The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1850-05-09


before The public, and they will produce as they are
calculated 70 produce very great elect upon the public
mind, from the ability with which that report is drawn,
from the interest and magnitude OF the subject which it
disenssss desire, a. member OF that committee, that
my posuon IN reference TO tmay be understood by my
constituents at least
on my par BY the observations which have fallen from
Inc senator from Vermont Mr. PHELPs in reference TO
the Texan boundary II is well known TO you sir, as II
Inc earliest inception OF the measure OF Texan annexa.
non was personally opposed 10 i, and continued, until
the consummaton o that BY the passage Of the eso-
uuconstituionay The recommendation with which l.
IN common with all the other members OF the committee
cordially concur-whch proposes an Appropriation Of
certain sum oil money to Texas in consideration OF her
circumscrbing her boundary recommendation which
is founded the assumption OF her existence oil
the States OF the Union, the terms and conditions
10 explain that the ground which have assumed, is pre-
cisely that which occupied when the resolution OF an
nexaIon after having received the assent Of Texas
brought back 10 the Senate OF the United States Them
sir, notwithstanding my opinion that The Congress OF
the United States in the adoption of that resolution had
transcribed their constitutional power considered that
pressed in the form which the constitution had prescribed
Tor the expression Of the legislative will Considering that
the opinion which personally entertained to the con-
sutonaly oil this had been overruled by the
decision of the competent constitutional authority Of the
United States, acquiesced then, as have done ever
since. 10 the validity Of that act; and, therefore, have
which recognises Texas as he righul bro
pretor OF the soil which the United States proposes to
qure iron that State.
But sir upon other points was moi my good fortune 10
concur with the majority Of the committee hope that
~ rs not necessary for me 10 say that am sincerity de-
voted to the preservation 81 this Union, and that would
most cheeriuly and cordially concur at the sacrifice OF
every individual opinion which ought to be required to
YIELD in any calculated to promote the peace and
harmony OF that Union and Of the people Of the United
States But sir, there We're presented to the
consideration OF the committee, some of minor and some
OF greater appearances upon which il my misfortune
70 differ with the majority did not, however, consider
in that committee, would be conclusive upon the minds
OF the individuals entertaining them il, after full dis
cussion OF me measures recommended 10 the Senate,
OF all these questions which have disturbed the
peace OF the countTy-an adjustment not merely
confined 70 this particular territory but extending
that the opinion Of this committee was 10 be sub.
mitted to the consideration OF the Senate felt to be
my duty, even upon questions which, in my own view,
opinions which entertained in the expectation that
during the progress of deliberations an opportunity
would be afforded for such notifications as desired to
obtain. as ##M
will say, then, sir. in the first place. that found il
70 IN the proposition OF the committee
70 admit California with the boundary which she had
herself prescribed Looking al that subject entirely apart
from the slavery question, thought that American
senator, could not prudently and dscreety
recommend the long line Of seaboard which was claimed
commerce which will necessarily be introduced into that
territory through the ports Of San francisco and San
Diego, and, as believe, chiefly through the latter as well
as those growing sut of the mineral riches which are
found thereI could not consent place these entirely
within the control OF single State OF this Union. III
naa Looked a. ina. question n sonnexon with The sub
California in rather than several States But be-
lieving did, that the interests of the United States
would DO more edectuay protected BY the check which
other thought unwise that ground 10 10 the
admission OF California with her present boundaries
believed was entirely competent to make two States
giving to that portion OF the people residing northnot OF
80 deg 30 min but of 50 deg 80 nina convenient d.
vision OF the territory for the establishment Of valuable
member OF the Union.
found, however, difficulty Of higher character, in
relation 10 the admission OF California the proposed
number OF members 10 be allowed 10 her 10 the House OF
Representatives Of the United States hold that diff
6culty to be constitutional, and could not for it,
unless upsn the same principle on which would vote
Tor the Missouri Compromise; that is to say, the
ground that the public safety required to do act be
yond the limits oil the constitution, and 10 throw myself
upon the justice and generosity OF my constituents for my
justification Except such OF things should arise
seemed 70 me that there vas constitutional objection
aves found in the constitution OF the United States
provision that each State should be entitled TO one rem
resentatve found that for the purpose Of having any
number OF members beyond that required that the rep
resentauon should be apporhoned according TO numbers
that the existing superintendent would require, in
der TO give California two representatives. population
merely native Caiiornians, who yet citizens OF
the United States under the treaty but that number OF
settled Inhabitants OF the country, Of that class OF
who contemplated by the trainers OF the con-
stution, when they required census for The purpose OF
fixing the ratio OF representation Now, sir, have no
evidence Of the fact do not believe that anybody else
has any evidence OF it. do not believe that the fact
lists Although there may be great number Of persons
in the Territory, yet do not believe that there be
found there that number of settled inhabitants who
citizens OF the United States within the contemplation Of
that provision Of the constitution which requires that
representation shall be proportional according TO num-
bers s
IT, with this conviction upon my mind, acquesce in
the admission OF California into the Union, acquiesce
in that admission in derozaton OF the rights OF every
other State since they all restricted TO that provision
OF the constitution and made 10 conform TO it. For these
reasons, found il impossible TO concur in the provision
which coniemplaies the admission OF California did
10 give governments 10 the Territories OF New Mexico
and Deseret DESTROYS Of fulfilling obligations
TO that people TO afford them the protection Of governments
and laws concurred most cheerfuly in the omission
OF the Wlmot Proviso but regretted that that had not
been simple act, unaccompaned BY the reasons which
took from II the healing influences upon the public mind II
would Otherwise have had II left the inference TO be
power existed TO impose that restriction, and that might
be exercised whenever should rendering II
necessary 70 do co. believed that this expression OF the
reasons which induced the Withholding OF that Pfoviso
calculated 10 diminish the beneficial influence il
would have in producing harmony among the people OF
the United States and quoting the agitation IN the coun-
try: 49,.
With respect to the boundary Of Texas. was DESTROYS
that il should be fixed either At "a deg at point
approaching il, which would have left the settlement
existing in the vicinity Of III Paso and south oil the des
err, OF from eighty 70 ninety miles, which was found