The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1850-07-19
THIRTY-FIRST CONGRESS.
FIRST SESSION.
THURSDAY, July Is, 1850.
SENATE.

COURTESY OF THE FLOOR.
The resolutions heretofore submitted and laying
the table were taken up in order; the most OF
them again laid on the table.
The resolution to admit the editor of the Southern
Press, a daily paper published in Washington, to
the usual privileges on the floor of the Senate, was
read.
Mr. HALE moved to amend the resolution by
adding, % and the editor of the National Era"
After some remarks by Messrs. DAWSON and
YULEE,
Mr.. ATCHIsON moved, and the whole subject
was laid on the table.
ADJOURNMENT OF coNdREss.
The resolution for the adjournment of Congress
the LIST of August was further postponed till
Monday next.
CHARLES ,. sIBBALD.
The motion to reconsider the vote by which the
Senate refused to order the Joint resolution for the
relief of c. +. Sibbald to be engrossod for third
reading was taken up, and the motion was agreed
to.
THE PUBLIC GROUNDS.
The following resolution, heretofore submitted
by Mr.. HALE, was taken up:
Resolped, That the Committee on Public Build
ngs be instructed to inquire into the expectancy OF
preventing the further erection of the brick struc
ture Now being erected on tho grounds west of the
Capitol yard, causing what has already been
placed there to be removed.
debate ensued, in which Messrs. FOOTE,
HALE, and DAVIS of Mississippi, took part, and
then, on motion of Mr.. BADGER, the subject was
laid on the table.
cALIFoRNIA-TKnnIroRIAL GOVERNMENTS.
The Senate then resumed the consideration of the
bill reported by the select committee Of thirteen
to admit California into the Union a State; pro-
yiding territorial governments for Utah and New
Mexico and making proposals to Texas for the
settlement OF her western and northern boundaries
The question pending the following
amendments submitted by M. FooTE.
Amend 39th section, by striking out the tenth
and eleventh lines, and the word Z" cast~srdly'' in
the twelfth line and insert a" where tho Saith degree
of north latitude ntersects said river, thence east
with said parallel of latitude"
Also, amend the seventh section, by adding
thereto the following proviso:
Procided, notwithstanding, That a proposition
shall be made, and the same is hereby made, TO the
people OF California, and earnestly urged upon their
favorable consideration, to be acted upon by the
State Of California after her admission into the
Union shall have taken place. that tho said State of
California shall consent TO the establishment OF a
Territory within the limits assgned to her by this
act and that accordingly, 70 soon ms the consent
Of said State shall have been expressed in some
yenient and authoritative mode, n new Territory
shall be laid off and established 10 be called
the Territory Of Colorado, the boundaries Of which
shall be as iollows
beginning in the Pacific ocean three leagues
from shore, on the 35th parallel of latitude, and
running with said parallel TO the summit Of the
Sierra Nevada mountains; thence, following the
crest highest part ofssid mountain, near
may be, 10 the 37th parallel of north latitude;
thence cast with said parallel until it inersects the
Colorado river; thence alone the course OF said
river and down its main chs ncl, and in the mid.
die thereof, 20 the boundary Zine of the republic OF
Mexico; thence along said boundary line west
wardly 10 the Pacific ocean, 20 point three
leagues from shore; thence 10 the beginning, in
GLIDING all islands situated anywhere within that
portion Of the sea embraced within the present
boundaries; and for the government Of such Terri
tory, 10 be established, all the provisions Of this
act relating 10 the Territory Of Utah, except the
name and boundaries therein specified, arc hereby
declared 10 be in force in the said Territory Of Col
orado, from and after the day when the consent OF
the State Of California shall have been expressed in
manner and form as provided for by this act"
Mr.. HUNTER said that he never rosc with greater
reluctance 10 address the Senate than the prcs-
ent occasion. He knew how anxious the Senate
90 come 10 vote upon the bill no knew, also,
how anxious the country was for a decision, and
could a vote be taken he would willingly fore
60 the privilege Of addressing tho Senate.
The bill came before the Senate under most ia
vorable circumstances; IL had the weight Of tho
high character and influence Of the Senator from
Kentucky; IL recommended by the high and
fascinating name Of a compromises measure
Of peace. Were 1t measure 20 restore peace he
would hail IL with delight-ho would rejoice were
any law passed which could restore peace and hs
mOny He could not 30 consider the bill He could
not regard IL in any such light. He thought is pas
sage would result in the beginning Of stric and sRi-
tation. lie thought II measure 10 make the wesk
weaker, and the strong stronger. He said that he
would consider thsts measure of peace which would
make the weaker party strong enough to defend
it,elf from aggression.
He was examining the system Of measures re-
ported by the committee Of thirteen, and partiou-
l.rly the provisions Of the amendments 10 the Fu-
ritive Slave bill, when
Mr.. FOoTE called him TO order: That bill vns
not at present under discussion.
The CHAIR sustained the point of order Ne IL wac
insisted upon but remarked that other gentlemen
Iad hccr led N he VI ol
Mr.. FOOTE declined Withdrawing his point OF
order.
Mr.. BUTLER appealed from the decision Of the
Chair
Messrs DAYTON, YULEE, DICKINSON, and
ethers remarked that a debate had been permitted
upon all tho various subjects embraced in the re-
port Of the committee, and expressed the hope that
the point Of order would not be insisted upon.
Mr.. FOOTE declined Withdrawing the point oil
order.
Mr.. BUTLER withdrew the appeal.
Mr.. HUNTER then proceeded TO discuss the bill
under confederation not touching further upon the
Fugitiv. Slave bill.
He then gave the history Of the many and various
compromises yielded 10 by the South, and by which
they had surrendered much, and said that TO those
compromises WAS attributable the remarkable de-
mand, now made upon her. She had yielded to the
Missouri compromise, and considered IL great
concession; it was thought ultra 10 oppose IL.
He contrastcd the resolutions Of Mr.. Clay with
this bill, and said that, taken whole the bill
was worse for the South than the resolutions He
contrssted the bill also with the Clayton compro-
mise, and pointed out how far the former worse
in its effects upon the South than the latter.
lie reviewed the proceedings in California, and
opposed her admission in any case under present
circumstances either in this bill separately. He
also reviewed the non-scton policy, and tho doc
trine Of non intervention set forth in this bill.
Tic opposed them both disastrous TO the South.
lie contended that any bill passed under the idea
that slavery was excluded from the Territories by
the Mexican law wac equivalent TO the wilmot
Proviso.