The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1850-12-19
II" CONGRESs OF THE U. STATES.
II TUESDAY, DECEMBER ~, 1850.
tiE coSTIkUATIoS1

PRESIDENTS MESSAGE IN SPANISH.

The Senate proceeded 10 tue Of the fol-
lowing resolution, offered Oh tue l2lh December by Mr
GwIN
sessvsd That ihs syce-afy Of State the Presi'
dent, a. he osps d the present session @ Q bs
Of the said ranss,ioa, with e original. bc prn,ed iorihe
use of the Senaie,S' sfl fuGA e3Hasoas dlqRo8 sli
Mr.. GWiN. hope that the resolution will be adopt
q yse GO soaes
would have yeIy favorable elect upon themfor ,s p
afford them Opportunity 10 read the message in their
labor h ssgy wh
10 the English Language IL Is singular casee and en-
tirey different from tsai q tlpgrants who ere hrenga
here from abroad These cizens were brought within
our limits by purchase. kmgranis must expect TO com
form 10 the language Of he Country. and TO prepare them
selves to read the public documents in that language
Bu in this case The persons becoming citizens oil this
country as they did think Il is important that least the
number OF copies named 10 the resolution OF the message
Of the President should BE- printed in The Spanish language
Mr. BRADBURY. / regret 10 oppose The proposition
Of the Honorable senator iIom California, but believe
this will be introducing new and ncongruate precedent
n we begin by transang the public documents into one
language, shall be called upon 10 translate into every
language which is spoken by me different citizens OF our
republic hope. therefore, ,hat we shall not adopt the
resolution should be exceeding y gratied 10 vote In
favor OF the proposition oi ae from California
il did not consider I, nnwise TO Introduce new prece
'sMr ash BADGER Mr. President, I hope the resolution
offered By the honorable senator from California will be
adopted do not see thai il is liable TO the objection
sngge s,ed by the from Maine II is not the com
mencement OF system of fanslating the Presidents
message into every Language spoken by the citizens of
the United States IL is applied case oil peculiar
character and description II i not proposition to trans
late the message into Spanish for the accommodation o
individual SpaniaIds Or MeSicans who have migrated
into the United States and settled there That is not the
purpose. That Is mol The principle upon which This
Of totally different description II is not precedent
which be established t bad purposes II is in
the nature Of the case precedent which can again be
hope that may be able osay that the which
will never occur in onr annals again The case is This
We have acquired BY conquest and BY treaty spua
tons-pary by the and partly by contrac-a large
domais oi country originally Inhabited by persons speak
ing the Spanish language We have brought them into
the Union Of the States think myself as well, il is
proper and, under such circumstances, il is just and
reasonable to present them this document in their own
language, Where is The injury from III No can
be stated like this. calling for the printing OF The Pes
Of our population moi speaking the English language who
stand In the same relation To- US, or who have been
brought into The Union o The United States under similar
crcumsanes think il is but reasonable and fair that
this small boon should be conceded 10 these people
they should have opportunity peruse the Presidents
annual message IN Their own tongue. The printing
Of 1000 copies OF il be object on the score OF
expense The precedent is not dangerous, because like
cannot occur witheu new accession OF territory
Ii TO be hoped such occasion take place
But il il should, is very obvious that in the course OF
the present session be called upon repeat
similar proceeding very often hope therefore. that my
friend from Maine will withdraw his objection and per.
nit this resolution TO be adopted. u
Mr. BRADBURY. L think il safer TO abide by the set
lied practice OF this government Upon the acquisition OF
Louisiana the same reason existed for translation into
the French language that now urged IN relation 70 the
correct in my recollection nothing OF the kind was then
DONE Upon the acquisition of Florida, similar applca
ton might have been made but i was not done ap.
prehend thai OF difficulty will arise if abide
by the settled usage OF the government II will be easy
for the presses OF that country 10 make those inhabitants
acquainted with the contents OF that message IL il de-
srabe that should furnish every possible inducement
for all citizens OF the United States speak and
common language. therefore do not feel at liberty TO
withdraw the objection which have made
mortified that any opposition should be presented TO this
resolution, especially from the quarter from which il
comes ! thought we had determined TO do all we could
speedily 10 Amercanize these persons who lately
citizens OF Mexico, and who have resolved to be-
come citizens OF the United States. thought we were
all Disposed TO supply facilities In the most liberal manner
10 these people for acquiring knowledge OF ins,itu-
lions and the mod operdndi OF our government and 10
ct themselves in all respects far at least may be
done. for an honorable performance Of the duties Of
lion, and do with the utmost readiness OF zeal and
purpose. To refuse TO sustain such proposition would
be almost equivalent IN my Judgment TO saying TO thes
citizens who are be benefited by il IN the reception OF
valuable political information, that we are not willing
that they should understand the actual operation OF the
government TO which they have voluntarily subjected
themselves. Why, in my judgment IL would be almost
equivalent TO that edict OF the Roman yrant who hung
his laws 50 high that his subjects could read them,
and thus manifest obedience the laws This ~ case
that cannot happen agana case that never did happen
before, and the like OF which under precisely the same
circumstances can happen again. And even II the
TO grow into precedent, should not conceive
IL miscevous 10 the least possible extent could con.
ceiye OF no injury that 10 any human being
upon the face OF the hababe globe from our simply
supplying the citizens OF California with the means OF
understanding what the President has said in his annual
message to the two houses oil Congress.
Mr.. WALKER | wish 10 offer an amendment 10 that
resolution BY adding the following: sm
"And that a like number Of copies be printed In tile Ger
man, and like nanber 10 the Nofw egian lsngcRgc"
offer this not 90 much in seriousness as to illustrate
he principle involved In the original resolution. will
ienark that the reasoning OF the IRON Mssis
app tMr fooTE] be correct, must reprint all our
avs, all publc documents and archives, and intro
duce them into another language that the odous idea OF
The lyfant shall not be carried in this government
We will see who 10 right and who is wrong this mat
Ter; Tor il this resolution is adopted il will inrn
MtFO0TE Will the Honorable senator state any
reason, any local reason, for adopting such amend.
mehtl understand his amendment was offered with a
view Of killing the resoluon-for the purpose OF testing
hs pacpe OF the resolution must say that strongly
suspect that his object Is simply to defeat IT, II u be
ana he will frankly acknowledge IT, hope those in favor
o The resolution will join 10 voting down The amend
menl, unless some substantial reason, which suspect
does not exist shall be by the senator for the adop
uon oi his amendment will say that II he VIII state
any particular rcason-any satisfactory Tesson--iOr ihe
adoption Of the amendmeG myself asd think others,
will vote for IT,
;, Mr. WALKER The very reasons which the senator
himself gave ior the proprey OF the original resolution
WI apply with great iofce and peruhency TO the State Of
WtCAA.. 49,