The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1850-06-13

~ the rouse of Representatives 10 pass what is now
historically known the Wilmot Proviso. BY which
slavery was TO be ntcrced by the action OF the general
government N the acquisitions we might make from
Mexico The measure then failed but the efbrt was re-.
newed, and has been continued without relaxation TO this
time The South justly offended al such an attempt TO
exercise power nofound Ii. the constitution and 10 Ia.
ierere with the local concerns of distant people, re-
monstrated against the effort and exhibited adetermna-
ton 70 resist at all hazards They said Fou haze
right 10 sgslate upon te subject of aavery II Is not
inMs bond riieh hc,ds rs togsssr II yoa do 50. thai
regulate IN nsir way Il will moi be denied that
that - what the South then demanied and all II de
manded oi the general government.
Well. this view prevailed. The interference Of the
government prevented and since the origin Of this
controversy, not single legislative measure has been
adopted upon the subject In relation 70 these new acqui-
stos SO lar the question has been ef TO the people to
decide and they have decided in California thai slavery
shall not be admitted there The committee true 10 this
principle OF onn,ervention, have reported bills for the
admission OF California, and also for the establishment
OF governments over the residue Of the Territory with
no action by Congress he subject leaving the matter
10 be sted BY The people themselves Andyet we have
seen this arrangement assaied with zeal amonnting
almost to violence, and The proposition denounced as
sacrifice Of the South 10 me Norih.
And, the other hand, have heard denunci ,tion
as unequvocal from the North, pronounced by hon
the sentiments OF large portion OF the community.
Tney,Aoo condemn the whole arrangement but con-
demn 1t as sacrffce of the North 10 the South When
this controversy began. the exclusion Of slavery from
these regions The avowed object OF those who coy
menced H.. Now that exclusion has been obtained in
California by the act OF the people. and has been placed
beyond question in the Territories as Shown by The sena-
tors from Kentucky and Massachusetts, Mr. CLAY and
Mr.. WEBsTEn,l and so clearly that believe few in or
out oil Congress deny il by the operation OF ihde
pendent OF the action Of The governmen and thus no
section has acquired "trinmph"-to use patriotic
phrase 10 which shall hereafter refer-oyer another.
But ths is not enough The inierdict, already pro.
nounced BY circumstances III the country ITSELF must be
repeated and renewed BY congressional inerposton.
with no no other practical result that can see, but to
power unknown to the constitution AS do not par
take OF this feeling, shall not parake Of any measure
Well air had had doubts Of The wisdom Of the recon-
mendaon oil the committee before these disclosures,
those doubts would have given way TO convictions,
soon as thIs strange union o views was o the
Senate When extreme opinions unite in opposition 10 a
measure, men OF moderation may feel assured that IL
cannot be very unjust one. Gentlemen at antipodes
u now become associated in action, because the plan
OF adjustment grants too much and loo little, as each
contend though they again as wide asunder the
poes when they come designate the section Of
try which gains or loses BY the alleged partial course
of the committee The honorable senator from Alabama
Mr. CLEMENs] seems 10 have been 80 struck with this
unexpected cOmblnaiion when first disclosed, that he
erred in illustration OF il to the well known remark Of
Burke, made upon an occasion when circumstances
brought adverse politicians 10 act together in England
"tha politics, like misery, make strange bed-iellows"
Mr.. President il would be vain to look back upon The
history OF the world and endeavor 10 seek any country
whose condition resembles our own. Since man first
went forth from the garden OF Eden, there has been
nothing Ike il. We have fierce internal contest, en-
gendegng the worst feeling and threatening the worst
consequences tits here and everywhee and goes on
II will 60 on TO its natural consunmaunto the destsuc
ton OF political system which has conferred greater
measure OF happiness than any other country ever en-
joyed, and which now an example and an encourage
nent for every people striving for the blessings OF free
government And when IT is proposed 10 terminate this
sectional controversy by reasonable and practical
plan, the proposition s repeed with much violence
as though the measure submitted actually sacrificed hu-
man liberty and human rights through the world. One
that hall ha .,taJk
law OF doubtful obligation and obnoxious TO one-haf
OF the conederacy, IN region where II does moi exist
and can never go; and where legislation even. according
10 distinguished southern statesman, could not establish
H. And the quantity OF zeal and gravity displayed Ia
advocating this and by many through the
country who knows il to be as useless II is dangerous,
is not among the least OF the extraordinary features which
mark this unhappy dispute
Another party il determined that California shall not
be admitted unless bounded by the parallel of SO deg 30
min. We have heard many objections, and { suppose
shall hear many more, to the proceedings OF the peo
pie in The establishment OF government which our
selves refused to organize there Some OF these are
mathematical, depending upon some problem, found /
know not where, measuring human rights by numbers,
and which would sweep from existence all governments
which have not the standard population What thai is
has not been authorilavey stated but il must be
than 100000, because California possessed that number
when she provided for social and legal order There
also other objections constitutional and POLITICAL
depending the transient nature OF the population,
though had the right to refuse admance 10 State
because have security that its inhabitants will al
ways live there, giving UP The privilege Of ocomoon--
at any rate OF enisrahoD-and some depending the
fact that the general has large landed estates
IN California, though nobody else had property there,
real personaclans even, under Mexican Spanish
granis--and as though government were not quite as
necessary for the Jeople as II the United States did not
own loot oil land in the country.
Human rights worth protection, even il the people
poor, and where tn gold mines belong TO govern
ment The other side o The continent But, sir 1t ap
pears that these all objections OF expedency. which
may be yielded; not OF principle, which admits of no
compromise because, by the establishment OF the
southern boundary of California at % deg. 80 mn all
opposition the admission OF that State would be o5v
aied, and she would enter the conederacy with the
currence of all parlies That Will not be disputed The
practical difficulty. therefore, have to deal with Is
geographical one not whether California shall in
by The process she has adopted process 80 a as re-
CARDS fe previous sanction OF Congress, resembling that
BY which Vermont, Kentucky, Tennessee, Maine, Ar
Kansas Michigan, Florida and Iowa were admitted into
The Union-but whether her boundaries shall remain
she has fixed them. And what bearing has this question
upon the great topic which seems TO bring everything
within its vortex Why, this, and this alone that II
the country south Of SO deg 30 min s excluded from
they have already excl uded it, and though the consId-
eratons, geographical and political, which led to ihatex
clusion, in as full force as ever.
Now, sir | caunot weigh the advantage, on the one
hand Of passing the Wilmot Proviso, with view 10
clude slavery from New Mexico, nor, on the other
hand the chance OF introducing il. under these crcum
stances upon narrow coast of the Pacific shut
IN BY desert and mountain. and with little probability OF
possessing population sufficient for State, against the
empire
But sir, whatever may be the result OF this effort Of
The committee, the honorable chairman is entitled to the
gratitude OF his country Tor his patriotic and