The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1850-07-18
SPEECH OF WILLIAM II. SEWARD.
THE COMPROMISE BILL.
Delivered in the Senate of the United States. July 1856

Nusisoe 70 eoSe- c-1N nsrsps ,oese e,Se aeSatss,
he would ask whether California was q strsNg~s
aud an enemy; or an unbidden and unwelcome
intruder; or fugitive, powerless and portion
less, and therefore importunste; or an oppressor
and scourge Of mankind, and therefore hateful
and dangerous We should be obliged to answer,
No! California yielded TO persuasion, rather
than TO conquest. She has denounced her lin
cage language, and ancient loyalty. She has
brought US to the banks Of streams which aow
over precious sands, and at the base Of mountains
which yield massive gold, she delivers into our
hand the key that unlocks the long-coveted treas
ures ofthe Eastern World. California refuses only
to let us buy and sell each other within her do
main, so rich in all the elements of legitimate
commerce. She invites us to forego an unjust
injurious, and inglorious dominion over caste
and to extend the sway of peace of arts, and Of
freedom, over nations beyond the seas, sill slum-
bering under the mingled reign Of barbarian su.
perstition and unalleyiated despotism. The very
head and front of her offending hath this extent
The President Of the United States recon-
mends, nevertheless, that California shall be ad-
mitted Internationally, while Committee Of the
Senate insist on conditions.
iprefer the Presidents suggestion hut not mere
fy because il is his although honor his patriotism
and oonfde fully In his wisdom. Nor do | pre-
fer his suggestion out Of disrespect to the states
men ~ " hon &c Is o2yssea. My yeneration SjS
them has been abundantly manifested heretofore,
and needs no display of protestations now. We
are in frame of things disjoint; and in the con-
fusion resulting from q severance Of parties and
new oonjunctions of statesmen, each Of us is
obliged TO rely on the guidance Of his own judg-
ment and conscience
submit, sir, that the conditions are RneasOna-
bic, Injurious, and oppressive in regard to CALIFoR-
c. e. 81 x~1 To-. Aofo
US, they are, lst, the establishment Of Terrific
rial Government in New Mexico, silent concern
ing slavery; %, the establishment Of like Gov
eminent in Utah Sd, compromise Of border
dispute between New MEXICO and Texas. The
garment of compromise, thus quilted Of various
fabrics with artistic skill, is ingeniously pieced
out with collateral conditions In q report and two
other bills concerning slavery in the District Of
Columbia, the recapture Of fugitive slaves, and
other national interests or pretensions of sla-
very.
1t is not pretended that California needs aid
from these conditions, nor that they can give IT,
California is taxed for superfuous power TO draw
the dependent measures into port, which other
wise would founder and be lost This forced con-
nection therefore binders and tends to defeat the
admission Of California.
Why is California subjected to this embarrass-
ment2 Does she come without right2 She has
treaty. Is that treaty denied or questioned
No; it is unanimously affirmed. Can California
abide delayl No; her anomalous condition
not merely appeals to our justice, but touches
the very virtue Of compassion within u.s. Why,
then, should California be kept waiting, while
we make q circuit throughout the entire orbit
Of slavery2 California neither brought the
States into confederation, nor constructed the
Constitution. She neither planted slavery Ia the
ofaa A. IT,
lie not found by the side Of Texas invading New
Mexico, nor allied with New MEXICO In resisting
Texas. She is guiltless equally Of buying and OF
selling, Of holding and emancipating, Of reclaim
ing and of harboring slaves anywhere. She has
neither vote nor speech here, nor elsewhere,
where this angry strife can be composed She
has severed at blow, and forever, the loose po-
litical connection--the only connection she ever
had, with Utah and New Mexico. The slave
States indeed insist on right 10 colopize new
Territories with a caste. But all agree that the
community in any such Territory may establish
a Constitution prohibiting caste California,
coonized, his done this already, and her maturity
Is not well questioned, although IL has been as
rapid and as bewildering as the presentation of
midsummer nights dream. There is, therefore,
neither community nor connection, nor even con-
gruity, between the admission Of California and
the conditions demanded II is binding Eros to
Anteros - confding youth to querulous and
wransling age--the struggling hind to ravening
hounds.
We were told long age that California would
save time by yielding to this most unjust comb-
nation. We have seen the error of that hope. We
are making the overland journey of seven thou
sand miles between the pillars of Hercules, when
on a smooth sea, in six hours
We are told that minority in another part of
the Legislature might prevent the admission of
California, and even bring the Government TO O
dead stand. But II must work in it's own demo-
cratic and constitutional way, or must cease to
work at all. No one nor more Of the States can
assume the responsibility Of arresiing the Gov.
eminent by faction. "Opim1 ausp,eiis ca gen
1pa pro reipu6liea salute gremV, qua comyam rem
puJiieam Jerruntv contra ouspicin fsrnn
| submit, now, that the conditions demanded
are equally mueasonable, injurious, and oppressive,
In regard to the other partiee affected by the CON-
bination, viz: Texas, NEw Mexico, UTAH, and
the DIsTRIcr OF COLUMBIA.
Each Of these parties ought to be regarded as
asking only o just award and Congress IL to be
deemed ready to make just one and no other. |
Such an award can be made only by bestowing q |
distinct and separste consideration on each claim
The same principle Of disectic philosophy which |
forbids multifariousncss Of Issues and confusion
Of parties In the administration Of justice, con-
dennis incongruous combinations In legislation.
The bill before US seems adapted to enable |
Senators to speak on one side, and to vote on the
other; to comply with instructions, and to evsde
them; TO vote for the line Of $50 30t and 10 vote
against II TO support the Wilmot Proviso, and |
yet to defeat its application TO the only Terrific
ries open to It's introduction. solioitf stronger
language we're courteous might demsnd--from |
the msjority here subdivision Of the bill, to en-
able me TO vote effectualy for what approve, |
without voting equally for what my own judgment, |
concurripg with instructions condemns and |
thus to place myself, where ] should invite 1
all others 10 place themselves, under exact and |
full responsibility to the States and to the people
While leave the interests Of Texas Ia the |
care Of her honorable and excellent Senators, l
must be allowed to think that their consent to this
bill betrays want Of confidence In her claims or |
In the justice Of Congress- A just claim ought |
not to need an unjust combination. Those who
assume that Texas has valid title to all Of New
Mexico cast oDthe Rio Grande, ss high rs the
42d parallel will necessarily regard that State a.
for pssaRisry equivalent, an ex-
tensive region, eGsctuslly secured TO slavery, to
the equivooations Of this compromise. Those, on
the contrary, who regard the prstsnsions Of
Texas in New Mexico az groundless, will as GER
tsinly protest against the surrender Of 1900
square miles OF soil, pregnant with liberty, 70 the
hazards Of this adjustment Both Of these par
ties, think, must agree that the United States
ought not to pay Texas the equivalent unless her
titls Is good and that if her title 70 Essd, then
the United States have no constitutional power to
buy her territory. II they may buy part Of
Texas for purposes not defined In the Cobstitu-
ton, they may buy the whole. II they may buy
the territory Of slave Tate 10 make II free they
may equally buy the soil Of free State to Stsr-
ilizs Il with slavery lit DO replied that title
IL Ia dispute, then the transsoticn changes CHAR
setter; the equivalent Il paid for peace; and
Texas Il not yet liftsd up 70 high, nor are the
United States brought down 70 low, - 10 obtain
ny consent 10 70 hanilistiDg trsthc.
I have heretofore ssId that could vote 10
pay the debt Of TEXAS, on the gFossa thss the r.