The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1850-04-18

pose that some one was dying. This committee
| would create alarm when none called for. II
thirteen doctors were known TO be sitting ON the
body of this poor republic, the whole country
would suppose and believe that the republic was at
| its last gasp. The committee was calculated TO
cause alarm 10 the country.
He at great length opposed the appointment OF
the committee. The amendment says that the
committee not 10 be guided by the Senate.
Who proposes this? He hoped that no one Of the
thirteen proposed that the Senate should not guide
them The proposition is, that the Senate Is infe-
ror 10 this committee Of thirteen who are TO decide
every thing. II was proposition to stultiiy the
Senate. Decorum required that no one should
vote wherein he was interested. He called upon
the thirteen then VOTE bat let the body of the
Senate stultify itself The thirteen persons had
been named, their report and plan was ready. II
had all been arranged in caucus But, despite
the efforts of such caucuses the Senate would have
to come to vote on each one of the propositions,
in some shape another.
MIR. CLAY said that he would like the Senator to
tell what he means by saying that all had been ar
ken in such statement. He had never attended
any caucus; but he would attend any caucus, Of
any party, if by doing he could do any thing TO
restore peace and harmony TO the nation The
Senator says he has rights; SO he has, but others
have rights also, and others were as well prepared
the Senator to assert and maintain their rights.
The question was, had the majority OF this Senate
the right to appoint committee, and TO refer to
that committee certain subjects without instruc-
tons? He thought they had, and disapproved OF
all opposition which was to defeat or delay the ex
pressed wishes of the majority.
III they were to hearken to what was said on the
other side of the Senate, one would suppose that
there was no United States, but that California had
absorbed them all. He then alluded to the COM
mitees which were appointed at the time OF the adj
mission of Missouri and said no factous opposition
was made then. He reviewed the reasons for keep
ing California separate from the territorial bills,
and opposed that policy He advocated the union
of the two measures, and commented upon the
course of several Wings who in favor of leav-
| ing New Mexico under q military government in a
time Of peace and who had complained of the late
administration for establishing military govern
ments in time OF war.
Mr.. BENTON replied California did not desire
to absorb all the other States; she was meekly ask
ing to become in thirty -one The Senator from
Kentucky said, few days ago, that California had
made runaway match, and now turned up her
nose at her unmarried sisters. If California had
made a runaway match, she had not made runa-
way match with runaway negroes; and If her un-
married sisters do happen to marry into that family,
he thought it likely that California would, if they
round her, notonly turn up her nose, but would
plug up her nose also.
He again commented upon the amendment of
Mr. CLAY; declaring ii to be, in effect the previous
question. He was not much in favor of compro-
misses On Thursday last he had made one with
the Senator from Kentucky, and accepted as sub
stitute for his own an amendment drawn by that
Senator. He supposed the Senator would vote for
his own compromise; but the Senator had moved
this morning to destroy it. With this experience
of compromises he did not feel at liberty to enter
into any others. Ifthe amendment should be adopt
ed, he would renew all his amendments.
Mr.. DOUGLAS said that three test votes had been
taken, and the Senate had decided that it would
have this committee. He did not think, then, that
he was authorized to continue factious opposition
| to it; for thereby he would be giving precedent
and license for another factious minority to keep
California out of the Union. If this committee
would as il was said, result in farce, he infinitely
preferred that conclusion to one which might result
MIR. WEBSTER said that he thought the amend
ment of the Senator from Kentucky was out of or
der.
aware that the Chair had ruled it to be in order.
The VICE PRESIDENT said that he had ruled
the amendment to be in order.
| MIR. WEBSTER said that all that did not deprive
him of the right of saying why Senator's should not
vote against IT. He doubted whether it was in the
power of the Senate, by the amendment, to cut of
other amendments.
| Mr.. CLAY replied.to the Senator.
| MIR. HALE said that the amendment, 80 far as it
intended to cut off other amendments, was nuga-
| tory.
Mr.. CLAY supported his amendment.
Mr.. HALE then opposed the appointment of the
| committee He knew that the only objection 10
| the admission of California was, because she had
adopted the principles of freedom in her constitu-
! ton.
Mr.. FOOTE called the Senator TO order for at
lacking the motives of others
| MIR. HALE continued. He had heard that such
was the cause OF opposition outside the Senate; but
in the language of the amendment, he did not deem
it necessary TO express, in advance, his opinion OF
| what the cause of opposition in the Senate was. He
knew that the South would triumph. He knew the
| free States would be defeated. He knew the free
States would be beaten; and all he wanted was,
| that when they were in the DUST beaten and trod-
den upon, that they would not be pointed at, nor
the remark made, once used by Virginian, eve
bought you dog cheap"
IA. ia. l. l.T..s
defeat by northern men. He would venture on
another opinion, that when slavery had triumphed,
and the North, as always had been, was defeated,
certain gentlemen on their return would dis
cover that a great change had taken place in the
northern climate, and that the country was too hot
/ for them.
| DIR. CLAY said that there was no destined de-
feat Of the North no destined triumph Of the South.
| There destined triumph for the Union.
/ Neither North nor South 10 triumph or be de-
feated. The countryside Union was TO triumph.
No defeat except for the ultra Abolionists and ia
natics. tApplause.l There will be triumph OF
patriotism over fanaticism The ultra Abolition
iss would be defeated, because their element would
be destroyed by a compromise. They would be
like the people Of old crying in the wilderness:
Mr.. FOOTE said that he appealed TO all those
who agreed with the Senator from Kentucky to alb
stain from further debate
Mr.. MANG UNI suggested, and Mr.. CLAY modi.
fed his amendment, so as 10 insert after the word
necessary the words ''and therefore declines."
ment 10 the amendment of Mr.. Benton, 1t was de-
cided in the affirmative, as follows:
4 YEAs.-Messrs. Atchison, Badger, Bell, Bor-
land, Butler, Cass, Clay, Clemens, Davis Of Mis-
sissppi, Dickinson, Dodge Of Iowa, Douglas
Downs, Foote, Hunter, Jones, King, Mangum
Mason, Morton, Pearcc, Rusk, Sebastian, Soule
sproance, Sturgeon, Turney, Underwood, and
| Yulec-29.
NAYs.-Messrs Baldwin, Benton, Bradbury
Bright, Chase, Clarke, Corwin, Davis Of Massaehu
sets, Dayton, Dodge Of Wisconsin, Felch, Greene
Hale, Hsmlin, Miller, Norris, Phelps, Seward
Shields Smith, Walker, and Whitcomb-22.
The question then taken on the amendmen
az amended, (that is, adding Mr. CLAy's amend
ment 10 Mr.. FooTE's motion,) and IL was adopted
| MIR. HAMLIN moved 10 amend the motion o
Mr.. FooTE, by excepting from the reference ever
thing relating 10 California.
Mr.. CLAY made point Of order that thi
amendment had been rejected on Thursday last.
The VICE PRESIDENT thought that such wa
not the fact
MIR. CASS addressed the Senate in favor Of tn
. committee and in depreciation Of the opposition 4
, il. He urged the committee as a compromise.
The VICE PRESIDENT said the amendment o
the Senator from Maine had been, in substance, re
| iected and was out Of order.