Page:The History of Slavery and the Slave Trade.djvu/596

 "1. Resolved, That California, with suitable boundaries, ought, upon her application, to be admitted as one of the states of this Union, without the imposition by congress of any restriction in respect to the exclusion or introduction of slavery within those boundaries.

"2. Resolved, That as slavery does not exist by law, and is not likely to be introduced into any of the territory acquired by the United States from the republic of Mexico, it is inexpedient for congress to provide by law either for its introduction into, or exclusion from, any part of the said territory: and that appropriate territorial governments ought to be established by congress in all the said territory, not assigned as within the boundaries of the proposed state of California, without the adoption of any restriction or condition on the subject of slavery.

"3. Resolved, That the western boundary of the state of Texas ought to be fixed on the Rio del Norte, commencing one marine league from its mouth, and running up that river to the southern line of New Mexico; thence with that line eastwardly, and so continuing in the same direction to the line as established between the United States and Spain, excluding any portion of New Mexico, whether lying on the east or west of that river.

"4. Resolved, That it be proposed to the state of Texas, that the United States will provide for the payment of all that portion of the legitimate and bona fide public debt of that state contracted prior to its annexation to the United States, and for which the duties on foreign imports were pledged by the said state to its creditors, not exceeding the sum of dollars, in consideration of the said duties so pledged having been

no longer applicable to that object after the said annexation, but having thenceforward become payable to the United States; and upon the condition, also, that the said state of Texas shall, by some solemn and authentic act of her legislature, or of a convention, relinquish to the United States any claim which she has to any part of New Mexico.

"5. Resolved, That it is inexpedient to abolish slavery in the District of Columbia whilst that institution continues to exist in the state of Maryland, without the consent of that state, without the consent of the people of the district, and without just compensation to the owners of slaves within the district.

"6. But Resolved, That it is expedient to prohibit, within the district, the slave-trade in slaves brought into it from states or places beyond the limits of the district, either to be sold therein as merchandise, or to be transported to other markets without the District of Columbia.

"7. Resolved, That more effectual provision ought to be made by law, according to the requirement of the constitution, for the restitution and delivery of persons bound to service or labor in any state, who may escape into any other state or territory in the Union. And

"8. Resolved, That congress has no power to prohibit or obstruct the trade in slaves between the slaveholding states, but that the admission or exclusion of slaves brought from one into another of them, depends exclusively upon their own particular laws."

Among the propositions to dispose of the territorial and slavery questions in both houses was a series of resolutions offered by Mr. Bell, of Tenn., in the senate, on the 28th of February, providing for the future division of Texas, and the admission of the different portions as states; also, by consent of Texas, that portion of lands claimed by Texas, lying west of the Colorado, and north of latitude 42, was to be ceded to the United States for a sum not exceeding millions of dollars. California to be admitted as a state; but in future the formation of state constitutions by the inhabitants of the territories was to be regulated by law, and the inhabitants were to have power "to regulate and adjust all questions of internal state policy of whatever nature they may be." The following are Mr. Bell's resolutions: