The Camden journal. [volume] (Camden, S.C.) 1836-1851, 1850-02-26
From the Baltimore SIM.
THIRTY.FIRST CONGRESS-lsr SESSION.
WAsHrNeroS, Feb. Is, 1850.
SENATE,

After much debate, the bill to release the
suretes of Samuel Swartwout was passed.
The Senate took up the Presidents message
communicating the California constitution, the
question being on the motion of MIR. Benton to
refer the same to the committee on territories
with instructions to report bill admitting Gall
fornia as State, unconnected with other meas
ures.
Mr.. Clemens spoke at length, and urged that
California had no right to form a>State govern
ment -
He commented upon a supposed concert of
action between the lion and lamb of the Senate
in favor of this motion to force California into
the Union
He saw no reason why dissolution Of the
Union should not be possible, but, if not, the
responsibility of the consequences must rest on
the North. He commented upon the views of
Mr.. Cass.
Mr. Cass explained.
believe said he, the Wilmot Proviso to be
unconstitutional If the proposition had at first
been presented to me would have voted for
When it was first presented, the Southern men
didnot show the resistance to it which they have
since DONE Some of them were in favor oft.
Subsequently Mr.. Cass said he looked into the
subject, and found that there was no power in
the constitution to prohibit slavery from the ter
ritorial communities.
He was confirmed in his opinion BY con-
sultation with Justice Mclean.
He would put nothing in opposition to the
Union. As to the Wilmot Proviso, it was pro.
iectof mischief. Every age has its Wilmot pro-
viso. It came in shapes of all varieties-once
it came in the shape of a tea tax.
TheSouth had dbecome excited, and the South.
ern members were determined to keep ahead of
the excitement. Mr.. Cass went on to say, ne
had heard violent threats long enough. These
things, commenting on Mr. Masons speech, ne
said, drive us to the wall.
Ihave heard threats enough-thatN New York
is to be like modern Tyre, and the Southern
cities like ancient Tyre-that the North is to be
made desolate- cannot stand this any longer,
said MrCass.
We are in the hands of God, and what he
will do with us know not. But from men and
their prudence and moderation, he had no hope.
The storm had rolled over him, and he was
broken down. This was his last session here.
If Northern man would not say that slavery
was the best institution in the world, the South.
ern men denounced him as an abolitionst. At
home, his moderate course caused him to be de.
nounced as dough-face.
Fire ard blood were invoked on both sides.
Every age had its Wilmot proviso, and some.
times it came in oi:e shape and sometimes in an.
other. 1t was pretext 1or commoton.
Mr.. Clay denied the right of the senator from
Alabama to animadvert upon any supposed In
tercourse between him (Mr. Clay and Mr.. Ben
ton. He did, however, say that there was no
such concert, His personal relations with that
Senator had been restored, and he was glad oft.
Mr.. Clemens contended that he had right
to allude to a combination which appeared to
affect the public interests.
Mr.. Foote spoke at length on the subject Of
the dangers that surrounded the country, and
expressed the opinion that there was plan to
smuggle California into the Union and that Mr..
Claws resolutions conceded every thing to the
North and nothing to the South.
Mr.. Clay said he was the best abused man in
the country.
Mr.. Cass. With one exception. Laughter.)
Mr. Clay spoke of the abuse heaped on him
by the abolitionists and that he should see their
assaults they sent him their letters and papers
Mr.. Cass can show bushels of them sent
to me.
Mr.. Clay. One word. With respect to the
right of the Senator from Mississippi to comment
on my acts, I do not question. But the gentle
man seems to reflect upon the object of sup
posed concert between me and the Senator from
Missouri.
Mr.. Foote utterly disclailned any such'inten.
ton. He had, in his printed speech, previously
denied the same inference.
Mr., Clay went on torefer humorously to some
apparent Inconsistency between the Senator's
remarks to-day, and conversation Of much in
terest that had taken place between him and the
Senator this morning.
After some remarks from Messrs. Foote, Clay,
Hale, Butler and Dickinson, the subject was
postponed, and the Senate adjourned
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,.
The morning hour was taken up in the recep.
ton ofreports from committees.
Mr.. McLane, from the committee on conn.,
merce, reported bill amendatory of the act es-
tablishing the Mint and regulating the coin of
the U. States.
MIR. Mel. explained that the bill was an exact
copy of the 3lst section ofthe act of 1887, ex
cept in one particular The act of 1887 directs
the Secretary of the Treasury to keep on depos
it in the mint, for the purpose of purchasing bull
=, cno non T,i I