The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1850-03-23

worked out the problem and the result has been an
nounced. The country now has the means OF determn
ing who has attempted TO msead and deceive the people
in whom they ought to place their faith, and in whose
honor and judgment they ought to rely:
Since the question has been decided, II seems to be
matter oil amazement 10 the whole country how any one
should have entertained doubt upon the subject
But the most remarkable feature Of the whole s that al
ter all these predictions should have so sgnay failed in
regard to the State OF California, and since slavery has
been excluded there by unanimous voe--there not be-
ing dissenting voice in a convention composed o
more natives of slavehoding than free Siates--the
cry about the extension OF slavery should be kept
up in respect to the mountain regions OF New Mexico
and Utah. And by whom s this clamor sounded The
very men M who united win ihs senate, from south Caro-
feat the State bill of last session II there be danger
from that course. who but they are responsible for
Who but they prevented constitutional prohibition oi
slavery being extended those Territories during the
past year 44M
But sir there is no ground for apprehension on this
point II there inch of territory in the whole Of
our acquisition from Mexico where slavery could possibly
exist il in the valleys Of the Sacramento and San Joa
quin within the limits Of the State OF California should
that climate depends upon the elevation above the sea
much as upon parallels of latitude. Any who will
take the pains TO follow Fremont in his explorations will
find that the whole Of the country not included in the
State OF California is high mountain region. Even in
the Great Basin, the lowest point in the lowest valley
is marked on the map Of those explorations being
the average elevation of these valleys is least five
thousand feet being more than twice the elevation
Of the tops Of the Allegheny mountains near Frost
burg, where the national road crosses. When you
ascend towards the heavens, twice as high as the
Allegheny mountains, in order TO get into valleys
surrounded by mountain ranges many thousand feet
higher, and covered with eternal you not think
that you have found charming country and lovely
climate for the negro, and especially Tor the profitable
employment Of slave abors And yet the question is to
and the struggle carried into the next elections, deter
mine whether Congress shall pass prohibition OF sla
very for such country; and in the mean time the peo
If ha IF hama
Of government abandoned to their fate, and exposed to
the horrors OF anarchy and violence The plan Of the
administration avors this policy. and harmonzes with il,
although Il avows different motive. In my opinion,
anything is better than action any form of govern
ment better than no government; and any settlement
preferable TO no settlement Let us give the people
government and settle the question. Ii matters not
much what it isl my own vote is decided by the in
srucons OF my constituents upon point; upon that
have no discretion; but upon all other points am
ready to unite with the just LIBERAL and patriotic men
OF all parties to put an end TO the controversy. The
question il already settled lar slavery is concerned
The country is now free by law and in factt is free ac
cordng To those laws of nature and Of God TO which the
senator from Massachusetts alluded, and must forever
remain free. II will be free under any bill you may
pass Or whoa. any bill at all / would have been free
posed-under territorial bill with without the pro-
hbilion-under the Clay ton bill the Stale bill,
under The no-bll recommended BY the adminstIa
lion, which is the worst OF ALL because contains all The
elements OF mischief without of the advantages of
either of other propositions thai there
man IN The Senate who believes that the result would
not be precisely the same so far il relates TO slavery
under each. either, neither Of these various pfopos
iions Why then, can we not settle the question For
the most difficult of all reasons: pride OF opinion is
involved II requires but little moral courage to ACT firmly
and resoutey in the support OF previously expressed opn
ions Pride Of character, selove the strongest passions
o the human heart, all impel man forward and onward
But when he is called upon to review his former opin
ions 10 confess and abandon his errors to sacrifice his
pride to his conscience, II requires the exercise OF The
highest qualities OF our nature-the exerton OF moral
which elevafps n plmOsi above humanity
itself A brilliant example Of This may be found in the
recent speech of the distinguished senator from Massa
northern democracy, This pride Of opinion is all that
stands in the way Of speedy harmonious, and satsfac
tory adjustment Of this vexed question. few senator's
feel themselves embarrassed by positive instructions
which leave them no discretion but by far the greater diff
6cuy arises from the thoughtess commas during the
presidential canvass in political speeches, public meet
ngs and partisan action, stimulated by policy which
looked only to partisan triumph, losing sight Of its
effects upon The peace happiness and destiny OF the coun
try. We all perceive and feel to certain extent these
embarrassments My hands are tied upon one unimpor
tant point.
SEsAroR Can you not break loosel
Mr.. DOUGLAS. l have desire TO break loose.
My opinions are my own, and / express them freely.
My votes beloag TO those who sent me here, and to
whom am responsible | have never differed with my
constituency during seven years service in Congress- ex
cept upon solitary question and on that have
no constitutional difficulties and have previously twice
given the vote, under similar circumstances which
is now required at my hands. have no desire, there
lore, 10 Ufcdk lUOse from lne lnsIucuDns khoW NY
duty too well TO ntepose my private opinions in opposi-
ton 10 the deliberate soemnly expressed wishes OF my
State And yet am free TO say that firmly believe the
time will come, il indeed has not already arrived when
my constituents will see that they have been msled
and deceived upon this question, and that the course
their representative pursuing IN reference to II was
safe, prudent, and discreet at the time that II would
have led TO the result that they propose TO accom-
plish in n different mode
: Mr. President | find that am extending my remarks
too far and occupying more time than intended. vii!
endeavor 10 return 10 the point IRON which ldvcgcd
believe answering the objections urged against the
admission Of California, with view OF showing that
they were not well founded that the irregularities CON-
planned Of existed in large number. not majority, OF
the new States which have been received into the Union,
and that there was no regular rule upon the subject Had
Florida census She had one taken in 1870, showing
that she then had only about hall of the population
requisite entie her 10 member OF Congress and yet
she admitted in 1sa5 without any other census OF the
previous assent OF Congress.
I Mr. YULEE Will the senator allow me TO state the
facisl
Mr. DOUGLAS Certainly.
Mr. YULEE A census Of the population was taken
under act OF the territorial legislature in 1885, and
the sense Of the people taken upon the question of
application for admission into the Union. 10 The same
year convention OF the people assembled in pursuance
OF law, and adopted constitution A committee OF the
convention prepared and transmitted memorial 10 Con-
gress applying for the admission of Florida accompanied
with the constitution, and with authenticated report
OF the taken under the act OF 1885 This
counties from which no returns were received twas
equal TO the then ratio OF representation which was
believe. at the time, 47,700 The application for admis-
sion was not finally acted upon uoti iS45 No formal
censu. was taken in that year but estimates and info-
NATION furnished from members OF the legislature,