The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1850-06-22

every town marked on the map the length and courses
OF all the rivers deneated upon H. II Is conclusive only
10 that portion OF the southern boundary OF New
boundary q the United States While therefore, think
that Texas has not good title 10 that portion OF
country which lies upon the Lower Rio Grande, am
~ ann Willing to eoacsde % Texas ali the country
which lies between the Lower Rio Grande and the Nue.
territory live six times as large as the State OF
Mary Iand--and am willing TO settle the question about
the territory above upon what deem terms OF bealIty
although not SUCH perhaps, some senator's would be
willing grant And this will do, not as compromise
OF doubtful claims but sacrifice Tor the preservation
OF peace and harmony But sir, deem il absolutely
necessary that we should make final adjustment oil
the question now and gel rid forever Of the agitation which
attends IT, and which has long obsucted the public
business Its therefore with me quite or almost sine
qua that such a provision shall be made that u
Texas declines the proposition which we make TO her IN
o hss sa ps SOME use n Ssss e
Supreme Cour. is So between the ronederacy and its
members No one will think Of referring this matter TO
q private and individual arbitration, which would De
beneath the dignity OF the government to state no other
objection, nor TO foreign power, whose determination
OF domestic question Is not 70 be thought OF for mo-
mem, And, SIR the Supreme Court IS unSaesonaby .he
10 whom alone il can be safely trusted The Supreme
Court has interest against Texas. Its interest IS to
maintain the claims Of right and justice and to preserve
the harmony and perpetuate the integrity OF the Union
Ii is an Independent independent by its tenure
OF Office, and by the constitutional guaranty TO ITS mem
bers of undminished salaries while they in ONCE
and is on every score entitled to the highest respect II
s the only trbunalo which can with any propreiy,
refer question Of this sort II was intended among
others for precisely such controversies That SIR Is my
opinion and trust will receive the sanction OF the
Senate
Mr. RUSK will say but word. sir and that is this
/ hope the senator from Kentucky will withdraw his
amendment Because, admit Tor the sake OF argument
the power of the Supreme Court to decide this matter IS
in the nature OF the impossible for IT to settle the
question between Texas and the United States NO one
will deny the general principle OF law, that war between
nations oberates all boundary lines. War existed be-
tween Texas and Mexico at the time Texas was annexed
and the authority to settle the matter BY treaty was de-
rived by the United States from Texas Now, to deter
mine this question, must determine the line, and there
nothing upon which they could proceed to determine
where line should be- Il is just that sort Of question
where lines being obliteraed in state OF waras was
done at the time of annexation-new ones could only be
established by agreement. The question OF boundary
was unsettled and the United States had authority to
settle il by treaty and according to the argument OF
the senator it was not done. If the line between Texas
and Mexico not settled by the treaty. there is no land
mark by which the court could proceed to judgment 1t
must therefore, be adjusted by agreement between the
United States and Texas and can be settled in other
way unless be according to the act OF the Legislature OF
Texas.
II operates as threat against the State OF Texas She
will consider it II question that cannot be settled
by any court and there be other mode OF deter
Mt FOOTE Nothing can be more obvious than the
fact that il this amendment is be proposed the bill will
be defeated The honorable senator can himself per-
Mr. UNDERWOOD. will state TO the gentleman
that am informed that the amendment would be renewed
if to withdraw IT, There is therefore. no necessity
of withdrawing II my part, and we can just as well
take vote upon it, But my desire was TO let il lie over
until we all have time to think about il, and that we
should now g 60 into executive session ss
MIR. FOOTE, lcontnuing) What is the effect OF the
amendment Ii our proposition could have been acceded
to at first should not have had this debate The prop
oson before the body will lead to an extended debaea
debate which will be almost inteminable dozen gen.
emen will discuss ii TO my certain knowledge would
like know what reason there IS Tor settling this ques
ton at the present time at all Why not submit re-
spectful proposition to rexassuch proposition be-
ing submitted her, she will be able TO accede to, with
out injury to her local interests Why accompany
such proposition as this with what must De regarded IN
Texas menacel Cannot this question be settled after
Texas shall have acted upon our proposition! Why
should we embarrass this ball with a proposition
like this, which will necessarily and obviously d..
vide the warmest friends OF the bill Men consc
entiousy tenacious upon constitutional points, as well
upon this upon the other side OF the chamber The
from Maryland says that the adoption OF this
amendment will be SINE qua non with HIM, and there
are several other gentlemen here who look upon Its
rejection in the light This. at any rate, is my own
pedcament and in spite OF the authorities read with
which have been familiar for macy years past, but to
which 1 attach no importance, considering them, when
properly expounded, "a directly against his argument
based upon them. shall vote against the amendment
hope that the senator from Kentucky will consent 10
withdraw the amendment in order TO avoid the unprota
BILE debate at the present time upon proposition which
may turn out in the end TO be wholly unnecessary. IL
he shall withdraw it, and il should be Offered again by
any one inimcal 10 the BILL then IL will be voted down
not proper 10 be adopted at present
Mr. CLAY said II wish to make two or three observa-
tons upon this subject In the first place, LIDO not think
the amendment proposed by my colleague will be found
TO be necessary II provides for contingency, and is
contingency upon contingency. AT the same tme
would add, that / in favor OF the principle oil this
amendment but do hope my friends from Mary land will
be satisfied with this course and let The bill pass be
defeated II IL is to be defeated, and bring in joint reso
luton afterwards distinct measure, providing Tor the
contingency OF the acceptance by Texas OF the prop
osltion Now, that would accomplish everything, with
out embarrassing this measure, by producing necessity
OF gentlemen side the other being dissatisfied,
either by the adoption rejection OF the amendment, and
therefore obsirucng the course OF the bill itself
Mr. President, must own that hundred times almost,
during the progress oil this BILL have been quite ready TO
yield. and say for one, withdraw from all further efforts
for the passage OF this bill | never have a
We exhibit spectacle OF see-sdw, putting the least
weight SIDE while there Is an obstruction OF the
balance on the opposite side Whilst all parties are, or
ought 10 be. DESTROYS OF hamonzing the country and Of
restoring tranquility, difficulties almost nsu
perabe, upon points oil abstraction upon points of
10 discourage the souiest heart IN any effort 10
modaie all these difficulties. Sir, hoped yesterday TO
get through all the amendments BY to morrow morning
except proposed by snaior the opposite side,
Mr.. S0uLE Five are now upon US Tor consideration
how many will be offered, IL is impossible TO deler
mine.
have risen 10 express the hope that we shall to-mor
row, set out all amendments which may be offered,
cept The one 10 which have REFERRED land that should
get through and finish them, 10 try TO bring this
naming Amendment before the Senate in the course OF
next week and hope by Thursday aext we may come