Daily national era. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1854, 1854-02-07

and the conviction Of the criminal
MAINTAIN PLIGHTED FAITH
SPEECH OF HON. S. P. CHASE. OF OHIO.
liz the SENATE FEBRUARY 3, 1854,
Against the Repeal Of the Missouri Prohibition
Of Slavery north Of 36 deg. 80 MIN.
coNcLUDED.
The recognition proposed by this resolution
would give to Texas oil the land east Of the
Rio Grande, and a line drawn from its source
to the 42d parallel and west OF the line be-
tween the United States and the Spanish pos
sessions already described.
Now, cir, Of the territory within this claim Of
Texas, that part between the 32d degree and
38th degree of north latitude, and west of 103
degrees of longitude was Incorporated into the
Territory of New Mexico. That part between
the 38th parallel and the Arkansas river
stretching north toward the AID parallel in
long, narrow strip, and that other part inclu-
ded within the Tooth degree and 1O3d degree
Of longitude. and SO degrees 10 minutes north
latitude, and the Arkansas river, were not in
corporated into New Mexico nor relinquished
to Texas, but became a part of the territory
of the United States. Here are two tracts
Of country, which the Senator says were cut
off from Texas and Incorporated into New
Mexico. If the claim Of Texas was valid, they
were cut off from her territory, but they were
not incorporated into New Mexico. Tho Sen
ator is totally mistaken as to that; and it is
not trifing mistake The tract west Of New
Mexico, between SO deg. 80 min. and the Ar
kansas river, contains over twenty thousand
square miles. 1t is not easy to estimate the
contents of the other tract, The first is as
large as Connecticut, Rhode Island, Massachu-
setts, and New Hampshire, put together. The
two tracts probably are nearly equal in extent
to the whole of New England, excluding Maine
There are seven States in the Union neither Of
which equals in extent the larger of these
tracts. nor probably the smaller. Not one foot
Of this territory was incorporated into New
Mexico, and yet the Senator asserted that it
all was. repeat, sir, that here was q great
error show the Senator that he was wrong
in very material statement. Bnt do &C.
cuse him, therefore, Of classifying the public
history Of the country?--of wilful misrepre,
sentation ?--of falsehoodl Not at ALL The SEN
ator, like other men,. liable to error. If no
falls into error upon point material to any
controversy which | may happen to have with
him, correct the error, but do not reproach
the man. will not charge him with violating
truth, or with Intentional misrepresentation.
said the other day to that Senator, when
he proposed to deny to me postponement war
ranted by the usages of the Senate that
thought him incapable of understanding the
obligations of courtesy. prefer now to restrict
that statement, and say that the Senator, on
that occasion, under some excitement, perhaps
and perhaps influenced also by an over. anxious
desire to hasten tho vote upon his bill disre-
garded the obligations which courtesy imposes
| make this remark because | am unwilling,
under any proyocation, to do any injustice to
political or personal opponent. While |
say this, however, ] ought, perhaps, to add, in
reference to remark which fell from the SEN
ator on that occasion, that at no time did ever
approach him with q smiling face, or an angry
face, or any face at ALL to obtain from him
postponement of his bill, in order to gain time
for the circulation of attacks upon it. have
condemned his bill strongly, and have con-
demned his action in bringing forward this re-
peal Of the Missouri prohibition. But have
done no injustice to the Senator. All that
have done at all | have done openly have
not waged, nor will ] wage war-a war of cpl
thets. ltneither accords with my principles nor
with my tastes But while wage no such war,
dread none Neither vituperation nor denun-
eistion will move me, while have the approval
OF my own Judgment and conscience But
did NOT intend to recur to this matter, and will
lingly dismiss it,
IL the Senator Is wrong as have shown he
is in respect to the incorpora Of Gil the ter
ritory cut of from Texas into New Mexico,
then he is also wrong in his declaration that
the Compromise Act Of 1850 does not preserve
and re-assert the principle of the Missouri pro-
hibition.
The facts are few and simple, and the infer
ence from them obvious and irresistible.
The third article of the joint resolution for
the annexation of Texas reads thus:
"New States Of convenient size, not exceed
ing four in number, in addition to said State
of Texas, having sufficient population, may
hereafter, by the consent Of said State, be
formed out Of the territory thereof, which shall
be entitled TO admission under the provisions
Of the Federal Constitution. And such States
as may be formed out Of that portion of said
Territory lying south Of SO deg. 30 min. north
latitude, commonly known as the Missouri
Compromise line, shall be admitted into the
Union with or without Slavery, as the people
of each State asking admission may desire.
dnd in such State or States as shall be formed
out Of said territory north Of said Missouri
Compromise line, Slavery or involuntary serri-
f,ide (ercept for erime) shall be prohibited
Here is an express stipulation that Slavery
snhl w pfohipiteu IN my Sbhte FORMED out OF
the Territory Of Texas north Of 80 deg. 80
min. This was valuable stipulation for Free
dom, in case the claim of Texas was valid
one TO the whole territory within her bound
aries. The Senator from Virginia regarded
that claim as valid; and it was upon his mo.
ton that the proviso, which | now proceed to
quote, was Incorporated into the Texas bound
airy bill: .
PROVIDED, That nothing herein contained
shall be construed to impair or qualify ANY
THING contained in the third article Of the sec
ond section Of the joint resolution for annexing
Texas to the United States. approved March ],
lS45, either as regards the number of States
that may hereafter be formed out Of the State
OF Texas, OR OTHERWISE
Here was compact between two States
so Tar as the parties were competent to enter
into it, it was obligatory and permanent. That
cOmpa0t covered nil tho torr;korv ~,chtC,ll,