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been no longer applicable to that object after the said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 slave-holding States,
but that the admission or exclusion of slaves brought from one
into another of them, depends exclusively upon their own
particular laws."

Senator Bell, of Tennessee, offered a series of resolutions on the
same question on the 28th of February, containing nine resolves. As
usual, on all propositions respecting slavery, the debate was
protracted, earnest, and able. The Clay resolutions