Daily Richmond times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1849-1850, 1850-06-13
CONGRESS OF THE UNITED STATES
PART OF THE SPEECH OF MR.. BENTON.
IN SENATE,
MONDAY. June 10. 1880.


Mr. President, the morast informs US that there are
some subjects too light for reason-oo grave for RI
dlcue and IN such cases the mere morais may laugh
or cry as ne deems best But not so with the egisla
tor. His business is not laughing or crying Whim-
pering or simpering is not his mission. Work is his
vocation, and gravity hist vein and in that vein
proceed to consider this nteection of Texas with all
her multfarious questions, into the bowels OF the Cali
fornia bill.
In the first place, this Texas bill is compact de-
pending Tor Its validity on the consent of Texas and
put into the California bill part of compromise
and general settlement of all the slavery questions
and OF course the whole must stand together or fall
together. This gives Texas veto upon the admission
OF Calliornla This is unconstitutional, well as I'M
Just; 1o by the constitution States are to be aG-
mltted by Congress, and not by another State and
therefore, Texas should have veto upon the ad-
mission OF California. In the next place, Texas pre-
sents great many serious questions OF her own some
OF them depending upon compact already existing
with the United States-many of them concerning the
United States-one concerning. new Mexco-but no
boundary nominaly with New Mexico in reality with
the United States, as the owner of New Mexico, and
that might be reason for joining her in bill so far as
that boundary is concerned with New Mexico. bnt il
can be no reason for joining her to California The
western boundary of Texas the point of collision with
New Mexico and this plan of the committee instead of
proposing suitable boundary between them adapted
to localtles or leaving to each its actual possessions
disturbing no interest until the decision of title upon
the universal principle of uti poSsidet instead of these
obvious, and natural remedies, the plan of the commit
Co ueep julO tI6 possessions oil the United
States in New Mexico, rousing the question which the
committee processes to avod-the question OF EXTEND
ing slavery-and disturbing the whole United States.
And here must insist on the error of the commit
tee IN constitutional and municipal law before point
out their mistakes in geography and history They
treat New Mexico as having controversy with Tex
as-as being in danger OF collision with her-and that
compact with Texas to settle the boundary between
them, is the only way to settle that controversy and
prevent that collision. Now, all this is mistake
The controversy not with New Mexico, but with the
United States and the ludicia power of the United
States has jurisdiction of it, Again possession is title
until the right is tried and the United States having
the possession may give government once accord
title.
l avoid all argument about rght-the eventual right
of Texas to any part of what New Mexico before
the existence Of Texas. l avoid that question Ami
cable settlement OF contested claim, and not adjudca-
from any quarter to satisfy that the Texas ques-
tons ought to be settled. happened to know that be-
fore Texas was annexed, and brought in bills and made
speeches tor that purpose, at that time brought in
such bills SIX years ago. and again at the present
sion and whenever presented single, either by myself
or any other person, shall be ready to give it gene
rous consideration but part OF the California BILL
l wash my hands OF il.
am against disturbing actual possession, either that
OF New Mexico or of Texas and therefore, am in IA
vor OF leayngto each all its population, and ample
amount OF compact and homogeneous territory. With
this view all my bills and plans for divisional line be-
tween New Mexico and Texas-whether of 1914 or
lS5o-eft to each all its settlements all its actual pos
sessions, all its uncontesed claim and divided the re-
mander by line adapted to the geography and natural
division OF the country, well suitable to the poti
cal and social condition OF the people themselves This
gave longitudinal line between them and the longi-
tude 100 degrees in my bill of 1884, and 1902 degrees in
my bill of lS50-and both upon the principle of
leaving possessions intact Texas having extended her
settlements in the mean time The proposed line of the
committee violates all these conditions 1t cuts deep
and arbitrarily into the actual possessions of New Mex-
CO. such as she held them before Texas had existence;
and so conforms to principle of public policy private
right, territorial affinity, or local propriety 1t begins
on the Rio del Norte, twenty miles in straight line
above Ell Paso and thence, diagonaly and northeast
wardy, to the point where the Red river crosses the
longitude OF 100 degrees Now, this beginning twenty
miles above Ell Paso, is about three hundred miles in
straight line (near six hundred by the winnings of the
river above the ancient line of New Mexico and this
diagonal to the Red river cuts about four hundred
miles IN straight line through the ancient New Mex-
can possessions, cutting off about seventy thousand
square miles OF territory from New Mexico, where
there no slavery and giving it to Texas where there
IS This constitutes serious case of lacking than
even that OF sticking incongruous bills together and
calls tor most conSlderate examination of all the cir
cumstances it involves. / will examine these circum-
stances lrst making statement, and then sustaining
by proof
Ell Paso, above which the Texas, boundary is now
proposed to be placed by the committee one of the
most ancient OF the New Mexican towns and to which
the Spanards OF New Mexico retreated in the great In
dian revolt OF $780, and made their stand and thence
recovered the whole province. 1t the residence of
the Lieutenant Governor of New Mexico, and the most
Southern town OF the province, Taos was the most
Northern Being the right bank of the river the d.
ydng line between the United States and the Repub-
lie OF Mexico, leaves it out Of our limits, and conse-
9qently out OF the present limits OF New Mexico; but
New Mexico still extends to the Rio del Nore at the
Paso and therefore this beginning line proposed by the
committee cuts into the ancient possessions of New
iMexco-a possession dating from the year 1896 That
valley Of the Puerco Peeos the upner nar n t
two parts leaving the lower and larger part to Texas
the said Rio Puerco and its valley, from head to mouth