the United States
shall be defnitiyely settled, the rights and posses
sions of Texas and the United States in and TO the
territory in dispute, shall remain the came as they
at the date Of the exchange Of the ratification
of the treaty Of Guadalupe Hidalgo."
Messrs. RUSk aud BUTLER opposed the amend
ment, and Messrs. DAYTON, BERliEN, and
HALE supported the amendment.
Mr.. BENTON said that since the present sub
ect had been before the Senate the sun had crossed
the equator, leaving capricorn behind, and APP
preached cancer. IL was now on it, way back from
cancer 70 the equator, and will be back 10 capri
corn before we are done, at the rate at which We
have been progressing. That IL what the sun has
done, sir lie has come forward, and he is now
the back track. And We are also rctrOgradiug,
sr, and, at this speed We shall not only rcrOgradc
10 capricorn but to Cape Horn. The proposition
10 strike from the bill all that part Of IL
latiag 10 Texas; far the motion was right and
proper. But II proposed to insert in It that which
was n nulhty, or something worse.
On the 2yth Of January resolution was intro
duced in the Senate dcclarng that it the duty
OF Congress TO fix the western boundary u Texas,
up 20 the southern boundary Or New Mexico, tax
ing part Of New Mexico. SC. This was the
starting point on this subject. IL was then pro-
posed TO take greater part u New Mexico; to
take over 10000 square miles OF New Mexico and
add il TO Te1as. This was going FAR enough from
the starting point. 1t proposed that the
whole of New Mexico should be given TO Texas.
This was retrogrsdng little faster than the sun.
lie pointed out the difficulties arising from the
amendment TO any settlement Of the question The
commissioners TO be appointed on the part OF Texas
would be men Who would be required and demand
cd by their State, and who would insist a line
running to the highest waters flowing into the Rio
Grandc. This tncy would inEist upon positively.
How were the others 10 be selected; Were they 20
be chosen with view 10 their opinions tIe sub
Ject, were they 10 Be chosen a. men who have no
opinions on the subject lie couteudcd the difficulty
OF settling the subject would be in ways avoided
by this mode. IL would break out again when the
President appointed and the Senate we're Gale
upon tocOnhrm the commissioner. Their conhrms-
ton would depend upon the result VI inquiry a. 10
their sentiments ON the subject
He said that It would appear, from the fact that
the amendment was considerably entertained, that
the Omnibus bill--is sOul and IL hfc, this Texas
boundary qucstiOn-was gone. The bill was dead.
This combination Of .cssurcs was justified on the
ground VI settling tbIs Texas boundary, and that
being now failure the bill vas dead. First We
had the prescription Of the thirteen doctors and
into the commission business. he commission
business was one which man generally took mp
after having failed ia others, aud when he had mel
ther credit capital Of HE own to proceed upon
The amendment proposes that these commIs-
sionors shall line commencing at the point
where the Red river IL intersccted by the one hun
dredth degree Of west longitude. Where wac the
line 10 be run Toa point on the Rio Grandc 20 be
agreed upon by the commissioners. Where would
that point b, II maybe az tho mouth, Or al The
bead Of the Rio Grande. They may run a line, for
chart guide IL laid down Tor their government
which will absorb all New Mexico. aud throw bet
into the jaws Of Texas Texas may be allowed q
swallow all Of New Mexico, not only the feet and
legs, but the body, the arms and the bead-just a.
the boa constructor swallows the OK, not leaving
even the horns.
lie said that he would never consent TO confer on
these commissioners power and authority 70 do an
act which he believed Congress had no power e
do. He would never vote to confer upon commits
sioncrs the right and and authority 70 run a line
giving Texas the territory TO the head Of the Rio
Grande. lie did not believe Congress had the right
do 20. lie alluded TO the other powers conferred
upon the commissioners, and maintained that there
wa precedent for this commission IN the legis
latiye history Of the country He again referred C
the objects VI the Omnibus BILL the supposed bcne
hts 70 the G 'ntry which were to result from the
combination Of this Texas question with the Other
- emil III. FNrs