Daily Richmond times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1849-1850, 1850-01-21
INTERESTING DEBATE.
In SENATE, Thursday, Janury II.

the President for information as to what has been done
in California under his authority, coming up for cons-
Iteration, Mr.. CLEMENS remarked, that the same in
formation mad probably been already communicated to
the House, he would move that the resolution be, for
the present. laid on the table.
MIR. DOUGLAS hoped it would be adopted, he APP
pretended it called for more information than the
House resolutions.
Mr. SMITH As intinated to the Senate in making
this motion, desired to bring before the Senate such re-
solutions would excite no debate am very sorry
that the honorable Senator from Illinois should insist
upon the consideration OF this resolution at this time II
the resolution is adopted at ALL 1t certainly as strikes
me, ought undergo very considerable modlhcatlons,
and the subject will be likely to engross the entire atten-
ton of the Senate during the morning hour. But de-
sire to state for the informal ion OF the honorable Sena
tor and of The Senate that understand from source OF
information upon which rely, that most explicit
communication has been made to the House OF Repre-
senatves this entire subject, and that the President
and heads Of Departments have been particular as to
communicate copies of every single scrap or scraw that
is TO be found in the archives relating to this subject
that the honorable Senator will probably learn and be
fully satisfied to the truth OF what regard to be
most unfoundd mpuaton the President and the pre-
sent Administration. And venture to state further,
that when these papers before the public the no.
norable gentleman will learn that the celebrated pro-
camaton that issued by Gen. Riley, upon the
basis of which this Convention was authorized, was
issued under the authority of the last Administration,
and not under the authority by any instructions that
were given by the present Administration.
do wish, Mr.. President, to occupy the time OF
the Senate discussing this subject; but think the no.
norabe gentleman before he ventured to introduce into
this body imputaons upon the President and the pre-
Administration should have waited untth papers
before Congress; and think that the course which
the honorable gentleman from Alabama (Mr Clemens)
proposes 10 take in reference to this subject IS entirely
right and proper. l understand that these papers are
exceedingly vouminous; much SO that when printed
they will probably make entire octave volume; and
for the Senate to make another call, and compel the
heads OF Departments and their subordnaes to copy all
these papers again, when they already in the
hands of the House of Representatives, and to be
printed at the expense OF the Government, and copy,
according to the practice OF Congress- to be laid before
every Senator, would seem to to be most unneces-
sary consumption OF the time OF the officers in the va
rious Departments well as an unnecessary expense
TO the Government.
Without, therefore, Mr. President, occupying any
more Of the time of the Senate this subject,
and with view 10 the consideration of subject
which feel assured will not give occasion to debate, and
in conformity with what seems TO be the desire OF the
Senator from Alabama, wish to move to lay this reso-
luton for the present the table; and if when the pa
pes in, there Is not most full and perfect re-
Spouse to every reasonable interogatory, and com
pete answer to any unounded suspicious in which
he may fit indulge with regard to the course OF the
Administration, will then most cheerfuy unite with
him in making fresh demand
move TO lay the resolution on the table.
Mr.. DoueLAs replied to Mr.. SMITH, insisting that the
information ought to be called for by the Senate, that
the Administration might be acquitted Of the charge
of coercing public opinion in California, and also that
the conduct of the President, which Mr.. S. had i'm
pugned, might be indicated.
After some explanation by Mr.. SMITH, discaimng the
purpose of officially raising the curtain, Mr.. DOUGLAS
continued his remarks and endeavoued to raise pre-
sumption from Mr. Smiths remarks, that the disclosure
of the whole truth would impcate the administration
| He demanded more light on the subject
Mr.. CLAY, after playful alluson to the respective
sizes of the two dputng Senator's inquired whether the
same information had been called for by the House.
Mr.. DOUGLAS replied that the nterrogaores fthe re-
solutions before the Senate were more extended and
more searching.
Mr.. CLAY. Well, beg leave to suggest to the hon
orabe Senator with the most perfect good nature,
couresey and kndness-an have no other feeling to-
wards any Senator-whether he had not better wait
until the call Of the House is answered. and promise
HIM, tor one, that 1t the communication, when published
made TO the House, shall be found insufficient or
shall be found not to comprehend al that the gentleman
desires. will with pleasure go with him for obtaining
additional information.
Now, seems to me that if they cover similar though
not precisely the same ground, it would be better to
pause, to wait until the communication comes to US,
and not needessly impose upon the Department repe-
tton OF the labor Ii the Senator will consent to
wait until we what information has been commun-
Gated to the House and that information prove to be
insufficient will with much pleasure concur with him
IN taking up the subject and passing resolution asking
/! for additional information.
beg leave to add single remark and it is, that if
there has been this Executive interference in California
to produce premature birth of State and consttu-
ton, why, think my worthy friend from Illinois, in
stead OF censurng this administration, ought to be pro-
ioundy grateful for its iberahty for, il understand
Alright, 1t has produced Democratic child 1t is an
event which the honorable Senator fail to hail
with pleasures for certainly if interference on the part
OF the present Executive in California had produced this
result, suppose the honorable Senator will admit
that would have been desired bV them that the child
should have borne some other name.
Mr. DOUGLAS. For the very reason that the distin-
gulshed Senator from Kentucky Mr. Clay has Just gi
ven, to wit that this child called California is De-
mocratic child, was clearly of opinion that this Adj
minisratlon would not claim the paternity of it; and
hence was unwilling to believe the runou that saw
doatlng about through the press, that this Admnistra-
ton had coerced the people OF California into the form
alton OF constitution; and sir, unwilling to be-
ieye that there was any thing but what they would be
willing to bring to light at once, in order that we might
see II they had acted fairly or not Why, sir, am in
cned to think that much responsible for inyi-
ting the people OF California into this Union the Adj
mnlstraton, inasmuch brought forward bill at the
last session. the rst that ever proposed to admit Calfo
MA INTO the Union as State, and am now willing to
aVoW that, from the specimen have seen Of the Cali
ornla constitution, and especially from the complexion
OF the elections that have taken place under it am in
cned to CLAIM that the paternity belongs ne rather
than TO Gen. Taylor; and as the Senator therefore will
compel me to lie, the secret out my obec, is indicate
the character OF this child which believe to be my
own, against such scandal the Senator from Connec
rcu attempting intct upon it. That, sir, Imust
confess, was one OF my objects in drawing out this in
formation. Another was this knew that, if / would
walt until the to the House of Represen-
tatives should come in and not satisfactory the
Senator from Kentucky would vote for further inquiry
believe know that Senator well enough to know that
ne has no desire and no motive Tor conceament upon
this or any other point but sir II have practsed law
too long in trials OF criminal cases use quotation
ITO show my evidence and my the opposite coun-
sci rst and then allow them TO procure testimony
to rebuilt know sir that even in private claims, we
object to withdrawing evidence aerit has been found in
sufficient tor the purpose; object to allow parties to
swear little harder to they cannot make out case
do not believe that this Administration would vary
the testimony they would send after they knew our
objections to the FIRST but sir. do not wish to set them
that example, or to subject them to that temptation
would be unwilling to call forth the first answer exam
Inc it, object to this part take exception that and then
ask them to GO on and make further developments =
Alter we have acquired the whole facts make our
comments upon Them do not wish to take case up