The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1850-02-21
FlCTIOUS PROCEEDINGS in THE HOUSE on
THE 18TH.
WAR AGAINST TIE ADMISSION OF A NEW
FREE STATE.

and in no country are the restraints OF good gov
eminent more imperstively demanded.
The determination Of the pro-slayery men in
Congress, that no Territorial Government should
be established which did not tolerate slavery,
having defeated all attempts by that body to pro-
vide a Government.for California, our fellow
citizens there were driven by necessity to estab-
lish one for themselves.
Florida and Michigan, having organized State
Constitutions without any prior act by Congress
authorizing them to do SO, and their action having
received the subs quent sanction of that BODY the
people of California determined to follow their
example.
In this they were encouraged by the military
commander-in-chief in their Territory, who held
his appointment from the late Democratic Admin
;,tration, and also by Thomas Butler King, the
srecial agent of the present Wing Adminis'ra-
zion who assured them, on the authority OF the
president. that there could be no doubt that Con-
GROSS would favorably entertain their application
for admission into the Union
A Convention, in which all the People OF the
Territory were fairly represented, assembled lts
,roc.ed;nos were decorous and dignifed, and the
result was. a Constitution the great wisdom Oh
which has commanded the admiration OF men Of
all parties and sections
Proceeding on the assumption made by the
Southern and Northern supporters OF General
Cass in the last Presidential election, that the
People of a Territory, on organizing State Con-
sttution, have the right to settle the Question Of
slavery for themselves, they settled this question,
by prohibiting in their Constitution the existence
of slavery or involuntary servitude, otherwise
than as punishment for crime.
The People proceeded to elect their agents I'M
der the new Constitution. Messrs Wright and
Gilbert, emigrants from the Northern States Of
this Union, were chosen Representatives by the
People; Messrs Fremont and Gwin, emigrants
from the Southern States, were chosen Senators,
by the Legislature; they are now in Wash
ington, awaiting the pleasure of Congressman
the President has submitted the Constitution of
the new State to both Houses notifying them of
the fact of its organization, having already init
mated to them in previous message his apprOba-
ton Of the sah,s.
What should hinder the immediate admission
of the new Stste2 What delay the passage of
an act by Congress giving validity to its Consti-
tution2
All the People of the free States are anxious
for it many of the People of the South are acqui-
escent: Slaveholding Administration is ready
to sanction such an act Virginia, Tennessee,
Kentucky, and other saveholding States, have
refused through their Legislatures to express any
opposition to its admission.
Why, then, we ask, with Constitution truly
republican, should this new State, needing more
than any other State, the benefits of regular
Government, with her Representatives and Sem
ators all ready to take their seats in Congress,
with the voice of the American People in her ia
vor, be left out of the Union, and, with large
population, rapidly accommodating, be exposed to
all the perils of anarchy
We ask the attention Of every candid reader,
North and South, to the report of proceedings in
the House last Monday. 1t being resolution day,
(which falls on every other Monday MIR. Doty
offered resolution, instructing the Committee
on the Territories to report bill for the admis-
sion of California into the Union, with her pres
ant boundaries and Constitution. On this he de-
manded she previous question, for, If he had not
done SO, any person choosing to announce his
purpose to debate the resolution, it would have
gone over, and not have been reached again dur
ing the session. 1t was not then to preclude de-
bate on the subject, but to bring without delay a
bill before the House, which might then be de-
bated at length.
The slaveholdiDg members determined to de-
feat this movement; and the explanation of their
conduct is TO be found in their avowed policy to
prevent the admission of California, till they can
force settlement of the whole Slavery Question
favorable to the interests of Slavery. Their great
object is, to secure from the free States the ex-
tension of the Missouri Compromise line, 800 so,
to the Pacific ocean, with an express recognition
that they may hold slaves below that line. This
is Mr.. Buchanan's plan Of settlement, and encour-
aged by him. who is now every day in Congress,
endeavoring to influence his friends especially
the members from Pennsylvania they have re-
solved to keep the new State Of California out of
the Union, and prevent any decisive action on the
part of the House even in preliminary matters,
until the Senate shall have time to hatch the de-
sired Compromise, and send it to the House.
With this key to their movements, read the
condensed report of proceedings last Monday.
The vote on the motion to lay Mr.. Doty's resolu-
ton on the table showed majority of rIFrY-oNE
in favor Of the admission Of California. Such a
result stamps as factous, miserably factious, all
the subsequent proceedings of the minority to
stop the progress of legislation The demand of
the previous question was seconded by a majority
of twenty-sx votes As the vote on this was ia
ken by tellers, several Northern members, being
able to escape direct responsibility to their con-
stituents, voted nay among whom, we are inform
ed, was JAMES THOMPSON of Pennsylvania As
we were not present, we cannot say who were the
other members from the free States, thus voting
virtually against California.
The previous question being seconded, there
were then but two three privileged motions that
could be entertained, but by reference to the pro-
ceedngs it will be seen that the factonists piled
these necessarily, demanding on every motion
the yeas and nays, and as these must be ordered
At the demand of one-ffth of the House, it was
easy enough always to obtain them. The taking
OF the yeas and nays each time consumed about
twenty minutes, but the time may be protracted
by members declining to vote when their names
are called, and then rising afterwards, to request
that they be recorded. Probably the roll was
called not less than forty times in the session Of
Monday, and in this way and by raising points Of
order, the session was prctracted until twelve
o'clock at night, when the Speaker decided that
monday, the resolution day, had expired, the
resolution Of Mr.. DOty went over under the
rule.
90, some seventy pro-slavery men have, by