Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1850-03-15
NUMBER 81.

aruo:a vou who habtualy use such language and woSs
and all less, share the profits OF spoS
alton upon these equal rights o the >omiyon :obear
in vour terms hut You promote tr csuvour laneuege ~
different but your ends are the Bni must return Ia
the narrative | reciting OF The wh6Sh
brought about that oninous change in Tie aspect of ss
very question which noticed al the outset. ~
! have never known In Congress, which enc
listed the North In snch common desire anu such union Of
purpose of introducing California into he Union
the present session OF Congress Many o. The wary
and guarded of the Norcrncrs however feel that tie mea
sure is cocsed with the Formidable eI5arraSsmensN
They have hesaicd 10 make precedent which oyerhroWa
all procedents They have heard The warning voice OF tn
South and feel that The result ot admission upon her inter
and sentiments be, under ordinary circumstance
quite injurious and aontiyc the Nio proyiso itself
great aim and anxions desire with Northernefs
have been reconcile the South this and 10 d
vide with her the responsibility of such precedent. There
was scarcely any thing the North would not have parted
with consideration accomplish il This state ot things
gave the South great hold upon The North Ia 10
fair and satisfactory adjustment OF all The other slavery
sues coenporaneously This the Sonrhs main hold
pephaps its only hcldand as have already intmacd six
weeks ago, through this nsrnena,y there pros
of an harmonious close OF all The issues Every Interest
every motive every hope which could promise auspcious
result prompting the enemies of Southern minds "a
keep California ndssouby associated with the other Issue,
where Mr. Cays resolutions had placed her and where his
nnnnsweabe rcasonngs had secured her; and had he
mained firm in his purpose all would have been safe now
and most probably have been settled. But change
the spirit OF his dream and turned in Tie chap
ter OF chances that he who the first 10 prepare 10 blend
all these matters into within few days after satisfying
OF its proprcy WAS the rs 10 propose % sever
,em irrereyaby and open Senate his sanction 10
contemplating the immediate admission Of CaEor
a and upon the avowed ground that could not do 70 tso
her senator's and representatives rang ft other are
Issues ners disposed Of.
large portion of this article has been taken up show
ing the insperablc obstacles the admission Of California
well tho deep injury ond wrong it would inic upon
the South admit her she Is and severed from The other
issues shall make no comment here upon this baenl ana
defenceess inconsistency nor il al oil necessary In tho
ot its happening MsslssppTs sagacious and
intrepid Senator tGen Foote whose watchness and read
he aft
elcitous contrast oil Mr. Cays two speeches, gave the
venerable gentleman "a sitting DOWN which neither lie nor
any who heard will forget, But what have now 10
60 WITH the immediate effect OF this important change Of
position the part OF Mr. Clay Within few days, and
the rs resolution day thereafter, Mr. Doy OF Wiscon
sin moved the following extraordinary resolution:
Resolved That the Committee on Territories be INSTRUCTED
prepare and report bill providing for the admission Of Cal.
orna into the Union on an equal footing with the original
STA 1rh the boundaries limits fined in the Costion
of The aid Ierrtoryof California which was communicated
the House With the special OF the President Of
the United States the 18th OF February instant said biz
said binds Of the proposed State Of California"
Mr. D. then moved The prerious question thereon which
of course preciuded all debate remarkable circumstance
connexion with this matter s that II was only hve days
before that lr. Boyd OF Kentucky Chairman ot the Com
miirec Terriloes had moved refer this constitution
this committee, and 1t voted down by The same
members who sustained Dotys resolutions On the same
day however il referred the committee OF the whole
OF the Unon which happened just the day before
Mr. Clay made his demonstration in the Senate IN iavor oi
severing California from the other issues and OF admitting e
the Union, which doubtless the cause OF a DoIya
effort change the disposition which had been previously
made Of il in the House. Now, while The committee OF The
whole seized Of the question and in possession oi the
documents House could only reclaim its jurisdiction OF
the matter by reconsdcrng the referring 10 that COM
n,tcc dischargng from its further consideration lnti
things done there was no power refer Ii
elsewhere TO transfer the documents from one committee 10
the other, &c.
II is said and believe truly ha there is mol an instance
in legislative annals o such an attempt a THIS al pre-
cpiiae and oppressive eglslaon wh suppression G" te
DI
citing were issue The question Of Cai!fonias admission
had been brought the Home the first time II haI
reyor seen debated considered III the House III COM
mittcc Most unusual circumstances had fHece!ed and st-
tended the formation Of her Constitution Inc rights Oh
Congress establishing Territorial Government causing
census be aken-iXne tho qualifications oi voters
Designating boundaries and limits authorizing call OF
convention had not been csr'csSd 'he people "i t
,rnia had undertaken without lawful authority 10 snpcr-
ceie and dispense with the action ~ t"nToS bcsiae
this ht last deggee doubtful /. California hhd me
sentative numbers tn eGiiie her 10 admission uhcct e
existing ratio III appuonment and was absolutely s'!ia
ia, she had assumed dimensions equal To those o Ten OF
the other Slaes that under all past policy and justice 10 tne
cluns hall Of the States of The tnion teduc.!on OF IL
mils was Indispensable the tranquility Of The Inon II not
10 its existence. Every candid must admit that never
before has any new State pre- sented hersei Tor
surrounded by 80 many novel exciting and embarrassing
questions In most OF its features the case Is WITHOUT pre-
recn, and in Of them against all pectdents; anu con
sdernp the intense excitement in the Two great sections OF
the country surely Congress never more called anon o
all us debeaive patience forbeaance and highest "isaoh
Yet without consultation debate the resolution required
sues and without reduction OF limits II IS my deiioea'e
opinion that we've she admitted and admitted II us
have shaken the Union icaliy II II had not seVefeu ~
twain Yet with such questions at s' ma such interests
M stake b. the commanding majority oi ol So'es ie eS
States rejected the Sous proposal 10 lay the eso!non on
,h, fable for consideration and debate Never there ee
fore SD impressive and appalling instance oi me foce ana
hy of the passions upon these nntisavey ISSUES Wel
once unhappy aroused Perhaps, the very next day.
and after nights reflection and repose net ten OF that ma
ry could have been found who would not have donoted
and !epre what had seemed IL them entirely proper ana
,crnsible the day before. Nothing could illustrate more
poinedy and mpressvey the blindness AMI perls OF ms
pcstiient agitation rcaaon to DOUBT ol' 'ha the
men who pressed this measure which hold 10 nave oeen en-
rey wrong and ndcenshe present ne high an average Of
ust motives and sound patriotism as equal number OF
citizens from any section of the country and speak from
personal knowledge when say that there some acng
them 10 whom could conde al! that he prizes or hous
dear reaching his honor or his e ct so us
Persons unssled in parliamentary tactcs VIII De curious
10 know how such overwhelming maIorIy perssiih.
for twelve hours in PURPOSE yet eiled oi te'.
aim sesusainng provision of The Constitution pu's
a in the power of onc-f,h of the members TO arrest ana
avert oppressive legislation by standing 10 their rights ana
bringing the majority 10 pause and noble spirits were theis
ead md resolved TO meet the crisis and tho conse-
ouences and they did so earlessy and triumphanty-
When history shall charge itself with this memorable trans
action full Justice will be done 10 that intrepid minority
who denounced Disunons have yet stood oy the Con
stituon saved the Union and Nations gratitude WI
reward the deed, RANDOLrd VI ho5-fohE'