Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1848-07-21
VOLUME XLV.-NuMBER %.

ones,;on ,hs OF ne United Saes." On this
dso" ,'ie COMMITTEE divted-tive for nd three
TIsi, ~; .ue "io''on. The Senator from Indiana
.sii nfish then moved the proros;,;on n',;ca
Oh winch had been previously given n H. e..
na'f, containing he irords OF he N;ssnnri O.
pto'hise. As The condition Of the rprri,orv wao
10" salu 10 be different from ,ha, n which ,,a,
eoapfoh'ise nPp'led ia 1890. a motion wac m.de
oy NE Senator from Kentucky [Mr Under wnodI
10 amehl mai proposition BY providing Thai "alI
inc territory ~ New Mexico and California Son,h
oil lhe parallel Of 50 deg 80 min. shall be nIaced
on me same ion'ing in all respects as 10 slavery.
thal eIisied IN Louisiana waie il wasa Terri.
sofy. On This question Inc committee divided
iouf i2F 'he motion and uragainsi it, Alrerthe
is'u'e on ms motion, The question was taken on
'ue prop. shion oiihe Sena,ur iIc m KeDueky, and
WI" IKE r6suit-lhe committee being again
equally divided.
- ms Stage OF the proceedings all compromise
aPiedted 10 DC impossible. But The committee
proceeded afterwards 10 consider nronos;,;on IN
ehocaVor 10 adjust the grea, quesiun-a leas, so
idt Is 70 eHab" Congress 10 extend The Ia ws over
aug PROVIDE 'or ne administration OF Justice In
ne notwithstanding Tor lhr present h. settle
49, '. u ~ ihe laws ~ population, or The adap-
'd!ion OF SIi', climate and Circumstances. 40 do
sa''."' hI"dS u laonF. Wntle il was admitted
on al siies MAJ by lar the greater portion OF the
ei'ho'ies was properly adapted 10 tree labor,
anu "r"ia necessarily be tree soil forever; yet il
was also with equal unanimi,y conceded thai
thefe was portion OF il where tree la Dor never
codll De introduced, owing 10 The climate and the
peculiar Productions OF tia, portion. |, was
'houShs 'hat II Ore2on-which no one imaeines
cdh ever DC lavehnlting-couid be organized as
.He people Oh mat Territory desired, by The tenn.
Poidty ADOPTION oil their present laws. interdict.
ing or prohibiting slavery ill The territorial leeis.
atnre proposed 10 be organized. by oopuar
voc, under Inc bill referred to us. could enact
some law on The subject, most OF The objections
"nich had oeen urged in debate 10 The l2h
section would be obyiated without any sacrifice
OF principle by those who urged them; and that
alter thus dlsposins Of the question so far as re-
iates 10 Oregon, The Territories Of California
ana New Mexico could be organized in the
same bill. by the appointment Of a Governor,
secretary ana Judges, 10 compose, according TO
'e old pfecedenls, temporary Legislature for
each OF these Territories, but without the power
TO legislate on the subject of slavery; thus pla.
cling that question beyond the power of the Ter
ritorial Legislature, and resting the right to in.
iroduce or prohibit slavery in these two Terri.
tories on the Constitution, as the same should be
eSponnded by the Judges, with right Of appeal
10 The Supreme Court Of the United States. II
was thought that BY this means Congress would
avoid the decision Of this distracting question,
leaving It To be settled by the silent operation
OF the Constitution itself; and that in case Con-
gress should refuse 10 touch the subject the
untry would be slavebolding only where, by
The laws OF nature, slave labor was effective,
and free labor could not maintain itself. On the
other hand, in case Congress should hereafter
choose TO adopt the compromise line Of Sc de-
grcts 81 minutes, North Of which | suppose it
is not expected that slave labor can be intro.
duced,) or any other rule OF settlement, it will
be free to act as 10 its wisdom and patriotism
shall seem TT
After many conflicts Of opinion, these views
thus generally expressed, were substantially
agreed upon with great unanimity; all the MEM
beers Of the committee agreeing TO make the re-
port, and but two Of them one from the North
and the other from the South) disappearing any
Of the material features as they understand II.
