The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1850-03-20
PUBLIC WORKS IN GEORGETOWN, d. c

logical report OF Professor Espy, was ordered TO
| be printed.
PUBLIC WORKS oEoRGErowN, d. c.
| Mr.. MASON from the Committee ON the Dis
trict of Columbia reported bill TO enable the
poration of Georgetown, in the District of Column
bia, to construct certain public works in that town
which, after an explanation between Mr.. HALE
and Mr.. MASON, was read third time and passed
REPORTS FROM COMMITTEES.
| Mr.. BORLAND, from the Committee Mill
tary Affairs reported bill for the relief of Cad
Humphreys and Charles Morris, and others
| MIR. UNDERWOOD, from the Committee on
| Claims, reported bill for the relief of Thomas
Allen,
WAR BOUNTY SCRIP.
| Mr.. UNDERWOOD moved, and the Senate pro-
| ceeded to the consideration of joint resolution
relative to the payment of dividends interest on
war bounty scrip, which, after explanation, was
read u third time and passed.
The Senate then proceeded to the consideration
Of Mr.. CLAWS
COMPROMISE RESOLUTIONS.
Mr.. BADGER resumed his remarks upon the
bill, by further examination of the inconsis encies
and absurdities Of the amendment proposed by Mr..
SEWARD to the fugitive slave bill; and by full ex
PLANTATION Of the force and nature of the bill for the
recovery OF fugitive slaves now before the Senate,
as reported from the Judiciary Committee
As to the difficulties existing, and the pro-
per course to pursue TO procure settlement of
them, he said he had always been and was now in
favor of adopting the Missouri compromise line
II was recommended to him because it had been
once before adopted, and well established in
the minds of the people.
He was in favor of it for another reason He be-
lieved the territorial extent Of the country too
great. Because he believed the country was al
ready too large, he had voted against the treaty
with Mexico, on the ground that it added to the
territory of the country. If line were adopted
by WHICH the character of the territory north and
south Of that line fixed he believed that would
close forever the account of territorial acquisitions
II was not, however, his ultmatum. He had no
utimatum. He would do almost any thing to save
the Union. After the speeches of the several dis
tinguished Senators, there could possibly exist
necessity for the passage of the Wilmot proviso.
The Senator from Michigan, (Mr. CAss,) was OPP
posed to it, because he believed Congress had no
power to pass it. The Senator from Massachusetts,
(Mr. WEBsTER,) had given them another and most
satisfactory reason why il should not be passed.
He was clearly of the opinion, and he had ex-
pressed il frequently at home and elsewhere, that
Congress had the power to apply the Wilmot pro-
viso to the Territories; but he strongly Of
opinion that its exercise would be violation of a
sacred trust
He was also strongly of the opinion that the laws
OF Mexico abolishing slavery were in force in the
territories at this time, and that those laws would
continue till repealed by some actonb the legisa
tive branch of this Government.
But other southern Senator'S differed from him.
and they held the converse Of his opinions And
1T was admitted by every northern that slavery
did not now exist, could exist there where
was tue Necessity passing THIS prOVlSO! Inc
large body of the people at the South believed that
slavery did exist now in the Territories, and that
they had right to go there with their property.
They adhere to these opinions strenuously and the
passage OF this proyso by the North where it is ad
United to be unnecessary cannot fail to be consid-
cred by the southern people as the wanton and in
sultng exercise of numerical power. And in such
light would the whole entire body of the southern
mot proviso. He was no. prepared to say nor had
he any authority to say, how far they would go in
resisting 1t, but he could say that the effect upon
them, II 1t did not produce resistance, would be TO
cmbitter their whole feelings against the North.
He read an extract from the speech of Hon. Horace
Mann, in which it was said, Better dsunion, bet
ter civil and domestic strife better any thing with
which God may visit US, than the extension of one
foot Of slave territory" He contended that this
was far more excited and extravagant language
than any ever uttered by southern man. He
looked upon this speech with considerable surprise,
because of its ultra and incomprehensibe doctrine.
IL was not better "dsunion than that man free
should be made slave" but better dsunion, better
civil war, than that man who, now a slave, stands
upon one soil. should stand slave upon another
portion OF the same soil Better disunon than that
a slave who now lives in North Carolina should be
removed and held a slave in New Mexico
With such sentiments expressed by northern
men, with the enactment Of the insulting Wilmot
provlso, and the non passage of bill to restore
fugitive slaves, and the speech Of the Senator from
New York, that, far from restoring the fugitive
save the laws OF hospitality forbid IL; with also the
annunciation that those who come TO States
and carry of our slaves shall not be delivered up
fugitves from justice; with all these things the
meeting of the Nashville convention becomes of the
utmost importance.
That convention, he believed. originated in
most perfect and honest conviction and desire 10
preserve this Union But il that convention should
meet in the midst of the circumstances just stated,
he thought it likely that that convention would
turn out TO be ''the beginning of the end" That
convention might result in the adoption of such
States represented, as would ultimately result in
disunion. He expected no immediate dissolution
OF the Union, but it would certainly follow in
short period.
He asked that the fugitive slave bill be passed;
that the insulting Wilmot provso be forever buried;
and he was then willing TO compromise. He would
vote, IN that case, for the admission Of California,
and Tor the abolition Of the foreign slave trade in
the District Of Columbia; and in voting for the adj
mission of California he made no trifing sacrifice.
lie had been always opposed TO her admission, and
the events attending her late action had increased
his opposition; but, TO promote peace and harmo-
ny, he would vote for her admission
He had hopes that such compromise could be
effected After the speeches Of the Senators from
Massachusetts,, (Mr. wEBsTER,) from Michigan,
(Mr CAss,) and from New York, (Mr. DrcKIS-
SOM he had hopes that kind counsels would pre-
vail, and that the motto of the Senator from Massa-
chusetts would be adopted by all-"Union and
liberty, now and for ever, one and inseparable."
Mr.. CASS explained that in addition TO the objcc-
bOi VI uiiSohstieutlonanty, nc mao opposed uc VIII
mot proyiso as unnecessary and ine1pedient. He
asked the Senator from North Carolina would he
accept the Missouri compromise in the terms in
which II now stood in the statute book was Il half
SO good for the South as non-interventonl
Mr.. BADGER replied that he would accept the
Missouri line in the terms and TO tho extent Of the
provision passed in the Of Missouri. He would
rely on the necessary implication which would fol-
low the prohibition north, that slavery admit
ted south of the line.
Mr.. CHASE obtained the floor but, after some
conversation, yielded it TO Mr.. HALE, who had the
floor to-day on the California question; Mr.. H.
stating that il made no difference which PROPOSE
ton was taken up.
Mr.. HALE said that it seemed TO be admitted by
every body that the Senate and the country were
divided into two parties; one--thc lnrgor-was pa
triotc, and disposed to settle the difficulties now
existing; the other-a small party--consistcd Of a
few extremists, who delighted in keeping the coun-
try in alarm and strife. He thought that the ex-
trcmists deserved praise and respect for affordng
the others an opportunity 10 let off their extra sup
ply Of patriotism.
Mr.. III. read at large from the speech of Mr.. CAL
HouN, 70 show the alleged causes which have pro-
duccd the present state of affairs The first Of these
as stated by the Senator from South Carolina was
the ordinance of 1857. This was passed by vote
in which every southern State united, and was re-
enacted in 1889
n, tar Ii.