The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1849-02-24

enough TO Keep this ncongrusus material order know
well the species Of which Jackson exercised under
this Florida law and you will need something of this KIND
tor the people Of California Give such power, and this
country will be governed better than the country could gov
ern Itself for two three years We need such
law and the power which such a law gives.
And sir If the hour IS approaching when strong gov
eminent is needed there thank God is approach
Ing, too who will not fear to exercise if called for The
hour and the hand. The present governor,
too, Gen Persiior Smith, is statesman well as sol
der Give us the power and will give you law and
order In California efecually than California VIII
provide law and order for itself. know that under this
act provided for the temporary government of Florida,
Gen Jackson did strain his power its utmost tension
He took such to alarm prudent thinking men,
in reference to laws giving this power He usurped-not
usurped because allowed afterwards by Congress to
be rightly donehe took himself all powers of gov
legislative, and judicial Under the
mission given him by President Monroe and the of Con.
he took all the powers of the Captain General and
lntendan and Governor of the Island of Cuba and that
the ground which he obtained these extraordinary
pc wers And when he came Justify this high-handed
power, he showed that, under The commission which he
held and this law he authorized exercise all the
powers of the Captain General of the Island of Cubs
Well it shown that this officer had species of abb
sou,e power the whole of Florida He lived there
despot cen,ering in himself the right legsate,
strue and to execute IL therefore under this law that
Gen Jackson able justify himself for the that
he took Florida But let be remembered that there is
no such law no such captain general essng these ex
| traordinary powers in California The man who rules
there regulate himself by the laws existing there
There is danger-l speak 1t with rcspect-there IS no
danger that the incoming President the Governor Gen.
would exercise any undue hghanded Executive power
under this act.
Mr. President if this clause pass, incorporated in this
appropriation bill, Il confess 1t is species OF ncongru-
which do ikea departure rom that strict pro-
rey and parliamentary precedent which ought to govern
US here y but if pass say, either IN an appropriation
bill of the appropriation bill, there will be law
for State California at this and that
is my mind for It's favorable consideration,
though | would much prefer 1t had been introduced
elsewhere hold, Mr. President, that there is no suf-
6cient for the establishment of State govern
ment there now while there Is much TO condemn 1t.
Tie Senate will bear with IN the few remarks which
offer this point because the sub has been largely
spoken of here and The assigned for the
formation of State government with
the object speak with all respect for my southern friends
and southern legislators and all who interested
but, my humble judgment, there little difficulty in refer
to the subject of slavery to grow ultimately out of
California if that ques ion be left for the uture while
would willingly settle it now, If 1t could rightly be
done The influx of free population has ceased TO
permit be question: whether shall continue Free ii
hold that there will be notification
hereafter to be apprhnded any such grounds as the
want of ability carry savas to California II such an
evil come, my word for it, will he in consequence of some
great wrong done by section OF the confcdeTacy
another. cannot therefore, seriously lay TO heart
which have been laid table. My deep confidence in
the attachment of the South the Union viii not permit me
to believe that on question involving no practical wrong
SHE would ever dissolve the Union if she could.
Mr. BUTLER. should like TO understand the nature
of the position taken by the from New Jersey before
he proceeds further Do understand the senator to main
the United States California because 1t would give
southern shareholders the benefit of its pro,ec'ion'
MIR, DAYTON. wish the senator from South Caro-
lima had propounded that inquiry while was speaking upon
that branch of the subject observed that there vas IN thus
bill indirect way changing the relative position of
ties according least the southern of the consttu
ton While am wIg to provide for the governmental OF that
country and to do suppress anarchy and diso
der am yet unwilling do any which even Indirectly
change the position of parties in reference the subject
Another point that subject; you cannot you have not
the constitutional power make the constitution reach by
Legislative act, inch further than does reach ropo
pigore The constitution authorizes the admission OF new
States and that way only you extend the constitution
where does otherwise reach. arguing that part
of the question upon the southern of their rights under
the constitution concur myself 10 such view. have
already stated that do not believe that under the consu
on with the laws of that country they now exist the
South have II right take slaves there | say would
better the position of the South according to their view OF
the powers granted by the constitution not disposed
country, the rights of the South by this bill.
But before said have passed from that branch of the
subject; and speaking of the probabilities of
difficulty growing out of this subject if we do not now
provide State government in California. cannot IN
my heart anticipate any such future difficulty from this
question Of slavery an California. cannot believe that
southern friends upon any question which Is not
practical-whch does not do them practical wrong
will willingly interfere with the relations which at present
exist between the acvca members of this Contederacy Ii
they do permit me, with all respect, to ask them how
they resist this thngi Let look at the question
practically and how difficulty grow out of the
tension of this clause providing against the admission OF
be done Why Congress will not pretend TO extend 1t to
South Carolina Virginia any of the slave States OF
the South nothing of the kind Is proposed. How then,
let ask is Virginia South Carolina TO resist the ex-
of this clause California; Let see how 1t will
operate. southern planter goes California and he takes
his slaves along with hm-an indefinite number OF them.
Having got into that country, certain individual, with
abstract notion of human rights, thinks roper under
the existing laws of Congress- having control In that terri
tory have the habeas corpus issued and this slave brought
before Judge, who upon reference to the law, considers
hH,self obligated discharge the slave Suppose the
planter takes with this decision and stands to his
arms, declaring that he will not yield to It, and that he Will
resist its eXecuion-"come one, come ALL" lie might
perform wonders but the odds would be something against
him IL there should be dozen of these planters
well skilled in manual--adepts in the drill very much
fear they would be in better condition The odds would
be earuly against them The result would be that he or
they would have fall back the corps of reserve the
States at home Suppose this should be the case; what
would southern friends do You do not mean TO raise
army and march California for the purpose OF pro-
ectiDg this the stand he has taken, who has ex-
parated himself from his State and taken this hazard
species of property at his risk along with him OF
his own accord! The utmost you can do is to pass resou-
tons multiplying the law, which could have effect in Cali
ornla Sir, have not pretended to extend this law to
Sou h Carolina yet in 1892 when extended our
laws TO South Carolina she closed her ports and nul
fed the law declaring that should be collected
within her borders. There you had practical means of
nulhcaon; but 1t did not amount TO much after all But
with reference the enforcement Of this law in California
how will Virginia South Carolina ~ II should be
enforced You pass your resolutions, and What will their
passage amount to- Why, nohing--nothing at all. Win
you for this withdraw secele from the Unoni No, no;
but If you should you may retire chsgrined like Achilles
to his bu, long something will knock door
of your mighty heart and like Achilles vou viii 40 ain