The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1850-03-02

or new JERSEY,
On the Compromise REGULATIONS Of MI. Clay; dsiie1sd
IN The Senate. February 81 and IS, 1850.
The Senate having resumed the consideration Of the
compromise resolutions offered by Mr. Clay.
/ Mr. MILLER resumed and concluded as follows;
Ma. PREsIDENT: regret that am under the necessity
Of taxing the patience and consuming the time Of the
Senate for another day on this subject My apology
must be found in the magnitude Of the question, and also
ihe iaet that e very seldom trespass on the time
When the Senate adjourned on Thursday. was en-
deavorng to show that the constitution formed BY the
taneous action OF the people Of the Territory and more
particularly that that clause oi the constitution which
prohibits slavery was the solemn and unbiased judgment
OF the people OF California, coming from all sections OF
the Union-Nonh and Sonh. an, satisfied that III the
people of the South be convinced that this agatng
question of slavery has been fairly determined by the
people Of California themselves they VIA chssrully sub
nit to thar determination Aud If i be true that citizens
of the United States now Ia California, representing al
Northhave 10 The solemn Conclusion thar the in.
silt,l0n Of SLAVERY ought moi % exist and have
cudsd y oy law, M = settles y, s Gusson TOT
or to compromise relative % slavery N California.
am anxious, therefore, 70 place the factthe exclusion Of
OF her people beyond all doubt, by presenting few
more facts and arguments in support ofine position
In the first place. at the time Of the formation q The
constitution OF California, IA am informed by gentlemen
from there upon whose judgment can rely, there were
over eighty thousand men IN the Neutrality-suspicious. 81
States o the Union u Ss.s esay thousand men,
fifty thousand from the northern or non -saveh0ld
ing States, and thirty thousand from the southern Or
these people in convention for the purpose Of form.
ing constitution That convention was composed OF
forty eight members; fifteen Of them were from the slave
States, fourteen OF them natives OF California, and
nineteen OF them were from the free Statesthus show
ng that in this convention the South had full and fair
and the vote On ne ssuss
constitution submitted to the people OF California
there 1000 votes polIed in favor OF it. and 6l1
against the constitutions from those inhsbting that por
on Of the Territory below the line Of 36 deg 80 min.
were only eighteen in number am also inform q that
great taken that persons should BE- permit
ted TO vcte for delegates to the convention but Anown
citzens Of the United States BY this. ci,xsns
natives o California, who were made ci,izeas By the
treaty. The legislature lately elected is composed Of
fty-twO members-sixteen senators and thirty six rep
resenatves In the senate. the slave States repre-
scented by five MEMBERS and in the house the same Stes
are represented by seventeen members making In all
twenty-five from the slave States Ia the senate there
are two native Calfornans, and in the house and
from all the other States. northern and western there
are twenty members OF the State officers, there
are secretary @ STATE M sas G
these, five filled by gentlemen from the siaveh0lding
States, thus leaving only one the surveyor general
twho. am told. has nothing to do,) who e from
This statement Of facts must satisfy every one that there
has been fair representation there in the formation OF the
constitution and State government iron every portion
of this Unon and that the clause in the constitution pro-
hibtng slavery expresses the opinion not merely Of mem
lions Of this Union But notwithstanding these facts il
has been charged here, and throughout the country in the
public press that the constitution procured By conn
thatthe President through the military power in Caliior
MIA coerced the people into forming this constitution.
As s s0s. 3 .s.0 o. s sna
try from controlling the military There s power there
stronger than the swod itself as gold generally proves
much for steel But these general charges have been
radu tn ~
fer to the senator from Louisiana. Mr. Dowxsl-who
stated in his place the other day that the OF the
United States had sent Comnissoner there Tor the pur
pose oi urging upon the people Of California the inser-
lion in their constitution Of this clause prohibiting sls
very that private instructions had been given to the Com
missioner that purpor and that these instructions had
been fraduleny concealed IRON the Senate and the coun
try Sir, these grave changes and yet the senaior
said he had no positive @ evidence I :. ss ru9 ~ % put bad
What were the circumstances upon which that sena-
tor founded these chages' He presents to the Senate
cause that officer in those instructions three times direct
ed the Commissioner not to interfere with the subject
the senator nfers from that extraordinary caution that he
really directed to nlerferel Sir. il s said that 10
composition two negatives make an affirmative; but
before heard Il assumed as principle OF the law
OF evidence, that il denies charge fhree times
he therefore admits il TO be true, that direct pro-
hibtion amounts TO command Now, am not here TO
defend the Secretary Of State: be needs none at my
hands But sir IL is due 10 the official character OF that
distinguished gentleman, il is due 10 the honor Of the
country that charges OF this grave kind shond be Al
proved nj withdrawn. The senator expressed
desire 10 have committee raised this SUBJECT and 10
bting the Secretary and the Commissioner before IT. II
that senator il IN possession OF any evidence that will
support the charge the suspicion o il, trust he will
fortnwith lay il before committee ior investigation
But the has evidence to support the cnarge
except the circumstances which be has detailed think
negative and showing that this charge utterly ground
less.
In he first place. we have all the instructions given to
the Commissioner; and tney expressly negatvethree
times rvpeated-tiis charge OF interference will read
much OF these instructions relates to this point
'You fally posse sed the Presidents views, and
pfoey suggest 10 the people OF California the
adoption Of best calculated 10 give them effect
Ihsn Of orig,~afs solely gaA fhsm.
ihem Of the desire OF the Exccutve
Uncd States protect and defend them Ia c Tor
TO be Congrer which shsH be hs
Of their dsbsra choice; bm let bs. az < SAM
fims dsncy Hsdrsfood BY them. that the pLaS 4 SUCH
ch ensorss, asd wffh0nf fhs
raterf~sacs cf the Ere,stips"
l, n this be interference and usupaon the part OF
the President and the Secretary OF State then the forme
administration was guilty OF the same usurpauon. Yes,
sir the senator SELF, shall show guilty OF the
same interference and usurpauon First with regard 10
the interference OF the late Administrations: we have the
fact now that the proclamation issued BY Gen
Riley recommending the people OF California TO form
State constu ion issued under the direction Of Mr.
Polk the late President, and that II Published by
Cen Riley before the Commissioner sent BY the prseent
before The people OF California knew Of General Taylos
electon-ceralny before they could have heard Of his
NJ DyWNS The s.n.for ,r;il aVd,o M f,r ;uter.