The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1853-03-26

0, solemn pledges, replies to the cheated creditor we
pleaged 10 elect nothing Ofis less immoral say
we peusea indeed our revenue from customs, but We
uafe seen III 10 abolish all duties imports which
have slrc rgh, to do as all governments must al all
.es reserve right to modify their financial systems
a;ma, a"a therefore your pledge Is IN effect nothing Could
s'a' CONDUCT be defended in the OF an individual
and II not how be in the instance OF nation
on, although the general power and right Of
leKhy 70 modify lis policy is not TO be denied one
can a 70 see how circumstances may restrain and limit
that right
And while the ovenuling necessities OF State may
excuse It's neglect OF contract and violation of pledges
hs does not destroy the right the thing pledged any
more than II annihlates the obligation pay, and that
the creditor Is not justly answered by saying have
ded up or diverted the of pledged YOU
ana you must look 10 such other remain
conclude, therefore, that pledge of revenue is some
lhhg more Than pledge OF integrity or honor and
gives value TO The obligation OF integrity This goes 10
the root oil The matter, and, hope answers the argument
OF the senator IRON Vermont, tMr PHELPsl
But have heard great deal about spectators That
1ng again and again in our ears Does il make the
slightest difference IN moral or legal point OF view by
whom the bonds Of Texas helda What the OBJ
legation OF Texas! II TO pay TO the holder OF a
gwen bond Certain sum OF money! and suppose that
bond has passed through ten thousand hands, the obl
CATION OF The State vated in the slightest degree What
gives the bond It's value at any time Who would take
the bonds OF any government II he knew that he was to
be told that he could not part with TO another if he
ND part with 10 another, that that other not to
ceive the full price OF the obgaoD but should
just much only the State, in the exercise OF lis
iy acknowledge no such right on the part OF State
No such right can be shown 10 exist in any book OF
thory; and any such book could be found, it would
only be nj 10 be thrown into the fire; Tor il would admit
principle OF immortality such would destroy the ounda
OF all compacts, because 1t would destroy all conf
dence care not whether the holders the bonds spec
ulaors not they have the bonds lawfully They have
them in the manner in which the compact with Texas
authorized them TO get lhem and the responsibility Tor
she payment is Just as great as II would be for the pay
ment 10 the original holders oil the bonds Ii is no
to claim to say that spectators have got hold OF
1t. An individual never asks whether the endorsee OF
his promissoy note gave hundred cents the dollar
Tor il or less lie only looks TO the tenor OF the o5lea
ton, and no one has right TO do anything else.
do not mean TO throw any censure upon Texas by
what have said. regret to have said thus much.
it in answer TO the remarks made by the gentleman
in regard TO the sovereign rights OF State think they
have been misunderstood and misapped and say it
in defence OF myself for introducing the proposition
est feeling TO Texas provide IN It for the assent OF
Texas do not desire that the plan which propose
should go INTO operation without her assent supposed
that by introducing the proposition which brought for
wardone by which she would be relieved from heavy
burden of debt--she would feel that her honor un.
s,aned-she would feel that her creditors satisfied
and that the world would have right 10 complain of
her do not think that should be reproached, as was
in effect, for the introduction OF the proposition by being
told that proposed TO give away $3ooo,ooo OF public
money. did suppose, has baen said, by whose
name is much better known than my own, that the cred
ors of Texas had moral claim upon the government OF
the United States because that government. by the
and diverted IRON the treasury OF Texas those revenues
which had been set apart by that republic for the salts
faction of its debt This was said by Mr. Clay. know
that $40 900 900 were voted In the boundary act but
never would have been granted by this government, If il
had not been believed that were under liability
for the debt of Texas. know that was the principle
which induced me 10 offer SO large sum. As 10 the
claim OF Texas 10 all the territory TO the Rio Grande, few
considered il originally good. Some considered that il
had acquired validity by the operation OF the treaty Of
peace with Mexico while others, and those not few
thought it altogether bad. willing 10 give $40 0O0
900, partly in consideration OF that claim and IN defer
10 the opinion OF SO many gentlemen and partly fol
the purpose OF getting rid OF our liability for the debts o
Texas But, sir II is midnight, and will not consume
the time OF the Senate further.
Mr.. MASON. do not mean to make any charge
have TO make have no information TO how The
bonds have been obtained by the present holders have
never inquired do not mean TO inquire. have nothing
TO do with IT. offered my amendment in order 10 comply
with the compact OF 1850, 10 pay this money to the State
of Texas TO provide for II simply by authorizing the pay
ment be made fast the condition is complied with
on which the compact was made. The honorable sena
Tor from Maryland says that upon the mover OF that prop
oston is all the responsibility TO which IT leads Sir,
Mr. PEARCE | have not said that The senator
from Illinois Mr.. DoUGLAsl alluded 10 the consumption
of time by the debate the amendment, and the
quen hszarding OF The appropriation bills replied that
had not introduced the proposition, aud that the friends
of my proposition bad consumed very little time in de-
4 Mr. MASON | take the whole responsibility OF in.
Producing that amendment But sr, say there rests upon
responsibility He says he offered his TO Illustrate mine
What is his II is a proposition that the government
shall pay the creditors II is departure from the law o
1850.
put this 10 that senator Suppose the proposition thai
have made passes, and that TENTH one-sxlh, or
one fourth OF the creditors OF Texas avail themselves o
it, and release the United States what prevents tha
honorable senator then from offering his amendment
TO the residue OF the debt While have five millions
in the treasury suppose million is paid under the
leases. and the other four millions not paid IN tha
manner: what prevents the senator from Offering his
amendment then Mine does not interfere with his in
the least degree He says he has offered bis to Illustrate
mine say. then, The whole responsibility OF the delay
or OF the defeat OF the appropriation bills, or whatever
else may ensue, IS upon hn, and not upon me- have
not gone into examination OF the question about the
liability | do not mean 10 do so. But IL the amendment
OF the senator from Maryland prevails, il will throw
liability upon the United States which wish 10 avoid
and then will have hesitation whatever so far as my
action is concerned in stalking this appropriation bill
upon IT, now merely ask Tor the yeas and nays on the
amendment OF the senator from Maryland.
The yeas and nays were ordered.
Il Mr.. UNDERWOOD. desire 10 inquire OF the Chair
whether, II the amendment TO the amendment prevails
by striking out all after the enactng clause OF The orig
nal amendment. and inserting what the senator Offers u
will then be subject TO amendmentl
The PRESIDING OFFICER, Mr.. BADGrR) IL will
be in order 10 any amendment which does not IN
teriere with what the Senate has inserted.
/ Mr.. UNDERWOOD. Will il be in the power oil the
Senate 10 strike out any part OF il
The PRESIDING OFFICER. No, sir.
/ Mr.. UNDERWOOD. Then, cannot vote for the
amendment 10 the amendment
The question was then taken by yeas and nays, and
resulied-yeas s, nays A-as follows:
YEAs-Mcsss. Badger, Foot, Miller. Morton, Pesrce
Pratt, Seward, and Smiths.
Brodhead, Butler, Cass Chase, Clarke, Davis Dawson
De,ausute. Dodge OF Iowa, Douglas, Felcb, Fish, Fitz