Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1845-1854, 1850-04-22

would withdraw the proposition and throw
himself back upon his original proposition.
The original proposition being Withdrawn,
Mr., Clay's amendment fell.
Mr. Benton then moved his original
proposition, providing that the Select Com
mittee shall not take INTO consideration the
question OF slavery in the States, &c, &c.
Mr. Clay then moved to amend this a.
mendment by substituting the proposition
submitted by him this morning.
Mr. Benton addressed the Senat g in dep
recation Of the long delay to which the
question of admission of California had
been subjected, and urging the necessity Of
securing some action upon the subject du.
the present week. In conclusion he NOV
ed, as a test vote, that the pending busi-
ness be laid upon the table, with q view Of
taking up the bill for the admission Of
California.
Mr. Clay, in reply, charged Benton with
being one Of the causes of delay to which
California was being subjected. Let him
cease the useless opposition to the pending
proposition. Let the Select Committee be
appointed and let the Senate take up the
California Bill, without reference to the
action of the Committee, and act upon it
when that Bill shall come up. He would
not abandon the cause which he had al.
ready indicated, but would move to con-
meet the territorial bill with it.
Mr.. Benton said the proposition Of the
Senator was neither more nor less than
that the jury should beesent out, and the
remaining genuemea2 then allowed to
argue the case. Az The charge Of OBJ
structing the publ lie Business, he had only
to say that conscious of the integrity and
rectitude Of his position, he never would be
deferred from the performance of his duty,
by such charges. His position was sus.
tanned by sixty years Of unvarying legis-
lation. The Father his country, himself,
three times sent his Message to Congress
in relation to the admission of new States,
under precisely similar circumstances with
those under which President Taylor had
sent on his California Message. Tennes.
see. Kentucky and Vermont came in pre-
cisely as California asks to come in. lie
was not to be scared off the track by the
charge Of delaying public business. He
would never fail to assert the right to re.
sist proposition which he believed TO be
wrong.
MIR Douglass submitted a few remarks
in vindication Of the California Bill, from
allusion by Mr. Clay &
Mr. Foote made point of order that the
Senator should not discuss the California
Bill at this time.
The Chair SO ruled, and Mr. Douglass
took bis seat. Ia
The question being taken on Mr.. Ben.
tons motion to lay on the table, it was neg.
at;ved by-yeas "a, nays %.
The question recurring on Mr.. Clay's
amsndment--Mr. Douglas arose to re-.
sumo his remarks.
After debate upon the point of order,
the Vice President ruled Mr. Douglas out
of order. b. =. ..-
Several additional. questions of order
we're raised and discussed at considerable
length. @ 4;
Mr. Benton discussed Mr. Claws amend
ment. No such proposition to tie up the
hands Of the Senate upon any subject had
ever before been made. 1t was method
Of applying the previous question. The
means which the Senate Lad never before
submitted to. He submitted some further
remarks in opposition 70 the proposition for
Committee.
Mr.. Clay in reply, said the Senator had
spoken of his rights, and must recollect
that other Senators had rights and were
as ready to assert them as the Senator from
Missouri. Let the amendment be passed
and the Senate would decide upon the ques-
ton of order.
Mr. Benton rejoined, and declared his
belief that the Committee was all cut and
dried, and tina. the appointing them was al
together farce.
MI. Douglass said he was inclined to
vote for Mr. Clay's amendment. He had
only opposed the appointment of Select
Committee because Of his unwillingness TO
make the admission Of California depend
ent upon any other measure. He could
vote for the amendment for the precise
reason stated by Mr. Clay. If the Com.
mittee was farce, he was not disposed to
make it a tragedy, by factious opposition.
Mr. Webster thought it might be adopt
ed, if the amendment would not preclude
propositions for instrucsions. .
Mr. Hale followed, at some length, in op-
position to the amendment and to the pro-
posed reference.
He said the North would be defeated by
Northarn men. He concluded as follows:
"Gentlemen ofthe South, you have been
put where you have laid US out cold
DON'T point at u.s." Laughter
Mr.. Clay said the North was destined
to no defeat at the hands of the South
The only triumph to be achieved was. the
triumph of patriotism over ultra abolition
lists, whose vocation would be gone as soon
as settlement of the question was OBJ
tained. Great applause.]
Mr. Foo,s appealed to the friends of the
Select Committee to refrain from all fur
iher debate. - ...--... -...- -=a.,--. ----.--
Mr.. Clay slightly mda:fed his amend
merit, and it was adopted-Yeas 25, nays
%. -. -.,
Mr. Hamlin moved amendment, but it
was ruled out of order.
Mr. Benton then moved the amendment
previously submitted by him, covering four
teen different points, and said he would
ask the yeas and nays on each.