Daily Richmond times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1849-1850, 1850-06-17


been for this bill He then examined the ques-
ton of the claim of Texas, and said that he would
not consent to vote to pay her for what he believed
she had no claim to. He said that if Texas as
sumed to take possession of territory belonging
to the United States, she would find that the
Government was not so weak as not to be able to
resist her.
Mr.. CLEMENS moved to fill the blank in the bill
e. e. the sum to be paid to Texas with the sum
of one million OF dollars. He believed that Texas
had right to the whole of it. The Senate had,
by vote of II to 81, decided against her claim.
He desired to have that blank filled, and made the
motion accordingly.
MIR. CLAY said that he hoped the amendment
would not be pressed, or, if pressed, would be
voted down for the present. The committee had
abstained from naming any sum, and he intended,
| when the bill should be on it's third reading, to
move to fill the blank. That was the usual time
to fill blanks.
He said that he desired to say a word to the Sc
nator from New York That Senator began his
remarks by an assertion which he (Mr CO. posi-
lively denied. That Senator had asserted that
this bill has been the cause of all the delay in the
Legislation of Congress. There was no bill of
compromise before the other House, and they have
not made any more progress than the Senate. If
there were any to blame as the cause of the delay,
| the Senator from New York and those with whom
he acted were responsible, and not the committee
and the majority of the Senate. The minority,
and they only, have, by their action against the
expressed will of the majority, been the cause of
all the delay in the legitimate legislative business
of the Senate.
On the 18th of February, the Senator from Mis-
sssppi first made his motion for the reference of
these subjects to a select committee. From that
time down to the period when that committee was
appointed the minority, against the well-knoWn
desire of the majority, have opposed by all means
the furtherance and accomplishment of the object
proposed to be attained by the appointment of that
committee. How often did the majority decide in
favor of the committee, and how often did the mi
nority interpose motions to delay it. They delayed
it in all manner of ways, by motions of all kinds
by instructions, &c. And even this week, when
the country is so anxious to hear the decision of
Congress on these subjects, the first day of the
week, motion is made to pos pone the bill /; on
this motion speeches are hung; and then, after a
delay of nearly three days, the motion is with
drawn. A short time ago, this same minority at
tempted to postpone the whole business of the
Senate by an adjournment for whole week. De-
lay and representation have been their whole end
On the other hand the majority of the Senate
have provided for one hour additional to each day
session, and during last week sat on every work.
ing day; thus doing all in their power to facilitate
the progress of this bill, and consequently of the
other business of the Senate. A more unfounded
and more unmerted charge than that the majority
have been the cause of the delay was never made.
And he thought that now, if the minority would
allow it, this bill could be disposed of in halt do
zen days from this time.
He then urged the necessity of a settlement of
the question of the boundary of Texas. and op-
posed the motion to strike the proposition out.
Mr.. FooTE replied to the remarks of the Sena-
tor from New York, (Mr. Seward,) and warmly
defended the claim of Texas, and the proposition
in the bill. During the honorable Senator's re-
marks he was called to order by the Chair once
or twice for what considered personal allu-
sions to the Senator from New York.
Mr.. SEWARD replied to the Senator from Ken
lucky. He said that he was in favor of the ad-
mission of California; and that measure alone
had been recommended to Congress by the Pres.
dent for its legislative action. He was then
understood to say, that he was opposed to
the whole bill, and would vote to strike out
this part of it, and every other part of it,
when by so doing he thought the bill could be
weakened. He said that he was opposed to the
unions of the measure in one bill. 1t was calcu-
lated to coerce members who desired one thing to
take others also. He said that had he been on
the committee, he would have considered such
union of measures in the light of conspiracy to
coerce the votes of Senators.
Mr. MANGUM called the Senator to order.
Mr.. SEWARD explained.
Mr.. TURNEY addressed the Senate in favor of
the motion to strike out the whole section. He
said that he believed the whole territory of right
belonged to Texas; and that the argument of the
Senator from Massachusetts, that unless this
boundary was now defined it would fall into the
hands of Texas, convinced him of the propriety of
striking it out.
Mr.. BENTON said that he desired to say a word
two in respect to what had been stated concern
ing the war between the majority and the minori-
ty, and as to who was to blame for delaying the
public business. He would like to have it
stated when the war commenced. He would
read from a speech by the Senator from Kentuc-
ky, to show that the Senator started fair, if not
little ahead of all those who now compose what
he styles the minority, and upon whom he charges
the delay in the transaction tthe public business.
He then read extracts from speech made by
Mr. Clay in February last.
This said Mr. BENTON, is what the Senator said on
the 18th of February last This is what the minority
say now. The Senator should state when he left the
minority and went over to the majority, that in settling
the account the minority may have the benefit OF de-
ducon of the time when he acted with them. He then
alluded to the custom, now becoming common, of lee
turing Senators in the Senate publicly Senators
all thirty years OF age and the representatives OF
sovereign States and he did not think right that they
should be ectured at all, but he who did lecture them
should remember the maxim laid down in the scrip
ture: Let him who is without sin throw the first stone
The Senator in that speech, said that it was right
that California should be kept separate measure.
This right was much as to say it was wrong to do
otherwise.
The Senator also said that California should be "kept"
separate and distinct not only that she should be
parate and distinct but should be kept And now,
because those who hold the same opinions as he did
then are endeavorng keep her separate and distinct
they are denounced and charged with obsructing and
delaying the public business.
The Senator then saw what every one now could see,
that this congomeration of all these measures would
lead to delay uncertainty, and procrastnation. Little
did the Representatives of California think, when they
tnaon would be brought about by the reversal Of the
Senator's opinion.
The minority was now lectured by the Senator for
producing that which he then predicted would be the
inevitable result OF the course he is sustaining
They are now ectured because they did not change
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