The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1850-08-15

gives Importance TO the idea OF balance OF power
feel but little confidence in the power Of the constitution
10 restrain where fanatcsm iBames and sectional pride
urges 10 invasion. Now, when the powers OF both the
deparim ents-egsatiye and executveae 10 be trans.
fered 10 one interest," fear that have reached the
point at which the decline oil government has begun
the point At which the barriers of the constitution are TO
be broken over by ruthless majority, and when the mi
nori.y may be called upon to determine whether they will
surrender all claims to equality as guaranteed by the
stluon, and TO the enjoyment OF approp
10 fIeemen or retain the condition which they born
by o,cibe resistance Sir, the momenous consequences
which oreshadowedb by this event are in no manner
tempered by the spirit in which the act is consummated
On the contrary they are aggravated by the declarations
which made, and by the tone in which executed
the supercous air Of superiority upon the part OF those
who, though majority, should recoect that they are
only our constitutional equals, which has shown itself
during the whole progress o this Ii il this
SIR. which has served TO and fully justify the
opposition which southern have made and which
now take occasion TO say had no limit in human power
70 which was not prepared to 20 Sir. iet and feel
that an act Is about To be peperaed upon which the
fate OF The Union may be suspended fe and feel u my
duty as patriot devoted 70 the unoD here readily a.
elsewhere, 10 sacrifice myself Tor its preservation II is
not, therefore. Tor the want oil the will, but for the
want OF power that lhave not offered more marked
resistance or further opposition to this bill In that
temper to which | have alluded, we have exemplfed
the fate of the section OF which am citizen, and with
which my fate is identified, when becomes permanently
minority in both houses oil Congress In that spirit oil
arrogant and reckless disregard for the interests the feel
ings, and constitutional rights OF minority, say we
may see foreshadowed our fate. and that tendency in
and finally lead to the downia OF this confederation
may well call upon every patriot under such crcum.
stances, to bring his Offering TO the altar, TO make what
ever sacrifices may be demanded OF him. For myself,
sir actuated by such feelings and urged by such dread
antclpatons required nothing to prompt me- nothing
pursued But % they had been wanting. ali ,hes. were
before The legislature OF my State instructed me TO
resist this bill for the admission OF California, under the
circumstances attending the proposition, by all just and
honorable means. The legislature made an appro
praton of money to enable the State government To offer
proper resistance to the Wilnot Proyso II that odious
measure should pass both houses of Congress and be
proved by the President In this bill which is now be
fore us the offensive discrimination the unjust exclusion
of the South eecaaly accomplished as by the Will
mot Proviso itself; and what matters il 10 me whether
Congress declares by enactment that within certain limits
Of the old territory Of California slavery shall be prohibit
ed, or whether Congress gives force and vitality 10 an
OF power by the inhabitants within that terri
tory, thus Indirectly effects excuson The act is
the same and the offence Is not to my mind.
diminished Ii there be any difference, rs In favor oil
the direct of Congress II would not be perma
nent the form proposed the poical injury would
be less and there would be better hope OF It's repeal
would be the usnrpaon o an agent to whom some pow
eTs Inirused instead OF being revolutionary
seizure the property OF the States and the exercise OF
sovereign power over Their domain oy those TO whom no
by the inhabitants oi California their necessity de-
manded might be, should have been, justified by Con
gress, the necessity from the failure of
Congress discharge its duty by providing the requisite
government for that Territory But u could not warrant
legislation the rights OF the people OF the States and
ton OF the people who had by their representatives en-
deavored to supply government TO that Territory.
There is great difference. MIR. President, between
political community-an orgaDlzed body, such as thr
people OF Territory organized by The United Siatesas-
stunning TO themselves sovereign power, and proceeding 10
erect State, and the assumption OF persons whs may
chance to meet upon the public domain 10 fix limits, de
clare themselves people, and erect Stale vi the ior.
mer we have had cases, but they form no precedent
for California There, not only had there been no organl-
zaton, but there were no proper means even o. holding
an election The coun,ry, II is true, had been hed by
transient population who bad gone there Tor me purpose
of gold hunting, and who thence derived such rights as
those who should find themselves assembled tor fur
trading or for any other OF The purposes OF commerce,
might claim 10 seize upon the territory OF he ieaeral GOV
eminent and appropriate it TO their own exclusive benefit
or, as This instead of general prohiniton, 10
make an insulting discrimination against onehalf oil the
States the equal owners OF the territory
But, sir the presented To us IS even worse man
this The people thus found as soourners upon these
territories were not themselves the prme movers IN this
affair They were prompted 70 It. IL is Iect which
has come 10 my knowledge, that the military governor
who succeeded after the peace OF 9ueetaio sent out
essengers ascertain whether the people OF Cailorna
desired to have civil instead OF the existing military
and that he received such an answer as TO
cause him TO refuse 10 issue the procamston wnch nad
been previously prepared. Thai procanaion was, am
informed nearly the same the one ISSUED at sub
sequent period the first being the mould OF the second
when General Riley, as military commander oil the
troops IN Caioa cane into poTs g sos eS u ,he
county unchanged, except that there had oeen an
additional influx oi population No legs ahon by Con-
gre had Occurfeu, AM noi aware w my Fu"hS
manifestation BY the people of wish 10 establish
Stale government
Under these circumstances, sir that governor sent Out
his proclamatio calug upon the people TO meet and
hold "A convention He closes his proclamation with
,he hope tnai the proceeding would be agreeable TO The
peopelhus showing upon lace OF IL, that II was MOI
the people who prompted him, but that he promped the
people. :,
say SIR then, that the case is worse than il the
transient inhabitants should, BY Their own voilon,
claim portion OF the territory OF the United Saies and
A. ptoprale il TO themselves And VI, SIR, the conse
guences which have resulted and are likely 10 ensue
iron this movement not 40 grave, we siouid look
upou all tha, occurred anterior to that convention.
ami IN the ratification oil the constitution by The people
as farce Ia that OF leies written tor the puelc
by Bayard Taylor AID which considered worthy OF
being incorporated book are informed that IN
travelling OF the eecion districts OF thai county
ike league ORegan, the hero Of modern chvalry he
narrowly escaped being caught aud elected TO the con-
venuon ,
But sir, do not now purpose TO detain the SENATE
bv entering into the history OF this political phenomenon
MI purvose il solemny 10 the Senate agaDst the
sct which they about 10 commit. la me name of
equay OF constitutional right, OF peace, and OF iiater
n.ty call upon the majority 70 abstain; onef no mei
ace--fotele no violence. Now, as hereloioIe, VIII
not dis uss or contemplate dlsualon as remedy But,
air. more in sorrow than n anger at the empty tbIcais
winch nave been made, caution the majority tha .hcy
do not look 10 the South held upon which victories
are TO be won without cost, and where the emoiunens
o conquest are to be gained without sacribce we, st
are the descendants OF The ol the South VINO une1
with those OF the North in the unequal con.sst o our
revolution for the maintenance OF what was 70 mem M
abstract principle We the descendants oi those VINO
looked danger the face, and shoulder TO shoulder WIN
your sltes, through the war OF independence De
they were oousrsae1 IN we degencf ale