The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1850-02-23
CONGRESSIONAL.
sPsEcn os Mls. powss.

LOUISIANA,
On the Compromise Resolutions of Mr. Cgag; dsliusred Il
ne Senate Of the Uaiisd States Monday and Tues
day, February I8 and 10, 1850.
Mr.. DOWNS said:
Mr.. PREsIDEST: From the mere reading of the reso
lutons presented BY the honorable senator from Ken
lucky, lAlr. CLAY.l under consideration. or from
hearing them read my impression strong agains
them that thought my duty, unexpected il was, ant
which l. had against them. felt, Mr. President, as
now feel, the temery and embarrassment OF such
course felt how inferior and feeble any efforts of min.
must be- however Just the in which engaged
against the ability the reputation. and the influence OF The
distinguished individual who brought forward the reso
lutions and diihdent as am and disposed as alway
am 70 listen rather than 70 speak. nothing but The mos
decided and irresistible conviction hat these resolutions
would not only aggrayate the difficulties in which
involved but would be decidedly destructive to the bes
interests Of the whole country has induced to dc
what would willingly have avoided--engage in de
bate which there many much more eminent than
my self ready 10 enter into.
| Having declared emphaiicalIy my opposition and my
objection to these resolutions, and not having had an
opportunity then 10 discuss them give my reasons,
shall conine my remarks. Mr. President, in a greal
degree the resolutions themselves and the arguments
advanced BY the honorable senator from Kentucky in
supported them. And FIRST, before entering directly
the resolutions themselves. there certain preliminary
positions assumed by The honorable senator to which
wish to revert There are three Of them; The first one
that all the different questions involved in this unhap
| py controversy should be settled at once. However
much sir, may differ from the honorable senator from
Kentucky. [Nlr Clay however much those who come
from the quarter OF the Union which do object to his
resolutions il was the general, the universal expression
osopnon in all quarters, that. upon this point at least
thsre could be no difference OF opinion from him, that that
the proper and only ground upon which these dfcul
ties could be adjusted For sir, conceive that that
is the only hope.
Mr.. President in the debate which took place here the
other day upon this subject the honorable and dstin-
guished senator from Mississippi lAr FooTEl has but
expressed my establishment and my regret and only
mine and his own but that OF the whole southern
~ this IInion in hort Ulfhi N faw
days. the honorable senator from Kentucky Mr. CLAY
should hava changed his position that point. and
Msy shat would satisfy boh North and SOUTH he
prefers 10 take up solitary branch OF the subject
But do propose odscuss that question the honora
BILE senator from Mississippi MR. FooTEl has said all
that il deserves.
There can be no objection il seems to me- TO settling
all these questions in one bill We have not here IN
Legislative shall be confined particular sub
ect The proposition that one of these measures must
be disposed OF at time would then be very WELL but
we have such provision here. IL often happens that
many different measures incorporated in The same
bill We had in the same bill, two years ago, proyi-
sion for Oregon and California, and the settlement Of
thing has been done and there why il could
not be done here II ever done, must be done in
that way, and that way only.
senator submits ia. that compromises should be made in
such that neither party this unfortunate
roversy should yield anything Of principle Now. this =
J.
Whether il be practicable to carry il out not is diff
feren matter baf il IL be practicable, should like to
thing in the resolutions themselves. or 10 the expana
ton Of those resolutions TO convince that that propo
sition carried oui by Them Why, sr the very second
resolutionI do propose discuss il, but merely
refer 10 it's there any yielding Of principle m thai
The very first line that slavery does not exist by law
in New Mexico and California is there not yielding OF
principle there Ii TO me this is yielding every
thing side, and giving up the question enrely II
this be the compromise which TO be made without
yielding any principle either side. certainly this reso-
But SIR there is another OF these preliminary PROPOSE
tions which wish to call attention for moment; and
that that though these resolutions there many
mutual concessions, there yet some 10 be made by
the North, without any recompense 10 be made by the
South Here Is the proposition:
'Tne proposition Is In respect the savehold ng
by class OF opposite STATES. without any compensation
being tendes BY them to the nonsavehoding States
Mr. President. have studied these resolutions and
the honorable senator from Kentucky; but | must
confess that have been utterly unable To Ind, ac-
cordng TO my understanding OF the resolutions. any
concession 10 the South without any compensation
being made on their part, to the North II
look TO the resolution IN reference 10 the District OF
Coumbiaf this principle can be predicltod of any one
OF these resolutions, il must be of this oneit cannot be
said sir that much is given up the South. On the
contrary, much given up TO the North than TO The
South BY This resolution; because. though Il admits
that is nexpedent TO abolish slavery IN the District
The constitutional power TO do so Is admitted And real
~, sir when reflect upon the terms IN which thus reso
luton in reference 10 the expe iency oil a0oshng sla-
very in the District OF Columbia Is couched, canno
find any conce in II all TO the South. much less
any concession without compensation on the other side
wish TO make this preliminary explanation, MIR Pfes
dent because the weight and the name OF the distinguish
ed individual who brings them forward so great that
the very announcement oi concession might carry away
public opinion in the North IN the South, without
look ing all into The merits OF the case. do not wish
the announcement or even the idea 10 go FORTH that con
cession made the South, and that and others iron
the South battling against concession made 70 us
II there is any concession made the South, without
Isl and IL cannot be shown TO exist certainly have
right 10 assume that Il ls not there.
Mr. President now come 10 the consideration oil the
resolutions themselves and the first resolution relates 10
the admission OF California a Stale. The resolution
held oxt some hopes which am sorry 10 say the dis
usson OF il has destroyed The resolution THAT
California, with suitable boundaries. nc. Thought That
bic boundaries thought ihatin il might be found some
guaranty OF compromise and settlement oil the matter
waited anxiousy for some development on tins subject
MIR. CLAY. Will the honorable senator allow me TO
avail myself OF moment TO make explanation with re-
gard the introduction OF those words into that resou
lion AT the time prepared was under the Inn
preston that California herself, in adopting consu
presented that Instrumentation had not then received
it-with provision that il Congress not satisfied
with the boundaries which she proposed IL might alter
those boundaries TO make them conformable TO
what might be deemed right. say was under an inn
preston that either in the constitution OF California or
the hands OF her representatives coming here there
would be instructions expressive of her consent to
conform TO the will OF Congress II was with that pur
under haf emrs,xed fhose