The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1850-07-23

|
! he said that he had been informed that the oppo
nents of the bill had also had their consultations
| Those opponents were Senators who on this very
subject were the extremes OF the opinions on the
| matter.
| Mr. BUTLER asked IF the Senator meant TO say
that the southern Senators who opposed this Dill
| had consulted with the Senator from New HamP-
| shire'
Mr.. CLAY said that he meant to say nothing of
the kind, But what he meant 10 say was, that the
opponents of the bill had consulted together upon
IL; he could not cay whether there was any Free
| soil members in the meeting or not.
Mr.. DAYTON disciamed having ever had any
consultation with any Of the opponents OF the
bill.
Mr.. CLAY was understood TO say he referred
more particularly TO the southern Senators.
Mr. MASON asked whether the Senator meant
TO say that southern Senator's who opposed this bill
bad held consultation with Senators from the free
States?
MIR. CLAY said no; but that they had meetings
among themselves.
Mr. MASON said that southern Senators had
held meetings among themselves for the purpose
Of protecting and preserving the rights, the dig
nifty, and the honor OF the South.
Mr.. CLAY said that the friends of the bill had
also held meetings TO preserve the rights, the
honor, the dignity, and the UNION of the whole
country. cloud applause in all parts of the gal
The PRESIDING OFFICER stated that the APP
plause given in the gallery violation Of the
to enforce the rule by ordering the gallery to be
cleared.
MIR. CLAY continued his remarks, He main
tanned that there was no lncongrulty either IN the
freight or the passengers in the omnibus There
was neither an Abolitionist disunionist in the
omnibus. He then proceeded at length to state
| the grounds on which northern men could vote for
the bill and justify themselves before their con-
5tituents.
| lie replied to the remarks Of Mr.. DAVIS, of Mas
| sachusetts, that unless slavery prohibited in
these Territories, they might be used as places for
shareholders to breed slaves also, to the comments
upon the cotton interest, &c. lie argued TO show
that the South not responsible Tor the tariff of
40, but that il the North-New York and
| Pennsylvania by their votes in "A. which had
| given that tariff 10 the country.
| He alluded in high terms 10 the Senator from
| Michigan, and 10 the generous conduct OF the
! people of Michigan in releasing him from his
| instructions, and enabling him to vote freely
! upon this subject Also to the prevailing spirit of
! harmony and concession throughout the whole
| northwest, and called upon the Senator from Wis
consin Mr.. DoDGE) to cap the climax OF his de-
votion to his country by voting for this measure.
He stated the account between the two
tons what each gained by this bill to be, that
the North gained the admission of California, with
slavery excluded; she gets New Mexico and Utah,
in all probability, as free States TO be admitted
hereafter escapes the extension OF slavery by any
act of Congress, and secures the abolition of the
slave trade in this District. The South avoids the
passage of the Wilmot proviso, avoids all egisa
ton dangerous TO the institution Of slavery IN the
States; gains nine hundred miles secured to Texas,
which is now in dispute and doubt; gets eff
cient Fugitive Slave bill, and obtains silence upon
slavery IN the District of Columbia
On each OF these points he enlarged and dwelt
for time, and pointed out the benefits result
ing to the whole country from their settlement.
He took up the proposition of the Missouri line Of
3oo 80, and argued that without an express recog-
milton OF the right TO carry slaves south OF that ne
II would be of no possible benefit TO the South. He
denied that the Constitution of itself carried with 1t
the right TO carry slaves TO the Territories. He
urged that the bill better for the Sodth in this
respect than would the adoption OF that line, with
out express guaranty OF the night TO carry slaves
south of il; and pointed out how II was so.
He then alluded to the probable disastrous effects
which would result from the defeat of this bill Cal
iiornia will be admitted, and perhaps nothing done
for the Territories and nothing for the settlement
of the Texas boundary and he pictured the renewed
excitement and feeling which this event would Gre
ate. A collision between the troops Of Texas and
the people of New Mexico, or the soldiers of the
United States which would be sent there if the
present administration carried out the came policy
/ as the last, inevitable.
He described the nature and the probable result
! OF the war between Texas and the Union, and al
luded, in conncxion with the subject, to a speech
lately delivered in Charleston, by a late delegate
| to the Nashville convention. IN that speech, the
speaker was reported as saying that II no other
State, under certain circumstances, would move in
disunion, South Carolina alone would do so; and
that If none other would, he, the speaker, would
unfurl the banner himself He deprecated such
| sentiments coming from any quarter, and was
sorry that the idea Of disunion was becoming such
| a familiar subject lie then reverted 10 the subject
| Of the war with Texas, and commented upon the
probability, in Of blood being shed, that the
ardent spirits Of other States Arkansas, Mississp
! ri, Alabama, Georgia, South Carolina, and Mis-
sour, too, would hnd their way there, and make IL
( contest in which the States from the Rio Grandc
10 the Potomac would take part. He repeated his
arguments IN favor Of a settlement Of this subject
hot He tffftffr rfFffg of CONF
lie alluded 10 the declaration made by the Scna-
/ tor from New Hampshire that the passage Of this
! bill would not destroy agitation. lie commended
! that II would. Every abolition press in the coun.
try, and every abolitiOnist in the country opposed
the bill; and he attributed il 10 the fact that they
In lie passage that their element was 10 be "a
ken from them. lie asked what would be left for
| agitation California would be admitted The
question Of slavery in the Territories would be dis
posed Of aud the subject left 10 the people decide
Tor themselves. The slave trade in the District
would be abolished. With these points settled
there would be no agitation ON the others lie al
luded in terms Of severe roprobaton TO the mad
wild, and cxtrasagant portion Of the abolitiOnists,
whose avowcd object a dissolution of the Union,
and said that they would not be satisfied that no
| thing would satisfy them short Of general de-
struCtion Of hat " lee aud good in this exam
! pie 81 self government. lie maintained that this
bin would cicctually and certainly secure and re-
store tranquility 10 the country.
lie adycrted 10 the prophecies that this bill would
]
! similar prophecies made at the time Of the ! -
/ sour COMPROMISE and az the time Of the compro
/ misc In 1892 upon the tariff. He described the e.
] feet OF these compromises upon the country and
/ how they were received by the people and argued
/ that THE would be received In similar manner.
/ lie denied what had been stated repeatedly, that
the northern members who voted tot the Missouri
| compromise had been rcpudiatcd az home for 90
doing.
The responsibility Of the subject. be said, was
now removed from the committee 30 the Senate,
and ne fate rested with IT, flc appealed 10 the Sen
ator from Virginia, ~ the memory Of his father
and grandfather, CD aid in passing this bill, which
was % prcscryc and tranquize the country. lie
also appealed 10 the Senators from Rhode Island
aud Delaware To- DO the same. lie alluded 10 the
responsibility Of rejecting this measure, aud clo-
qucntiy and most feehngly depicted the grief,
alarm, and anxiety which would pcryade the
country were they 90 return home without settle
mcnt Ui the agitatiOns Of the country.
Mr.. &. spoke about three hours, and the above
b. bot gre outline of his speech The Senate
wac crowded To- rxccss.l
lie said that the fate Of the hill was not certain.
u depended on some four Or six Senators whose
position had not been positively known. With
them hc left i 20 be decided II il we're defeated,
IL would be triumph Of Free Soili.m and Adolf
! uOni-m a triumph of extremists aud be fcrvcnt-
y prayed that it might not result In evil conse-
qucnces ~ the Union.