The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1850-06-06
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,.


ency of establishing mail line from Yorkville,
s. c., by South Point, and Woodlawn, in CASTOR
county, N. c.. and by Cottage House and Vesu-
yius Furnace, in Lincoln county, to Newton, in
Mr. BROWN, of Mississippi, in pursuance of
previous notice, introduced "a bill, which he ex-
planned to propose nothing more than repeal OF
portion Of the act of l7S9 which requires the Sec
rotary of State attach his seal to any record and
the bill was passed without debate.
MIR. HOWARD asked leave TO submit resolu-
ton, calling on the Secretary OF War to comlnu
nicate TO the House typographical report from
Col. Johnston relative to a military road from Tex
as TO FL Paso and the Pacific, etc. But objection
was nterposed, and he was thus prevented from
Offering the resolution
The House then resolved itself into a Committee
of the Whole on the state OF the Union, Mr.. Boyp
in the chair and resumed the debate ON the special
message of the President OF the United States trans
uniting the constitution OF
THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA
Mr. JONES, of Tennessee, said that he did not
intend TO make speech, but TO give notice OF what
he intended to offer when it should be in order to
do so. Ii would clearly and definitely indicate his
| position with regard to this momentous question.
! lie desired a settlement, affect whom 1t may; he
| did not consider whether il would make or unmake
great men aspirants; his object was to restore
| peace and harmony to a distracted country lie
| moved in lieu of the bill of the gentleman from
Wisconsin, (Mr. DoTy } for the ad mission OF Cali
| fornia into the Union, the bill reported by Mr.
CLAY, the chairman of the select committee of the
Senate, (admitting California, establishing gov
| ernments for New Mexico and Utah, &c.) striking
out Of it, in the tenth and twenty eighth sections
those parts which prohibit the Territorial lcgisa-
| lures, which may be authorized, from egislating
Sin respect 10 African slavery" and altering
another section so to read 'thc northern bound
airy of said State ('fexas) shall be as follows: be-
| ginning at the point on the Rio del Norte, where
the thirty fourth degree of north latitude crosses
/ said river, and thence extending to point where
the hundredth degree OF west latitude crosses the
| Red river,'' &c He also proposed to append a
proviso, 'that nothing in this act contained shall
| be construed as in any manner to impair
! the lights of the State of Texas to all territory as
| claimed by her, in the event that the terms pro-
posed to the said State of Texas shall not be ac-
copied"
! Mr. j. said that in his opinion this was the most
practicable proposition which has been reported to
the House or to the Senate. He would, an alter
native, take the Missouri compromise line, but he
would prefer this to that; and he believed that to
| advocate the Missouri compromise now was TO OPP
pose all settlement of the distractng questions.
MIR. p. KING inquired whether the proposition
was i'll order.
The CHAIRMAN replied that il was not, as there
| were two amendments pending.
Mr.. DUNHAM, OF Indiana, entered into d state.
ment of the causes Of the present difficulties, and
said that gentlemen belonging to one section take
the remarks in a newspaper or in speech coming
from the other section, as true exponents of the;
public sentiment. We do not make allowance for
one another's preudices and education. He did not
believe what some gentlemen say as to the general
feeling of the South Of the North. There arc
| persons of extreme views everywhere. He be-
! ieved that the Wimot proviso was constitutional
but it did not follow that because 1t was, we must
exercise the power. There many sumbering
powers in the Constitution which we are not called
on exercise. He did not believe that the govern
ment holds the Territories in trust for the States,
but for the people who are there lie was confident
that the Mexican laws inhibitlng slavery are In
| force. He took it for granted that the people dc
not want slavery, and il should not be pressed upon
them.
| MIR. JOHNSON, of Tennessee, sent to the clerks
table resolution, which was read, instructiDg the
Committee the Territories report bill for the
admission of California. and TO legalize the govern
mens existing in the other portion of the territory
| acquired from Mexico, with suitable boundaries
admitting delegates therefrom the territories TO be
received as States at such time al may be deemed
rational and fair. And that provision be made for
the retrocesson Of the District of Columbia to Ma.
