The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1853-02-16
CONGRESSIONAL.
SPEECH OF HON. J. A. PEARCE,
OF MARYLAND ;

Delivered IN the Sendte February TO- 1888, on the bill
TO provide Tor The payment OF such creditors of the late
republic OF Texas as comprehended in the act Of
Congress oil September o, 1850.
Mr.. PEARCE said
Mr.. President This bill has been introduced by the
COMMITTEES on Finance in consequence of various memo
rails frsm the creditors OF the late republic OF Texas
which were referred 10 that committee at the last session
of Congress In order TO understand this whole subject
fully, it is necessary 20 back the period of the an
nexauon OF Texas. II will be recolleced that by the
resolutions OF annexation passed by Congress- and adop
ed by the convention OF the people of Texas sundry con-
dons agreed TO by this and the people
of Texas. BY those conditions the powers OF the gov
ernment OF Texas and It's property divided between
the government OF the Union and the State OF Texas
The late republic of Texas ceded 10 the Union its exte
nal sovereignty, hut retained its internal sovereignty,
modified, TO be sure IN some particulars by the operation
of the constitution Of the United States As 10 the prop
ery, Texas ceded 10 the government of the Union all its
military and naval property. forts, arsenas, navy yards.
dock yards &c yielded up also to the government of
the Union its revenue from duties on Imports and II re
tanned full right to all its public lands propose read
from the articles OF annexation single passage
"Said State when admitted into the Unon after ced ing
to the United States all public edfces orfsatons bar
racks ports and arbos navy and DOCKS mag
means pertaining to the public defence belonging 70 ,hs said
republic OF Texas, shall retain all the public funds, debs,
all the vacant and unappfoprated lands lying within rs
ties Of said republic Of Texas residue of ad lands
after dschargng said debts and liabilities TO be disposed OF
liabilities become charge upon the government OF The
United States"
The Senate will perceive that when the government OF
the Union took from Texas that which was ceded to her
by the articles of annexation the remaining property was
not left solely the future operation of the dominion OF
Texas but stipulation made that the public lands of
Texas should Ieman TO IT, to be applied by il TO The pay
ment oi lis public debts and then there was further
stipulation that event should the government OF the
Union be liable TO be charged for those debts Now sir
this seems be little extraordinary, upon the supposi
ton that the effect of annexation by itself would create
such liability the United States Why provide against
liability which by possibility could arise from the
act which you were about TO dor Certainly the least
that could be said would be that it was supeerogatoy
that il was very unnecessary course
But we know the fact 10 be that when these Tesolu-
tions OF annexation pending many members OF the
Senate only entertained the idea, but avowed it in
argument and maintained with great force and yigor that
the operation of the resolutions of annexation would be
to transfer the government OF the Union part of the
obligations OF the late republic OF Texas. very well
recoect that member OF this body on that occasion
exhibited one of the bonds OF Texas, and called
upon the Senate mark It's terms, TO notice the pledge
which il made Of the revenues from duties on imports,
and bade them beware how they entered into an arrange
which would inevitably charge the treasury OF the
United States with the payment al all events, OF that
class OF liabilities. 1t certainly. 10 say the least,
oguard against the apprehension OF this liability that
this provision was inserted II the United States were
under liablyi the resolutions oil annexation could
impose no charge upon the treasury OF the United
Staesthe provision in the articles OF annexation, that
in should the debts and liabilities of Texas be-
charge upon The government OF the United Sales,
was evidently nugatoIy A liability created by the act
you about TO perform by the new associations into
which preparing 10 enter with Texas would not
be avoided by the declaration OF the will OF this
government, that il should no, operate such change.
The very attempt to rid ourselves of liability thus ap
pretended is pretty good evidence OF conviction that
such labiiIy would attach.
The consequence was that almost as soon as the
nexalon OF Texas had been completed, and she had be-
member of this Union, certain OF her creditors
peoned This government Tor the payment OF her debts
10 them In S46 several such petitions were presented,
upon which, in one least, a bill was introduced
and debated things remained 1880, when the
boundary act passed. by which agreed 10 give 10
Texas ten millions OF dollars in consideration OF the
cesson by her Of her claims TO territory exterior TO her
present limits and OF her REIMBURSEMENT OF certain
other claims upon the United States, including liability
supposed and alleged liability, on the part OF the
United States Tor certain debts of Texas vi these ten
millions the act stipulated that more than five millions
should be issued TO Texas until releases should be filed
at the treasury OF the United States OF all their claims
by certain class OF creditors, TO witt those creditors
who held claims against Texas secured by pledge OF
revenues derived from duties on imports This eserva-
lion sufficiently signifies the opinion OF Congress al that
time that the United States II not under absolute and
perfect obligation TO pay that class OF debts due by the
late repabc OF Texas, were at all events, under some
sort Of obligation, liable IN some way-ony equitable II
YOU pleaseio charge upon their treasury in respect to
these debts There could not be any pre,eRce Tor re-
tanning in the treasury of the United States any part oi
me stipulated sum. y y Were not mat the treasury o.
eventually liable for part OF the obligations which
Texas had incurred in the days OF her separate exist
And sir. II we look back TO the debates which took
place in the Senate at that time, this view will be amply
confirmed. Iecollect that before that tme when Mr.
Clay introduced his celebrated resolutions, he proposed
TO provide for the payment by the Uoied States OF tina
portion of The debt OF Texas 10 which this bill applies
HIS fourth resolution was in these words
R,o'red, That II be proposed 10 the State Of Texas
that the United States will provide for payment Of al
that portion Of the legitimate and bona fds public debt
that State contracted prior 10 its annexation TO the United
States. and for which the duties foreign imports
pledged by the said State to its credto exceeding the
OF s. in consideration OF the SAID duties sc
pledged having been longer applicable 10 that object al
the said annexation, but having become
payable this Uped States and upon the condition, also
that the sad State OF Texas SHALL by solemn and
thcnc Of her legislature, of convention reluqnlst
70 the United states claim which has TO any part
New Mexico"
In the course Of his remarks on this resolution, Mr.
Clay said:
at proposes that tho government Of the United States vii
provide for the OF all that portion OF the debt o
Texas for which the duties received upon imports frou
foreign countries pledged by Texas. mo whcr
sho had authority 10 make pledges. How much 1t will
amount to. have endeavored ascertain; but all the
been received and it is very essential this tme be
cause is the principle and not the amount, that is
worthy OF consideration. Now, sir the ground on which
base this liability the part OF the United States to
portion OF the debt of Texas Is not TO me- IL Is one
which have again and again announced to be an opinion
entertained by think It's founded upon principles
,tfnsl truth and justice. Texas being an independent
power recognised such by all the powers OF the
e Invited loans be msde her tocnable her to prose
cue me Then existing between her and Mexico. She
o'o lhose whom she invited make these loans, that u
he dntie onl epni m