Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1850-02-15
ThIrtZ-F1rst ooagre.s--Flrst session.
TuEspAY, February 5, 1850
SENATE


olina the money advanced by her account of Mex
lean volunteers. Read the third time and passed
The Special Committee, to which the subject had
been referred, reported bill for the ascersanment
and satisfaction of claims of American citizens for
spoliations committed by the French prior to the
of July, 1901. The bill and report was ordered to
be printed.
On motion of Mr. Foote Gen. Cass's resolution for
suspending diplomatic relations with Austria, was
taken up, and made the special order tor MONDAY
next. !,
On motion of Mr. Mangum, the Senate proceeded
to the regular order of the day. being Mr.. Gay sia
very compromise resolutions, when were taken up
as in Committee of the Whole After the reading OF
the resolutions published in the last Journal, Mr.
CLAW addressed the Senate at considerable length.
We can only give the mere heads OF his speech MIR
CLAW commenced with an alluson to the solemn and
momentous crisis which has been reached in our ma
tona nropress which state of affairs he attributed
to the violence party spirit He invoked the bles-
sing and guidance of God upon Congress- In Its efforts
to restore harmony to the country. He said that
wears ago he had retired from the Senate he then
thought never to enter it again, but he had been
called upon by his State and his only wish now was
to see this question settled to that he should devote
all his thoughts He had no schemes of ambition to
crafty, and no personal object to attain.
On the first resolution, declaring that California
should be admitted State, without any restric-
ton in regard to slavery,) he said that the North
ought to be satisfied for the voluntary act of the Cali
fornians in excluding slavery, had given them all
they commended for The South he thought should
not oppose the admission of California account of
the anslavery clause in her constitution, since the
prohibition did not proceed from the General Gov
ernment but was in strict accordance with State
rights.
In regard the second resolution (that declaring
that slavery does not exist by law in the newly &C
qured territory, and is not likely to be introduced
there and that therefore it is inexpedient to pass
any law providing for its introduction exclusion,
Mr.. Clay said that it was intended as a compromise
for the Wilm0t Proviso. 1t was expression of
opinion that slavery was abolished by the Mexican
laws of the Territories, and not likely to be in
troduced. With this expression of opinion on the
part Of Congress- he thought the North ought to be
satisfied without pressing for enactment upon the
subject He commended that the institution of slave
ry had been abolished throughout Mexico previous
to the ceson of this territory to the United States
and that in the absence of any enactment, the
Mexican law is still the law of the land far as the
territories are concerned. He denied that the ex-
tension of the Constitution of the United States
the territory interfered with it's local relations.
Mr.. Clay contended that Congress has the fullest
power to legsate for the Territories and either to
introduce prohibit slavery by positive enactment.
In regard to the power of Congress in this respect
Mr. Clay said he forced to differ from his worthy
friend from Michigan, Gen. Cass, of whom he spoke
as being his friend in the best and most emphatic
sence of the term-they having known each other
longer than either of them had known any other
member of the Senate. He contended that Congress
has this power under the clause of the Constitution
giving the power to make all needful rules and
aons respecting the territory and other property of
the United States; and that it had also the power
under another branch of its prerogativethe treaty
making power.
The third and fourth resolutions relate to the
boundary of Texas. They propose that the western
boundary Of Texas shall remain as it is the Rio
Grande but that Texas shall give up all claim to
ny portion of the territory of New Mexico. The
Missouri compromise formed Article of the treaty,
by which Texas became annexed to the United States
Of the territory of New Mexico fully two-thrds lies
South of the line of that compromise; and conse-
quently if the claim of Texas to that territory is
taned is by virtue of the treaty of annexation al
ready slave territory Consequently it has been the
wish of the North to contract the limits of Texas
much possible of the South to extend them. On
hand it is contended that the United States has
right to interfere with the boundaries of the State
of Texas; while on the other hand Mr.. Clay con-
tends that the treaty of annexation left that part OF
her boundary towards New Mexico open for future
settlement; and that the United States having assu
med that settlement is the proper authority and has
full power in the premises he further urges that the
people of New Mexico have rooted and confirmed
aversion to being placed remaining under the Ju
risdiction of the State of Texas. Mr.. Clay here
into discussion of the boundaries of Texas and the
circumstances connected with the treaty of annexa
tion and with previous treaties with Spain, which HI
contended went to show the jurisdiction of the Uni
ted States over the subject. Having concluded thi
branch of the subject Mr. Clay yielded to an ad
lournment.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,.
Mr.. Raymond, of Virginia. announced the death
of his predecessor, representative from the Vince
ling district Va. Mr.. Newman, decd, it will b.
recolleced died at Pttsburg previous to the meeting
of Congress- and at the election to fill the vacancy
Mr.. Raymond, wing, chosen in his place to thu
surprise of both parties After passing the usual
WEDNESDAY, Feb g.
After the presentation of sundry memorials an'
petitions, little interest to readers, Mr.. Mangun
presented the resolutions of the Southern Right
meeting held lately in Wilmington N. c., enforcing
them by some eloquent and patriotic remarks. w
omit the remarks in this place, we give them il
full in another column
Mr.. Hale moved to lay the resolutions upon thu
table He said that all the resolutions presented b.
him bearing upon the slavery question, We're serve
so, and he did not see why those presented by Mr.
Mangum should not share the same fate. He deniet
that the North had encroached upon the South
Mr. Mangum replied that the existence of North
ern aggressions upon the Southern rights was to
plain question to admit of controversy. Any chill
capable of reading Peter Parly's history was awar
of the fact Besides the resolutions were a mer
notification and called for action, and he though
ought to be received.
The resolutions were received, read, and laid o.
the table, and the question of printing them referre
to the committee printing
Mr. Clay resumed his speech upon his SLAYER
compromise resolutions. He commenced by alludin
to the vast array of beauty grace eloquence and in
telligence which graced the chamber, among whom
if there was any who had come expecting to hav
ANY display of language oratory, they would b
disappointed the subject before him alone occupies
his attention. When on the evening preceding, h
had given way to an adjournment he had finished
his remarks upon the boundaries of Texas; he woul
now only add few observations in regard to tn
debt which he cOntnnded. was not of RIGHT incuH1