Daily Richmond times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1849-1850, 1850-07-29

respect to the BILL which differs in several important
particulars from my resolutions The committee pre-
sened such measures as agreeable to them; aud
with respect to the abolition of the slave trade in the
District of Columbia, it was their intention simply TO
revive the lawot Maryland and to provide for the
of the introduction of slaves into the District
chandse.
Mr. HUNTER The senator will pardon me. When
used the word Resolutions" | meant the bill, and
find examination, that the bill is have stated
Mr. CLAY. Very we'll With regard to the inten-
ton that is as have stated II the language does not
effect that intention should all be very willing to
give it form acceptable to the senator from Virginia
The language only designed to prohibit that slave
trade which consists Of purchasing and bringing slaves
| into the District of Columbia and putting them into
depos here for the purpose OF being transported 10 for
egn and distant markets. Asto idea which has been
mentioned here upon former OCCASION have already
said that if person residing in the District chooses
go out OF the District five ten miles and purchase
slaves for himself, the law would not prevent him from
doing But am taking up more time on the sub
lect than intended. When the proper time arrives LOT
its discussion the bill will be vindcaed from the
into which, still thnk, the honorable senator from
Virginia has fallen have stated that was my IN
tention to conne my observations to the three meas
ures unoer consderaton- the admission OF California
as State territorial governments tor the two Terrific
res, and the establishment OF the boundary between
It isa rsast WIN
the debate upon and the progress of this measure, that
that feature of the bill which was supposed to be least
likely to encounter obection-that which it
has been as9ered would draw after by the force OF its
attraction the other measures contemplated in the
biit is truly remarkable that the measure OF the adj
mission OF California has encountered the most OF the
difficulties which have been developed in the progress
ofthe bill. The senator from Louisiana Mr.. Soule the
senator from Georgia, Mr. Berrienl and yourself, sir,
Mr.. King, have all directed your attention mainly to
the subject of the boundaries of California, and to the
representation proposed for California by the measure
under consideration believe, with very slight if any
further modification all three OF the Senators to whom
have referred would have been willing, ii they could
have been satisfied with regard to California, to vote
for the whole measure. But it is California which
have been charged with Introducing into this bill tor
the purpose of purchasing support for other measures
is California that has created all the difficulties
at least the chief part of the difficulties, which the bi
has encountered. Now, Mr.. President, what may be
the ultimate vote which may be given, in consequence
Of the mode in which California is bounded by the three
senators to whom have referred, depends upon their
own Judgment and upon their own proper sense OF du-
ty must say to them-andI hope they will take it
in the same kind and candid spirit in which it is men
tioned-that cannot the slightest why they
should reject the whole measure because there some
thing in it Unsatisfactory to them in respect to Cali
forna. They know that if this measure is defeated,
the Chairman of the Committee on Territories Mr.;
Dougas will call up the California bill separately and
alone, and thatit will be passed as it s-with all its
exeeponab]e features otexended limits and iul repre-
sentation in both houses-by considerable majority.
Will they then, account OF the California part OF the
bll-the passage of which, when presented sngy, may
be regarded inevitable event-w they on account
of any difficulties not amounting to constitutional d-
culties-tor admit, if gentlemen have, deliberate
review of their opinions difficulties ola constitutional
nature, nothing should overcome them-wi
they be constrained from the necessity resulting from
entertaining those opinions, to vote against the en-
tire measure!
| But SIR as happen to hold directly the opposite
opinion that there Is nothing constitutional In any OF
the objections taken to the admission OF California, and
as trust these will themselves perceive that
there is constitutional ground OF obectonthatl It is
altogether matter OF expedency addressing Itself to
the sound discretion and deliberate Judgment II lon
gress-I do hope and trust account OF the objections
that exist to the admission OF California when heV
perceive it is part OF great system OF reconeia
and harmony to the country, they will mo- be dispsa
reject the benefits and compensatons to " iCu6u e
other parts Of the bill sbecauscthey know il ~ ~
California Just as she has presented herse sAfh flbr
representation proposed BY her, will be inevitably SIS
mitted-provded this bill is defeated Thes nIasi ass
well know that the admission of Californ alone svt7
out any measure accompanying it, will have the rna-
vodabe tendency OF aggravaiing the sense o. wrong
and injurywhether well or ill-founded that exists
the quarter of the Union from which the senators
whom referred come.
