The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1850-03-01

Gentlemen had charged that the movement in
California rebellious, revolutionary; and the
President had been charged with being particeps
cri,ninis. He supposed that the gentleman from
Tennessee (Mr. STAsToE) did not mean to perpe-
trate pun when he spoke of the President as head
ing rebellion against his own authority. Ii was
strange kind OF rebellion and revolution for the
people not to overturn government but to estab
lish one where none existed. The President had
been charged with debating the convention and adj
vising in the formation of the constitution There
Is not word of evidence to support the charge;
on the contrary, all the documents laid before
Congress, all official and unofficial accounts utterly
repel the opinion. And it appeared to him strange
how gentlemen can reconcile the alleged assump-
ton OF extraordinary power by the President with
the fact that, after the constitution was adopted
and the State government went into operation, the
very first act of the people was TO send here two
Senators and two Representatives TO operate di-
rectly against this administration. Nothing that
he had seen warrants the belief that the conven-
ton was not fairly chosen and convened, and the
constitution fairly adopted. And If the people Of
California want 10 live under it, and if there be no
provision against the Constitution Of the United
States he was willing that they should live under
1t until they can provide themselves with better
government.
But the question was, shall California come into
the Union? Could any gentleman give him rea-
son why she shall be admitted For himself, he
saw none. Was any gentleman prepared to say
that the limits OF boundary are not such as they
should be ? Did any one know any thing about
her population? Has any one seen the census !?
The population 10 mongrel-from South Ameri-
ca, and from China and the Sandwich Islands, in
part; and was any body prepared to say that not
one fourth of them would remain any longer than
they can fill their pockets with gold He was con-
WINGED that the population not large enough to
send two members to this House-half as many as
Louisiana has, which has been in the Union for
nearly half century-and two Senators, with the
same weight of power as the largest States. He
should like to know whence springs this extraor-
binary necessity for admitting California. Gen
tlemen could not brook the usual course of legisa
ton; and how is it that certain gentlemen, who
heretofore refused to give her even territorial
government, now opening their arms to well
come her into the Union2 They would not wait
for the ceremonial of the nuptials, but hasten ILL
City to her embrace. The answer is, because
there were four lines in her constitution excluding
slavery. Suppose that this provision had not been
inserted, and there was silence the subject, we
would have seen the same gentlemen turn their
backs on California, and shut the door in her face
He solemny declared that in his course he in
no degree governed by the fact that California has
excluded slavery. He recognised her right to do
If the admission of California be made the basis of
comprolnise-ifit be made one of series Of condi-
tons for an honorable adjustment of the pending
questions, in conformity with our rights-he
would chcerfully waive the objections which he
had to her admission at present. But if the
question be presented to him in a distinct
substantive and isolated form, without pledges,
formal informal, that the remainder OF the terri
tory is not to be subject to agitation similar to this
he should be compelled to vote against it. He
wanted the whole question settled; he did not de-
sire any fragments to be left here to feed upon be-
tween this and the next session he wanted the
question settled speedily. Every day, every hour
in his judgment, aggravates the difficulty, and
widens the breach already too wide between the two
sections of the country.
Gentlemen talked too glibly about the dissolution
of the Union. One would suppose, listening to
them, that it was originally entered into as a COM
mercial partnership. He had not, and did not in
putation of the profit and loss Of different portions
of the Union. He struck no balance-sheet between
the North and the South to which would gain the
most by dissolution of the Union. He had not
been taught to estimate the value of the Union by
dollars and cents
Is there no value in national glory-the proud re-
collections OF the past and the bright aspirations Of
the future? Is there value in proud attitude
with respect to the other nations of the earth? Is
there value To be attached to national repose and
tranquility? He was mpelled TO express the hope
that if the Union destined to be dissolved-if
all called to be its executoners-if star is
destined TO sink below the horizon never again to
risc-that star which has illuminated the darkest
corners Of the earth and guided the and
oppressed to freedom-let il be brought about by
nobler considerations than these, drawn from pecu-
mary considerations. Have gentlemen thought of
tumults and border wars, TO be followed by an ex
terminating war, TO continue longer and TO be more
ferocious than any waged in the annals of mankind?
wars which would impoyerish the North and desc
% no
should induce him TO think Of this. The Father of
his Country said: "The unity Of government which
constitutes you one people Is also now dear TO you.
IL is justly So for it Is main pillar in the edifcc
OF your real indcpendence-the support Of your
tranquility at home, your peace abroad, of your
safety, OF your prosperity, Of that very liberty which
you 80 highly prize. But as il is easy 10 foresee
that, from different causes and from different quar-
tiers, much pains will be taken many articles en-
poyed, to weaken in your minds the conviction OF
this truth; this is the point in your political for
ress against which the batteries Of internal and
ternal enemies will be most constantly and actively
Though often coycrtly and insidiously) directed,
II is Of infinite moment that you should properly
estimate the immense value Of your national Union
70 your collective and individual happiness" This
Is the voice OF Washington, and he (Mr. CT would
listen TO it as long as he occupied a seat on this
floor.
Mr.. PARKER, in his opening remarks, re-.
marked, that if they had continued in the concil.
iatory manner IN which they met, the bonds Of
brotherhood would have been drawn more firmly
around them; but he regretted 10 say that these
good feelings had been displaced by feelings Of
different character. Northern and southern men
have occupied on this hoor rather the attitude Of
hostility, than members Of the same legislative
council The South believe that people Of the
North (somc wifully blind and with a perverted
philanthropy; others aiming at political power and
with more improper motives) have violated, 20 the
injury and oppression Of the South the most sacred
guarantees, and assumed powers not granted from
that portion Of the Confederacy. II is, therefore,
the duty Of the South 10 the North, not in the
language Of defiance, and 10 express the strong con-
vction that the course Of the North, IL persisted in
will involve both sections in one common calamity.
Gentlemen consider the voice Of warning one Of
defiance; but II was not 20. II the South speak
earnestly, something ought to be pardoned 10 the
important interest they have in the issue. The
gentleman from Illinois (Mr. BissELL) tho other
day, mstaking the true intention Of Mr.. SEDDoS's
remarks, charged that gentleman with drawing a
comparison disparaging 10 the northern troops,
and said that the gentleman had claimed praise for
the Mississippi regiment, 10 which il not emit
tied. Mr. SEDDoS, on that occasion, had merely
reminded the President that southern az well a.
northern men stood by him at Buena Vista.
Mr.. BISSELL expressly disclaimed all intention
Of casting any reflection the Mississippi regi-
ment. He could not be unjust TO himself, he
could not 40 degrade himself in his own estimation,
or be 20 cruelty wrong 10 do So All that he did
was simply 10 remark that there was erroneous
impression, and he bad reason 30 suppose 20 from
the remarks Of Mr. Seldom. lie repeated, he in
tended 10 cast $40 iror,tssio tbo Mississippi reg
ment, and said that that regiment performed gal
lantly on that day--as much any other regi-
mcnt.
Mr. PARKER observed that, under the excite
ment Of the moment, the gentleman misapprc-
hcndcd the remark Of Mr.. SEDpoS and II by
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