The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1850-06-04

people inhabtng the county Inc o,u WI lks ron
Az things stand is fully conceded that the terms Of
the compact mandatory and require new States 10 be
there Is sufficient popuaionthe question OF slavery or
not TO be determined BY the inhabitants OF territory
where slavery prevails Pass this bill, and the mandate
gives way 10 the discretion oil majority In Congress-
whilst in the time the territory under the sole
jurisdiction OF Congress all respects whatsoever And
what sir Js i the amount Of territory to Be thus saIsn
territory abundanty large for two medium sized States
Let be done. and y requires no prophecy TO oeie the
stion north and west Of the State OF Texas
The actual effect OF this bill, then, will be-
LIST In the Territory OF California 10 prohibit the ins
tuiion OF slavery on The whole Pacific border, and in lai
cd To take from Texas 1875 900 square miles OF terri
tory claimed as hers and subject the institution OF
suion. al The discretion Of Consress~,hus = removing S
the barrier OF the Missouri compromise, incorporated into
the compact with her.
And as Involvement to the southern States to vote
this BILL what IS offered in return! Why, proposition
simply, in forming governments for the remaining Terri.
tories acquired from Mexico. to refrain from enactng the
Wimot Pfoviso--this Wmot Proviso, held by ali the
southern States as SO direct an invasion Of their rights
under the constitution, to justify resistance on their
part 10 the last extremity and at every hazard "
Sir, DO not wish to speak harshy, but il is difficult to
speak with forbearance.
To escape Il think that is the true word for the pres
en and Tor the present only, from law thus character
lied by the southern States, they assent to the
prohibition Of slavery in one Of The Territories four de.
grees and half below the Missouri line, and to release
$4,000 square miles OF slave territory in Of the
southern States to the discretion of majority constituted
Of representatives from the -saveholding States.
state the proposition, sir to insure its reputation
Sir il we were to do this, (Which Heaven forbid ever
should be done by southern voes) would be but tenn
p0rary respite. Notwithstanding the voice of peace
which we have %, aeaJ this WmOt Poyso
enough the duest ear the speech of
eminent and influential representative from the State Of
Massachusetts, delivered in the other wing Of the Capitol
on proposition to lay the motion" on the table during
the present session. His language was this
Bat remains e be whether the great principles of
the osdnsace Of 81 have lost any portion Of their vitality
hearts o. northern and western as on that OF the
ooosson il real necessity or reasonable demand for their
ASSERTION and should arise, they would be
asserted. and be maintained BY as large majority in This
would be-
Who can doubt that the s.real necessity or reasonable
demand for their assertion and maintenance" oracuar
y limited by the speaker the existence nonexis
tence Of any previous law in the Territory aboshng
slavery, and thus dispensing with new enactment No,
sir the proposition 10 refrain from passing this Pro-
vis0, and which are to purchase at so dear price, is
abandonment Of the principle on the part OF the
o,y L but 70 postpone its EXERCISE because as they
is all
have thus, Mr. President endeavored to lay before
the Senate the objections entertain to the bill under
consideration, il has been reported by the select
mittee nor is there any amendment which remove
Them unless il were to change the principle upon
which is founded have in doing this indicated the
line of the Missouri compromise the only ground upon
which, believe, the question can be settled in such
way destroy agitation and restore harmony TO the
different sections OF the Union Run that line out from
the State Of Texas the Pacific ocean, and feel the
assurance that the entire South will acquiesce
in the decision. Certainly it will have whatever weight
will be carried by any Recommendation OF mine And
sir. that We may have distinct proposition before the
Senate substitute, believed carry the consent Of the
Sfas hpre he nj he
Mr.. CLAY. Mr.. President. have risen merely to
make an inquiry OF the honorable senator from Virginia
with view TO the clear comprehension of what the
terms upon which he thinks adjustment OF these ques
tons could be made. Understand him to propose the
tension OF the line 80 deg 80 min IRON Texas where il
terminates by the resolution Of annexation. 10 the
Pacific Did understand him requiring that
there shall be any legislation on the part OF Congress to
recognise the right OF the slavehoding States u intro
duce their slaves south OF that line, by the abrogaon of
any local law. II there be any local law existing there
which forbids the introduction OF slavery Is he
tent. other words, with the line 80 deg 30 min.
tended TO the Pacific ocean, with nothing being said on
the subject Of slavery either the right lett Of that
q o. ssu,a 2, q, snoqS oe aa o. an an
Mr.. MASON. I will answer the question Of the sena
own opinions are involves Or sb1ss Of any whom mighty
pde any such there bel declare most distinctly that
the adoption OF the line 80 deg 30 min the southern
legislation the part Of Congress in reference TO the
subject Of slavery In other words thai Il the southern
boundary Of California were contracted TO that line,
should be content organize territorial government for
the territory south OF in the usual FORM without any
provision, pro or upon the subject OF slavery.
Mr. CLAY. And 90 through 10 New Mexcoi
Mr. MASON. Clearly My suggestion 10 this. The
compromise bill con,ains three propositions The FIRST
for the admission of California with her present bounda.
res the second is for cesson Of territory from Texas
prescribing her boundaries and third, for the organiza
ton OF governments IN the remaining territory. Now,
peases the strike from the bill altogether
that part which relates 10 the cesslon OF territory from
Texas. then should be content II the southern bound
sry Of California contracted 10 the compromise line
OF 80 deg 30 min, and the organization OF territorial
government in the usual manner
Mr.. HALE. Mr.. President
DIR. CLAY. Will the honorable senator from New
Hampshire excuse me for momenti This is very i'm.
remely desirable that the country should distinctly un
derstand what is proposed This question, you will rec
oect, SIR, al the commencement OF this session. the
think OF Offering 10 the South the line 80 deg 30 min,
because, without express recognition OF the right 20
first occasion which addressed you at any length
discussed and that occasion stated that could not
carry slaves south OF that line, ii was offering 10 the
south mere ideal line. without carrying along with II
any practical benefits whatever understand however,
now that the senator from Virginia is willing TO take the
line 80 deg 80 min TO the Pacific leaving the local law
and the constitution OF the United States 10 operate on
either side Of that line, without any express declaration
or recognition Of the right TO carry slaves south OF that
line, prohibition OF slavery north OF that line That
j understand TO be the view OF the senator.
Mr.. MASON. Undoubtedly
MIR CLAY Assuming that 10 be what would satisfy
him, the further question which should like TO be an.
swered 49, whether all the senators from the South will