With respect to the territorial governments il is also
a fact worthy of remark that scarcely senator who
has risen upon this floor has failed to acknowledge the
duty OF Congress TO provide territorial governments
Every Senator almost who has spoken the subject
provided some wishing for the Wimot Proviso and
others Directing to the Proviso but with without the
Wilmot Provso have not heard solitary senator say
that it the bounden duty of Congress to ns-
tute territorial governments for these Territories.
With regard to another plan OF disposng OF the ques
| tion-the plan which, upon oimer occasion, cha
racerlZed the plan OF the Executive, OF the late Pre-
sident of the United Staes-I shall have few brief OBJ
servatioDs to make. Allow me to take this occasion
the only suitable one, in my oplnon-o expressing my
deep regret and my profound sympathy with the family
OF the lustrious deceased had known him, perhaps
! longer than any other man in Washington. | knew
his father before hinla most estmabe and distinguish
ed citizen OF Kentucky. knew the late President OF
the United States from the time he entered the army
until his DEATH although not seeing him often, IN con
sequence OF our operations in different spheres OF public
duty in our country He was an honest mamie was
| brow ha bod h,S hanH with
reIs, and had added fame ard renOwn to his country
Without expressing any Judgment upon what might
have been the Just appreciation OF the administration OF
the domestic and civil affairs OF the country if Prov
dence had permitted him TO out his term, | take
pleasure in the opportunity OF saying, in reference TO
the foreign affairs OF our government that in all the IN
stances of which any knowledge has been obtained by
me of the mode in which they were conducted by the
late administration, they have met with my hearty and
cordial concurrence During the residue of the remarks
which may address to you ii shall have occasion to
say anything upon the plan proposed by the late Pres
dent it will be with the most perfect respect to his
memory-without single feeling OF unkindness abld-
ing in my breast. Peace to his ashes! and may he al
this moment be enjoying those blessings in another and
better world, which all desrous sooner later,
to attain
But with respect to the mode of getting over the diff
icuy in regard to Nav Mexico, the plan was that New
Mexico should come in a State soon as she had
formed State, adopted her constitution, and presented
| it here. Now, Mr.. President, the Senator from New
Jersey, who sits me- Mr. Dayton, argued in tins
way You of the committee have given TO the people
OF New Mexico the power OF legslaton-the power 10
elect their eglslators-the power to pass such laws
may be best adapted to their condition and where is
the difference between the powers with which they
so invested, and receiving New Mexico member oil
the Unon represented in both branches of Congress ;"
Why Mr.. President, there is all the difference in the
world There is scarcely any people low in the stage
Of civilization-even the Esquimaux-the Indians on
any portion OF continent-that they may not
prehend and be able to adopt laws suited to their own
condition-ew simple, clear, and well understood; for
in their uncyi1ed sate it is not necessary to them to
have cumbrous code of laws. But it is widely dIt
erent thing whether the people of New Mexico may
not be capable of passing laws adapted to their
ripe and yet half-civilized condition. speak not OF
the American portion OF the population there but of the
Indians, the Pueblo Indians, and some OF the half
bloods 1t is very different thing whether they may
not be capable OF enacng laws suited to their own con
dtion whether they may have two Senators on this
floor and members in the other House. to survey the vast
and co IMPLICATED foreign and domestic interests OF tins
great epublcto egsate not for themselves only, but
for us and our present generation.
For one sir must say should be utterly unwilling
IN raoaya New Mexc as n State in her inma-