Burlington hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington, Iowa) 1845-185?, 1850-04-04

ly inexhaustible in the regions near San
Francisco, in California, as they were at
any period Of the earlier dates of the ac-
counts. hsohappened, sir, that, although
in the time OF peace, it became very inn
portant subject for Legislative considera-
tion and Legislative decision to provide a
proper Territorial Government for Cali
fornia, yet differences of opinion in the
counsels of The Government prevented the
establishment of any such Territorial
Government for California, at the last ses-
sion Of Congress. Under this state of
things, the inhabitants of San Francisco
and California then amounting to great
number of people--in the summer of last
year. thought it to be their duty to estah-
lish a local Government. Under the
proclamation of General Riley, the people
chose delegates to a Convention, that Con-
vention met at Monterey. They formed
a constitution for the State of California,
and it was adopted by the people of Cali
fornia, in their primary assemblages.-
DESTROYS OF immediate connexion to the
United States, its Senators were appoint
ed and Representatives chosen, who have
come h,her, bringing with them the a,,-
then;ic constitution OF the State of Cali
iornia and they now present themselves,
asking in behalf Of their State. that the
State may be admitted into this Union as
one OF the United States. This constitu-
tion, sir, contains an express prohibition
against slavery or involuntary servitude in
the State of California. 1t is said, and |
suppose truly, that of the members who
composed that Convention some sixteen
were natives and had been residents Of
the slaveholding States, about twenty-five
were from the non->laveholding States,
and the remaining ten members were
either native Caliornians or old settlers in
tha, country. This prohibition against
slavery, it is said, was inserted with en-
tire unanimi,y.
Mr. Hale. Will the Senator give way
until order is restored?
The Vice President. The Sergeaut-at-
Arms will see that order is restored, and
no more persons admitted 20 the floor.
Mr. Cass. TRUST the scene OF the 9TH
er day will not be repeated. The Ser
gean,-a Arms must display more energy
in snppressing this disorder.
Mr. H.lc. The noise is outside of the
door.
Mr. Webster. And it is this circum-
stance, sir, the prohibition Of slavery by
that convention, which has contributed TO
raise--I do not say il has wholly raised
the dispute as TO the proprie,y Of the adj
missioa Of California into the Union under
this constitution. II is not 70 be denied,
Mr. President nobody thinks Of denying
'-7illai.4nkaisycrs reasons ~ ere assigned
at the commencement OF the late war With
Mexico, it was prosecuted for the pur-
pose Of the acquisition ofterri,ory, and un-
der the. allegel arsument tha; the cession
OF territory was the only form in which
proper compensation could be made to the
United States by Mexico for tie various
claims and demands which the people Of
this country had agains, that government.
AT any rate it viii be found that President
Polk 5 message at the commencement of
the session OF December, lSi7, avowed
that the war was TO be prosecuted until
some acquisition of territory was made
And, as the acquisition was TO be south of
the line OF the United States, in warm
climates and counties, it was naturally, |
suppose, expected by the South that what
ever acquisitions were made n,ha, region
would be added to the slaveholding por-
tion Of the United States. Event, have
turned out as was moi expected, and that
expectation has not been realized and
some degree Of disappointment
and surprise has resulted, Of course. In
other words, it is obvious that the Ques-
tlon which has SO long harassed the coun-
try, and al some times very seriously
the minds Of wise and good men,
has come upon lis ior fresh discussion
the question Of slavery in these United
States.
Now, sir, ! propose perhaps at the
expense Of some detail and consequen,
detention OF the Senate--to review histori-
cally this question Of slavery, which,
partly in consequence Of its own merits,
and partly, perhaps mostly, in the manner
it is discussed in one and the other por-
tion of the country, has been source of
so much alienation and unkind feeling be-
tween the different portions OF the Union.
We all know, sir, that slavery has existed
in the world from time immemotial.-
There was slavery, in the earlieS, periods
Of history, ia the Oriental nations. There
was slavery among the Jews; the ,heo-
cratic government o! that people made DO
Injunction against it. Thrre was slavery
AMONG the Greeks, and the Ingenious phi
lo>opby Of the Greeks found, or sought to
find. IA Justification for ii exactly upon the
grounds which have been assumed for
such a jnsiilication in this country That is.
II natural and original difference among the
races OF mankind, the inlerioritv oi the
black or col"red race, 10 the white. The
Greeks, justified their system OF slavery
Upon that ground precisely. They held
|he African, and IN some parts the Asia,ic,
tribes 10 he inferior 10 the White race ; but
they did not show, | think, by any close
process OF logic, that, II ,sli> we've true.
The more Intelligent and The stronger had
therefore a right To >nhjuga'e the weaker.
The more 'naniy philosophy and i,ris-
prudence oi the Romans PLACED the iusti-
iica'ion of slavery Oh entirely different
grounds.
The Roman jur>ts, from the first end
down TO the fall of the empire, admitted
lha, slavery was against the natural law,
=, a. T.