The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1850-06-11
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,
EyENING SEssIoN-.lnne 3.


And the Senate adjourned
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,
EVENING SEssIoN-June 8.
At the hour designated for the re assembling of
the members this evening, the following named
gentlemen present, viz: Mcssrs. Howe, Gid
dngs, Thaddeus Stevens, Henry, A. ii. Stephens,
Conrad, Clingman, Allen, Durkee, J. p. Caldwell,
Mcqueen, s. w. Harris, FeatherstoD, Stetson,
Hamilton, McClernand, Bue, Hall, Jones, Boyd,
Bowdon, Miller. Carter, w. II. w. Cobb, Phelps,
Albertson, Van Dyke, and Nelson-25.
The House called to order at few minutes
past eight O'Clock, and,
On motion OF Mr. JONES, il went into Commit.
tee Of the Whole the state Of the Union, and
resumed the consideration of the California ques-
ton.
Mr.. HAMILTON, Of Maryland, said that for
nearly six months the question of slavery has
pied the attention of Congress, and of the public.
Debate about to terminate; and, instead Of
| speaking, will be called upon to act; and we
shall determine this controversy either TO the salts
faction of the country, to its displeasure. Now
| il the time TO settle the question. Ii was as mo-
mentous at this time in 1920; II is dangerous
| now as it was then. 1t created sectional feeling
| then, as now. The strife should cease, and Con-
gress proceed To the discharge ofthe duties designed
| by the Constitution and demanded by the people.
He prepared to yindicate the position which he
| had assumed, when the time for voting should
come He proceeded to argue the question Of sove-
reignty under the Constitution, and said that Con-
gress may or may not admit new State; it is dis
cretonary We may remand her into territorial
| condition, and she may remain until we choose
to admit her. But what is the South to gain by
fusing to admit California; No earthly power can
| resist her admission, with undoubted majority
| in the two Houses. Can We refuse her admission
by any constitutional mode? Will her admission
be cause for a dissolution OF the Union! II it be
cause for dissolution, then the South are right. The
| people of the South however, want something tan
gible to mpel them To the destruction of the Gov
ernment. They must renlize that injustice has been
| done TO them.
! MIR. II. said that, by resisting the admission of
California. gentlemen could not maintain them
selves with the South. California cannot, under
any circumstances, become a slave State. And
what is TO be gained by resistance, unless it be to
organize for Interior purposes? IL the slavery
clause had not been inserted in her constitution
would now see the South demanding her admis
| sion, and the North acting as strenuously against
| it. When vital principle was at stake the South
was true to it; and this has given her ascendency
in the nation. IL the patriotic men in the Senate
shall succeed in passing the compromise, without
material alteration, without the Wilmot proviso
any thing like it, it would be his pleasure and his
duty to give to the bill his support. He concluded
his remarks, arguing in favor Of this measure. Cal
iforna lost forever to the South, and the ques
ton was, shall the South lose alR The American
mind cannot repose in security so long as there Is
bone of contention, aud hence all cause of agita
ton should be speedily removed.
Mr.. BUTLER, of Pennsylvania, was in favor Of
the admission of California, and would agree to a
territorial bill for New Mexico provided that it be
i SO framed to give the South advantage In
gument, or otherwise, in sustaining their side Of
| the question; and he claimed none for the North.
Slavery does not now exist in that territory; and he
was willing to test IL by providing either for the
admission Of New Mexico as a State, or giving her
a territorial government-neither tolerating nor
| excluding slavery He would leave the question TO
be settled by the constitution and laws of the coun
! try. He did not believe that to hold slaves
moral evil, or that il imposed guilt, under all cir
cuuistances. Il has its advantages and disadvsn-
ages. II slavery must exist it can exist in no bet
ter form than il does in the South. He deprecated
| the unkind language which had been made of
by gentlemen from one section against the other II
had panied him much To listen 10 il. Slavery, in
his opinion, is an injury TO the country where it
exists, and he believed that the South would be IN
greater degree more prosperous without IT, although
be admitted the South were prosperous now, he
happy to learn from the mouths OF their repre-
seutatiycs. He was against the slave trade any
where within the jurisdiction Of Congress As 10 sa
very in the District Of Columbia, he had never
| the time when he would vote for its abolition. He
would be glad 10 sec il abolished, but he would not
do it against the wishes Of the people here He did
| not know whether he would do IL against the
wishes of the people Of Maryland and Virginia. IL
l was not the business OF the North whether the
South hold slaves not. They need not touch, or
go il; but when the North refuse to deliver up
fugitive slaves they do wrong; and when the South
try TO extend slavery, they are in the wrong. He
was in favor Of the Presidents plan; and said that
II deserved better support than IL had received at
the hands Of the Wing party. He was not very
anxious for the admission Of California She would
| be anti-tarif, snti-internal improvement, and a
Democratic State. Bot he no objection which
could justify his voting against her admission. She
| is entitled TO it,
Mr.. MCQUEEN, Of South Carolina, proceeded 10
show that there IL a regular system Of war against
the South by the North and, IL he not much
mistaken, every candid man who listened 10 him
would admit the fact before he finished his remarks
III now half past ten O'Clock. All the report
| ers but went home the door attendants de-
serted their posts and the pages enjoyed a tempo
rary honor by occupying seats ON the outer range
within the bar Ten persons were in the galleries,
| and about twenty five members on the floor Mr..
MoQ. said that the cause Of all the agitation and
difficulty, all the misfortune which has fallen upon
the country, and all the beartburnngs which exist
in the bosoms Of the people, and Of al the dangers
| which stare Us in the face proceed from religious
| on fanatical sentiment Of the North and this he
proceeded TO demonstrate. He denied that the
condition Of blacks who were liberated, and whom
the North have among them, could avorably com.
pare with the condition Of the slaves Of the South.
lie bad made but trip 10 the northern States in
his life During stay Of two months he saw, in that
short time more misery, degradation, and wretch
edness, than he had ever seen in a whole lifetime
In the slave States. The slaves there never go hun.
cry, and never shiver for want Of clothing, and
for fuel 10 warm themselves Let the charity Of
these fanatics begin at home. While he in
New York he saw an old blind man on Broadway,
led with string tied TO the neck Of dog. he
held plate before him. He (Mr. Moe. stopped
70 give bin Pittanoe; but he saw nothing in the
steps Of the Astor house, with diminutive child
on her knee. When he put his hand into hs poe
kct, gentleman near him said that she had Dor
rowed the child Let gentlemen find such in
stances Of beggary and distress in the South before
they come 70 him with good grace, and ask for
the abolition Of slavery in the South He also spoke
Of the degradation Of the white population Of New
York. Eighteen thousand Of them were slowed
together, under ground, in that city.
Let the Senator from New York (Mr sEwAap)
show his duty 10 his Cod before he speaks Of his
sympathy for the distressed. Let the North change
THE condition Of things before they reproach the
South. LET me alone" said he, % make no
threats. n the time should ever come when militia
colonies should appear in hostile array against the
South, although my head is blossomiIg little
promise them one regiment at least in my district
against their gallant regiments" Garrison and
Tappsn, he insisted the leaders in the warfare
going against the South. As 70 the Senate,
compromise II the title Of the bill was changed u
read " a surrender Of the rights Of the SOUTH Il
forced 10 vote, he should vote for the caption HI
objected 20 the bill in every point Of view.
Mr. BoWDON, at half past eleven O'Clock, OBJ
tanned the floor, when the committee rose
And the House adjourned until Monday, at ter
O'Clock.
MONDAY, June 10, 1850.