The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1851-07-13
From the Piekens tAia) Republican.
Letter OF Hon. VMs. IL. King.
rlsr H.Lls, Dallas county, June lo, Il

greater importance ian they deserve; but ag one OF
your senators ia the councils OF the nafoo have
right demand them all political question, and
peelaly those affecting your personal security and
rights OF property shall proetta 10 lay then before
you with the transnsss that becomes man Conceal,
men OF opinions, deliberately formed. never has, aud
trust never will constitute any part OF my cbaacer uu
lie or private. shall never be de .ered iom giving W
teIdnee IRON TIE apprehension tha they may ho DC ~
accordance with those wnlch oth,r entertain or hai ~
making them known may affect inurlousy ny elahu-
ing as public man. This Is well undel sood py 'n1sg
who have known me longest and know me Dest ~
fall into eIor To which every man IS liabie Wnen CON
WINGED OF it, promptly admit and reifact IL but much as
desire obtain the appreciation OF me people nave
the honor 10 represent, should feel that was
worthy OF the position IN which has pleased them to
place me il to gain were 10 trim my sails to every
popular breeze, and violate the obligations owe TO our
common country | condemn no man for honestly dill
ferng with in opinion but have too much seli-re
spect, and trust independence, to surrender my own
TO please any man or any Set OF men.
had supposed that my action on the so-called com
promise bill of the last Congress, together with the
sons which governed IT. has been so plainly marked by
my public declarations and as preclude the pos
sby OF misrepresentation From the tenor OF your lei
ter this not to be the brief statement will
trust, put end 10 all doubt cavi for the future.
was as you know, one OF the Committee of Thirteen
which reported the compromise bill. Without gong
into detail will only say did not receive my sanction
In committee nor a0old under any circumstances hdUe
giuen II my support as reported The parts to which
princpa objected the admission OF California as
q State with territory more extensive than any three
States OF the Union, and the clause which emancpaes
slaves brought into the District for sale could not fail
that most OF those who advocated the admission OF
California with her exayagan limits would. but for the
prohibition of slavery contained in her constitution,
have been the most violent IN opposition to her re-
cepon into the Union. She owed her admission, then,
TO the TACT that the people OF the slsyeaoldas States
rtory which OF right equally belonged to the
citizens OF all the States. Finding that there
fixed majority determined 10 perpetIate this
act OF injustice, it brought 10 The direct vote. made
effort curta the mis Of the State that territorial
government might be established south Of the Sierra Me-
~yoIu huf
slion, proper in itself, would succeed IT, however,
failed and California became State with thousand
miles OF seacoast No man could have iet more indg
than did at this partial and unjust leglslaon but
am free to declare that have not been able 10 in the
violation OF The constitution. as commended Tor
by many Did consider il, neither could nor would
have expressed The opinion that the people OF the South
could with honor, and under the circumstances should
acquesce in what had been done. The constitution sim
and the only restriction upon the exercise of this power
49, that the State constitution shall be republican No
territorial training IS required no assent q Congress to
the formation OF The constitution previously given Is TO
be found The whole matter rests with Congress TO
ercise sound discretion.
As respects bill for abolishing the trade in
the District OF Columbia which you particularly call
my attention. wish TO be distinctly understood Al an
early period OF the first session OF the last Congress
declared IN my place in the Senate that stood ready al
any time authorize the breaking up OF those slave
in the midst Of the ciIy-ohensve as they were to
decrncy, pejudical health, and in many respects.
shocking 10 humanity 1t was my desire TO clothe The
corporate authorities of the city with the power to abae
them as nusances whenever they conceived proper
do So aad for such bill would unhes'tatingy have
given my vote-ha,ng tears that by such measure
slavery District would be affected nluriousy The
people more directly interested entertained no appehen
sion OF the kind, and think can say with certainty
that nine nh. Of the citizens desired those slave marts
10 be suppressed however, voted against the bill as II
passed, because the eualy Tor violating the law as te
emancipation OF the alsse; could mol, under any
circvrstanee hire g-sn my sanction 10 emane,poton u
the District Of Coiambia Tietter as penalty Jor me
violat,os of toir, any other manner; aad should
feel bound, duty 10 roe for ne repeal Of me emanei-
Permit me 10 adyer, Tor a moment TO the other provis
ions OF the bill as reported by he committee and o
which, after undergoing several modcauons gave my
vote. And, FIRST The boundary OF Texas am fully
satisfied that giving support 20 the line as as reed
or, although had con,ended for dleren, boundary,
promoting The true intetes.s oil texas aha OF tne
whole South.
The camor which has been raised agans, the measure,
that slave territory had been surrendered 10 fee.soi'
has no foundation IN tact
MANY. however, without giving the subject thorough
examination, have been made to believe that the bounda
nv of Texas had been established at the time OF her an
nexaton, and that her right 10 the whole Territory east
OF the RIO Gfande, IRON Ills mouth 10 It's source was un
questioned Nothing can be more erroneous When
Mr. Calhoun. Secretary OF Sale negotiated treaty
with the Texas commissioners, he openly declared
that he considered her true western boundary 10
be line to be drawn through what was known
the desert, lying between the Nueees and the
Rio Grande That treaty was rejected by The Senate
AT subsequent session the resolutions which passed
authorizing the admission of Texas expressly reserved
Mexico her western boundary-notbing was said about
the Rio Grandeapd thus Texas came into the Union,
her western boundary unsettled. The effort to settle
by negotiation having failed Gen. Taylor was directed
to take position the east bank OF the nver ne re-
moved from Point Isabel, and encamped opposite Maa-
morna The battles OF Pao Alto and Resaca de la Palma
followed What then said by MIR. Calhoun, the
bold, fearless, and incorporating advocate and de-
leader OF southern rights and southern nteress lie de-
nounced in most indignant terms the administration oil
Col Polk for having involved the country IN an unjust
and unnecessary by the invasion OF Mexican 'ei-
tory Texas, then State OF the Union, had not IN the
opinion OF that distinguished man, any well founded clam
to any territory bordering the Rio Grande and in that
opinion be was sustained by many who now denounce
q fabess TO the South all those who aided IN securing
TO Texas the undispued possession oil territory large
enough for two States, the night TO which they had
strongly denied TO her.
No territory has been surrendered TO free soil unless
the people of Utah and New Mexico, when they form
constitution and apply for admission as States think
proper TO prohibit slavery; and for the unrestricted
else OF this right OF the South have always con-
tended.
Governments were established for these Territories IN
strict accordance with all the territorial acts heretofore
paused. with the exception OF that Tor oregon mere le
NO restriction ns to slavery and the abest statesmen ana
most distinguished ursts of the South entertain no doubt
that the owners OF slaves may with perfect security take
lean law Had the southern senators and representatives
entertained any doubt this subject, do you suppose
that they, and all, would have voted for the bill
known the Clayton bill, which left the question
the validity of the Nj xcan law to be decided by the SUI
meme Court satisfied all were that the decision
could NOT fail sustain the rights OF the South Yet
thee a. now the advocates for Resistance contt nded that
the hw Of Mexico excluded slavery, That they did no,
themselves believe what they roundy asserted APP
en, from the fact that they voted anst the amend