The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1850-07-06

n
On The Compromise Bill, delipered IN The
Senate Of the United States, Tuesday, .Juiy
2, 1850
Mr.. SEWARD said: Mr.. President If an alien in
land should chance to enter here during these
high debates, he would ask whether California was
n stranger and an enemy; unbdden and un-
welcome intruder; or fugitive, powerleas and por-
tionlcss. and therefore mportunate; oppressor
and scourge of ma kind and therefore hateful nd
dangerous We should be obliged to answer, No
California yielded to persuasion, rather than to
conquest. She has renounced her lineage Ian.
guage, and ancient loyalty. She has brought us TO
the banks Of streams which flow over precious
sands and, at the base Of mountains which Weld
massive gold, she delivers into our hand the key
that unlocks the long treasures of the east
ern world California refuses only to let us buy and
sell each other within her domain rich in all the
| elements OF legitimate commerce. She invites us
TO forego an unjust, injurious, and inglorous do.
minlon over a caste, and TO extend the sway Of
peace Of aris, and of freedom, over nat ios beyond
the seas, still slumberng under the mingled reign
OF barbarian superstition and unallrl ted dcspot-
ism. The very head and front of her offe nding
ha TIA this extent.
nevertheless, that California shall be admitted IN
condtionaliy, while committee of the Senate in
sist conditions
prefer the Presidents suggestion; but not mere
ly because it is his although honor his patriotism
and confide fully in his wisdom. Nor do prefer
his suggestion out OF disrcspect to the statesmen by
whom it is opposed. My veneration for them has
been abundantly manifested heretofore, and needs
no display OF protestationa nov We in a
frame OF things disjont; and in the confusion re-
sulting from a severance of parties and con-
functions OF statesmen, each of US Is Obliged To
rely on the guidance of his own judgment and con.
science.
submit, sir, that the conditions are un,easona-
DIE, injurious, and opmessiUe, in regard to CALFoR-
NiA SO far as they are found in the bill before us,
they are, lst the establishment of territorial 90.
-Ile frnn pipfr
ry; I'd, the establishment Of like government in
Utah; 3D., a compromise of border dispute be-
tween New Mexico aud Texas. The garment Of
compromise, thus quilted Of various fabrics with
artistic skill, is ingeniousiy pieced out with collate-
raj conditions in report and two other bills con
cerning slavery in the District of Columbia the
capture of fugitive slaves. and other national nte-
rests or pretcnsions of slavery.
Ii is not pretended that California needs aid from
these conditions, nor that they can give it, Cali
fornia is taxed for superhuous power to draw the
dependent measures into port, which otherwise
therefore hnders, and tends to defeat, the admis-
sion of California
Why is California subjected 10 this embarrass-
nenr Docs she come without nght' She has
treaty. Is that treaty denied or questioned? No il
Is unanimously affirmed. Can California abide de-
lay' No; her anomalous condition not merely ap-
peas 10 our Justice but touches the very virtue of
iornia be kept waiting, while we make a circuit
throughout the entire orbit Of slavery? California
neither brought the States into confederation, nor
constructed the Constitution. She neither planted
slavery in the save States uprooted il free
States. She is not found by the side Of Texas in
vading New Mexico, nor allied with New Mexico
in resisting Texas She is guitess equally of buy
ing and of selling, OF holding and of cmancipaing,
OF reclaiming and of harboring slaves any where.
She has neither vote speech here nor else
where, where this angry strife can be composed
She has severed at blow, and forever the loose
political come xion--the only connexion she ever
ma wit TIah New Tha el.
indeed insist on right to colonize Territories
with caste. But all agree that the community in
any such territory may establish constitution
prohibiting California, culonized has done
this already, and her maturity is not well cues.
toned although il has been rapid and as bewil-
dcring as the presentati Of midsummer nights
dream. There II, therefore, neither community
nor connexion, nor even congruity between the sd
mission Of California and the conditions demanded
IL is binding Eros 10 Anteros-confding youth To-
querulous and wranglng sge-the struggling hind
70 ravcning hounds
Wcwcre told long ago that California would save
time by yielding 10 this most unjust combination.
We have seen the error of that hope We are max
ing the overland journey of seven thousand miles
between the pillars of Hercules, when we might
have crossed the Straits Of Gibraltar ON a smooth
sea, in six hours
We were told that minority in another part Of
the legislature might prevent the admission of Cali
lorna, and even bring the Government 10 dead
stand. but II must work IN its own democratic and
constitutional way, must 10 work at all
No ono nor more of the States can assume the re
sponsibility Of arresting the Government by fac
ton "Opfiniis Guspicis geri q,o pro re,pubiiea
salute gerrnttu, qua eonfram renipubiio1m Jersnfu
contra drsptcid ferTi F"
submit that the conditions demanded arc
equally uareasonabc, injurious, and opprtssirs, ia
regard 10 che other parties affected by the com.
bination, viz; Texas. Nrw Msxrco, UrhH, and the
DIsrRIcT or COLUMBIA
Each OF these parties ought 10 be regarded a.
asking only just award, and Congress is to be
deemed ready to make a Just one, and no other
Such an award can bc made only by bcstowing a
distinct and separate consideration on each claim
The same principle Of dalecic philosophy which
iOrbds multiiarOusness Of tissues aud confusion of
parties in tie administration of Justice condemns
incongruous combinations in Legislation.
The bill before us seems adapted TO enable Sena.
tors To speak one side, and TO vote the other
TO comply with instructions, aud TO evado them
TO vote for the line Of 30 deg. 30 min and 10 vote
a ganst Il 10 support the Wilnot proyiso, and yet
10 defeat its application 10 the only Territories open
to it, introduction. socit--if stronger language
we're courteous, might dcmand-fron the major
ity here subdivision of the bill. 90 enable me to
vote cliectually for what approve, without voting
equally for what my own judgment, cOncurring
with Instructions, condemns; and thus TO place
myself, where ] should invite all others 10 place
thcmsclvcs under exact and full responsibility to
the States and to the people.
While leave the interests Of Texas in the care of
her honorable and excellent Senators, must be al
lowed think that their consent To this bill betrays
Vt Congross Iust claim ought not TO need All /
unjust combination. Those who assume that Texas
has valid title 10 all Of New Mexico cast of the /
Rio Grsndc, high as the a2d parallel will neces
sarily regard that State surrcndering for pc 4
cunsry equivalent, extensive region. efTectu- \
ally urcd Ia slavery To- the cquiyocations of this
Those, the contrary, who regard \
the prctensions Of Texas in New Mexico az ground.
css, will certainly protest against the surrender
Of II 900 square miles of soil, pregnant with lib
erty, TO the hazards Of this adjustment Both OF |
these parties, ! think must agree that the United /
States ought not to pay Texas the equivalent unless
her title Is good and that " her tide is good then
the United States have noconsttutona power 10 buy
her territory. lfthey may buys part Of Texas for /
purposes not defined in the Consttution, th0y may \
buy the whole. they may buy the territory of
slave state TO make IT free, they may equally buy
the soil OF free State 10 stcrilize il with slavery.
Ifit be replied that the title is in dispute, then the
changes oharacterj the equivalent il
paid for peacej and Texas is not yet lifted up 40
high arc the United States brought down 30 Tow,
as 20 obtain my consent 10 so humiliating traffic.
| have heretofore ssd that could vote to pay the
debt Of Texas, on the ground that the reputation
of IL by the United States in the agreement Of
neration, was fraudulent But Texas seems To pre-.
Ter that wc should buy domain and dominion from
her rather than pay her debts. She must be con.
tent, therefore, TO satisfy concerning the cardi-
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