BY or:cr Of the committee, have prepared 2
bill N accordance with these views. II contains
some important amendments 10 the Oregon bill,
particularly SO far as it corrects the defective
description Of the boundaries in that bill.
do not expect, Sir, that this or any other
proposition which the wit Of man can possibly
suggest, VII prevent agitation on this subject;
which is now daily spreading through the coun.
| try, and fear dividing il into geographical par
ties. II the Missouri Compromise of SO de-
grees 80 minutes should be adopted, the agita.
tors would Immediately raise the standard of
| repeal, and agitate as fercely as ever. We
know that, Sir. They will agitate after the pas
sage of any bill But this bill resolves the
! whole question between the North and the South
into constitutional and 4 judicial question. II
| ony asks Of men Of all sections to stand by tho
~ cpif,. hot IN Ia ho ,Hor
cnce by is own Tranquil operation. If the Con-
siliU,on settles the question either way let those
who rail at the decision vent their indignation
against their ancestors who adopted II We Of
fer no bill to introduce slavery by Congressional
enactment into any free territory II, as the
South contends the Constitution gives the right
10 carry their slaves there, they will maintain
that right. II, as the North contends, the Con-
s,l,utIun confcrs no such right, they will vindi-
cate their claim. And Oregon will be at once
organized as Territory, with power TO elect
their own Legislature-a power which the com.
mil,ee think cannot now with any propriety, be
conferred upon the population of the two other
| Territories.
! now, sir, have the honor TO report as an
| amcrdmcn, and subsliln.c Tor the bill referred
10 tic select committee, ~ bill 10 establish The
! Territorial governments OF Oregon, California,
and New Mexico" The comm:ltee with all be-
coming moicstJ, desire u say that they do not
yrw their work as perfect; but il is The very best
which, undef all he embarrassing circumstances
81 acit position, they have been able 10 propose.
TO he Senate they appeal Tor assistance 10 cor
rect anY crruis mo which they may have mad
vcrenliy fallen. Blu, i, is the honest opinion
OF large majority Q! The committee, that by The
passage d ms bi the safety Of the Union will
b. placed oc:nnd he reach OF agitation; and hat
th- question. and The only question which now
threatens 10 cHdanger il, may be, MOI i'm mediate
Is, tut ultimately, put Al rest forever.
The bill was then read frs. time, and unani-
mousty ordered 10 be printed.
On motion, ne Senate adjourned
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.
Mr.. Pease!ee by leave, presented commune
cation from The Commissioner Of Patents, with
accompanying papers relative 10 certain charges
which have been circulated againsthim, and ask
ing for an investigation. The papers were re.
tered 70 the Committee on Pacn's.
Mr. Bots from the commil,ee OF Conference
upon The di:agreeibg Votes Of the Two Houses
upon the supplemental bill Of The House Tor the
repeal OF The law authorizing the President 10 re.
dnce the number Of thu general officers OF The ar
my. reported new bill, embracing most Of The
mater commended for on either side, and provid-
ing that no vacancy which may happen amongst
hese officers shall be fl led by The Pres;den,
III The number OF The major generals shall be re-
duced 10 one, and The number Of the brigadier ge-
nera!s shall be reduced TO two The law requir.
ing Ire reduction OF The number OF surgeons,
quaHefmasers, adjutan's, and principal must.
clans, is also repealed and il is provided that
when tnese go out Of place by casualties or re-
sisnations, their vacancies shall not be filled ua-
less specially au horizei by law. The fourteen
additional paymaste:s ard assistants shall go out
OF Office on the 3ih OF March next All officers
promoted from he old army are 10 be restored TO
Their former rank snd all officers, non commits
.iancd officers, musicians and priyaes, their
heirs, &C.. who have served and suffered in the
Mexican war, are 10 receive three months extra
paw.
This bill retains in service Generals Taylor,
T@isgs ant Kearney, and the Is additional Ma.
jors 4, dct 10 the oil regiments OF the army-aso
me officers added 10 The Medical, Pay and Quar-
termaser's department. and the TIRE Adjulant
CISUeralS-a,Sn nffions N hich had haen ira nsfer.