Richmond daily times. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1853, 1851-04-17
(Signed) JAMES BROOKS.
Hon. THos. J. RUsK, Sena tor from Texas.
Copy Of the reply of the Hon. Thomas ]. Rusk.


WASHINGTON, Sept. II, 1850
Dear Sir: have received your note of this date ma
king inquiry IN relation to certain PROPOSE ions made to
me by Mr.. Seward, of New York. Some month";
teel, usually called the Omnibus bill was before the
Senate, Mr. Seward called upon and said he thought
Texas was in bad eompany,I.hat he was disposed to
treat her kndly-that he did not believe she had a
good title to New Mexico, but he believed the United
States bound to pay her debt-that he oud vote
to do SO at any time, if Texas would reliuquish her
claim to New Mexico; that all his friends would do so
and that il would draw him up bill to that effect,
he would have it introduce into the House of Repre-
sentaves, and had no doubt it would pass. He said
ne was better friend to Texas than many ofttose
who were supporting the Omnibus bill, and that it
wou be better for Texas to dsconnect herself from
the bill then before the Senate listened all this,
but dd not draw up any bill the time nor for sew
five times, wheher had drawn the bill, to which an.
swered that had not He then left for heme and was
gone several days. When he returned he asked me
whether had 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 mem
Der OF the Senate upon the subject
concluded 10 draw up BILL and did so, h1ina tho
inc at "a degrees of north latitude, and Inserting
twelve millions OF dollars the compensation. TO this
he objected, but proposed bill pay the debt OF Tex
lnqushog her claims to New Mexico proper as she
stood previously, uder the organization of Mexico
He said this was groundupon which he and his friends
could sustain themselves, and that, if would draw
such BILL he would have introduced into the House
OF Representatives. thereupon caused BILL to be
drawn by of the clerks Of the Senate which ham
ded to him.. Some time afterwards the Omnibus bill
defeated; Mr. Pearccs bill then Introduced ard
on its passage, Mr.. Seward voted against it, Some
time afterwards, Mr.. S. approached me and sad he
had election the millions but he did not like
the word "cede in the BILL He remarked that G
had voted against it. told him had observed the
fact and astonished at it after Whist he had said
to me. said that the bill conceded more territory TO
New Mexico than her former limits to which he IN.
swered that the word "cede" gave rise 10 his only OBJ
lection to the ard thai he saw there were enough
votes without his, DC.
Soon alter the bill went TO the House learned lrt m
highly respectable source that Mr.. s. exerliug
himself to defeat it and Immediately called upon him
and reminded him of his previous conversation with
me on the subject. then told him that after what he
had said in the Senate, had no disl os ion to assa
man who had declared he would not defend himself"
but when he had sought me and made declarations
which were calculated to deceive and misead me, in a
matter of vital importance to Texas and the whole
country, he assumed different position of which he
should not avail himself with mpunty, aud that de-
sired then TO know whether he had be exertne him
self to defeat the BILL He replied that he had heard #
the charge-that ltswas untrue-that it was made b.
Mr.. Fillmore and his friends to get votes or the bill
that far from attempting to defeat the bill he had as
vised his friends who could sustain Themselves at heme
in such course, 10 vote Tor the blI-tha there was 30
danger OF ITS not passing-that he was in bad health
and was gong home, not expecting TO be back until al