The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1851-04-23


ance 10 defend and maintain our vote, by all .
the authorities that exist, will you be kind
enough to sta'e what these propositions
were7 Yours respectfully.
(Sianed) JAMES BROOKS.
Hon. Tmos. j. RusK, Senator from Texas.
Copy ofihe Reply Of the Hon. Thos. J. Rust.
WASHINGTON, Sept. ], 1861.
DEAR Sir:-1 have received your note Of
this date making inquiry in relation to GER
Tain propositions made TO me by Mr.. Sew
arl. Of New York. Some months since,
while the bill reported by the Committee OF
Thirteen, usually called the Omnibus Bill,
Was before the Senate. Mr.. Seward called
upon me and said he thought Texas was in
bad company-ihat he was disposed TO treat
her kindly-that he did not believe she had
n good title to New Mexico, but he believed
the United States were bound to pay her
debt-that lie would vote 10 do 70, at any
time. If Texas would relinquish her claim
to New Mcxico That all his friends would
do so. and that. IL / would draw him upa1
till TO That effect, he would have il intro.
duccd into the House Of Representatives
and had no doubt il would pass. lie SAIL |
he was better friend to Texas than many
If those who were supporting the Omnibus
| Bill. and that II would be better for Texas
| to 'tis,onnect herself from the Bill then be-
fore the Senate. listened to all this, but
did not draw up any bill at the time, nor
for several days afterwards. lie asked me-
| think, four or FIVE times. whether had
drawn the bill, In whichaI answered that ]
had not. lie then lett for home and was
cone several DAYS. When he returned, he
again asked me whether had not yet drawn
up that bill replied that had not, when
he again urged me to do So then learned
from him. that he had spoken to another
member Of the Senate upon the subject. j
concluded 10 draw up bill ard did so, FIX
ling the line at 81 degrees Of North Latitude,
inserting twelve millions Of dollars as the
: compensate IN.
To this he objected, but proposed bill TO
: nay the debt of Texas, provided il did not
: exceed ten millions; Texas relinquishing her
, claims to New Mexico troper, as she stood
/ co. He said this was q ground upon which
he and his friends could sustain themselves,
and that, il would draw suci, q bill. he
). would have it introduced into the House Of
5 Representatives. ] thereupon caused such
4 a bill TO be drawn by one Of the Clerks OF
+ the Senate. which banded TO him. Some
i. time afterwards, the Omnibus Bill was de-
e feated, Mr.. Pearce's Bill was then introdu.
ccd, and, on its passage, MIR. Seward voted
J.. against il, Some time afterwards, MIR. 5.
e approached me and said he had no objection
| 10 the ten millions, but he did not like the
:, word " cede in the Bill. lie remarked
l. that he had voted against it. told him
had observed the fact and was astoniihcd u.
s. it, after what he had said to me- said tina,
the Bill conceded more territory TO New
e Mexico than her former limits, 10 which he
n answered, that the word cede" gave rise
q to his only objection to the measure, and tina
h he saw there were enough votes w,hou,
1t his. Sc.
lol Soon after the Bill went to the House,
learned from II highly respectable source
re that NJ. S. was exer,ing bulseIf 10 defea
,e t, and. Immediately called upon him AM re
p minded him Of his previous conversation
1" with me. on the subject. / then told hin
lie that after what he had said in the Senate
n. had no disposition to assail maj
OF who had declared he would not de
fend HIMSELF" but when he had sought m
lst anil made declarations which were cslcula
ed ted &c de eve aud mislead me, in a matte
ii. Of vital importance to Texas ana The Who'll
10 country, he assumed different position, {
IS which ae should not avail himself with i'm
e, punity, ard that ] desired, then, to kno'
&C. whether he had been eserting himself to de
IL ieat the Bill. lie replied that he had hear
ng of the charge-ihat it was Lntrue-ihat
TO was made bv Mr.. Fillmore and his friend
he TO get votes for the Bill-that. SO far fro
nd attempting TO defeat the Bill, he had advise
ay his friends, who could sustain themselves
tut home, in such a course, to vote for the hi
ofl-that there was no danger OF its not pa
is sing-that he was in bad health and was e
he ing home, not expecting TO be back until u
OF ter the final vote upon the Bill. On q
rise following day he lett the city, and was abse
,ch during several days, but do not rememb
ify. how long
liz. This is, in substance. what passed belwc'
us US. ! enclose you copy Of the Bill wifi
of handed to him.
all must IN justice to myself, say, that,
ich Mr.. Seward did, as is stated, exert his
ate fluence TO defeat the Bill. be did not decei
liti- me, for placed no reliance upon his sta
leir menis, from the beginning, and did not,
EN- tho slightest degree. alter my course, in CO
of sequence of what be said to me.
for Yours truly, THOMAS ]. RUSK.
Hon. JAMES BRooKs.
ere The letter of Mr.. Rusk proves these fac
sdi- LIST. That Mr.. Seward agreed to vote
!. bill giving TEN MILLIONS to Texas.
I'd. That the condition was, that TIE,
lsc' relinquish to the United States all claim
fo.- the territory knows as New Mexico
of THUS it appears MIR. Seward himself p
nj. posed 10 Mr.. Rusk the Ten Millions, on c.
sideration Of relinquishmcnt-w which, as
'ne fourth measure Of tho Compromise. be n
ned pronounces ms " humilating terms" dictai
ted: by "a State in attitude Of sedition J"
The The only escape that can be made TO
was conclusion is, that Mr.. Pearce's Bill
of Bill that finally psssed-which gave Tel
Ten Millions. 10 very different Bill as
s in Boundary from this Mr.. Seward agreed
t;on 20 for. Ii will be observed, however, q
. nj ] Mr.. Seward did not object before MIR. X,
limo 70 the boundaries in Mr.. Pearce's Bill
lne TO the word "cede only nay. that he !
nd. advised his friends 10 vote for the Bill, win
had they could sustain ihemselves,-this the v,
and Bill he now pronounces humiliating." d
Jack as dictated by sedition r
,berl What remains for us 10 establish now,
the make this exposure complete. is this: I
bey Mr.. Pearce's Bill gives less territory TO II
ccs. as than Mr.. Stewards Bill, OF 1.-THE territ
ed a known as New Mexico" or, as Mr.. II
ION. states it. " New Mexico Proper"
ura. New Mexico Proper, that is. the STATE
,bia. New Mexico, is known by all who h
rms studied the maps OF New Mexico and
,em. boundaries. and the map printed in Paris
/. of orier Of New Mexico. TO I've a smaller ie
adj tory than Mr. Pearce's Bill that is TO
sh, Mr.. Seward gave Texas Ten Millions
with more territory than Mr.. Prare's lih {
Bill which passe,i). Mr.. Ilitliar'l. Of \
had demonstrated this 10 a speech he male
et,er a map he showed in the House.