Washington sentinel., 1854-07-15

tleman from Missouri. He insisted in that ex-
treme case in placing the power, TO large extent,
| in the hands of the treaty-making authorities.
| He insisted that il was case for negotiation He
! complained vehemenlly that commissioners Were
not sent 10 Texas and Mexico 10 settle the terms
| Of admission and fix the boundaries. Sir, be-
| lieved at that time and the republican members
| Of Congress believed that the proper mode OF
bringing an independent republic into the Union
| as State was by the joint action OF the two
Houses of Congress under that clause OF the
Constitution providing for the admission OF new
States We believed that Texas was an inde-
pendent republic with her boundaries defined
with boundaries which had been maintained in
violate for ten years. But the gentleman from
Missouri, at that time member oi the Senate,
maintained yehemenly that il should be made
matter OF negotiation. And subsequently, when
war broke out between this country and Mexico,
| recollect that he insisted that il had all grown
out of the adoption by the President, Of the first
branch of the resolution instead OF having been
made subject of negotiation under The second
branch OF The annexation resolutions.
But now the gentleman comes here upon amuch
less doubtful proposition, and contends that the
negotiation of this treaty was all wrong; that a
violation of the privileges of the House has been
| committed, though an appropriations is asked for
now 10 execute it, as il was not asked for before
| hand.
The alternate proposition contained in the joint
| resolutions for The admission Of Texas, of which,
believe, the gentleman from Missouri Mr.. BEN
rom is the author, is in these words:
and be il further resolved That If the President of the
United States shall in his Judgment and discretion deem
most advisable instead OF proceeding to submit the fore
going resolution to the republic of Texas overture
the part Of the United States for admisson TO negotiate
with that republic; then be it
"esored That State to be formed out Of the present
republic of TexAs with suuabe extent and boundaries
and with two representatives in Congress until the next
apportonment Of shall be admitted into the
Union by virtue of this equal footing with the
existing States the terms and conditions such
admission, and 1e oession Of The remaining Tran territory
ments Of Texas and the United States That the sum Of
100000 be- and the is hereby appropriated defay
the expenses Of missions and negotiations agree upon e
terms Of said admission and cessioa,
SENATE, or by articles to be submitted
to the two Houses Of Congress- as the President may
| direct"
| Comment is unnecessary. Here the acqusi-
ton of territory from foreign State for Texas
/ would continue such until after the treaty as 10
the territory had taken effect, without any appro-
priation in advance for its purchase for the paltry
| sum of 100000 was ito deiray the expenses of
missions and negotiations" and not to pay Texas
i for her lands.
| II being thus plain to my mind that the Presi-
| dent may negotiate treaty siipulating TO pay
| money, which cannot be carried into execution
without The action Of the House, either prospec-
tive or after the treaty has been negotiated, The
question then arises whether this is a case where
1 an appropriation ought to be made. Without
meaning the slightest dsrespect to the gentleman
| from Missouri, Mr. BENToNl for | am incapable
| of manesting any dsrespect for him. must say,
| that when he came to that part of the argument
| in which he referred to the new routes we have
obtained by this treaty to the Pacific, he displayed
the feeling under which he is acting. This treaty
| is designed 10 secure southern routes to the Pa
| cifc. The gentleman from Missouri, with that
1 devotion 10 his own views which has charac-
| terized him through life, and which, when he is
! intent upon an object, causes him to a great ex-
tent 10 lose sight OF all surrounding, and antece-
dent, and prospective circumstances, showed, most
clearly from what asource his complaints proceeded.
| When he to the latter part of his argument,
| in respect TO this southern route, every man who
was listening as attentively as was, could not
but have seen where shoe pinched. do not
| mean to attribute lnsincerity TO the gentleman
| from Missouri, Mr BENToS;l but it is not be-
cause the treaty in question is violation Of the
privileges of the House, but because it may inter-
| ere with banthng OF his own, that he denounces
| it. "Hinc Hae iac/py-mae" If there is anything
| upon the face Of the earth to " hich he is de-
| votediy attached, and which, in looking AT 1t,
causes him TO forget everything else, it is one of
| his own bantlings ! do not reproach him Tor IL
| | admire il in hin. But at the same time, can
not overlook the delusion into which that feeling
very often leads his profound and highly cult-
| waited intellect. =
| Why should he feel this jealousy? When we
look TO our Pacific coast and the country upon It,
| a part of which he labored SO zealousy TO bring
| into The Union as State, after it had been ac-
1 ~,
| postition in respect 10 the future trade of the
world, we must all of US become convinced that
we will want in The course OF time, mors than one
| route TO our possessions on that coast. We can
| have his central route--a southern one also-and
| we can have a northern route, (Which, believe,
| he does not favor any more than he does the
southern one) When the country is filed up, and
| thus prepared for these improvements, we shall
| have room enough for all and when needed, will
be made without the unconstitutional interference
| of this government. The gentleman says that he
| 10 opposed 10 OUTSIDE routes That Stevenss is an
outside route, and this Messilla Valley route is an
outside route also. | am not in favor Of outside
roads. must be pardoned by the gentleman from
Missouri for saying that Stevens's route rs not an
outside route, unless misunderstood its proposed
location. And part OF this treaty is designed TO
make this other line an inside route too. want
| all Of them upon which the commerce OF our peo-
pie is 10 go 10 be inside routes, and especially the
| one acquired by this treaty. This much am
| willing 10 do for roads to the Pacific ! for this
much, at least, is within our constitutional au-
| thoriiy.
The gentleman from Missouri made very light
of the point made by my friend from Tennessee,
Mr.. JONES that BY this treaty we get clear OF
| embarrassing stipuatons with the Mexican gov
ernmen in regard 10 the defending of her frontier.
At the time Of the ratification Of the treaty con-
sdered il Objectionable, and predicted the embar-
rassing character of thai stipulation. II am not
| very much mistaken, the gentleman from Missouri
! il. He says we are under no further obligation
10 defend Mexican territory than we are 10 defend
our own and that both are Intellectually done.
Wei, sir, as far as the nefficency of orr army in
defending our frontier concerned, that Is mat
ter Of domestic concern. II is a matter about
which we under obligation 10 any one but
TO our people themselves. The obligation is none
the less binding on that account. But here we
are under positive treaty stipulations with Mexico,
entered into for valuable consideration TO pro-
tect her territory from the incursions OF savage
tribes and ! have reason TO believe that the
amount OF claims growing out OF our notorious
disreeard ofthese treaty stpulaions, already pre-
sentcd, comes TO more than S400O0O00. How
much Of these claims are valid, do not pretend
10 say. only mean 10 assert they are made and
pressed.
The gentleman from Missouri Mr.. BEvToNl
argues that our obligation, under the treaty, TO
protect Mexico from these incursions, and, in the
event they cannot be prevented, that we shall
punish the offenders, qualified by the stipulation
that are 10 do this in the same way, and
with equal diligence and energy, as IL the same
incursions were medtated, OF committed in its
own territory against lis own citizens"
So far from this condition qualifying, or in any
way relaxing our obligations, il makes them ofthe
most emphatic character. Every naton which