Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1850-03-22
WASHINGTON, March Z, 1850.
SENATE.
COMPROMISE RESOLUTIONS.

COMPROMISE RESOLUTIONS.
Mr.. Walker said he knew the immense
audience present was not assembled to
hear him, and he knew that there was
but one man whom they expected to hear.
whatever rights he had to the floor, he
willingly conceded them to the distin-
guished Senator from Massachusetts.
Mr. Webster said that he felt himself
under deep obligations to the Senators
from Wisconsin (Walkcr) and New York
(Seward) for their courtesy, in allowing
him to address the Senate to- day. He
wished to speak to-day, not as a Senator
from Massachusetts,, nor as Northern
man, but as an American, and as a mem
Der of the American Senate. He thought
it was fortunate for the country that
there was a Senate--that there was a
body which had not yet been moved
from its propriety yet lost to Just
sense of their own dignity and high self
respect-a body to which the country
looked with confidence for wise and pat
riotic action. js
1t was not to be denied that we live in
the midst of strong agitation, and of con-
siderable danger to the institutions of our
Government The imprisoned winds
have been let loose from the North, the
East, the West, and the stormy South,
and they tossing the ocean pillows to the
skies, and expose TO our gaze its profound
est depths. He did not feel stIspt he was
the suitable person to take the Shelm in
this storm, nor had hethe skill to COM
bat the elements. But he had a duty to
perform mot duty for his own, security
or safety, nor to look foI fragment on
which to float from the wreck if wreck
should ensue--buta a duty toperform to
the whole country, and for thegood of
the whole country. There was that
which should keep him to his duty during
the struggle and the storm, whether the
sun or the stars shall or shall not appear
for several days; 1t was the preservation
ofthe Union. He spoke to day for the
preservation of the, Union, Hear me
for my cause. ..s,.s s..
he spoke to-day for the American
heart; for the preservation of peace, con
cord, harmony and fraternal feeling,
which are what renders this Union 81
dear to all. Believe me for mine honor.
These were the sole motives which gov
erned him ingiying his opinions to the
Senate and the country.
1t might not be apniss to recur briefly
to the events, equally sudden and extra
ordinary, which Eave brought the politi-
cal condition of the country its present
state. 81 ff hat 4t
In May, 1s46, war was declared with
Mexico. The 4nerican troops crossed
the line of the enemy's territory, invaded
her provinces, and finally took possession
other capital. The marine force of the
United States took possession of all her
ports on the atlantic and Pacific. In
less than two years from the commence
nient ofthe war, a treaty was made by
which Mexico ceded to the United States
the territories on the Pacific 1t SO han
pened that, in consequence of the tiistrac-
Sed and feebls state of Mexico before it
was knownin california, the people there
under the supposed lead Of American
officers, had overthrown the provincial
government, and runup an independent
flag. When the news of che existence of
the war reached there, the Independent
flag was torn down, and che stars and
stripes hoisted in its stead. Before the
war was over, our forces had possession
of San francisco, and great rush of emf
grants from all parts, took place to Cali
fotnia. In January, l848, the,Morfnons
discovered a.icxtraordinarily rich mine
orquantity of gold at tthe lower part OF
the American branch of the Sacramento.
'fhis was kept secret for some time; but
eventually - became known Not long
after this. gold was discovered in high.
CT branch Vi tie Sacramento river. The