The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1850-06-20

and carriages and property. He expressed the
hope that this question will be sgitated until the
doughfaces and agiiators shall be crushed, and
until the friends Of the South are prepared TO
say that there shall be no milk -and-water COM
promises.
Mr.. Schenck Of Ohio desired an amendment
to be offered, to the effect that no objection
should be made to the admission Of California,
because che has inserted ia her Constitution a
clause against slavery
MIR. Seldom Of Virginia said as to the admis-
sion Of California there are many vital objec-
tions to IL the greatest Of which is, that the
Southern States had not fair chance to psrtici-
pate in the settlement other institutions
Mr. Toombs Of Georgia said, in his judgment,
the right asked for, involving as it does political
equality, is worth thousand such Unions as we
have, even il they Were each thousand times
more valuable than this. Deprive us of this
right, be said-appropriste this common property
to yourselves-it is then your Government not
mine. Then am its enemy, and am willing, if
! can to bring up my children and my oonstitu-
ents to the altar of liberty, and, like Hamilcar,
| would swear them to eternal hostility to your
foul domination. Give us our just rights, and we
are ever ready, rs heretofore, to stand by the
Union, every part of it, and its every interest
Refuse it, and for one will strike for independ-
ence. Several gentlemen cried Good p" good ~
Mr. Meade inquired of the gentleman from
Ohio Mr.. Schenck whether be would vote for
the admission of California, if her Constitution
tolerated slavery.
Mr. Schenck replied, that he had always recog.
nised and does recognise, the right of the people,
when they form State Governments, to permit
slavery or not, as they please. He was in favor
Of excluding slavery while they were in Terri
torla condition, that they might have free insti-
tutions when they came TO legislate for them
selves.
Mr. Giddings said it was time that gentlemen
should vote instead Of talk He and his coustitu-
ents were inevitably, unalterably opposed to the
admission OF another State with slave constitu-
ton. Gentlemen who had spoken were willing
that hundred slaves should have as much rep
resentation as sixty freemen. He protested
against the feeling which puts Northern freemen
on level with Southern slaves
Mr.. Williams Of Tennessee said that the North
do not desire compromise. They want to run
through the California bill, and defeat other
measures They are fighting behind masked bat
teries While distinguished Senator'S are trying
10 settle the agitatng questions by compromise,
gentlemen here are trying to defeat it, lie was
willing that the House shall not act on the sub
lect Mt present, and would consent that they pro-
coed TO the consideration OF the Appropriation
: Ntfs, = - osH"Ssssni y ~ 9 ~. : an 80
asfa ss e :, s Rss nrs sI 4. s1 ss.
California bill
Mr.. Casey of Pennsylvania said that ne was
in favor Of the principle Of letting the people of
the Territory decide the question of slavery for
themselves
Mr. Inge. In its application TO all Territories
MIR. Casey. have already said if there had
been slavery clause in the Constitution of Cali
fornia, should have voted for her admission, il
there were no other objections. IL New Mexico
IL.
Constitution, should vote for her admission.
Mr. Houston of Delaware said that he had
listened with infinite pleasure to the gentleman
from Pennsylvania, MIR Casey He was happy
to find one at least of that noble and gallant Stat,
to justify him in his position on this question be
fore the Committee. He was one of the number
who veted for the amendment of the gentleman
from Kentucky; not with view to embarrass TIA,
BILL but as great cardinal republican principle
on which he would not only risk his politica
principles, but his life and, If necessary, the
Union itself
Mr.. Stevens of Pennsylvania said that he wa.
| puzzled how to vote. At first he had not much
doubt about it. His colleague Mr.. Casey had
given way and, since he found that Delaware
was going South, he did not know what would be
the consequences of disunion If il should take
place, and Delaware be against the North He
hoped, however, the gentleman who had JUS.
spoken would retract, and leave it doubtful
question ms to where Delaware will 20. He could
not support the amendment of the gentleman
from Alabama. He did not want to hold out the
idea (he wapisd to deal frankly, but not offen-
sively) to the South, that any more slave States
will be admitted, for he believed it to be the set
tied purpose of the majority of the North that
no slave States shall be admitted out of ter.
ritory now free. IT is the voice OF the Whigsn1
Lot it 20 to the cause of the Wing or Democratic
, party, he would ask no better platform indie
pendently of morals, there was political princi
pie which ought to govern the question. When
the Constitution was formed the slave States
then in the Union were allowed to have their
, property representative slaves counting as
three freemen This was evidently unjust un.
less you place the horses and carriages, as con-
tended for by the gentleman from Louisiana
MIR. Morse on the same footing There was
nothing in the Constitution which says that the
privilege shall be extended TO future States He
understood that his colleague was willing that
five slaves should count as three of his white con-
stituents
Mr. Robinson of Indiana said he was in favor
of acting ut once. He had, from the commence
ment, been in favor of putting 10 California, and
settling all these questions one at q time. lie re-
pudiattd the miserable policy of the President,
and believed that any action was better than
none. He had rarely heard it denied, except by
Abolitionisis, that the people, when they form
State Constitution, have n right to prohibit sla-
very or not IL is a principle not denied, scarcely,
in non-saveholding States
Mr.. Vinton should vote against the PROPOSE.
ton, which afirms that If any State admits or
justes slavery it shall be no objection to her adj
mission, for the reason that If there Is anything
more firmly settled than another in this Govern
ment, it is this. AS a Northern man, he would
not vote for IL; AS n Southern man, he would not.
He had no doubt about 1t, and therefore would
not vote for il. The proposition requires no le-
gslation; it was mere abstraction; IL hurts no
one, and amounts to nothing.
Mr. Casey wished to utter word in reply TO
his colleague, Mr.. Stevens who ssid that he
| (Mr. ca would give as much representation to
FIVE shareholders TO three of his own people
The representation is not Of slaveholders but ne
groes themselves lie wanted this to 20 forth
| with what was said by his colleague, namely that
his colleague WAS elected TO Congress by fourteen
thousand Wings who voted for General Taylor,
and yet the gentleman has not yet said one word
in favor Of the plan Of the President!
Mr. Carter (thc amendment Of Mr. Inge hav-
ing passed first from one then to another, to ena.
BILE gentlemen to express their views under the
fveminute rule) obtained the floor, and offered
the same amendment, for the purpose OF getting
vote on It He withdrew IT, however, and
Mr. German of Indiana The Wilmot Proviso
amounts to the same thing ~ the declaration that
there shall be no more slave States formed out of
territory now free. II you adopt the Wilmot
Proviso on the people Of free territory you might
as well say they are no longer freemcn, but are
manacled by you Can gentlemen who indulge in
such conduct expect the Union TO be held togeth-
er2 They have almost torn the foundation from
under it.
The Committee rose, and the House adjourned
MONDAY, JusE II, 1850.
Mr. Bayly moved suspension Of the rules, to
enable him TO offer resolution making the various
appropriation bills the ORDER OF the day for June
oath. Lost--yeas IA, nays 67--two.thirds being