Daily Richmond times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1849-1850, 1850-02-14
THE SLAVERY QUESTION.
NJ r. CLAWS COMP MISE
IN SENATE, FEB'Y 6, 1850
CONCLUDED

In SENATE, FEB'Y 6, 1850.
[CoNcLUDED
This is concession not admit of anv real constitr
uonal provision but concession from the North to b
South of what is understood believe by great number
at the North, be constitutional provision If the reso
ton should be adopted take away the decision of the S
pree Court of the United ON this subject and there
is great DEAL know that might be said ON both sides
TO the right OF Congress to regulate the between the
States and consequently the trade in slaves between te
States but think the decision Of the Supreme Court has
Deen founded upon correct principles trust it will for
put end to the question whether Congress has or has
not the power to regulate the intercourse and trade in
slaves between the different States.
Such Mr. President the series of resolutions which in
earnest and anxious desire to the olive branch
happy country have thought it my duty to offer OF all
men upon earth the least attached to any productions
am to surrender thing which have proposed and to
accept in lieu OF it any thing that better but mt if TO
the candor of honorable Senators the other side and
upon all sides OF the House, whether their duty will he
formed by simply limiting themselves to objections 70 anv
one or to all OF the series of resolutions that have offered
Ii my plan OF peace and accommodation and harmony is
not right present us plan Let see the counter
ea Let how all the questions that have arisen
out OF this unhappy subject of slavery be better settled
more fairly and justly settled to all quarters of the Union
than on the plan proposed in the resolutions which have
offered Present me such scheme and will hail If With
pleasure and will accept without the slightest feeng of
regret that my abandoned. Sir whilst was en-
gagged IN anxious upon this subject the idea
the Missouri compromise has been termed came under
my review, was considered by and finally rejected as
in my Judgment less worthy of the acceptance of
tered tor your consideration.
Before enter into particular examination however of
that Missouri compromise beg to be allowed to correct
great which prevailing merely this Senate but
throughout the whole country in respect my agency in
the Missouri compromise rather in respect to the line OF
sc degrees 80 minutes which established in 1920 by an
act OF Congress do not know whether thing has
cited more surprise in my mind as to the rapidty with
which important historical transactions obterated and
from the mind than when understood every where
that had been the author of the line of SO deg 30 min
which established the occasion of the admission of
Missouri INTO the Unon 1t would take too much to
so the whole of that important in the public af
fairs of the country shall do it. although have got
ample materials before derived from a careful examine
ton of the journals of both Houses will occupy your
time by going detail through the whole transaction but
will myself with stating that far from nv having
presented proposition this line OF Sc deg 80 mn upon
be admitted into the Union not did originate in the
House of which was member originated in this body
those who will cast their recollection back sure
the honorable Senator from Missouri (r BENToN) more
correctly than any body else bring his recollection
the fact that the Congress when the proposition first
made to admit Mssour-or rather allow her to hold
convention and frame constitution and decide whether she
should should not be admitted into Union-the bill
failed by disagreement between the houses House
insisting and the Senate dissenting from the provisions
contained in the ordinance of 1887 The House insisting on
the Introduction of slavery and the Senate rejecting the
position OF the Introduction OF slavery the bill fell through
did that session OF Congress the next
sion it was renewed and at the time Of its renewal Maine
knocking door to be admitted into the Union In
the House there majority for the restriction as to a
very Missouri in the Senate there majority opposed
all restriction In the Senate therefore, order to carry
through the Missouri BILL the provision for admission
rather authorizing her determine the question of her
admission-that bill coupled bill for the admission
of Maine They connected together and the Senate
said to the House. You bill for the admission of
Maine passed. you shall not have it, unless Won rake
along with it bill for the admission of Missouri also
There was majority very large in the Senate for
coupling both together.
agreement of committees of conference and there two
committees of conference the occasion before matter
finally settled. And finally settled disconuect
the two bilsto admit Maine separately without any con
nexion with Missouri and to insert in the Missouri bin
clause proposed in the Senate of the United bv Mr.
