The Camden journal. [volume] (Camden, S.C.) 1836-1851, 1850-05-21
Editorial Correspondence sf the Journal
WASHINGTON CRY, May ls, 1850.

WASHINGTON CITY, May ID, 1850:
Again am in the city of"magnificent distances" !"
of gayety and political strife. This has been
great day. At an early hour we went to the capi-
tol, and after one more, we squeezed few feet
within the Senate chamber-just fal enough to get
glimpse of the old Kentucky orator, who to-day
made one of HIS speeches. After the morning
business was over, motion was made to revise
the judiciary of this District, which had lately gone
SO far as to expel Mr.. May, one Of the most tai
ented members of this Bar. 1t was laid over to be
the especial order of the day for tomorrow. MIR.
Clay then rose and made motion that the conf
mittee bill he taken into consideration, which was
agreed to. This speech was great one-great in
many ways. 1t was interesting to see the old Sena
tor of IA with his long and venerably white locks
floating over his shoulders but his form still erect
and proud as in the days when the blood of youth
full vigor coursed his veins. 1t was an effort wor-
thy of better cause--but as is too often the case
in these latter days, our politicians know too well
the meaning of the word policy. His eSordium
was pointed and plain-merely an introduction 10
would be passed. He first spoke of the population
of California; saying that it was large enough to
constitute state--tllat it made no difference
whether they were permanent settlers or not: they
were settlers now, and in all probability would still
continue to be so Cd. The boundaries. He urged
the necessity of admitting California with her
present boundaries; said that some members of
the committee were for line to the Pacific along
the line Of latitude $50 4O north, to be free south
of that to recognize slavery, but it was lost; still,
said Mr.. Clay, the South should yield to it, for
Congress should not legslate at oil on slavery
neither recognize nor prohibit. Because in this
case the prohibiting Is already done the recosni-
ton must not be done also. Sd. Union ofthe bills
said the President had recommended the admis-
sion of California as a separate measure. He came
here intending to coincide with the Executive as
far as possible, but he came with determination
to decide for himself also He thought that if the
President would give them instructions now, it
would be something consistent with the commit
tee bill. The Senator from Wisconsin had used
the term stacking" There was no such word
In American constitutional law. 1t could be found
in English law. 1t was there a restriction upon
the Aristocracy. But he would inform The Sena-
tor We had no lacking" here. Would the Sena-
tor from Missouri send him Hansel, vols and 8.
He would show him he was right 4th. Slavery
did not exist in California. This was all in direct
opposition, as Mr.. Clay must have known, to the
truth. That there are many slaves there now. no
one can deny. The provisions Of the fugitive
slave bill, under the report, were that the owner
should gel affidavit proving the slavery of the
negro. He should then be given up, and carried
back by the owner; and if lie sustained his case
at home the negro was in his masters possession
again. The governments to be extended over tho
Territories should hare nothing to do with slave
ry. He closed very prettily OH the glorious
Union;" but could have wished Mr.. Clay 10 gain
glory BY some other method than bringing the
South still frner to degradation. Whether the
>Gill Of the committee will pass or not, is yet un-
known, even BY those who know most Of the
matter heard Northern Senator say that Mr..
Webster would support it-that Mason, Hunter,
Soue, Downs, Davis, Clemens, Butler and Elmore
would oppose it. How it will be, cannot yet be
told. There is too much to fear, however Many
of the Southern Senators will vote for it, and the
South, already weak, will be in this, @the test ques-
ton," weaker still Just having arrived here last
evening, can give You but lame !etter-hereaf
ter promise you better. ~ p.
WAsuISGreN, May Is, 1850.
Yesterday almost nothing was done in both
Houses; all seemed waiting for time to digest
the speech of Mr.. Clay. Some appropriation
bills were up in the Senate. A resolution, offer.
ed in the House to limit the debate on the Cal.
ifornia question to the I'd of June--amended
to the 18th but not passed-fnally passed to
stop debate thereon on the second Tuesday in
June.
You have heard, perhaps, oe the teacher, in
Esop, who brought his bundle of sticks to his
pupils, and requested them to break them all.
They gathered round, and taking up the bundle
in toto, utterly failed. The old Wise" then
took the bundle, separated n stick at a time, and
thus broke them all with ease. Thus do the
North act toward the South; stick at time
4 i q