The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1850-04-19

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apon our tables 50 long that they are sort Of dull life
Sir, there Is no medium The country. il not alarmed
must laugh | against making what is equivalent
10 declaration that The country is in danger; and
sending out such committee this, is precisely equiya
lent the Senate debating proposition in solemn FORM
that the republic is in danger, and then giving dctaora
powers 10 select body OF men, with Instructions TO see
that the republic receive no delriment! am opposed
70 making such a proclamation ! DO not believe that
been something but that Is passed That procession has
gone by The people are finding out remedies for that
evil themselves.
not think we ought undertake to alarm the country, BY
going through this solemn farce, IN the present critical
condition OF the Stale OF Caiiior9a, OF coming forward
nostrums why, sir think il will be very udicrous
mess Joined with the other matters before us il
TO sks uO ~ caa @ aoS &
these propositions in open Senate Sir the course that
the senator from Kentucky minated some days agoor
which | complmened him-for proceeding in that high
which is called an amendment il is nothing but decla
ration-a resoIve-such one as would be perfectly
adopted here To adopt this p rssoye and d Give
instructions whatever 10 guide the committee; Why sir.
il is thing which, although the Senate may vote it, yet
they prevent from Undertaking TO bring in in
snctons guide them In point Of fact no one OF us may
be able to suggest instructions that would guide that
mitteeihati Is. not in the parliamentary for par
guidance And who Is it, sir that makes his motion
that the committee shall not be guided hope no one
OF the thirteen, who is to be of that committee,
dertakes to maintain that proposition; for although il
may be all Gospel that the members of the
mttee are superior to the rest OF the Senate there
proper decorum be shown in this matter. Il is
who should dsquafy ourselves; and no one Of those
thirteen, in my opinion should vote Regard for proper
degree Of decorum should make the whole OF them stand
of and refuse TO vote for thing which stues all the
remainder OF the Senate--stuties ourselves!
l have occupied more time than intended upon this
parliamentary point II what is called amendment.
and which only resolve govern the action Of the
Senate, shall be voted upon and adopted after all this is
done, will be nugatory; for we shall undertake 10
ercise our parliamentary rights OF offering instructions
enough to know how 10 do t. and to gel votes upon
instruction, one by one, in form other long
a. senators shall present them.
Mr.. CLAY. am very sorry for this unnecessary
sumption Of tme but there two three remarks Of
the honorable senator that seem TO me tQrequre
ce The honorable senator has spoken OF caucuses and
ntmated that there has been one On what authority does
the senator make such assertion As far as know
pronounce II mlsakean absolute and entire mistake.
No caucus has been held that know Of; although God
knows would attend caucuses OF any and OF every
body to settle this most unhappy question which
disracts the country. would attend them without feel
ing any Teproach coming from what quarter i may i.
have their rights other senators just pre-
pared he 10 assert their rights. The Senate has its
done n The progress Of this thing The senator
an amendment embracing i've propositions. Well, by
way Of menace, suppose. he shells out eight or ten
Well Mr. President, has this body right TO protect
tseli Has not the majority OF this Senate right to say
whether they will or they will not create committee
without any nsuctions Let the Senate adopt this
olution, and let the senator then offer his sue
cession Of amendments for the purpose-I will not
say what purpose, because have no right TO 60 into
procrastination and embarrassment. That is the ef
fect at least il will be admitted to be the effect,
as i il produced against three distinct emphatic en- sx
The question, then, TO this whether the Senate
shall shall not have power to act speak always Of
the majority Of the Senate and say ought to act and
what not. Sir, not many years will elapse before you
will find the indispensable necessity OF that valuable
mode OF terminating useless and procrastnang debate in
this body There Is no event that look back to with
more satisfaction than the Introduction OF this previous
question in the other wing Of this House.
But il seems all at once that there extraordinary
violation OF the rights OF senators; and what that viola
ton II is the attempt TO create committee without
giving them any instruchons;a thing which happens
every day, sometimes two or three times day-a thing
which happens either to special or standing committee
every day OF the session. either in this house the other
Is il not known that if you refer subject 70 committee,
you must 10 some extent, conhde in that committee,
leaving il untrammeed and unshackled TO the exercise
OF its best judgment -for at last reports back to you
and its report is subject 10 your decision, your power
your control Sir what was done with committee OF
thirteen proposed in the OF the very State which the
himself represents in the year ls2a Were any
instructions gwen to that committee MOI one was
that occasion None. Afterwards, when, in relation TO
the constitution OF a committee that happened which
never before had occurred and perhaps may again for
many years-when proposed in the House Of Represent
atives the constitution OF joint committee, TO consist oil
twenty three in the House and suitable number OF the
Senate to consider the question Of Califoniaof Ms
Souri(it is not al all extraordinary that speak OF Cali
foma for il we listen the honorable senator the
other side Of The chamber, we might be led 10
infer that there United States, and that Cali
fornia had absorbed OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES
proposed this committee OF twenty three, there any
motion in either body TO obstruc TO manace, TO chain
down, that committee No, sir. They were left free as
air 10 explore through all the regions OF patriotic intellect
for devising mode by which that unhappy question
should be settled.
What is the propositionl The senator has several
times talked and presented in his witty manner the g
OF horse borne down BY oppressive burdens cast
upon his back. Why, the senator knows perfectly well
that the whole amount OF what intended By anybody
H. and pile together the government OF Terri
tories acquired in common, and 10 establish for them
suitable form OF government adapted 10 their respective
stuatons. And what is the condition OF Congress I
Let look the facts There portion OF the body
that IL anxious for California Give Ca6ornia-Ca
fornia-and nothing but California tLaugh,erl There
10 onoher portion Of Congress that says, We willing
10 give you California, bui want something III
Californa--we want 10 establish governments among
people thrown, by the vicissudes OF war and Of political
events, under and, TO my utter surprise, have
heard senator's upon this floor express the opinion that
we should leave all New Mexico and all Utah. with their
100000 population TO a military government Yes, sir,
have heard hgs express the opinion that we should
leave the military government which ~ IN operation in
New MEXICO 10 continue--even Dhtgs. who denounced
the existence OF military government established under
authority Of che late administration during OF
war, now, in state OF profound peace, when IL is pro-