Glasgow weekly times. (Glasgow, Mo.) 1848-1861, 1853-09-15
NO. 80.


run and mark the new boundary, had not
been passed at the time of ratification of
the treaty; it came up after took my seat,
and was opposed by me. | opposed it, not
only upon the grounds of original objections
to the treaty, but on the further and obvi-
ous ground that the revolution in Mexico
her actual ndependence-ha superseded
the Spanish treaty in the whole article of
the boundaries, and that it was with AIexi-
co herself that I'VE should now settle them.
The act was passed, however, by a sweep
ing majority, the administration being for il;
and senators holding themselves committed
! by previous votes; but the progress of events
soon justified my opposition 10 it. The coun-
/ try being in possession of Mexico, and She
at war with Spain, no Spanish commission
ers could go there TO Join ours in executing
it: and so the act remained dead letter up
on the statute-book. Its iutility was after
wards acknowledged by our government,
and the misstep corrected by establishing
the boundary with Mexico herself This
was done BY treaty in the year 1928, adopt
ing the boundaries previously agreed upon
with Spain. and consequently amputating
our rivers, (the Red and the Arkansas
and dismembering the valley of the Mis-
slppl 10 the same extent as was done BY the
Spanish treaty of 10. l opposed the ratifca-
tion of the treaty with Mexico for the reason
that | opposed its original with Spain, but
without success. Only two senators voted
with me, namely, Judge William Smith, of
South Carolina. and Mr.. Powhatan Ellis, of
Mississippi. Thus saw this treaty. which
repulsed Texas, and dismembered the valley
Of the Mississippi-which placed foreign
dominion on the upper halves of the Red
river and the Arkansas-placed a foreign
power and a wilderness between Missouri
and New Mexico, and which brought nom
slaveholding empire TO the boundary line of
the State Of Louisiana, and almost TO the
southwest corner of Missouri saw their
treaty three times ratified by the american
Senate, as good as unanimously every time,
and with the hearty concurrence of the
American public, and the full applause of
the American press. Yet ] remained in
the Senate to see, within few years a po-
litical tempest sweeping the land and over
turning all that stood before it, TO get back
this very country which this treaty had
given away; and menacing the Union itself
with dissolution, if il was not immediately
done, and without regard to consequences.
But of this hereafter.
The point TO be now noted orthis treaty of
1919 is, that it completed, very nearly, the
extinction Of slave territory within the lin.
its Of the United States, and that it was the
work of southern men, with The sanction of
the South. 1t extinguished or cut off the
slave territory beyond the Mississippi below
36 degrees 30 minutes, all except the dia-
gram in Arkansas. which was soon to be-
come State. The Missouri compromise
line had interdicted slavery in all the vast
eXpanse of Louisiana north Of 36 degrees 80
minutes, this treaty gave away, first 10 Spain,
and then to Mexico nearly all the slave ter
ritory south of that line; and what little was
left by the Spanish treaty was assigned in
perpetuity by laws and by treaties to diff
} ferent Indian tribes. These treaties, Nndi-
an and Spanish,) together with the Mis-
souri compromise line-a measure contem-
poraneous with the treaty--eXtinguished
slave soil in all the United States territory
; west OF the Mississippi, except in the dia-
gram which was TO constitute the State of
: Arkansas; and, including the extinction in
Texas consequent upon its cesSion to nom
f slavehelding power, constituted the largest
$ territorial abolition of slavery that was ever
, effected by the political power Of any nation.
The ordinance Of 1887 had previously extin-
, guished slavery il all the Northwest ter
D riory- all the country east Of the Missis-
e sippi, above the Ohio and out TO the great
f lakes; so that at this mcment-era Of the
S second election Of Mr.. Monroe-slave soil,
! excepting Arkansas and Florida. was ex-
t tinct in The territory of the United States.
!, The growth of slave States, (except of Ar
: kansas and Florida was stopped: the in
S crease Of free States was permitted in all
! the vast expense from Lake Michigan and
E the Mississippi river TO the Rocky noun.
e tains, and to Oregon, and there was not a
e ripple of discomfort visible on the surface of
: the public mind at this mighty transformation
i. of slave into free territory. No talk them
e about dissolving the UriOn, if every citizen
n was not allowed togo with all his property,
j. that is all his slaves, TO all the territory
: acquired by the ''common blood and treas
/, ure" of all the Union. But this belongs
S to The chapter of 1914, whereof have tie
IS material 10 write the true and secret histo-
lie ry, and hope TO use it with fairness, with
it Justice, and with moderation. The outside
IS view of the slave question in the United
rs States at this time, which any ehronicler
ut can write, is, that the extension of slavery
ST was then arrested circumscribed and con-
4. fined within narrow territorial limits while
IN free States were permitted an almost unliIn-
n, tied expansion. That is the outside view:
the inside is, that all this was the work of
It, southern men, candidates for the presidency
e. some in allowance, some in prdcsenti, and all
W yielding TO that repugnance the territorial
SO aggrandizement, and slavery extension in
Isl the southwest, which Mr.. Monroe mention,
,n ed in his letter to General jackson as the
p internal difficulty which occasioned the
ry cession of Texas to Spain. This chapter is
as "a point in the history of the time which will
r. require TO be understood by all who wish to
of understand and appreciate the events and
ch actors of twenty years later.
M ~, II is known to science that when we have