The Davenport gazette. [volume] (Davenport, Scott Co., Iowa) 1841-185?, 1851-06-26


claimed by conquest all that territory which
was commonly called New Mexico, east Of
the Rio Grande. She claimed also, BY
these limits, what her constitution had de-
clared and established MS the proper limits
of Texas. This was her claim; aud when
she was admitted into the United States,
the United States did not define her terri
tory. They admitted her as she was. We
took her as she defined her own limits, and
with the power of making three additional
slave States. Isay "we." but did not al
ways remember that. Now, in this state
Of things, let us 60 back to 1850. Wha,
was the state Of things in 1850? There
was Texas claiming all that, or q great par,
Of that which the United States had acqu-
red from Mexico, as New Mexico She
stated that it belonged to her by conquest
and by her admission into the United
States, and she was ready to enforce her
claims by the force of arms. Recollect
that is not all.
A man must be ignorant Of the history
Of the country who does not know, that al
the commencement Of 1850, there was a
great agitation throughout the whole South.
Who does not know that six or seven Of the
largest States Of The South had already ta-
ken measures for eparation-wcre prepar,
ing for disunion in some way? They con-
Cured with Texas, for Texas was prepared
or preparing to enforce her rights by force
Of arms. Troops were enlisted, and don't
you remember gentlemen, that at this state
Of things how manv thousand persons iu
the South were Unaffected towards the Tn.
ion, or were desirous for breaking it up.
or were ready to Join Texas-to Join her
ranks, and see what they could make in a
war to establish the rights of Texas to New
Mexico? The public mind was disturbed.
There were thousands and thousands rea-
dy 10 join Texas. Now, all the extreme
South at this time was isaffected towards
the Union. These very men were in a
condition TO fall into any course of things
,ha, should be violen, and destructive =
Well then, gentlemen, what was TO be done
again, as far as Texas was concerned? Al
low me 10 say, gentlemen, there are two
sorts Of foresight. There is military fore.
sight, which sees what will be the result of
due appeal to arms; and there is also .
statesman-like foresight, which looks not
at the result Of battles aud carnage. but
through the results Of political disturban.
ces. the violence Of faction carried into
military operations, and the horrors a,ten
dant on civil war.
lnever l had a doubt, gentlemen that il
the administration of General Taylor had
gone to war, and had sent troops into New
Mexico, that he would have whipped them
in week. The power on one side was
far superior to all the power on the other
But what then? What il Texan troops.
assisted by thousands Of volunteers from
he dsaffected States, had gone to New
Mexico, and had been defeated and turned
back, would that have settled the boundary
question:? Now, gentlemen, ! wish had
ten thousand voces--I wish | could draw
around me the whole people Of the United
S,ates-and wish | could make them all
hear what now declare in my own con.
science, before the Power who sits on high,
and who will Judge you and me hereafter,
as my solemn belief, that if this Texas con-
,roversy had not been settled by Congress
in the manner called the adjustment meas
lres, civil war would have eusued-blood,
American blood, would have been shed
and who can tell what else would have
been the consequence? Gentlemen, in an
honorable war, if a foreign foe invade U.s.
if our rights were threatened-if it were
necessary to defend them by arms-I am
not afraid Of blood. And If am too old
myself, | hope there are those connected
with me who are young, and who are will
ling to defend their country to the last drop
Of their blood. (Sensation.) But ! can
not express the horror feel at the she'd
ding of blood in controversy between one
of these States and the government Of the
United States, because see in it, in the
sight Of Heaven, disruption Of all those
ties that mako US great and happy pco-
pie.
Gentlemen, that was the great question,
the leading question, at the commencement
ofthe year 1850. Then there was the 9TH
er, and that was the matter Of the Fagtive
Slave Law; let me say word about that.
Under the provisions Of the Constitution.
in General Wasbington's administration,
in the year 1898, there was passed Law
for the restoration oflugilive slaves, by gen.
eral consent. No one opposed il at that
period-it was thought to be necessary to
carry the Constitution into effect. The
great men in New England aud New York
all concurred in it. II passed and answer
ed all the purposes expected Of il, till about
the year lS4l or 1912, when the States
interfered to make enactment in opposition
toit. The law Of Congress said that State
Magistrates might execute the duties OF the
law; some Of the States passed penal enact
ments, involving penalty on any who ex-
ercised such authority under the law; 9th
ers Of them denied the use Of their jails to
carry the law into effect; and generally, nt
the commencement of,be year 1850, it was
absolutely say It was acknowledgements
pensible that Congress should pass some
law for the execution of this provision OF
The Constitution, or else give up that 'ns.i-
tuition entirely. That was the question.
was in Congress when the law was
proposed. Twas for proper law; ! had
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