The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1854-02-16
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inst-!lot because Cf any valid original title to
the territory, but because Os the implied tee
os.nition OF her title by the United States.
need not say that l. in common with very
many cthers. dissented from that view. But
the Senator from Virginia, and other Senators,
maintained it. That Senator, on the Both July,
1850, moved joint resolution recognising this
claim, which will read.
Rssolced, &c, That 10y the joint resolution,
approved March 1st ls45, for annexing Texas
to the United States, it being ordained that
the territory properly included within and
rightfully belonging 10 tie Republic of Texas,
may be erected into a new State &c, it is the
opinion and Judgment OF Congress- that the ad-
mission Of Texas into the Union, with the
boundaries described by the laws thereof, not
objected to by the United States at the time
OF such annexation Is conclusive. as against
the United States Of the right of Texas to the
territory included Within such boundaries"
The recognition proposed by this revolution
would give 10 Texas al the land east Of the
Rio yGrande, and q line drawn from Its source
TO the i2d parallel and west Of the line be-
tween the United States and the Spanish pos
sessions already described.
Nov, sir, OF the territory within this claim OF
Texas. that part between the 32d degree and
3Sth degree of north latitude, and west of II 3
degrees OF longitude, was Incorporated into the
Territory OF New Mexico. That part between
the 3Sth parallel and the Arkansas river
stretching north toward the i2I parallel in a
long, narrow strip, and that other part inclu-
ded within the l00sh degree aud lG3d degree
Of Longitude. ard 80 degrees 10 minutes nor Ga
Latitude, and the Arkansas river, were not in
eOrporated into New Mexico, nor relinquislcd
t. Texas but became a part Of the territory
Of the United States. Here are two tracts
r. bo
off from Texas and Incorporated into New
Mexico lf the claim of Texas was valid, they
were cut of from her territory, but they We're
not Incorporated into New Mexico Tho Sen
at0r is totally mistaken ~ To that: and il IL
n0s a triiiing mistake. The tract west Of New
Mexico, between 30 deg 50 min. and the Ar
kansas river contains over twenty thousand
square miles Ii Ii not easy to estimate the
contents of the other tract The first il as
large rs Connecticut Rhode Island, Massaclu
setts, and New HAMPSHIRE, put together The
two tracts probably are nearly equal in extent
Ia tie whole q New Eng.and, excluding Maine
There are seven states lii the Union neither OF
which equals in extent tho 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 a great
eIroT show the Senator that he was wrong
in very material statement. But do &c
him. therefore, OF classifying the public
history Of the countryl-0f wilful misrerre-
sentAticn of faisehoOd! Not at all. The Sen
ator, ike other men, IL liable to error. Ii he
falls into error upon q 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 way
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, Oh
that occasion. Cndor sorle excitement perhaps
and perhaps influenced also by an over. anxious
desire to hasten the vote upon his bill, disrc-
garded the obligations which courtesy imposes
make this remark because | am unwilling,
under any provocation, TO do any injustice H.
political or personal opponent While I
say this, however, ! ought, perhaps, to add, in
reference to a remark which fell from the Sen
;itor On that occasion, that at no time did ever
approach him with II smiling face, or an angry
lace or any lace at all to obtain from him g
postpmement Of his bill, in order to gain TIME
Tor the circulation Gf attacks upon it, | hage
eeaasaaIsd Ais sihqu TnHfffflis Icr@afd riils Ic
peal OF the Missouri prohibition. But have
done no Injustice TO the Senator. All that
have done at al Lave done openly | have
not wagcd nor will wage war war of epi.
thets IL neither aceords with my principles nor
with my tastes But while wage no such war
dread none. Neither vituperation nor denun-
cation Will move Inc, while have the approval
OF ny own Judgment and conscience But /
did not intend 10 recur 10 this matter and viii
ling!y dismiss it,
Ia the senator l. urcn, oo Lo,.,. H.. l. =.
j., in respect 30 the incorporation Of all the ter
rit0ry cut oil from Texas into New Mexico
then he Is alsO wrong in mis- declaration that
the Compromise Act Of 1880 does not preserve
and re assert the principle Of the Missouri pro
hibition.
The facts arc few and simple, and the infer
once 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
my iour IN number, in addition To said State
oi Texas, having sufficient population, may
hereafter, 10y the consent Of said State DO
formed on. Of the territory thereof which shall
bc entitled to admission under the provisions
at the Federal Constitution And such States
as insy be formed GU. of that portion of said
Territory lying south Of So deg 30 min north
IGttade, commonly known as the Missouri
Compromise line shall be admitted into the
Union with or without Slavery, rs the PEOPLE
at each State asking admission may desire
di,d an SHch Stale or States as shall be formed
om II sad territory north of said Missouri
Compromise Inc SldueTy or iauoiuntarr seroi-
tide te1csP far erfme) snail be prohibit dr.
Here is an express stipulation that Slavery
Hhall be prohibited IN any State formed out Of
the Territory OF Texas north of 80 deg. 80
min. This was valuable stipulation for Free
aaSa lp ella ef III
oae 80 tic whole territory within her bound!
aries. The Senator from Virginia regarded
that claim rs valid; and il was upon his mo-
ton tina. the proviso, which now proceed to
quote. was incorporated into the Texas bound-
AIRY bill:
ProUited That nothing herein contained
shall be construed 20 impair or qualify ANY
THIN. contained in the third article of the see
ond section of the JOINT resolution for annexing
Texas % the United States, approved Marcel,
1915, either as regards the number or States
that may hereafter be formed out OF the State
OF Texas, or orHERwIsEf
Here was compact between two States
So far as the parties were competent to enter
into it, it was obligatory and permanent. That
compact covered al the territory rightiulIy
within the limits of Texas until rescinded ID
could make no difference if portion of that
territory should he subsequently relinauished
10 the United States. That would not disturb
the effect of the ccmpacs. But this matter
was not ieit to inference or conjecture. At
the very moment of REIMBURSEMENT. the United
States and Texas by agreeing IN the nroviso |
have quoted, saved tho compact and continued
il in full force in all its provisions
Nothing can be clearer, then, than that II
the two tracts of country OF which | have
spoken were within the rightfnl claim of Texas,
o.