The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1850-07-16
mendrnent was decided in the Affirmative a. fol

amendment Wac decided in the affirmative as fol-
lows
YEAs.-Msssrs. Atehison, Badger, Barnwell,
herren. Butler Clay, Clemens, Davis of Mississip-
ri, Dawson, Dickinson, Dodge Of Iowa, Downs,
foote, Hopstan, Hunter, Jones, King. Morton,
Rpsk, Sebastian, Shields, Soule, Sturgeon, Turney,
p9derwood, Wehater, and Yulee-2l.
NAYs.-Messrs. BALDWIN, Bradbury Bright,
sachusetts. Dayton, Dodge Of Wisconsin, Feleh,
Greene, Hale, Hamlin, Miller, Norris, Phelps, Sc.
ward, Smith, spruance, pPhsm. Wales, walker,
and Whitcomb-2a.
Mr.. SEWARD moved to amend the bill by in.
serng, in the 10Th and asth sections, the following
Words
"That neither slavery nor involuntary seryitude
shall exist IN the aaid territories OF New Mexico
and Utah, except for the punishment OF crimes,
whereof the parties punished shall have been duly
convicted
And the amendment was rejected without
count.
Mr.. WALKER moved TO strike out all Of the bill
after the sth section. Leaving only that part of
the bill providing for the admission Of California
Mr.. BRIGHT said that silent vote upon this
amendment might be wisconstrued To vote for
the labor Of the Senate for the las. three months.
He had supported the raising of the committee, and
had given his support TO the bill till this time He
would now support it, He had been in favor Of the
admission OF California, and thought that . union
OF the measures would be the surest means Of attain
ing that end. He would support this bill till he was
satisfied that Il would place The admission Of Cali
fornia in jeopardy. He did not think 1t had been
jeoPardixed YET. He believed the bill was stronger
now than when It was frst reported lie would
vote against the motion Of the Senator from Wis
cousin. He had voted for the Wilmot proviso un.
der the instructions of the Legislature of Indiana,
while he believed that not one tenth of the people
Of that State was in favor of il.
Mr. CLAY said that the question presented by
the amendment was, whether the admission Of Cal
ifornia should be adopted a single measure, or
as one with the compensation and equivalents con-
tanned in the bill
MIR. BERRIEN called the attention of the Sen
ator from Wisconsin to the point of parliamentary
law, that, if the Senate refused TO strike out pro-
posed, then all motions to amend that part of the
bill proposed TO be stricken out would be cut off.
MIR. HALE asked if it were in order to move to
amend the 9th section, before the motion to strike
out was put.
The CHAIR said that it would be in order. If
the motion to strike out the last thirty five sections
of the bill should be negatived, then it would
not be in order to strike out any portion of those
sections.
Mr.. BENTON suggested the propriety of with
drawing the motion for the present, to enable
gentlemen to submit their amendments.
Mr.. WALKER then withdrew his motion to
strike out.
in express terms to the people of Utah and New
Mexico the right to the writ Of habeas corpus,
which amendment was adopted
MIR. BENTON submitted the following amend
ment TO that part of the bill defining the proposed
boundaries OF Texas.
Strike out from the second line, proposition first
OF section thirty nine, after the word 'Begin-
ning," these words: sat the point on the Rio del
Nortc commonly called Ell Paso, and running up
that river twenty miles, measured by a straight
line thereon and thence eastwardy to a point
where the hundredth degree of west longitude
crosses Red river, being the southwest angle in the
line designated between the United States and
Mexico, and the same angle in the line of the ter
ritory set apart to the Indians by the United
States;'' and insert after the said word "Begin-
ming" these words: cat the point in the middle Of
the deepest channel in the Rio Grande del Norte
where the same is crossed by the one hundr ed and
second degree Of longitude west from the meridian
of Greenwich; thence north along that longitude
TO The thirty fourth degree of north latitude; thence
eastwardly TO the point at which the one hundredth
degree OF west longitude crosses the Red river
MIR. BENTON then addressed the Senate in sup
port OF the line proposed by this amendment, and
in opposition to that proposed by the committee.
He said that the difference in the extent of territory
cut from New Mexico and added 10 Tcxas was
1000 square miles; that is, the line of the commit
tee took seventy thousand square miles of territory
from New Mexico and added it 10 Texas.
He then examined the terms of the bill and the
language Of the report of the committee upon this
part OF the measure, and commented particularly
upon the terms used in both. He pronounced the
line proposed by the committee to have possible
earthly cause to make it entitled to any Difference
No reason was given for it. He denied the right of
Texas 10 this Territory, and exhibited map pre-
pared by CordoVa, winch had been approved by the
representatives of Texas and the State authorities
Of Texas to show that in lS4s Texas did not assert
or claim this Territory as part of her domain.
He said that the committee dismembercd New
Mexico. They cut off both legs and gave them to
Texas and left the trunk to stump it the best way
II could. They cut New Mexico in twain below
the hips
He adyerted to the improperly and irregularity
of conjoining these incongruous subjects in one
measure. He described them all. lie alluded TO
the nicely balanced state of parties this bill in
the Senate, and that the turn Of two votes either
way could decide its fate. He described the pro
posal 10 pay Texas blank millions OF dollars, and
said that the fate Of the bill depended the amount
paid TO her. Her Senators desired To protect her in
terest, and il she were not paid sum sufficient in
their estimation, they would vote against the bill.
Here then, the fate Of California and the Ter
rories placed upon the hazard of many millions of
dollars which 10 be paid to Texas, for property
which already belonged 10 the United States.
Mr.. RUSk obtained the floor, and, on HE motion,
the Senate adjourned.