The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1850-12-12
THE SLiVENOLDING SCHENE lUTlLATlON
OF CALIFORNIA.

ed that the object that lay the heart OF the
Slavery EYtensionists was. the division of Cali
fornia between the North and South by the line
of 800 30. That accomplished, would have con-
summated their scheme, which contemplated,
first, perpetual division of the continent between
Slavery and Freedom, whereby the former was
to be let loose indefinitely below that paraliei OF
latitude. involving US, whenever it might become
necessary, in wars for the aggrandizement oil the
Slave Power; and, secondly, the conversion OF
Southern California into slave Territory, with
view to its speedy admission into the Union as
slayeholding State. Had the line been drawn, an
avalanche of Shareholders would have instantly
precptated itself upon that Territory, whlch
abounds in all tropical productions, and affords an
inviting field for Slave Labor. No one who has
read the descriptions of the keeny obscryant Ere
mont can doubt this
1t was a gigantic scheme, and he who under
stands the rapacty and tenacity of the Slave
Power, will not be surprised OF the obstinacy with
which it vas urged the refusal of its supporters
to regard its rejection for the first second, third
sixth or seventh time, as final, or the violent in
ulgnuLlOn WHICH tDclT ulNllhdNN io''NAN - DN'
gress has awakened among the ultra gro-slavery
men of the South.
AT one time, we feared they were about to car
ry their point. Never wasthe Cause of Freedom
in moss H., yAi&S e>Sythern SeRato"1
supporters of the Compromise whose names have
been stpdiously concealed, and MIR. Clay, who at
the beginning of the session called God to witness
that he never would consent to do anything to ex-
tend slavery, when their Omnibus stuck fast, and
could be got no further without the help of few
more Southern members, did consent to this gi-
gantc scheme of slavery -propagandsm, for the
purpose Of buying help. Mr.. Benton, in his
speech at St. Louis, exposed this profigacy with
burning severity, and showed that, but for the
honorable determination of very few extreme
Southern members, not to barter their votes in
disregard Of principle, the mutilation of Califor-
MIA would have been effected, and the line of 800
30 carried to the Pacific ocean.
August st, the day after the overthrow Of the
Omnibus, revelations were made in the Senate
which should seal the political doom Of the pre-
tended friends of California from the North, with
Mr. Clay at their head. We present the follow
ing extracts from the remarks of several Senators
at that time Mr. Foote leads off with his char
acteristic bodnesS
SENATE, AUGUST /, 1850.
Mr. Foote | now offer. as an amendment to
the amendment, the same amendment which Of
fered the other day and withdrew, the object Of
which il to REFUGE the boundary of California to
the line of $50 80, and to establish Territorial
L onII
it to the end Of the section
"And that the said State OF California shall
never hereafter claim as within her boundaries,
nor attempt to exercise jurisdiction over any
porJon OF the territory at present claimed by
her except that which is embraced within the
following boundaries, to wit commencing in the
Pacific ocean, three English miles from the shore,
at the forty second degree of north latitude /,
thence with the southern boundary line Of the
Territory of Oregon to the summit of the Sierra
Nevada thence along the crest of that mountain
to the point where it intersects the parallel of
latitude thirty-fve degrees thirty minutes thence
with said parallel of latitude to point In the
Pacific ocean three English miles from the shore I;
and thence to the MISUNDERSTANDING all islands,
hays and harbors, adjacent IL or included within
the limits hereby assigned to said State. And
new Territory is hereby established to be called
Colorado to consist Of the residue of the territory
embraced within the limits of the said State Of
California as specified in the Constitution here
toforc adopted hy the people of California for the
Government of which Territory, so established,
all the provisions Of the act relating to the Terri
tory of Utah, except the name and boundaries
therein specified are hereby declared 10 be in
force in said Territory Of Colorado, from and
after the day when the consent Of the State Of
California shall have been expressed in some man
ner to the modification of her boundaries above
described
Mr. Footc | have few remarks In expana-
tion Of that amendment, and ! wish to state few
historical truths which ought TO be understood by
the present generation, and by posterity. II so
happened, Mr. President that prepared that
amendment after very extensive consultation
with the friends of this bill, from the North and
from the South. My own mind had become pre-
viously satisfied, almost entirely so, that it would
be impossible 10 pass what we called the adj ust-
ment bill and what flcetious gentlemen have
thought proper to denomnate the omnibus bill,
without some additional votes from the South,
which votes | took it upon myself to endeavor
to secure TO the bill, by such an explanation
as ] was authorized by the existing friends Of
the bill to make to certain Southern friends Of
mine
There were members of this body. including
yourself, who most warmly favored the general
the general measures of adjustment should be
adopted, but who entertained, and had expressed
in the most decided language, objections to the
passage Of the bill, unless certain notifications
could be obtained thereto. Among these modif-
cations was this one and this was the most mate
rial Another was the running of the boundary
line between Texas and New Mexico, at the line
Of the saith parallel of latitude, the objection to
which was afterwards avoided by the proposition
| ts.fu Ahnn
he to agree upon that boundary line Another
ameudment was one which had the honor Of
laying upon the table n few days ago, and which
is now printed which proposed to preserve the
Texas compact of annexation intact. Sir,
after comforting with the friends of the hill from
the North and the South. and from the Fast and
the West the avowcd and ascertained friends of
the BILL | made il my duty TO call upon you, SIR,
and other Senators, including my friend from Al Ia
bama, MIR Clemens, and the Senator from Ar
kansas, Mr. Sebastian TO ascertain whether il
ths amendment could be engrafted upon the bill
they would give il thsir support. With that sort
of manly patriotism which belongs to those gentle
men they assured me they could do it, Although
this is not generally known to the country, feel
authorized 10 make this statement Aftcr ] had
communicated with them, | made the state Of
things known TO the whole Senate, in one way or
another Then, cir, 1t was ascertained to be a
practicable thing to pass this bill in the form which
il would have assumed AFTER this amendment was
adopted, IL Southern gentlemen who had previous
" declared themselves hostile TO the measure,
upon certain specific grounds Of objection stated
by them, would manifest willingness to coope-
rate with u.s. Yesterday it was competent for the
South to have obtained the passage of the Calitor
MIA bill, with the boundaries restricted as this
amendment proposes to restrict them. Yesterday,
as proposed by me, it was practicable to have OBJ.
tanned the boundary line for California Of
$50 30
Mr. Dawson. take great pleasure In saying
that those Senators from the non-slaveholdlng
Ststea who concurred with the South in the pro-