Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1850-03-01
coXGREss-IsT SESSION
WEDNESDAY, FEBRuARy n, 1850.
sen ATE


SENATE.
Mr. cays compromise resolutions We're taken up. Mr.
Benton wished before Mr. Hunter took the floor 10 expas
legal point which the resolutions involved
The resolutions asserted that slavery did not by law exist
in California. He Of those who believed that sa
very was abolished BY the Republic of Mexico He wset
to produce documentary testimony OF this tact-thc decree
executive and legislative on the subject &c
After Mr. Benton concluded Mr.. Rusk took the floor.
made his expected speech upon the subject OF the Texa
Mr. Rusk fortified his statements with documentary e,
ence Being unwe and somewhat exhausted he gave way
10 motion adjourn; without concluding, and The Senate
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,
On motion of Mr. Thompson, OF Mississippi, The rules
were suspend,a and the ouse ,so aa se INTO Com
Mr. Tuobs who entitled 10 the floor moved 10 take
up The Presidents special message upon the subject Of Cali
foinia. II was taken up when
Mr. Doty submitted the following:
An act TO admit the state Of California into The Union
Whereas the people OF California have formed for them
selves constitution and State government ana applied o
admission into the Union as State
And whereas the said constitution has been officially
municated 10 Congress and is republican,: Therefore,
Section l. BE- il enacted, &c, That the State OF Caly
MIA with the boundaries described in the said constitution
shall be OF the United States OF America and admitted
into the Mon equal footing with the original States
in all respects whatever
Sec q The STATE of California shall interfere WIN
the primary disposal OF the soil within the same By the L
States, with any regulations Congress may make iof
securing the title in such soil IL bona tide purchasers Thereof
and no Tx shall be imposed lands the property Of The
States which said provisions heeb declared to be uu
damena conditions upon which the SAID State Is ADMITTED
into the Union
Mr. Toombs took the floor and spoke an hour upon the
slavery question He alluded 10 the history of the origin o.
the government and pointed out the extreme jealousy h
then existed the part OF the slave Staies III regard u
their property in slaves That these States did not
into The Union until protection VAS given by hr
constitution 10 this species OF property This protection
given by that clause allowing this property 10 be rep
scented in the federal legislature and also by The claus" pro
,idng or the reclamation oI fugitive slaves The mon
he maintained would never have been formed except iot
this protection and the provisions OF The constitution HAD
in every stamped this government a. pro slavery
government. The abolionsts who met at Fanurl Hall
and said that this was pro slavery government wtie con
-istcnl, and hence they ash that We may relieve them iron
the constitutional obligation 10 support slavery The" men
es, consistent III their purposes ana honest ~ 'rG
means accomplish their end. He warned gentlemen hata
This question asnyovoi S6OO000,0OO OF property, son
cognisrd by the constitution, and that government i
in HOSTILITY with the property Of the people could No.
ought and wous stand He maintained that what ""
property be determined by each Staie oil the non
the duty Of the federal government Ia protect that p
trty ana further whatever Was determined BY the STATE
their seeregac capacity 10 BE- property the possessors
could with them into any oi the territories beonb
ng the United States and thar il The duty Vi t
Federal Government 10 protect the property there Ia The Z,
thar other property protected until such terio
be- admitted States into TIL Mon; when the propHy
would become subject 10 The action Of domestic rslsaa
He declared his opposition Ia the admission oi California
State under liz present organization.
Mr.. Baker then toe the i'6og lie said h. would hal
with Joy thu Admission of California into the Union, WI
her golden sands and snow capped mountains ana fertile va
lcys He then denied and show that there W.
no provision Of the constitution which allowed The taking
slaves into the territories with the view protection 10 "a
species Of property. He then alluded TO the threats o f'
solution which he said made because il dcer!nH
ed by thu Representatives Of the nation do what Their
predecessors and foreahers had DONE admit into the tn
Stne which excluded slavery from her borders.
Mr.. Mclane OF Md followed, and made able speed
upon the questions of right involved in this controversy H
spoke Maryland border State regard TO errito
position the slavery question: and expressed the inn
she fell that The controversy should be amicaby
tied, and the Union preserved
He was III favor of the Missouri compromise line,
measure VI compromise but rcpndiated any such compn
mise AZ woul. exclude slavery North OF 80 3d. which ga
guarantee and protection 10 il below that line.
tie for adhering 10 The true democratic gronn! III
ground which the national democracy stood upon in m
Presidential contest Of onncrvention both above and
low The Missouri line OF 30 deg 80 min. He would not
admitting California with such constitution the peoi
there who had the political right 10 acr might present
Congress IA Southern man, although lie believed III
in regard 10 the territories acquired TDm Mexico there wi
law for against sil;ery ihee lie willing 10 lral
the question of nigh, OF property with he Supreme CouF,
the United States
He alluded 10 the compromise resolutions Of Mr. Clay 81
differed with that Senator that Congress could abolish slave
rs in the District of Columbia, gel could do With
consulting the wishes OF Maryand. He (Mg McLan
claimed right Mary Land ID egsat- the subJec!
slavery in the District of Columbia but what he had to
was ii Congress should undertake abolish H. and
violate the deed Of cession, Maryland would in VII
her right Of jurisdiction Mr. Mel. concluded oy sending
proposition the Chair which not read understood
the reporter Ia be II proposition of compromise
The committee then rose, and Tile House adjourned.