The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1850-05-25
CONGRESSIONAL.
DEFERRED DEBATE.
WEDNESDAY, MAY 90, 1850.
nAIIroRNIA--rERRIroRIAL aoYERNMENrs.


oAuFoRNIA-TERRIToRAL GOVERNMENTS.
The Senate having under consideration the order OF the
dav ,o.wit: the bill to admit California as State into
ne Unon 10 establish territorial governments for Utah
and New Mexico and making proposals to Texas for the
establishment Of her western and northern boundaries
Mr. DOWNS said: regret the course which the debate
on this bill has taken from The time Of the introduction
ii be report OF the Committee OF Thirteen. have an
lcpaed from the first that there would be animated
debate upon the subject which is before the Senate
but did not anticipate that would up the
ner and shape in which il has should have much pre-.
srred that The Wmot Provso which we all know Is to
be offered should have been moved and that the discus
sion should have taken place upon the direct issue Offer
ed BY that should have greatly preferred that
The main contest should have taken place in that way to
its coming up upon issues in relation to which there
seems 10 be much difference OF opinion among south
ern senator's themselves.
However, sir, since these matters have come up is
proper that should state the views which entertain,
and the motives which have actuated me in the course
hitherto pursued in relation 10 them.
in this bill arose, some two or three years ago, II
was new. Nothing OF the kind had then occurred IN
the history OF the government OF the United states n
all previous cases of acquisition OF territories, there
any doubt as to The question o slavery II
was known and recognised that slavery did exist
in them, We. have now made an acquisition OF
territory from Mexico, in relation TO which there is
doubt and difference OF opinion between the different
portions Of the United States The people Of the South
contend that under the constitution OF the United States
lhey have the right go 10 these Territories with
her slaves and they complain that the effect of the agi-
ation which is kept up the subject while the question
Is unsettled is 10 exclude them from the enjoyment OF
that right
this country have devoted much attention 10 this subject
The wses and best men OF me South nave devoted as
much aentonto any other question which has ever
arisen in the OF our hsory and so lar as know,
hey have never arrived at any solution better than that
Of leaving the Territories in the condition, as respects
he question of the existence OF slavery which they
actually are-hat question 10 be decided by the tribunals
d the country when it comes regularly before them
We have proessed Willingness 10 abide BY such de-
csop whether against in our favor. We have in
sisted only that there should be legislation affirming
The laws Of Mexico or prohibiting from entering those
Territories with slaves, leaving US to our rights,
such as they may be under the constitution OF the United
l States or the laws OF Mexico, as modified by it.
Now Mr. President, for the two or three years past
during which the subject has been agtaed has continued
i have not known OF single southern man who has
ever insisted upon asked for any positive legislation in
flavor OF slavery in The Territories or for any other plan
than this II is true<here have been some notifications
proposed Some have been and some desirous that
he Missouri compromise should be applied to these Ter
noes with implied permission that slavery should go
portion Of the territory; for the Missouri compro-
nse its literal terms, does not esi.bllsh slavery or
rcognise its existence any portion OF territory, hay
ng been applied TO territory differently situated bui
generally, the principle OF non Intervention has been
noped and promulgated by the South, and is that in
which we have almost unanimously concurred as the
Just and most appropriate claim OF the South
This, Mr. President the principle with which we
san in lS4s. in the celebrated compromise bill OF that
dme That was the only position upon which we could
stand 10 make any available opposition TO the pretensons
Of the North The South willing 10 take IT, II was
not that they were entirely satisfied with IT, or that they
ough, moi TO ask anything more but Mr. President it
be denied that when that compromise was defeat
ed by the aid Of southern votes not here, but else
where there we're loud and long complaints by the con-
tuents OF those members who had been instrumental in
defeating it believe that that compromise was entirely
Satisfactory 10 the southern people. placed us IN Po
ion 10 obtain security for such rights as we actually
possess, and which we have not obtained since What
las been the consequence OF the rejection of that
ompromise' What is our condition now with respect
the State OF California; We have lost all ioothold
en and have lost in consequence OF the TACT that
hat compromise was defeated.
Now, Mr. President, what reason have we to believe
hat shall gain anything in the South BY defeating this
onpromisei We have lost by Just such course here
ooe; and shall lose by II now we persist in IT,
ur principle is as true now as il was then. Time
hanges not truth. We are in a. minority. We have at
20 time bad favorable compromise offered us as this
reject IT, il will be utterly impossible that should
get far again towards fair and reasonable com
nse on this subject The compromise is undoubtedly
es lhan in my opinion would be entirely just In the
South but compromise is in lis very nature mutual
OF supposed rights IN part, in order 10 secure the
remainder. / supposed that every southern member oil
IU%'e Mould p h. seS would but
he best which they could hope TO obtain as oompro-
mise; and cannot believe now that southern men mere
an exert their influence for The defeat oil these measures,
brought forward under such circumstances and go home
their constituents without receiving seyerer rebuke
han fell upon those who were instrumental IN deieaung
he compromise of 1s4s For myself, have not placed
ysef, and do intend TO place myself, IN condition
70 meet with that rebuke.
: Mr. President, some members OF the Senate, and my
honorable colleague Mr. SouLEl among them, seem 70
extremely surprised with that provision OF The bill now
ndef consideration which prohibits the action oil the
rnoral legislatures upon this subject OF slavery My
onoabe colleague was not here at that time, (S4SD or
would not have expressed much surprise al pro-
ision which Is precisely the same as that when was
onianed IN the Clayton compromise bill, and was ap
Foyed BY every member from the South This ls pre-.
sely The same provision, in ITS literal terms was
bought then most important provision for the safety OF
ne South II was thought then, now, that The pubic
pnlon OF those Territories against the instituon oi
avery We have certainly abundant reason 10 believe
low thai 20 since the transactions which have occur
g 70 California, and after what we know Of what is
key 10 occur in New Mexico.
MI HUNTER, tinerposng.| My friend from Lou'-
ana mistaken in material fact II is true, SIR, that
ne Sl originally introduced bad these identical words
stqually true that they were stricken out on amend
snt Instead Of them the words were prohibit or es-
All.h slavery"
q hr DOWNS have printed bill, which supposed
vas The corrected bill IL is, however, entirely inmate.
a whether the language was amended or not Inc
eta still materially the same. II amounts indeed 70
rcisey the same thing The idea was there, and the
shere DO not care at all now y y eNples,ea. !,
no care what form OF words made use OF 10 con.
Sn The principle was. that the territorial government
oud not prohibit slavery in the Territories lhai was
hewhoe oi IL But when we wanted 10 obtain tbe admls,
on OF that principle, Il very natural tbat u snond
ecnf 10 our northern friends that they should not on ,he
lher hand, have the power TO establish " AMENDED
DOT, the same principle there. thongbtu was ex-
esed IN the identical words but matters not wheher
asl be 50 or not
Now Mr. President, is there any reason to believe
pay the subject is less important than Il was then
btte any mote reason 10 believe that slavery VIII DC