Weekly national intelligencer., 1850-08-17

answered On the contrary they have been admitted. The
force Of them however sought TO be svadsd by the
ion that although many Irregularities have unquesonaby
attended the application Of California for admission
Stse yet these irregularities may be- and ought to be over
looked in consideration Of the extraordinary crcumsanses Of
the case That Congress having failed to provide govern
ment for California the right Of the people 10 estab
sh one for themselves which bound recog
MISE This argument would not be altogether without force
il California and the majority in Congress were the only
parties in interest H the rights Of else affected
the majority might for former wrong by dispensing
with the usual guards and securities. Sucb however, is
the There are, unfortunately two interests in this
Governments Northern and Southern interest Il be-
comes necessary therefore, to know which of these
teests perpetraed the first wrong and which be benefit
ed by that now proposed If it be true that both sections
are equally to blame for refusing to give Territorial Govern
California, if be true that the Southern States
alone guilty, lhen SIR we would have no right to COM
plain If that wrong should be urged argument against
us now The record however, shows that such was not the
case In addition to that record if were needed we
have the published declarations of the Senator from New
York. (Mr. SEwARD,) that he himself mainly instru-
mental in causing the defeat Of Territorial bill. The
Northern interest denied Government to California and
now when they to be benefited by the admission Of
California this outrage is converted into argument, and
gravely asked to assent to the doctrine that two
wrongs make right
Upon what principle then, is the North be reded
for sin she did commit and the South punished for earnestly
prevent its commission Sir feel bound to
that Loyoa never had ingenious unscupu
lous disciples than those who after this fashion
wrong done California, and US in refusing Terri
toa government Now another wrong be heaped upon
because of the first The story of the scapegoa which
listened long snce has found its prototype in the his
tory of the Southern people We have been dragged TO the
verge of pecpce and about to be hurled down back
wards for the sins Of others, not our own.
II is necessary that should refer here Mr. President to
few remarks which made by the Senator from Michigan
yesterday, and regret that the honorable Senator is not
in his seat; but this is the only opportunity which shall
BILL he pardon for dsregardug the usual courtesy
extended to absent Senator'S He told yesterday that the
people of California had right to establish government
with without consent that having failed to esab
sh government for them they had inherent right
tabsh for themselves This sir not the doctrine which
learned from speech Of that Senator delivered few years
ago. propose read what his sentiments in l647
read from his speech what is called the three million bill
"But territory hereafter to be acquired be governed
without an act Of Congress providing for the organization Of
its government" sas
Now sir this is precisely my doctrine, and the doctrine Of
the South We believe that act Of Congress ndispen
sable to the government Of any Territory, and when find
that such act has passed in relation to California,
recognise established by those who may happen
to be upon her soil as legitimate. set
Again the Senator says @ 4s
" That is the very first step in its progress, in the
opened to it. TILL no legitimate authority be
exercised over it.
Again. sir agree with the Senator and am happy be
able to quote his high authority against the doctrine Of
squatte sovereignty which beginning to pervade the land
The right Of few individuals to seize upon the public domain
and erect themselves into sovereignty is something which,
in my Judgment cannot be TOO strongly reprobaed II had
other for opposing the admission Of Cafons this
alone would be sufficient and might appeal the Senator
from Michigan 60 with in that opposition he still ad-
heres to the opinions have quoted
Mr. President other Senators have spoken Of the proba-
BILE action Of the States they represent upon the passage Of
this bill do not know what Alabama may do That her
action will be characterized by wisdom and mness have
the least doubt am not here to indicate to her what she
ought to do. am the servant not the leader Of her people,
Whatever they do shall do in despite Of Executive menaces
and Of all the bloody pictures other hands may exhibit
view Born upon the soil Of the State while it yet
Territory, we have grown up together Time after time she
has committed her honor and her interests my hands.
Again and again she has trusted and promoted me- and
recognise no allegiance any power higher than that owe
TO her. Whenever she commands will obey. If she de-
ermnes resist this law by force by secesson by any
MEANS am her service in whatever capacity she desires
employ me- this be treason, am raitor-a traitor who
glones in the name. .....
know sir that the President in his late letter to the
Governor Of Texas has assumed the right Of the Government
to sovereign State. deny that there any thing
the consttuon-any thing in the laws, to justify such
sumption The law is plain and clear-ndivduals not
States, the subjects of coercion. If any State should
secede let him he dares attempt employ military force
compel her He will find, in that event. that he
has than State deal with and that the powers and
resources of this Government wholly inadequate the
task he has undertaken The federal doctrine that all
lodges here has been somewhat widely repudated and the
denial of State sovereignty, either North South bring
to the Executive nothing but contempt.
hold that my first allegiance is due my State and that
treason cannot be committed against any power while obey
ing her mandates Such opinions have recently been un-
sparngy denounced but let those who such
weapons that they may be used by than sde There
traitors than traitors the Union Sir, mpugn
mans motives who lets mine alone. question the purity
OF no mans conduct who does not provoke retaliation by
sailing others but when intimate that obedience the
mandates of my State treason they must expect hear
return that in my opinion there those in this land and
about this CAPITOL who would sell their souls to Satan for the
privilege of having hand in President making, Cabinet maxi
ing and the consequent distribution OF the public Offices
There those who would sell their Saviour were he again
upon earth, for half the price that Judas accepted betay
him. Denunciations sir, weapons that two use and
any expects employ them against with mpunty,
he mscalcula,es sadly the character Of the be assas
have said all think 1t necessary to say did not
TO argue the bill here. SHALL if necessary, argue at home
Mr.. HOUSTON. tits with great reluctance, Mr.. Presi.
dent that rise to occupy one moment Of the attention Of
the Senate but for the last many months have sat and lis
tened to the debates upon this and other kindred subjects
have not participated them for the that hopd and
doubted not that gentlemen better qualified than myself would
manage the discussion and give such direction to the
sures Of this body would be most becoming have not
been nsensbe to the denuncaons which have been hypo
thetcay stated and positively charged upon those who might
think proper TO vote for the California bill have voted for
that BILL and have also voted for another which has been
denounced as unfrendy to the South And in casting
vote for the other measures believe that have been acuaed
by feelings purely Southern any gentleman n hsbody
and though my conception Of what beneficial to the South
may not be right nevertheless insist that my motives
pure those Of any gentleman. What consideration, sir,
could influence me to depart from policy calculated to ad
vance the interests Of the South What have been my
andy hsvo hcon NV c0uy