The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1850-07-04

| GOVERNMENTS.
The Senate resumed the considera ton Of the bill
| reported 10y the select committee of thirteen, I,
| admit California a State into the Union To es
tablish territorial governments for Utah and New
| Mexico; and making proposals to Texas for the es
| adjustment OF her western and northern bounda
4 ries.
| MIR. BELL said that he proposed 10 address the
Senate upon the subjects involved in this bill. and
would do so with such regard To method and order
as he could bring Ia his aid lie felt that this sub
| jcct becoming and more complicated
| every day. From the time when il was crtained
| that the war with Mexico could be brought TO a
close only by acquisition of terrtory--and from
| the time oi the ratification OF the treaty OF Qua
| dalupc !lidalgu no had come TO the conclusion
that great and difficult questions would
sarily grow out OF such acquisitions, and that the
| best and wiscst policy to settle all of them
| having any oonnexon with this subject Of sla-
very IN the most speedy manner possible, and in
such way rs the settlement would be final He
had believed then and he believes now, that what.
ever settlement was made OF the subject il should
be final settlement-ir Apart from the
difficulty he had Of shifting upon the Judiciary the
settlement of clearly political question, he had
opposed the Clayton compromise bill because it did
not settle the questions finally, but merely post
poned their settlement to an indefinite period He
thought now that the on.y suitable measure to re-
store harmony aud peace, would be one which took
up every point out of which agitation could grow,
and settle them all IN manner that they could not
be again disturbed He had no prejudice in favor
of any particular plan OF settlement, but would
chceriuily unite IN supporting any that could re-
store harmony. lie had never been committed
against this bill, and he had, known to the
chairman OF the committee, never been committed
III its favor. lie had, however, voted for all the
amendments which the most ardent friends of the
bill deemed necessary TO strengthen il, and had
voted against separation Of the several measures.
lie believed that the desire of the people was n
settlement OF this subject in some form another,
before the Adjournment of the present Congress.
One section desire its settlement in par ticular
M far he nI IA nIAp nm
was concerned, he believed they not =
ious for any particular mode OF settlement, they
were for settlement itself.
II was said that this bill measure OF com
promise, and was one to restore harmony and peace
To the country. This great attraction to him,
but how could he believe this while, notwithsta nd
ing the ardent declarations Of its friends there was
not in the Senate more than a bare ority in its
favor; and Senators from all sections around him
declaring that II not satisfactory to them,
and would not be satisfactory to their constituents?
The press, also from all sections opposed the mea-
sure In the other House it met with equal oppos-
ton.
lie had thought, when the bill first intro
duccd, that II was wanting IN comprehensivene5s.
Ii did not extend over all the territories, out of
which difficulty, excitement, and danger might
arise The territory in Texas, out of winch States
| To be hereafter formed, is not provided for.
He thought the bill should have been comprchcn
sivc enough TO include every thing that WAS liable
to result III excitement, well IN the future at
| the present day; and that portion of territory
| should be left open for future settlement.
lie thought that the friends of the biil-thosc who
have taken such an active part in its support
should have enlarged their views OF the subject.
lie thought lac had light to expect this from the
Senator from Mississippi, (Mr. FooTE,) by whose
ability and dexterity this committee had been
raiscd {; he thought hc had right TO expect this
| from the Senator from Michigan, (Mr. CAss, }
| whose views on this subject were enlarged and
liberal he thought he could expect il from the
Senator from Massaohu setts. (Mr. WEBsrER,) who
had 50 boldly stood up in the Senate and rebukcd
the fauaticism OF the North and he thought he
had right to expect il from the Senator from
Kentucky, (Mr. CLAy,) whose advent in the Sen
ate had been heralded the forerunncr of some
general scheme OF compromise TO settle the whole
distractions oi the country lie had expected that
hen these SenatJrs would devise "A scheme, II
would be ething above the ordinary legislation
Of men. From giants such these lac expected
something great, something which would elect a
permanent settlement, aud not mere ckpedent
Tot the day Such expedient he considered this
bill. lie thought that they would have proposed a
plan, embracing the Territories 10 be formed out
OF Texas hereafter, and provided permanently
against any agitation for the future on that
count. Thus wss what he considered should have
been done. IL would have doubtless produced a
storm, which would have ragged awhile, perhaps
violently but alter II was over they would have
! cured permanent peace
lie would have been willing 10 try the expert.
Inent OF forcing the country Ia be harmonious 1OI
/ all future time Such a course he had indicated ia
4
| These resolutions contained compounds OF hi,
sentiments. bot OF no constitutional principles and
| lie deslred % be consistent.
| He desired 10 be understood az not committing
himself ganst tic bill, il nothing better could be
| obtained. II u should BE- that other bill better
calculated 10 restore peace and harmony could be
adopted hc would hesitate long before lac would
| vote against this.
This course was said by the Senator from I'LL
nois and others TO be impOltic, and that there
| no necessity for providing for contingency which
might never arise; that sufficient for the day was
the evil thereof
lie then commented upon tic great probability
| for a division Of Texas, contemplated by tho
resolutions Of annexation, into additional States
and pointed out the inevitable difficulties which
would arise hereafter when those States should be
| ~ framed, aud when the dominant power in Con.
| grcss would be wholly with one section. There
were at this time those in Congress who recognized
the force Of the compact contained in the resolu
tlons OF anne rston, and who were willing u
! II Out; but who could answer what might be the
nature Of the Legislation by future COngresses
| Nhcn three four additional free States would
have been admitted into the Union. lie urged
! that this a suitable and highly proper time "a
| dispose Of that subject.
lie proceeded then 10 examine the bill reported
by the COMMITTEES Of Thirteen. II proposed the ad-
mission Of California. Some objection. we're raised
! against the admission Of California because Of
the danger supposed 90 exist, IN such case, TO the
rights OF the United States 10 the public domain.
lie thought that II the bill could be arranged and
/ amended az 10 give peace 10 The country, II were
better 10 pass 1t, II the whole public lands
| lost. lie examined the boundaries Of California
/ and .ad that formed mo- objection in hs mind. lie
would not have cared had she included De-orot az
/ we'll the valley Of the Sacramento and the San
/ joaquin. tic alluded 20 the charge go repeatedly
made that the course Of events in California wac
owing 10 the interference Of the Executive, or,
wasstyled, the wanton usurpstion Of the President
/ He replied 10 some remarks made by Mr.. MhsoS
/ on this subject, and repealed the accusaton.
lie said that he had ioresecn that difficulties VI
/ this kind would have arisen, and he had bccn IN
favor Of passing law At the last sesson authoriz
/ the formation OF State government IN California
/ No such tning was done, and though there was nO'
a Senator in the body in March. lst9 who did MOI
expect 70 be met here at this session with STATE
/ cOnstitutiong there great hue and-cry abOu
\ surprise, and usurpstion, &c.
] ID said that the President bad adopted thu,
course Of interference, aud that his whole
ton policy adopted for the purpose Of miscrably
| evading aud cOvsrdly escaping the responsibility
Of uueeting the Wilmot proyiso; and that IN avoid
ing, by this course, being called upon TO approve
veto that prvviso, lac prevented exposure II tho
cheat aud fraud which had bccu practizcd In his
/ election 20 the Presidency
ne reviewed the declarations and writings 81
/ General Taylor and General Csss upon this sub
icct before that election, aud maintained that, al