The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1850-08-10

1 believe she is entitled not one inch. | would
neither buy it, nor would take It by transfer
Nor do wish, nor am willing to give to Texas
any portion Of the territory Of New Mexico, or
of the United States, 1t the same time that
professcd to purchase from her portion Of her
territory Now, this is subject upon which
perceive that opinions are very different. My
views as to the legal question accord mainly
with those expressed by the honorable senator
from Kentucky, (Mr. UNpERwooD) He and
have both been, for considerable part OF our
lives, land lawyers, in the habit OF looking into
questions of boundary and title; and whether it
be simply professional tendency, or whatever
else it may be, my mind has been irresistibly
drawn to the conclusion that Texas is entitled
to no portion of the territory north OF the line
which have indicated in this amendment That
being the case, do not wish to vote her any
more territory. want to settle that boundary
truly and rightly. am also willing to vote her
large sum OF money, but not for the purchase
of territory, but for other reasons expressed in
this bill, and which have weight with me. The
obligation which the United States came under
when Texas surrendered her sovereignty, or
that portion Of it, at any rate, which is recog-
nized abroad-the obligation which the United
States came under, not to her, but to the world,
estly paid---upon the ground of that obligation,
would vote her sum Of money, and what
should consider large sum too am anxious
10 vote for this BILL but cannot go for it in its
present FORM / cannot GO for it, unless those
amendments which deem reasonable amend
ments are passed And, Mr.. President, it does
not affect my mind at all to allude to the terri
bic consequences that are going to result from
a rejection of this measure. Whatever is right,
and Just, | am willing to enact, and would
hasten to enact it, even in the face Of threats.
should be more reluctant to do it, no doubt, if
threats were held out than if they were not !;
but, even with them presented to me, j would
still do what believed to be just and right
Bnt would not go one inch further, for being
told that the failure to do it was to produce a
civil war; no matter where or by whom Sir,
whenever nations begin to buy their peace in
any way; when Rome began to pay the Cloths
for returning, after they had entered upon her
territories; when one nation begins to pay anO-
ther for ceasipg to threaten hostilities ag inst
her, she invites as matter Of course, every body
else to agrees, ii it be case Of aggression; and
the honorable senator, who thinks far differently
from me on this subject, will allow me to say that
Think an attack on the part of Texas upon that
territory would be case or aggression upon the
territory Of the United States. That is the
opinion to which have come. That is the con-
cusion of my mind upon past reasoning, and
upon the past examination which | have been
able to give this matter. And, thinking so, I'M
less my opinion is changed, | cannot vote
against that opinion, upon the superstition that
the failure so to vote is going to produce an at-
tack by Texas upon the territory OF New Mex
ico fBaF8G e.Ssi
But, Mr.. President, not only would be I'M
willing to give vote ofthis kind upon that ground,
but, for another reason, should be reluctant TO
Mexico to Texas. In the line proposed by the
compromise bill, as well as the line proposed by
the present bill, a portion Of what consider to
be New Mexico is proposed to be given to Texas;
and to this / cannot consent. TX
Mr.. PEARCE. The line that was proposed by
the compromise bill to commence twenty
miles above Ell Paso. found that there was great
objection on the part of sundry members OF the
Senate to run the line to Ell Paso; and therefore
consented to run it to the 32d degree of north
latitude. Now, what population will be cut of
by running the line which propose? WHAT'S
the precise latitude of Ell Paso nobody can say.
A number Of maps exhibit it as north of the 32d
degree. / believe there only two maps show
ing its position as south of the 32d degree. In
one Of them think it is represented as about
fourteen miles below that degree. If that be cor
rect, all the country that we cut off is fourteen
scattering rural population on the American side
Of the Rio Bravo del Norte, which, along these
twelve miles, might be cut off by any line. admit
that it is desirable to go to I'll Paso; and If the
Senare would go to that line, would modify my
bill so as to adoptit. But do not think they will
go for it; and am not willing to leopard the bill,
when the consequences so considerable, merely
for the sake of taking in the small scattering New
Mexican population which may be found scat
tered along these twelve miles to which have re-
ferred .Ea ~
Mr.. EWING. Mr.. President, if that be the case,
do not know why the the particular point which
is understood to be true line ofNew Mexicoon the
east Of the Rio Grande should not be adopted.
But if there be any population there, and any land
owner, there, and any property owned there, the
United States have no right to surrender the land
or the people to the Government of Texas. We
have guaranteed as nation, the lives, the pro-
perty, and the religion of that people, in the
treaty Of Guadalupe Hdalgo. Their number is
small They are few. they are inconsiderable.
But yet the treaty, in all its force and effect, at
taches to that small number, and to that small pro-
perry. But that small number and that small
property ought be protected and transferred
to any other sovereignty. II ought to be protected
by us. 1t ought to be protected by the United
States, whose faith is pledged for its protection.
And it cannot be protected by us if we surrender
that territory and that people Texas, for land
of Texas would then Immediately extend over
the land and the titles to land would be settled, not
by our laws but by the laws of Texas. So would
the question with respect to forfeiture for resist
ing if they should now resist or should ever here
aii er resist, the authority of Texas.
Mr.. President, there is one case which has oc-
Cured to which did not desire to call the atten-
ton Of the Senate, but which l am afraid will be
characteristic, to some extent at least, of the eff
feet of transfer Of that kind, of portion Of ter
ritory and portion of property to Texas. When
the commissioner of Texas was IN that country,
organizing counties and extending the jurisdiction
OF Texas, there was United States officer in COM
mand there. He procured what is termed head
warrants Texan head warrant-enttling him to
one league square of land He levied it upon one
of the old towns there, represented to be about
one hundred and fifty years old--the town of Don
Ana, a small town, but nevertheless an old one.
The United States officer, in command Of the
United States troops there, procured a head war
rant and levied 1t upon that town. 1t frightened
the people exceedingly. The people appealed to
the officer at Santa Fe. He demonstrated.
Mr. PEARCE. Will the senator allow me to
state one fact.
Mr.. EWING. Certainly.
n vnV>A n H. A. L.