Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1845-02-15
/ Mr. McCLERNAND stated sundy constitutional points
which he wished further light before he should be prepared

/
| The question recurring on the amendment
Mr. LEVY moved that the committee RISE but they refused
to rise and adopted the amendment efusng any division of
the State) yeas Sc nays 81
/ The bill having been read through
| Mr.. f. H. MORSE moved the following amendment
Provided ho,pepe That far relates TO Florida this
shall take effect until after convention OF delegates
elected BY the qualified Of Florida shall have altered
the Constitution adopted by the convention OF delegates ON the
It'll January 1889, strike from article 9th in said Con-
stuon the first and third sections in the following Words
namely Sec St The General Assembly shall have power
pass laws for the ncpation OF slaves Sec 81 he
General Assembly shall have power TO pass laws iee
negroes muaoes other persons OF color from mmgraung
to this State from being discharged from on board any yes
sci in any Of the ports Of Florida Aud nothing contained In
the same in substance principle shall be inserted IN place
thereof or in any parts said Constitution As as
the alterations herein required shall have been made and proof
thereof laid before the President OF the United States he shall
by proclamation and thereupon and with
out further proceedings on The part Congress- the aams
of said State Of Florida the Union OF the United
States OF America shall be considered as complete.
Mr. LEVY inquired whether he could possibly be serious
in offering such amendment
Mr. MORSE replied that he was sntirely He will
ling the vote should be taken without debate but if it was to
be debated, he should claim the floor.
Mr.. A. " BROWN made depecatory speech insisting
that each member object to whatever he dsked in
the Florida Constitution, the State would probably never come
in All Congress had do with the Constitution agreed
by the people of Florida for themselves to inquire whether
! it republican in its character.
Before any question taken motion Of Mr. KING,
of New York. the committee rose, yeas 76, nays 49, The
| Chair voting in the affirmative.
Mr. G. JOHNSON then moved resolution that all debate
the bill for the admission Of the Territories Of Iowa and
Florida into the Union States shall cease within twenty
minutes after the House shall again resolve itself into commit
tee said BILL
Mr. J. the time moved the previous question and
before the question taken the House adjourned
On the following day, however, Mr.. DAVIS, Of Indiana
moved similar resolution limiting debate to two hours
Mr. j. O. ADAMS appealed to the House not to force the
resolution through The bill involving the highest
consequences and entitled the gravest consideration
The discussion upon but barely commenced He moved
resolution be laid the table, and asked the yeas
| and nays the question.
This motion lost and the resolution was then adopted
IOWA AND FLORIDA.
The House being again in committee resumed the consi-
eaon of the bill the admission of the Territories of Iowa
and Florida into the Union States.
The question required the amendment moved by Mr..
MoRsE of Maine.
Mr. BAYIY opposed the amendment and entered large
into the pursued by the Legislatures of the Northern
States and the individual conduct Of their citizens, the
subject Of slavery and commented with severity upon the
| actions of both.
Mr. MORSE next obtained the floor, and supported his
amendment in speech Of some length which ne referred to
commented upon the laws of certain Southern States which
impose restrictions and penalties free colored seanen arrv
ing on board vessels from Northern ports
Mr. RATHBUN made explanation in relation to diff
ference Of opinion between Mr. BarLI and himself to whe
Their certain law of the State of New York. concerning slaves
coming brought into that State, had been repealed Mr.
R. acknowledged that he had been mistaken, and that the law
had been formally repealed The repeal had passed one
branch but failed i'll the other.
Mr. CLINGMAN and Mr.. DOUGLASS briefly opposed
the amendment.
Mr. ADAMS Tin relation to position advanced by Mr..
DoUG inquired he would vote for the admission OF
State into the Union the Constitution Of which should
contain clause fobddng forever citizen of Illinois from
entering into that State
Mr. DOUGLASS answered. that by the Constitution Of the
United States which the supreme law of the land such
clause in the Constitution of any State would be nuy and
would be declared by every court in the land and ne
would therefore against the admission of State
fer the alone that its Constitution contained such
provision.
Mr. ADAMS inquired further of Mr. d. if he would vote
for a Constitution which should contain such clause
Mr.. DOUGLASS answered that he not disposed to
argue upon fight against utilities; and such clause
world be one, he could give il consideration
Mr. LEVY Delegate from Forda) next obtained the floor
and in speech Of much ervo and earnestness entered fully
into question of the right OF Florida to admission into the
Union under the treaty by which she coded to the United
States and under the usages of the Government with the Con-
on which Convention Of her people have already adopt
ed He on floor half past o'clock, when the
time aott for the debate EXPIRED and the Charmans ham
mer annoui iced that il closed.
The ques REQUIRED the amendment submitted by Mr.
Mr. ROBERT SMITH proposed to amend it, by adding
thereto the fol lowing
rorfded That shall appear that the Govern
have wed from the sales of the public lands within
the prescribed of Of Iowa aud Florida the
gna Of the said lands together with the
sold lands shall lie and hereby are belong the
States and Florida be managed and disposed Of
the Legislature thereof shall deem ut and proper"
It was rejected without count.
The question aga REQUIRED on Mr. MoRsEs amendment
| Mr. EDWARD ]. BLACK then proposed to add TO that
amendment the following:
lind brored naoreper That the Territory Of Iowa shall
not be admitted as State the Union until convention OF
people said Territory shall have stricken from their Con-
stuton the 22d clause I'd article of said Constitution
which being done the said Territory shall be admitted into the
Union upon and manner is above provided
relation Florida which said clause in the words follow
ing: Neither slavery Involuntary servudc unless Tor the
punishment Of crimes, shall be tolerated in this State
| This rejected without count.
The question then put the amendment moved by
Mr. MoRsE, and il rejected Ayes ~, noes 81
Mr. PRESTON KING then proposed an entire substitute
for the bill-the substitute admitting Iowa alone.
Mr. A. v. BROWN objected to the substitute as out Of
order.
The CHAIRMAN ruled il in order.
Mr. DROMGOOLE inquired if it would not suit the gen
from New York (Mr. Kye) equally as well to divide
the question the BILL and take the vote separately on Iowa
and Florida J
Mr. KING said be had objection that course, If The
question could be divided He did not know that could
be divided.
Mr. SAUNDERS inquired Of Mr.. X. if I've intended to move
similar amendment in favor Of Florida
Mr. KING answered he had not had inc suilcicnt 10 90
it. He had barely been able to prepare the substitute lot iowa
The question put on Mr. MING SUBSTITUTE, anu ""s
rejected Ayes 81, noes 80. -
Mr. MORSE, of Maine, then moved the Following as an
amcntlmen,-benr cory Of clause changing names only,
of the Joint resolution Of Congress for the admission Of Mis-
souri, into the Union
Pro11ed however, That Florida shall pe aaniucd INTO
the Union on an equal footing with the original States in all
.pccts whatever upon the fundamental condition that the third
clause of the article Of the Constitution submitted on
the part said Territory Congress- shall never be construed
in thereto by which citizen OF either Of
the States Of this Union shall be excluded from the enjoyment