The Camden journal. [volume] (Camden, S.C.) 1836-1851, 1848-08-23
From the Baltimore SUM-
CONGRESS.
a,.,rs THURSDAY NteH


some time since, tor the purchase Of 5OoO OF
Colts revolving pistols for the use OF the army
of the United States, and made speech on Inc
peculiar advantage of these over all olheFs.--
Passed over informally.
The consideration of the Oregon Territorial
bill was then resumed, the question being o"
Mr.. Foote'S motion to lay the whole: sun]ecl 0"
the table. The question being taken ny yeas
and nays, it was decided in the alhrEa''e' ~ !"
26.
Mr. Mason said the question he unde rstooa 10
be nm the amendment Of the Senator from Mis-
.o,ri Chairman of the Territorial Committee.
This amendment must mean something OF no,
tbino. Let those who posses the numerical
strength pass it, and take the responsibility. :
Mr.. Foote would no, 60 behind the lace OF
the law. He wished it to be with the amend
men,-lor he understood it to mean the MIS-.
souri, Compromise-andh he wished the Missouri
COMPROMISE to receive respectful consideration
from the Senate.
Mr.. Davis, Of Massachusetts,, was opposed to
the amendment. for it had no bearing in the pro-
visions Of the hill. What then does it mean! IL
any court could established any meaning 10 IT,
it:wouId be the Missouri COMPROMISE. Dut aS
he did not intend to vote for that Compro'h',e'
and was opposed TO it, he could not vote tor 'he
amendment. The "Bufalo Hunt" it was SAID,
: is connected with the two new territories y,
-. California and New Mexico, and when II mao
been determined what was to be the resli!t q
that hunt, he was ready tartTlina, and examine
I+1r,etne balance was then 20 he struck.
: Mr. Downs, Mr.. Foote and Mr.. Hunter fol-
lowed. The latter gentleman concurred with
his colleague. (Mr. Mason,) that the amend.
ment was delusive. and intended to deceive.
Mr.. Johnson. of Louisiana, differed from the
gentleman from Virginia, and from his col
league from Louisiana. In regard 10 this
amendment, the different members from the
South entertained different amendments. He
looked to the language of the amendment, and
il clearly implied that slavery should be admit
ted south of SO deg. 80 min. The great body
of the people at the South do not wish to see
slavery admitted north Of that line. He had
prepared an amendment some time since, which
he now read, land which is the same as that
some days before presented in the House by
Mr.. Kaufman, proposing to denominate the ter.
ritores of California and New Mexico by the
names of North and South California, and pro-
vide that slavery therein shall be prohibited
north of SO deg. 80 min, and may be permit
ted south of that line, with The consent Of the
inhabitants thereof He would vote for the
bill with this amendment, but no, without it.
Mr.. King had never known an act of greater
disrespect. by the House, on so important sub.
ject, than in the laying on the table the "com.
promise" bill of the Senate.
Mr.. Foote thought the Senator from Virginia
bal tba from
Illinois, (Mr. Douglass,) in regard 20 the
amendment. The latter had simply said that it
was intended to commit no one in regard to
their future action, but not that it was intended
to express the most profound respect 70! the
Missouri Compromise.
Mr.. Douglass said that he had distinctly de-
clared that he was instructed by the Committee
any measure on California and New MeIicn,
but left every one TO vote for the Missouri Com.
promise, which he was in favor of, and which
he desired 10 support. He no, did wish to he un-
derstood as committed to the Wilmnt ProviSo,
but at liberty to vote for the Missouri Compro.
mise.
Mr.. Hunter, said the Senator from Louisiana,
(Mr. Downs,) had himself introduced an
amendment embracing substantially the Nilsson
ri Compromise-let them put that in the bill,
and he could 60 for il. But this was not tha
Missouri Compromise--Ear from it. He had
never said aught against the constilnt onality of
that measure-he had never taken a step
against it.
Mr.. Douglass said. if the Senators from the
South would vote for the Missouri Compromise,
he was prepared now to offer it.
Several voices-Agrced! agreed!
Mr.. Hunter was prepared to take it, if it Sc
cured the existence of slavery south of 36 30.
Mr.. Douglass read the amendment which he
had prepared embracing the precise language
Of the 9th section of the act of March 6, 1920,
and extending the line, with all its provisions,
70 the Pacific.
Mr.. Butler explained that that amendment
could not be applicable now, in the same sense
as then.
Mr.. Douglass then proposed the "Missouri
compromise" amendment as substitute for his
other amendmen, from the territorial committee.
leaving the remainder Of the section, including
the Wilmot Proviso, 10 stand as it came from
the House.
Mr.. Johnson of Maryland-Why not strike
out the rest Of the section!
Mr.. Walker was surprised at The views pro-
posed by the Senator from Ilnos. The coun-
try had set him dowH fri-ad TO Oregon
And yet the Senator offered this amendment,
when be must know that the effect would be to
deprive Oregon Of all government at the present
session.
Mr.. Douglass said it was rather too late to
question his friendship for Oregon, and he did
not fear the decision Of his constituents on his
present course. 1t was important that Oregon
should have government and no argument
which did not exist now, existed in ls2U.-
Why not unite then and settle this question now?
He trusted there were some men who yet loved
the Union, and preferred this compromise to the