The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1850-08-08
CONGRESS-.
CONGRESS- FIRST SESSION.
SENAT n.

SENATE.
THURSDAY, AUGUST /, 1850.
On motion Of Mr. Douglas, after some oppo-
sition from MIR. Downs of Louisiana, the bill for
the admission Of California as State was brought
up by the following vote:
YEAs-Messrs. Baldwin, Benton Bradbury,
Bright, Cas-, Chase, Clarke, Clay, Cooper, Davis
Of Massachusetts, Dayton, Dickinson, Dodge Of
Wisconsin, Dodge of Iowa, Douglas Ewing
Felch, Greene, Hale, Hamlip Jones, Miller,
Norris, Phelps, Seward, Shields, Smith, Spru-
ance Sturgeon Underwood Upham, Wales
Walker, Whitcomb and Winthrop-35
NAYs-Messrs. Atchiscp, Badger, Bsrnwell,
Berrien, Butler, Clemens Davis of Mississippi
Dawson, Downs Foote, Houston, Hunter, King
Mangum, Mason, Morton, Pearce, Pratt, Rusk
Sebastian, Soule Turney, and Yulee-23.
motion to make it the special order for next
Monday was decided in the negative-yeas 25,
nays %.
The bill being now under consideration, Mr..
Douglas moved to amend the bill by adding 10
it an additional section providing that California
shall never interfere with the primary disposal
of the soil and pass no law impairing the right
of the United States to do so; the public domain
not to be taxed non-residents to be taxed no
higher than residents; the navigable waters to
be free, &c
Mr.. Foote moved to snend' the amcr- l.eas o.,
y]';,~- ,--a~ias maxine RIO sop'bs--, hpu-eIyS
~ >s,,,>-, n1a OryNnaninga errlrofy
south of that line.
Mr.. Dawson supported the amendment
Mr.. Clay said that bill of peace, bill to re-
store harmony to the country, had been presented
Its fate, which was not wholly unexpected by him,
was known; and while he felt no personal regret,
the consequences resulting to the country from
that fate he could but deplore The bill had been
defeated by extremists On both sides Of the cham
/ H. L.. H.,
ton of the Senator from Maryland, it was known,
was the immediate oause of the defeat Of the bill
The motion had been made by the Senator, doubt
less, from conscientious conviction Of what was
right and proper nevertheless, il had been the
immediate cause Of the defeat Of the bill. The
amendment now proposed by the Senator from
Mississippi was, to divide California by the line Of
$50 80. Had that amendment been received by the
Southern Senators in the same spirit with which
it had originally been presented, he would have
had no objection to voting for it. But the whole
system had been rejected. California, with the
equivalents and corporations provided for in the
bill reported by the committee had been rejected,
and he could not now vote for il. He had been
in favor Of the admission of California; he was
so still
He then alluded to the remarks that States
would resist it. that the powers Of the General
Government would be set at defiance, &c, and he
denounced such doctrines. He would oppose all
resistance to the constituted authorities of the
Government, whether by State or any portion
of the people Of q State Applause
He had heard of blood being shed in case the
Government attempted TO carry out certain meas
ures. Weak and feeble as he was, his voice and
his arm should be raised to support and maintain
the power and authority of the General Govern
ment. Applause
The Presiding Officer said that if the applause
in the galleries, which was in violation of the
rules of the Senate, were again repeated, he would
order the galleries to be cleared.
Mr. Walker said that he d esired to say nothing
against the decision of the Chair.
MIR Pearce said he had acted in support Of the
bill as long as he could He had his own respon.
sibility and own right of independent Judgment
The Senators from Texas, when they could not
get exactly what they wanted turned round and
opposed the bill. Did none of the responsibility
Of the defeat of it attach to them He was viii
ling to bear his part, but if they were at all
responsible, he desired they should have their
share.
Mr. Rusk said that if striking out the amend
ment Of the Senator from Georgia was the cause o.
the defeat of the BILL then the bill ought to have
been defeated. He then maintained the justice
of that amendment. He said that he would re-
sist the establishment of Territorial Govern.
ment over the territory claimed by Texas, and
was willing to meet the responsibility Of the act
in the Senate chamber or in the battle field amid
the din of arms.
MIR. Foote addressed the Senate in speech
severely rebuking and ridiculing the disunion
movements in South Carolina, and in the course
of II he quoted from the Proclamation Of General
jackson in Notification times giving his sanction
to the position assumed by the Government or
that occasion.
The bill was then postponed till tomorrow
} and the Senate adjourned.
FRIDAY, Aveusr 9, 1880
The subject being resumed, the question pend
ing was on Mr.. Foote'S amendment
Mr.. Davis of Mississippi suggested 800 80
instead of $50 30', and Mr.. Foote modified hi
amendment accordingly
Mr. Badger, although avowing his conviction
that the division of California would result In tn,
formation of another free State, was willing t.
support the measure as being acceptable to the
South. He opposed disunion, and declared it bis
opinion, that there was no probable or possible
contingency, in which his State would be found
giving any countenanoe or support directly or in.
directly to any designs calculated to affect in the
remotest degree the union of the States He
then proceeded to argue that the diffusion OF
slavery would promote its extinction.
The question being taken on Mr.. Foote'S
amendment, proposing to run the Missouri Com.
promise line through California, it was reject.
ed, as follows
YE.s-Messrs Atchison, Badger, Barnwell
Bell, Berrien, Butler, Clemens Davis of Missis-
sippi, Dawson, Downs, Foote Houston, Hunter
King, Mason, Morton, Pearce Pratt Rusk, Sebas-
tian Soule, Turney, and Yulee--23
NAYs-Messrs. Baldwin, Benton, Bradbury
Bright, Cass Chase, Clarke, Clay, Cooper Da-
Wis Of Massachusetts,, Dayton, Dickinson, Dodge
Of Wisconsin, Dodge of Iowa, Douglas, Ewing,
Felch, Greene, Hale, Hamlin, Jones, Miller,
Norris, Phelps Seward, Smith, Spruance, Stur-
geon, Upham Wales, Walker, Whitcomb and
Winthrop-33.
acting clause, and insert all Of the late Compro-
mise bill, except those sections relating to Utah
and California.
Mr.. Rusk opposed the motion. The Texas
boundary question did not connect itself with
any other question. II had been already tried 10
combination with other measures, and the result
was known. He hoped the Senator from Mis-
sissipp would withdraw bis motion.
Mr.. Foote yielded TO his request, and answered
that he would offer his amendment as a substan.
tive proposition, hereafter.
Mr.. Clemens moved an amendment but on mo-
ton of MIR Hunter the subject was postponed till
Monday next, and the Senate adjourned till that
day.
MoSDAy, AUousr s, 1850.
The Senate took up the resolution Of MIR. Cass
concerning the employment Of military officers in
civil posts.
Mr. Davis Of Mississippi replied at length TO
Mr.. Hunter, indicating General Taylor against
the charge Of hostility to the Texas troops and
Proposing the resolution.
MIR Pearce, consent being given, introduced
the following bill;
Bin proposing to the State Of Texas the estsb-
lishment Of her northern and western bounda.
Ii iAa .ial. h..A .aiI