The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1850-09-01
CONGRESSIONAL.
SPEECH OF ma. UNDER WOOD,
or KENTUCKY,

SPEECH OF mR. UNDER WOOD,
KENTUCKY,
On the Texan boundary Question detiUsred a, the Senate
August 8, 1850
The Senate having under consideration the bill pro-
posing 10 the State OF Texas the establishment OF her
northern and western boundaries, the REIMBURSEMENT by
the said State OF all territory claimed by her exeror to
said boundaries and of all her claims upon the United
States
MIR. UNDERWOOD said Yesterday, ME- President.
stated some OF the motives which probably would have
their influence IN making or rejecting the bargain pro-
posed to Texas in this bill then considered how far the
question OF slavery ought TO operate upon the proposed
arrangement The fret question to which wish TO call
the attention OF The Senate this morning is, whether the
purchase are about to make is valuable in ITSELF sup
posing that Texas has the title Is the land the domain,
or any advantage that we get sufficiently valuable to
justify the payment o ten millions OF dollars Accord
ing TO the bill the line dividing the territory to begin on
the hundredih degree OF weft longitude. where inter
the parallel OF 6a degrees OF north latitude, and TO
run west three degrees Of longitude and then south to
the thirty degree OF north latitude and then west
TO the RIO Grande II gentlemen will look at the map,
they viii that this line comedies to Texas part
tude and east Of the 1o3d degree Of longitude.
low the 32d degree OF moth latitude making almost
nehalf OF the territory of New Mexico the side
of the Rio Grande, and leaving the United States The
other half. How much OF the land side of the
line is vacant and unappropriated no one knows. Is
there any part OF II not now owned blythe people inhabt
ing the valley OF the Rio Grande around Santa te! What
information have we on the subject None, none This
country has been settled by Europeans and their descend
ants more than two hundred years
Now sir, if the country be valuable for agricultural
purposes, for mining anything else, is rot the pre-
sumption strong and irresistible that most il not all OF it,
has long since been appropriated and is at this time the
private property OF its Inhabitants? We are bound by
treaty obligations to protect them in their property
and possessions. From the great length OF time during
which the country has been settled the strong desire of
the human heart 10 own good lands, and the facility with
which Spanish and Mexican grants could be obtained
think the inference is conclusive that there are no lands
OF any value remaining vacant in that part OF the terri
tory winch py MS olll me unhei States are 70 retain
Those portions OF the country now uninnabed by civilized
men, lying upon the headwaters of Red river, and extend
ing to the Arkansas river, sterile regions elevated
than three thousand feet above the level OF the sea-
fit only for buffalo pastures and hunting grounds In these
plains the savage Cumanche roams and lives Ages will
probably pass by before civilized hands will possess and
cultivate country SO unnvitns and lily adapted 10 agr
cultural purposes No better evidence of the general
sterily of the whole of New Mexico can be required
the fact that has been possessed by Europeans and
their descendants than centuries and yet the
entire population both sides the Rio Grande, including
the civilized Pueblo Indians has not reached 100000
souls. No under these facts can believe for mo-
men that the land we TO obtain is worth the tenth
part of the money we are 10 pay. Whatever land we
may get will be incumbeed by the Indian title, and,
far shall be so lncumbered before we can appropriate
and convert ii to agricultural purposes, must exn-
guish this title How much that will cost, leave
be answered by experience OF the past in reference
TO ali the tribes with whom we have treated The idea
has been suggested that ought to purchase the title OF
Texas in order TO convert the country between the Red
and Arkansas rivers into Indian territory, and to annex II
to the Indian country already set apart Tor the use oi the
Indian tribes There is necessity to make the pur-
chase for any such object because the country between
the Red and Arkansas rivers west OF the Tooth degree OF
ives, longitude now belongs 10 the indians. Bal, If il
necessary TO make the purchase Tor that object, this
bill obstrucs and embauasses its mplishment, by
permitting Texas to hold all the country north OF Red
rye adjoining the territory already set apart Tor the ln
dams far north as The 80 deg 30 mln oil north la-
,ude If hereafter we find proper to enlarge the Indian
territory by extending further westward this bill puts
it in the power OF Texas 10 demand ten millions for
/ fhu ntrt htfh ht fhp hlI MaT faia In hnr
Mr. President, the foregoing considerations satisfy and
convince that to obtain in this bargain no
equivalent in land for the 600 to pay, and
that, IL anything Justify the passage OF the bill,
must look Tor il elsewhere Where else shall we find
itl We told that the strongest motives urging its
passage are the prevention OF civil war between Texas
and the United Saies and the peace, concord and BROTH
ery love which IT will dihuse throughout the Union.
/ That we have talked much about civil and
boodshed this chamber and much has been poured
out by the press on the same subject as TO alarm persons
of weak nerves. shall not deny. That there was,
is, any real danger growing oui OF the dispute IN
relation the boundaries OF Texas, cannot believe.
Surely the people OF Texas and OF the United States have
not far lost their that they ready 10 decide
the rights OF Texas by the sword. When is this TO
begin and who shall begin il II is only little more
than two years since the treaty OF peace with Mexico was
concluded and has ventured TO that the Uni-
ted States has withheld from tramped upon night
OF Texas further back than the date Of the ratification OF
the treaty OF peace. Up to that time objection was
made any quarter the conduc, OF the United States,
in holding Santa Fe and the surrounding country, and
governing its inhabitants II the Uaited States or its
government. has injured Texas il has been done since
peace made with Mexico, and the injury consists IN
holding the possession OF Santa Fe and surrounding
country, and claiming as territory belonging to the
United States. Will Texas, for such injury as this
not yet three years old, go to and march army
to Santa Fe, in order TO expel by force the author
tues OF the United States The first powerful OBJ
sction TO such a procedure the part OF Texas
IL TO be found in the shot haste" Of rash act
Look at the history OF country-look at the his.
tory OF all civilized nations and see with what for
bearance they receive injuries, and what delays, N
diplomatic efforts redress them, before the sword
is drawn How long has il been since claims
against Portugal originated, which abou, TO evenuaie
in rupiure II has been long that memory cannot be
relied on and must consult records for the answer
How long did ancestors, when coloniss, petition
and against British oppression before draw
ing the sword and declaring their independence How
long did suffer under orders in council and submit 10
mpressment before declaring war in 1912 Sir, refer
lions of the earth in times past 10 show that we have
wisely delayed, not two or three, bu tens and twentes
OF before drawing the sword to vndcae dear
rights, and that, too agains, foreign nations Sba
Texas in the face o. all these examples to the contrary
draw the sword against their brethren of the United
Saies-aganst those who bone OF their bone and
flesh OF their nesb-because the government will no
forthwith upon her demand surrender territory which
Texas claims Sir, ask for pause. Let whether
cannot settle the dispute through the insirumen,at,
OF the Supreme Court wisely provided by the oonstItu
ton for the adjustment of such controversies and which
believe to be the appropriate and preferable remedy
Or If that - not satisfactory, let refer the matter
commissioners TO arbi,rate and adjust BY my votes
have already indicated my willingness TO adopt either
i these plans.
But, sir, if we have injured Texas and she draws h'
q ~ A.. cx