Thomas Senator from Illinois, restricting slavery north of
the line Sc deg 30 % and leaving it open south of that
line either to admit or not to admit it, Well sir the bill
hnay passed The committees OF conference of the two
Houses the detachment two and
the passage of the Missouri bill with the Sc deg 80
min in it, and so it passed. SO went Missouri it for
moment quoted the country by of the introduction
OF the clause SO deg 80 min You will find repeat sir
you will take the trouble to look at the journals that on as
many three four different occasions Mr. Thomas in
every instance presented the proposition of SO deg 80 min
was finally agreed to- and take occasion say that
amongst those who voted for the line sc deg 80 min
the majority OF the Southern mebersmy friend from Ala
bama (r Rng in the Senate, Mr. Pinckney, from Mary
land, and indeed the majority of the Southern Senators
voted in of the line SO deg 80 in and the majority
of the Southern members the other House. at the head Of
whom Mr. Lowndes himself voted also for that line
have doubt did also but Speaker of the House
the time and the journal does show how the Sneaker
except in the of te able to ascertain
by resort to the records how did vote but have very
little doubt that voted in common with my other Southern
friends for the adopuon spirit OF compromise true
of the line SO deg. 80 min. 49, i.l
Well sir so the matter ended in 1890 During that wear
her delegates Congress- seeking to be admitted into the
Union but she had inserted clause in her constitution con
tanning prohibition OF Tree people of color from that State
She here with her containing that prohib
on and Immediately the Northern members took execution
it. The flame which had been repressed during the nre
yos session burst forth with double violence throgh
out the whole Union Legislative bodies all got in motion TO
keep out Missouri In consequence of her Introduction of
free people of color from within her limits did not arrive
at Congress that session till January when got here
found both bodies completely parayze consequence of
the struggle to exclude Missouri from the Union in
quence OF that prohibition.
We sir made the first effort in the House to settle il
asked for committee of thirteen and COMMITTEES of tbr
granted me- representing all of the Old STATES of
the Unlon The committee met presented to them re-
solution which was adopted by the committee and ranorod
to the Housenot unlike the to which will presently
call the attention of the Senateand should have carried
in the House but for the votes of Mr. Randolph Virginia
Mr. Edwards of North Carolina and Mr. Burton of North
Caronawo of the three believe longer living These
three Southern all against the compromise
which prepared by the committee rather by myself
chairman of the committee of thirteen defeated it,
Well sir in that condition the thing remained or several
days The greatest anxiety pervaded the Countrywide pub
nc mind was unsettled men We're unhappy there
large majority of the House them hope and there
accommodation settlement of the question: and the
luton would have been adopted believe, but when came
to thevote by yeas and nays, unfortunately thenore u
fortunately them hope than now if there should be
sion for it nowhere few Curtiuses and Leondases
willing to risk themselves for the safety security of their
country endeavored to avail myself of that good feeling
far could and after few days had elapsed brought
forward another proposiona one perfectly unprac-
tsed in this country either before since as as know
proposed joint committee of the Houses that of the
House consist of twenty three MEMBERS he number of
the Senate committed do recolect) and that this com
mtee should be appointed by BALLOT for that time Mr.
Taylor of New York, the chair and Mr. Taylor was
the very who had first proposed the restriction Mis-
souri, He proposed that she should only be admitted
principle OF the ordinance OF 1881 proposed therefore
that the committee be appointed by ballot Well, sir my
motion carried by large majority and members came
to me from all quarters of the House. and said, Whom Mr.
Clay, do you want to have with you the committee /"
made out my list of twenty three members and to
say that that happened on that occasion which will hardly
happen again eighteen of the twenty three elected
on the first ballot and the remaining five my list having
the largest number of votes but not the majority moved
dispense with any further ballong and that these ve
should be added to the eighteen thus completing the com
mtee of twentythree. One two gentlemen, Mr. Liver
more OF New Hampshire and two Others declined to
serve the comttee and very much to my regret and
my annoyance the lamented Mr. Randolph and
another person placed in their stuaon forget whe
Their done by ballot by the Speaker is enough to say
they were put the committee.
We sir, the senate Immediately agreed to the PROPOSE
ton, appointed its committee, and met in this hall the
Sabbath day within three days OF the close of the
session, when the whole nation waiting with breahless
anxiety for final and healing upon the distract
ns subject which occupied attention. We met here on
that day and accordingly the moment met MI Randolph
made suggestion which knew would be attended with
the greatest embarrassment and difficulty He commended
that the committees of the Houses the chair