Weekly national intelligencer., 1850-05-18

matter certainly TO be examined together and compared
with each other in order obtain Just Interpretation Of its
real character and intent Let this caue then, be taken in
connexion with that which has authorized and effected the
annhilation OF the African ade lawful trade, from
any part of this American Union. Let the few
which individual fugves may be remanded their captivity
conformity with Of these provisions be compared with
the countless instances 10 which whole shpoads OF eemen
would have been torn from their native soil and transported
into slavery but for the other and then tell what the
just designation Of the compact which contains them both
Suppose sir for moment that the amers Of the eonsiu-
ton had resolved TO ignore the existence Of slavery altogether
suppose that the dea which have sometimes heard suggest
ed as desirable had been adopted them at the
set and that all the pre- existing rights the States regard
slavery and all its incidents had been left unrestricted and
unaered would that have better subserved the great OF
human liberty We should have had, indeed, fugitive
slave clause But for every slave who made his escape we
should have had hundred slaves freshly brought from
Africa, Brazil the West Indies long there was
foot OF soil which they could be proaby employed and
every Of them have been counted three
but whole to swell the basis of that representation,
by which the slave interest would have been rendered pre-
dominant forever in our land.
Undoubtedly, Mr. Chairman, there provisions in the
constitution which involve painful obligations, and from
which some OF would rejoice be relieved and this Is one
OF them But there is none, in my Judgment which
involves any conscientious religious difficulty know no
reservation equvocaiion, evasion in the oath which
have 50 often taken TO support that constitution and When
ever any measure proposed TO me for fulfilling enforcing
any OF its clear oblgaton express spulatlons, shall
give TO every degree Of attention. consideration, and sup
port which the justice, the wisdom, the popey, and the
pac,icsbiy Of its peculiar provsons may demand
rant In legatng however, for the restoration OF South
slaves shall forget the security Of Northern free
men. Nor, In testying my allegiance 10 what has been
termed The extradon clause Of the constitutions shall over
ooz those great fundamental principles Of all free Govern
meni-fhe habeas corpus and the trial By jury.
But repeat, Mr. Chairman, that am for giving sepa
rate and independent consideration to separate and ndend
ent measures for dealing with present and pressing
difficulties by themselves and for acting upon others after
wards as they arise
The great questions which demand our consideration
this those which relate territorial
qustons and to them, and them alone, am for de-
voting myself And the first of these questions is that which
relates TO California.
What is California But yesterday, sir, it a colony
in embryo. But yesterday-o the language which Mr.
Burke applied to Amerca-it g little speck,
visible in the of national interest small semi
nal principle, rather than formed body" To-day it pre-
itself established commonwealth, and is knock
ing doors for admission the Union free and nde
pendent State Shall it be turned away Shall it be re-
manded to its colonial condition Shall we attempt crowd
back this fulLgrown into the cradle Of infancy And
that too in spite Of the express provisions Of the treaty by
which it was acquired, that it shall be admitted to the
Union as speedily as possible I"
Upon what preteEce shall such step be taken Is it
said that there has been violation Of pecedents in her
preparatory proceedings Where will you find precedent
in any degree applicable her condition When has such
been presented in our past history When may we
look for another such in future progress "Who hath
the earth be made bring forth day Or shall nation
be born at once !"
Is said that she has not population enough The best
accounts which obtain estimate her population at
than hundred thousand souls and these be it emem
bered, neatly all full grown persons, and vast majority
of them men, and voters. And what, after ALL any es
mates of population worth in such case As the
great British orator whom have just quoted said Of the
American colonies in l775, >"Such is the strength with
which population shoots in that part of the world that
the numbers high will, whilst the dispute continues,
the exaggeration ends Whilst discussing any
given magnitude, they are grown to it."
Is it said that her boundaries too extensive You did
not find this fault with Texas. Texas, with the boundaries
which claimed by her, has three hundred and twenty-five
thousand five hundred and twenty square miles and, with
any boundaries which likely be assigned her che will
have than two hundred thousand square miles Cali
orna, under her constitution has but hundred and
fy-fve thousand FIVE bundled and fifty square miles Of
rory Of which onehalf mountains Of rock and
ice, and another quarter a desert waste I!
Doyou complain of the length of her coast You did
cot find this fault with Florida, whose and gucoast
together (fI greatly mistakenly than onethd
longer than that of California. And where will you divide
the great valley Of the Sacramento and San Joaquin, without
the greatest injury and injustice those who dwell in it
And for what will you divide it. except to make two free
States where only proposed and thus to double
the Of Southern jealousy and sectional opposition
declare you, sir that in my Judgment if any fault is
be found with the dimensions Of California is to be found
by the free Sates who might reasonably look to have two
States instead of added their number from
territory. .a.
Is said that her constitution has been coohed2 Who
cooked it That her people have been tampered with
Who ampered with them As has been truly sad, have
Southern President and majority Of Southern in the
Cabinet and they sent Southern agent, Georgia mem
ber Of Congress- gentleman let say for whose charac
ter and conduct have the highest respeco bear their des
patches and communicate their views to their California
settlers.
Is it said that these settlers Wild reckless floating
popuation bent only upon digging gold, and unworthy be
trusted in establishing Government Sir do not believe
better class Of emgrans was found fockng in such
numbers any settlement the face Of the earth.
The immense distance, the formidable difficulties and the
onerous expense of the pilgrimage 10 California, necessarily
confined the emigration to Of pecuDary substance
well to of than ordinary physical endurance
We have all seen, going out from respective neigh
bohoods not few hardy, honest industrious, patriotic
young men, @
I" Bearing their brthrights proudly on their backs
To make hazard OF new fortunes there -
which they have adopted being condemned any Of
its paternity.
Is it said, finally, Mr. Chairman, ground for rejecting
California that she has prohibited slavery in her constitution
No. no. sir nobody will venture urge that objec
ton to her admission into the American Union Even those
who would willingly have had it otherwise must be glad in
their hearts, whether they confess not that she he's
settled that question for herself; that she has saved from
the difficulties and dangers which would have attended
tempt to settle it for her here. While of will 60
still further, and without intending any offence Others
will thank God openly that this infant Hercules Of the West
has sranged the sepens in the cradle that this youthful
giant Of the Pacific presents himself self dedicated
freedom, and stands sepedged and self posted sentinel
side by side with Oregon against the introduction Of slavery,
by or by land into any part Of that territory
Had it been otherwise sir and had the soil and climate
favorable can tell what renewal of