ryand, rcserving the public buildings and grounds
and more effectual mode for the recapturc of fu.
gitve slaves; and that the committee report at the
earliest moment practicable. He said that he had
offered this proposition some time since, before the
Compromise bill reported in the Senate. The
resolution contained his views. He should not
throw himself in the way to obstruct defeat set
Element The North and the South should come to.
gether. We all belong TO the same great Ameri-
can family. We all say that we attached TO the
institutions bcqueathed to US by our forefathcrs.
Then, in this spirit, why can we not come to-
| gether and erect an altar, and il yield some
thing to preserve the harmony which should ever
| exist? In this spirit he would meet the question
II effort should be made to separate the seve-
raj propositions taking one out of the midst and
forcingit upon the country, he intended to leave
himself uncommitted, and be ready TO meet emer-
gencies as they may arise. He replied TO the re-
marks OF MIR. WINTHROP heretofore delivered, and,
in conclusion, said that he for his country and
he trusted that Wings and Democrats, when they
look at the length, breadth, and height of il, its
prosperity and resources, and the immense amount
of property in slaves, and the value of the concd-
eracy, will forget themselves, and feel that the
| Union is paramount to all other considerations.
Slavery, he said, has the surcst foundation in the
| Union itself
| MIR. MCLEAN, of kentucky, remarked that the
people, every where, were asking how long we are
! To continue 20 make speeches to empty benches;
how long arc TO defer doing nothing 10 ensure
| concord and peace. Are there any principles on
which the questions can be settled Before re went
! home he had some hope; but, since his return, il
appeared TO him that will fall the Presidents
| plan, a matter Of coursc-necessariy If any
gentleman had come out for the compromise Of the
Senate, lac was not aware Of the fact. The South
arc disposed TO settle the questions any reason
| able grounds But no mattsr what plan the South
present, the North refuse it. The North have only
one plan: that slavery shall not go 10 the Terrific
RIGS aud that no slave States shall be admit.
ted into the Union. In consequence, the South
! hope and expect nothing. II tho North concede
| anything, he should be astonshed. His deliberate
opinion was, we are TO expect concessions, no
| adjustment. Must he stand here and tender adj
justment, when gentlemen from the North reject
IL Northern gentlemen are determined that they
they reject slavery. gentleman from Penusyl.
vania, (Mr. CAsEy,) in reply to an invitation 10
reason the subject, said that this purpose was
fixed; reasoning was unnecessary.
MIR. CASEY observed, that he stated distinctly
that, if California had here with constitution
recognising slavery, he would vote To admit her
and this he now repeated IL New Mexico shall
form State constitution, and tolerate slavery, he
! would vote for her admission.
MIR. MCLEAN was happy to hear IT, The gen
temsn was more liberal than the great 81 his
(Mr. McL.'s) Wing brethren. All the Democrat.
are against the plan Of the President, and who i:
for the Compromise of the Senate? lie was not
lie had little hope. lie was in favor Of some.
| thing like the Presidents recommendation; il wa.
little improvement on the doctrine avowcd in the
Nicholson letter. But be did not like either. He
thought that the people have right to settle the
question of slavery until they prepared TO como
into the Union. He wanted them TO go into ter.
ritorial pupiage. They will not be ready TO com,
into the Union for eight or ten years. II gentlemen
! will admit California with territorial government
for Utah and New Mexico, he would compromise
with them He opposed the purchase Of portion
Of the territory Of Texas as proposed by the Sen.
ate's compromise; and commended that the boundary
Of that State was settled (from the mouth to the
source Of the Rio Grsnde) by the treaty with Mex
| leo.
Mr.. HoAGLAND, of Ohio, opposed the purchase