The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1850-08-16
THIRTY-FIRST CONGRESS.
FIRST SESSION.
Thursday, August 10, 1850.
S ENATE
THE FUGITIVE SLAVE BILL.

article of the Constitution OF the United States, be
taken up, and made the special order of the day
for Monday next, and every day thereafter till dis
posed Of
After some remarks by Messrs. CASS, MASON,
and BUTLER, the motion was agreed TO.
THE PROTEST AGAINST THE PASSAGE or THE CAL
IFoRNIA
Mr.. HUNTER moved, and the Senate proceeded
10 the consideration of the motion to receive and
spread upon the Journal the protest signed by ten
Senator's against the passage OF the California bill
He modified the protest by inserting therein the
following additional paragraph:
Because the admission Of California as State
into the Union, without any previous reservation
assented to by her of the public domain, might in
vove an actual surrender of that domain to, or at
all events place its future disposal the mercy of
that State and as reservation in the bill can be
binding upon her until she assents 10 ii, as her
dissent hereafter would in no manner affect or
impair the act of her admission"
Mr.. BADG Err said that on yesterday he had
pressed his doubts of the proprety OF permitting
a precedent of this nature 10 be established, but
under all the circumstances, he would not intcrposc
objections. Since then he had been struck by what
had fallen from the Senators from Maryland (Nlr.
PRATT) and Louisiana (Mr DowSs) and by what
opportunities he had had for examination into the
subject, with strong reasons for persistng III his
opinion against the propriety OF the motion. lie
then detailed the reasons dcduced from various
circumstances, which should induce him TO vote
against the motion.
Mr.. WALKER opposed the motion to receive the
protest and enter 1t on the journal He read several
portions of the protest containing matter reflect
ing upon the majority who passed the bill He
could not, the protest now Stood vote 10 place 1t
on the record.
MIR. HUNTER explained the protest not charg
ing those who had passed the bill with havln e
done any thing wrong or improper. but
thing more than that they the protestants, enter
tanned the opinions expressed IN the protest OF the
act. The protest nothing more than an
preston OF the opinions of the signers of the
sure. IL could not convey the least implication OF
the motives actions OF any others No one was
in the least committed by, or responsible for. any
thing in the protest but those whose names were
attached to it. He then proceeded 10 answer the
objections made to the motion.
MIR. BENTON addressed the Senate for nearly all
hour in opposition to the motion. de gave the his
tory and progress of the practice OF entering dis
sents or protests in the British House of Lords and
of futile attempt TO introduce 1t in 1910 in the
House Of Commons He opposed il because of the
principle it implied; and because, If once sane
toned, il would lead 10 abuses and irregularities
of the most disa greeable and embar RAISING charac
ter. He had opposed the matter before he heard its
language, and before he knew by whom 1t had been
signed Since reading 1t, his objections to placing
II on the Journal had become stronger. lie com
mcnted upon several parts of the protest to which
he had strong objections.
Mr.. BUTLER replied to the objections urged
against the rece ption of the protest He repealed
all nsinuations chat those who signed the address,
those who had opposed this bill, had any Interior
designs. None Ia been alleged in the Senate, but
such limitations had been thrown out; and one
instance was before him, and the Senator from
Texas had been named in connexion with IL, he
would call the atten ton of the Senator 10 II. The
article wac read as follows:
''In January last, General Lopez waited upon
General Sam Houston, and presented him with
paper, drawn up by leading southern in this
city, (Washington,) III which II was stated that
the South, despairng OF justice, had determined 10
sever their conne1ion with the Union, and estab-
lsh a southern confederacy. That, for the purpose
of contaminated v,
overtures were to be made to Mexico to Join it, and
to incline her to do So every effort 10 be made
10 induce her frontier provinces TO revolt by the
means OF " Buffalo Hunts and secret emlssa rles;
and il was then TO be represented to her that her
only safety in guarding against these reyots and
the ACKNOWLEDGMENT of her republic, was to Join the
southern States Of this country, and form strong
southern Union. AS a further Involvement, II was
be represented TO her that the city Of Mexico was
TO be the seat If government; but that, in fact,
Texas TO be really the head Of the new repub-
lie. General Houston also told that If he would
Join the movement he should be President
General Houston Indignantly refused to have
any thing TO do with the base and traitorous
scheme. He was American, and a devoted
friend of this glorious Union. lie was not Gaia
line, to betray his country.
" Mr.. Calhoun was fully aware Of this treason
able project, but he opposed to any action be-
ing taken until final proposition 10 amend the
Constitution should be asked for. This course was
not, however, approved of by Others. and an ennis
sary was sent TO the city Of Mexico to unfold the
matter there. The Mexican authorities received
the proposition with some hesitation, and although
they did not refuse II, they insisted upon guaran
tee being given that their laws regarding religion
and the abolition OF slavery should remain, and
that England should sustain the movement. A
proposition TO this effect was made to MIR. Doyle,
the acting charge d'affsires Of Great Britain in
Mexico. Mr.. Doyle not to commit himself in any
way, declined 20 express any opinion, but said be
would consult his government The Mexican gov
eminent, fearing 10 move unless sustained by
Ri del cd civ nm md il
understood England has not taken any notice Of
the projef submitted to her. So the matter rests.
Meanwhile an emissary from the South, from the
State Of Mississippi, mean citizen Of that State,
is in Mexico, and doubtless in correspondence with
toe disunioniEts here.
'Emissaries were despatched, in May last, 70
Lower California, 10 create revolt there, and con-
sequently 10 propose an independent government,
TO be annexed TO the South The news Of this move
ment IL an1iously looked for, and lie arrival IL
daily expected. IL IL believed that IL Mexico finds
her provinces revolving, she will agree to the terms
proposed by the orIglnatOrs Of the southern con
iederacy; and if she will not that these revolving
provinces can come in by themselves.
81 have now briefly sketched this black and trail
torous scheme, 40 far as il has yet been developed.
IL at once gives an easy clue 10 the movements
which have taken place lately, and perhaps throws
light upon the plan Of proc rastiustiOn which has
been pursued during the whole Of the present ses-
sion OF Congress. The bill which has Just passed
the Senate for the adjustment Of the Texan difficult
ty was bitterly opposed in the Senate by the ultra
lists Of the South and it will be equally il not more
nerccly, oppoeed by the same faction in the House
at il unnecessary 10 name the parties who have
been the prime movers in this scheme. The de-
bates in Congress this session will afford 10 every
ready means by which TO ascertain who the
movers are"
Mr.. BUTLER said that he would like the Senator
from Texas TO say whether there any thing ia
this not. When he called upon the Senator, hC
had promptly declared 1t a lslsebood.
Mr.. WALKER replied to some portions Of Mr.
B.s remarks, and
Mr.. BUTLER rcjoinod.
Mr.. HOUSTON said that about two weeks age
he had been told that terrible disclosure wa,
about To be made Of some Vaccinations against tins
Union, and in which he was TO be mixed up. II
was not till this morning that he knew what the
solemn humbug lie knew nothing of the plot
He had no knowledge VI any treason that was
Matching here or elsewhere. He differed with the
opinions erpressed by some gentlemen here, as to
the value OF this Union. But he had no knowledge
OF any plan TO form southern confederacy, or Of
any plan 70 bring about dissolution Of the Union
He could not, consistently with his duty 10 bis
country, entertain such Knowledge without max
ing il public II he had any such information, he
would be bound in duty 10 expose IT, and not con-
nive at IL. There had been nothing in his past his
tory to justify such impression. lie had de-
nounced the buffalo hunt and its alleged ends. lie