The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1850-04-05

wish 70 say 10 the honorable member from Mississippi
upon his propositions butt cannot conceal from him. and IA
not wish 70 conceal from the country that my opinion
that we have now come 10 the point upon this general
subject whsn every man u a. well informed upon as we
opinion that we bad better proceed to take up these sub
lect, beginning al The beginning:
am unwing-l will take the occasion to say, II the
SENATE VIII not consider trespassng too much upon
IT'S attention. am unwilling TO leave any Of these ques-
open 10 be the oil hard words and dssasfac-
tion through the recess we are 70 have any recess,
which may be matter OF doubt) am for acting upon
California And here territorial bills reported 10 US
by the Committee on Territories am for taking them
up and voting upon them and II any amendments are
made OF such nature as has been suggested am ready
to vote upon any such amendment My opinion is. that
we can do nothing so important to the satisfaction OF the
country nothing that will relieve mems minds from APP
prehenson nothing that will give such general quietude,
to il is convenient and proper upon the
bill for the admission Of California, and then upon the
New Mexico and the rest of the Territories, passing such
bill as the majority Of the Senate shall approve That
is my judgment
opinions, will be my conduct here. wish this body to
come TO conclusion upon California My mind is made
up. wish this body 70 come to an opinion upon the
character OF the territorial bills am willing to act upon
them upon the principles and the opinions have already
avowed; and do apprehend sir. entire concurrence
u those opinions BY majority Of this body nay con
vcton is, that those bills shall up and this body
shall come to decision upon them, upon what may
be called the contested part OF them the majority OF this
BODY VIII come 70 conclusion exceedingly useful TO the
country as tending to promote harmony, and quiet and
satisfaction.
Sir desire if may say so, to preserve the credit Of
man ali over the world DO moi wish 10 bear i said
from the other side OF the Atlantic that this great const
uponal popular free, representative government can
not go with ordinary despatch in the conduct OF its at
fairs; that i is liable to great hiatus every now and
them that the great principle Of free government is likely
after all, not to be satisfactorily exemplifed in this
great republic its friends at home and abroad had
fondly hoped wish, sir, to take such course with
these disturbing questions shall dispose OF them, and
enable us 70 resume and 60 through with the ordinary
sir, that do not expect to harmonious legislation
upon any OF the subjects which touch the great interests
OF the country until these questions be settled. These
decision Of which the csuntry-,he North the South the
centreas looked with great interest TO the action OF this
house of Congress
For one. despair Of any wise, and temperate, and just
Legislation until those disturbing be removed !;
and therefore wish them to be removed. wish that
TINS upon Us BY the events q the last
settled wish it to be settled upon the principles Of
the constitution OF the United States want no new
platform ask for no concessions upon one side or
the other--no new compromises The constitution is
enough-broad enough full enough. efficient enough ;
and il we can bring ourselves to with moderation, and
temperance and candor and lberality and will say
what is chiefly. mportant-with fraternal regard and
sympathy upon the questions before in the spirit OF the
constitution we are able to the country from its
present embarrassment We've who sit here, clothed
with this high authority for momentare able to
the country, to relieve it. and TO satisfy the public udg
ment and the public feeling OF the extreme North and the
extreme South, and from ocean to believe it.
Sir, beg the indulgence OF the Senate for wandering
into these general remarks had intention to do
when arose. But do now express, as my sincere and
heartfelt conviction, that is 10 proceed
step by STEP with the great subjects devoved upon us by
eventsby the accessions to this government OF these
great Terroriesa to take up and the other and 10
upon one and all in the spirit which the constitution
OF the United States prescrbes ALL and enons upon
us all and throws upon our responsibility the duty OF
conforming TO that spirit in all our legislation.
Now, sir, when gentlemen shall have been heard upon
these propositions, and when have said, the movers
OF these propositions shall have had all The opportunity
that they desire to reply 70 the remarks that have been
made, shall feel II my duty, far an humble mem
Der of the Senate shall have any influence bring the
attention Of the Senate to The practical measures and to
decide upon them one after the Other until they shall
have all been finally disposed OF.
Mr. FOOTE Participating as do, in those sentiments
OF gratitude respect and admiration, which have been
called forth here and elsewhere by the speech of the hon
orable senator from Massachusetts, delivered in our
hearing few weeks since, and which SO replee
with sound liberal, patriotic, and sa,esmanlike views
upon the great questions which occupy Intensely
the public mind OF the country must be permitted to de-
clare the profound regret which feel at being con-
strained by considerations too mperous to be disre-
garded TO state my dissent 10 several OF the suggestions
to which he has this moment given uterance. Such,
indeed my desire 10 avoid collision, or even any APP
pearance Of collisions with the honorable senator from
cussed by him on this occasion, that should gladly
remain silent, but for the fact that two OF his
leading observations are repugnant 10 convictions oil
my Judgment Tor some time past enierained-convic.
tons which have been greatly confirmed and corrobo-
rated by recent events and the correctness OF which do
not entirely despair OF being able to demonstrate even 10
the honorable senator from Massachusetts himself In
most OF the general views OF the honorable senator from
Massachusetts,, can, without the least nsncerlty avow
my hearty concurrence. concur with him also in the
remark which fell IRON him, and which several times
repeated, touching the expedlency OF proceeding, in
regular and orderly manner, IN the examination OF the
several practca propositions which have been submitted
to for the adjustment OF the various questions which
have long and seriously disturbed the public peace,
and confused the legislation OF Congress. But beg
leave to say to the honorable gentleman, that he
seems TO either TO have seriously. misunder-
stood, or strangely to have aforementioned, the
events which have been transpirng in the two wings
OF the Capitol during our present session. else surely
he could so solennly have urged TO proceed al
once, a preliminary STEP TO the settlement OF all
existing questions of difficulty, and the restoration OF fra.
ternal feeling between the northern and southern sec.
tons of the conederacy, by the admission oil California
into the Union He says that ought take up one sub.
jeet at meto dispose OF IT, and then proceed IN Tegu-
lar succession 10 consider and 10 act upon others and he
says, furiher that all these should be oil prac
teal character avowng his opinion 10 he, that the peri
cd within which II polite 10 give attention TO
mere abstract propositions has passed by In all
this agree with the honorable senator from Massachu
have for time past entertained the views and
acted upon them i have been struggling for weeks
past actively and earnestly. TO call of the attention OF
the Senate from the abstract questions which have been
so fercely and edonsly debated here and TO bring
about the early adoption Of some measure or measures Of
practical legislation.
Now sir let me ask the honorable senator from Mas