The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1849-02-22

rally will feel themselves bound TO repel THIS amend
meni, on the ground of lis being total departure
from all parliamentary usage, and their opinion ami IN
mine, from all parliamentary propuety believe, ,he'e
fore, that this discussion, II go INTO now must DC
repeated when the California bill shall he presented 70 ue
consideration of the Senate entertain none OF the APP
preh which have been expressed by the senator
who has Just addressed us, that the discussion OF ha
bill and the decision OF that bill will be avoided by The
Senate entertain no apprehension thai there is any
member of the Senate who disposed 10 be regard
less of his duty refuse the discussion of the question
whether a government shall be given TO the people OF
these Territories when that question is presented to them
in form which, consistently with their own sense OF
propriety, they can discuss.
abstain therefore from all examination OF the merits
of this bill in this discussion. am induced 10 trouble
the Senate for few moments, merely from the fact that
am member OF the in clary Committee and that, by
the order OF that committee, made my duty 10 pre-
pare report upon the bill for the admission OF Calltor
MA State which report was submitted to the Sen
ate and so influenced the action OF the senator by whom
that bill was introduced, that he was induced TO modify
il by an amendment acquescng IN the view taken IN the
report ~, p
not he most certainly il not he, because that bill
introduced by the senator from Illinois, and the dis
cusson which took place when that report was presented
to the Senate would have relieved the Senate from any
| apprehension that my remark applies to him. ,
But, sir, before go on TO examine any OF the ooec-
tons which have been urged against that report desire
in the first place, TO say that. IN my Judgment the arsu
of the senator from Tennessee IN support OF his
amendment is suicidal Ii the people OF that territory, or
of those territories be such he has described them #
they be utterly destitute OF every principle OF moral
restraint require the exercise OF power for their pro-
ecton they utterly unfit to be the associates OF free
people in the participation of their equal rights citizens
of State of this Union desire TO be understood, sir
do not endorse the OF the senator from Zen
nessee to the character OF that people
! Mr. BELL Will the senator allow me to explain !?
stated that believed that there was a large portion OF
that popu alton of consderae, prudent habits and char
acter, trained in States, trained in the enjoy
ment of free government; and If allow them 10 form
constitution at early day, they would be able to do
it, but il allow year eighteen months to pass by,
they will be likely to be overwhelmed by this foreign,
| lawless immigration.
Mr. BERRiEN I have not the slightest disposition
10 do injustice to the senator from Tennessee, or TO any
other senator lie did say that a large portion OF
that population OF the character he has described
but he did also say that there large portion OF that
population of the opposite character, without moral re-
saint and it protect the former against these, by
the OF legal authority that he urged his amend
ment Now, sir, say his argument is suicidal for if
that be the character Of large portion OF this people,
appeal to American senators-Are we willing that they
should share birihrlght' Are we willing that men
thus characterized should be admitted to this Union
citizens of the United States, members OF this Union
| The argument is strongly suicidal
If such be the character of that people, that it is
cessary invoke aid, that the protecting of the
government should be stretched over them, in what form
should they be admitted Will not Territorial govern
nent established by the Congress of the United States
eectuay restrain people disposed TO be awsss or that
portion of them who may be disposed % be awess as if
they admitted State and left implicitly TO their
guidance; Sir the argument u and perfect for the
purpose of showing that Territorial government ought
TO be established this territory in conformity TO the
established usayes of this government and IN conornl
y the constitutional powers OF this Congress But II
falls far short of proving that should this time admit
this people as State OF this Union On the contrary, it
sho to the precise extent IN which this neccss-
Is for protection shown that the safety OF TINS govern
consists in preserving them yet longer IN the state
OF puplage.
i am told, sir. that warned when this
treaty negotiated, that II came into the possession
OF this territory it could not be admitted into the Union
without the Wmoi proviso the inhibition OF slavery in
these territories would be imposed and now, (south
ern men) to admit thus people State OF this Union,
and share our brthrg ut with them covering under the
apprehension which the senator from Tennessee would
excite in bosons that if we did not do this, wanon
aggression and insult would be offered 10 the feelings Of
the South do not know, sir, what are the feelings of
other gentlemen In thus chamber; have conmuned With
no one; speak only for myself; but If that disposition
exists, desire that should be manifested, and mani
tested the instant If had other motive for prefer
ring territorial government the government of State
Ill did not think this people could bebetter governed by
IA territorial than bya State government and were utterly
unfit TO be admitted the onion the menace, the
ntinaton of the determination upon the part OF gentle
men advocating these freeso doctrines, that they will
fasen upon any government which shall be established
this provision, IN spite OF their own declarations that they
are perfectly nugatoy that the evil is mere phantom
tina, such the climate and such the existing laws OF
the territories, that slavery can never be introduced
there and therefore that thus provision Is to be APP
Piled such bill. Tor the purpose of asserting an
Idle and nuyatory power, and OF lranpling
upon the constitutional rights and personal feelings OF
every southern member in TINS chamber and OF his consult
ueatsf there other motive under heaven than
inS, would leal 10 pursue course
conscience dictates that shall pursue on this question, SO
lar my vote effect It, TO put down this proposition
and to attempt the establishment OF territorial govern
ment That would be sufficient Ii must
all should be glad to at once the determination
manifested by to withhold from this people
whose condition thus represented, requiring the IN
teposton OF this recommendation protection against
those who aweSs and entirely neglecttu OF all moral
principle should be glad to see II, If must see 1t, as
promptly as may eeit should like to see whether
there is wish upon this floor withhold from these
people the protection of government, unless senators
can insert in the bill establishing government there
provision which they themselves acknowledge to be nu
gatory and which only be inserted there for the pur
pose OF trampng upon the constitutional rights OF the
South and Offering individual ndgnlty to every southern
man in this chamber.
I, Sir do not believe it. have more conidence-not-
withstandng the declarations which may nave been
, made in the warmth of MISUNDERSTANDING Wha
has been said private conversational have more con
hIence in the integrity and patriotism of northern men
OF northern senators and representatives., as have III
northern people, than to believe that for the purpose o
doing an act which merely aggressive and insulting
they would leave this population for years without the re-
sain,s of government which they have II IN Their powe
TO impose But, repeat that that is to be the result
the more promptly it can be exhibited the better mere i
as much integrity, there much virtue there is as much
and South as there will be at any time to come; anc
they adequate TO crisis OF this Sort If muS o.
forced upon us now, shall be at any alter perloi
But sir, principally for the purpose OF relieving
the report of the Judiciary Committee far as my hun
Bile influence should enable TO do from the specia
assault made upon it by the senator from Tennessee
do retort the expression that the senator from en-
nessee has not considered" what he has uttered
, presume he has deliberately examined the question
80, ,N,1f ~ l,lt-t