The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1850-04-25


the people, the authors Of all political powerl
Now, it seems to me- if the Senator from Ala
bama will exercise little of that sober reflection
and calm consideration which he commended 10
the Senator from Kentucky, he will think that he
spoke little unsdvisedly when he came out so
eloquently and so vehemently upon the simple
proposition to send these subjects, which are per-
fectly germane to the committee. What are the
subjects which il is proposed to refer Whv. sir
the subject Of the abolition Of slavery in the Dis
trict of Columbia is one, and il is not brought
here by Abolitlonists fanatics, or Anybody else
of that sort. Sir, it is introduced here Nv the
honorable Senator from Kentucky, a representa-
tive from a slave State and the honorable Sena
tor from Mississippi, who has been so jealous Of
the constitutional rights Of the slaveholding
States. Yes, sir, the great champion Of constitu.
tional right on this floor has moved the Senate 10
refer the subject of the abolition of slavery 10 the
District OF Columbia to committee Of thirteen
The sixth resolution Of the Senator from Ken
lucky Is, THAT it is expedient TO prohibit the
slave trade in the District Of Columbia. but tho,
it is inexpedient to abolish slavery within the
District" Now, sir, by the introduction Of the
subject by Senator from slave State and upon
the motion of another Senator from slave State.
these very subjects to be referred 10 this COM
mittee. Well sir, the people send petitions here
Now, shall not the petitions Of the people be
heard Is a resolution from Senator of more
dignity than the voice Of the people themselves,
coming here by legitimate petition7 It seems to
me the idea is monstrous and that it is insulting
not to the Senate, but the people, to tell them
that we will raise grand committees, and will
consider everything under Heaven, but that
what the people ask shall not be heard, and that
t is insulting to have them come here. certain
iy did not suppose was doing anything but add
ing what was omitted by some mistake in this
matter. While the matter was to be referred, /
thought was supplying an oversight in moving
to refer these very subjects to this committee
MIR Clay. Sir, congratulate You, congratu-
late the nation, | congratulate mankind, upon
| the prospect that now opens for final and ami
cable settlement of this question. believe such
a settlement will be made after the occurrences
of this week, and after what we know of the pa
triotic disposition of the majority in the other
House, Now, sir, when these questions are set
tied, want no man to have it in his power TO go
home and make just such speeches as the Senator
before me Mr.. Hale has made in the Senate
want no man to go home and endeavor to excite
the people by using such language as this
| " our petitions were treated with the utmost
indignity. They were laid ON the table, unread
unoaGSS2SSed; and when proposed to refer thaas
to the committee to which all the subject matters
of the petitions were referred, and with which,
therefore, they had necessary connection, even
that was opposed
| SIN no great hand at making stump speech,
but think could take up that theme in such a
way as to exasperate and excite the populace
hope these petitions will be taken up and referred
to the committee. do not think there is any
fear that they will recommend any mischievous
| plan. Whereas do fear that the non reference
of these petitions would tarnish the prospect of
a general smity, with satisfaction to the whole
country. | Am, therefore, in favor Of the refer
ence Of these petitions to the committee.
Mr.. Mason of Virginia protested strongly
against Identifying the petitions by a reference.
Mr. Clemens of Alabama did not attach much
Importance to them. He believed them all hum
hugs.
Mr. Davis objected to Mr. Hale's motion as out
of order, the petitions not being before the Sem
ate, and the Chair sustained the objection
The question was then taken on the motion as
amended, to refer the resolutions of Messrs Clay
and Bell to a select committee of thirteen and
carried, as follows;
YEAs-Messrs Atchison, Badger, Bell, Bor-
land, Bright, Butler, Csss, Clay, Clemens Davis
Of Mississippi Dickinson Dodge of Iowa, Downs,
Foote, Hunter, Jones, King, Mangum Mason,
Morton, Pearce, Rusk, Sebastian, Soue, Spru-
ance Sturgeon, Turney, Underwood, Whitcomb,
and Yulee-30.
NAYs-Messrs Baldwin, Benton Bradbury,
Chase, Clarke, Corwin, Davis Of Massachusetts,
Dayton, Dodge Of Wisconsin, Douglas, Felch,
Greene, Hale, Hamlin, Miller, Norris, Phelps
Seward, Shields, Smith, Walker, and Webster
%
On the final vote it is perceived, the two Iowa
Senators deserted the minority, and went fol
Compromise.
MIR. Clay moved an adjournment, but waived
| the motion to allow motion which Mr.. Hale
| wished to make, to be read.
re was the same as that made by him above
The motion to adjourn was renewed, but with.
drawn at the request of
! Mr. Douglas, who moved now to take up the
California bill pending which, the Senate adj
journed
We wish to call the attention Of the People
to the position in which the majority, especially
the members Of it from the free States, Messrs
Bright, Cass, Dickinson, Sturgeon and Whit
comb, placed themselves, by voting nay on every
point Of the instructions proposed by Mr. Ben
ton. The resolutions of Messrs. Clay and Bell
embraced all sorts of questions connected with
the subject Of Slavery, the Territories, and Cali
fornia. The design of its projectors was to give
plenipotentary powers to the committee to which
the resolutions were to be referred, and leave it
at perfect liberty to make what combinations and
recommendations it pleased Mr.. Benton and
the friends of California wished to prevent the
question of the admission Of California from
being connected
/, With any legislation requiring the assent Of
any other State TO its completion
2. With any question Of boundary pertaining
to any other State:
3. With any measure of less dignity than the
reception of State
4. With any compact relating to Slavery, or TO
any slave State or Territory, other than the com
pact of the Constitution
5. With any compact whatsoever, other than
the compacts of the Constitution
6. With any measure proposing reduction Of
the boundaries Of California:
7. With any kind Of compact other than has
been required of Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Michi-
gan, Louisiana Mississippi Alabama, Arkansas
Missouri, Iowa. Wisconsin, and Florida
s. With any measure making her party to a
compact, so long as she shall have no representa-
ton in the Senate:
o. With any matter foreign to her admission as
State in direct manner, precisely on an equal
footing with the original States
On every one Of these points Messrs Cas-,
Bright, Whitcomb, Dickinson, and Sturgeon,
voted in the negative, thereby leaving the Com
mittee Of Compromise at perfect liberty to mutt
late the boundaries, or compromise the interests
and rights of the free State of California, TO any
extent in any manner whatsoever.
We know that these gentlemen may plead that
they voted thus, to prevent the proposition of a
Committee of Compromise from being embar.