The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1850-08-18
DEFERRED DEBATE,
THURSDAY, AUGUST IS. 1850.


sENAfE.
PROTEST
The Senate having under console ration the motion BY
Sf that the protes, against the passage OF the
Cdioih'a DILL presented by him Wednesday last, be
iee Mr = in, spread upon the journal
pii naprEh said l stated yesterday blf President
ua' oid not entertain The confident expectations
oy some gentlemen the Senate that the precedent which
we We're about To set would be free from danger or in
convenience but that, yielding my first impressions
III regard 10 this proceeding To what seemed 10 be the
Judgment OF gentlemen of far experience and cana
city to decide than myself would nerpose no obstacle
TO the reception OF this paper and placing upon the Jour
nal OF the Senate. Observations subsequently made by
my honorable friend from MARY land MIR PRArrl and
my honorable Trend from Louisiana Mr. DowNsl led
me yesterday 10 doubt very seriously whether there were
any circumstances which ought 10 induce TO yield my
own judgment OF the propriety of this measure and
whether mad not under the influence Of desire pro.
uuce What might be supposed harmonious and good feel
inss, exhibited loo much facility in sumendering what
Struck me to be the real point OF the the Judgment
ana Opinions OF others have awaited yself. therefore
sf OF the poslponement OF the matter until this day TO
re examine litlle the grounds upon which the subject
rests; ana every moment Of tme which have given 10
aal re examination strengthens the view which took at
fst OF the objections which lie ct the very foundation of
tins proceeding; Il is question of far more Importance
u strikes me- Mr. President, than we seem generally to
suppose. u Is question which appears 10 OF
lar more Importance than II appeared to yesterday
II is an application 10 introduce upon the proceedings of
this body what has been totally unknown for sixty Years
u IS an application 10 introduce it, not because this is the
fs case ID our history when questions OF similar mpor
lance and similar excitement have agitaed the members
OF this chamber but il is to do now what has never
been done before although II ever proper 10 do
H. various occasions have presented themselves in the
past history OF this body in which ought certainly to
have been done, For one confess entertain the strong
est obleclons to the nofuchon OF usages the effect
ana operation of which cannot oresre, and dong that
which the trainers OF constitution carefully and
wisely excluded from doing so far as the regulations
OF lhe constitution are concerned This matter was not
overlooked IN The convention which framed the cons
luton OF the United ates. 1t was there considered
ms very rgh OF entehg written dissent upon the
Journal was proposed to be given the members of this
body i was considered aud the proposition was rejected
by decided and overwhelming vote of the States repre-
sented IN that convention The given very
brei will beg the indulgence OF the Senate while
read short paragraph or two. 1t was proposed to
amend the article OF the constitution which requires the
and nays 10 be entered upon every question: the
demand OF e-h'th OF the menbers present of each
house. To conne the yeas and nays the House OF
Representatives and TO give any member OF the Senate
the Liberty 10 enter his dissent.
Mr.. CARROLL and Mr. RANDOLPH moved to strike the
words " each house" and insert the words " the House
ofkepresentatives in section T. article q; and add
tue section the words, and any ncnber OF the SENATE
Mr.. GoUvERNKUa MoRais and Mr. WiLsoS observed that ii
the minority have right their votes and
We're not extended TO then and to allow both would i'll
the journals like the records OF court, with applications
On the question Mr. CARRoIl.s motion 10 allow mem
Der to enter his dissenMayiand. Virginia, South Caro-
lima, aye-3; New Hampshire Massachusetts Connecticut
New Jersey Pennsylvania, Delaware, North Carolina, and
Georgia, nos.
1t seems, then, Mr. President it would be considered
as obvious that the question between having the
yeas and nays and having the dissent protest entered
upon the journal 1t TO have entered the head
OF no member OF the convention that both should be al
lowed The clause proposed, as II stood in the consu-
ton was and IS thai IN each house. upon the demand of
nth OF the members present, The yeas and nays
should be entered II was proposed 10 amend that
10 leave that provision applicable TO the House OF Repre-
senanves and as substitute for 1t to give to the senator
the right to enter his dissent upon the record The
vention, by decided majority rejected the proposition
g.rh
same looing; that the privilege in each should be OF
having The vote recorded and The privilege in neither of
having the dissent entered But what wish 10 call al
tenon 10 ls That seems 10 have been considered upon
all hands, that the question the right OF protest of
the yeas and nays, and II conceded upon all hands
that both ought not 70 be extended.
The more, therefore, have thought OF this subject, the
more have been struck with these facts: that this
ter was carefully considered by this convention-ihe
proposition was rejected by decided vote OF eight States
10 three that IN the subsequent prosecution OF the business
OF The Senae Tor sixty years there has been instance
IN which such privilege has been allowed am salts
he'd there must be danger and difficulty ahead, il now
allow il, Gentlemen say the Senate will exercise
sound discretion In my opinion, sur the Senate Will be
stripped OF all discretion, practically, upon this subject
i we allow this protest TO be entered upon the journal OF
the Senate, with what propey decline 10 allow
protest To be received and entered uron the journal
from any other eha number of members, upon any other
subject when they stale that II IS matter OF importance
aha Their should be entered upon the journal, to
be pefpetuaed and banded down 10 poseri,y! ! do not
see how, upon principles Of courtesy, upon which alone
TINS ~ asked, n we grant tnow, we can ever refuse "
without making marked distinction between set of
gentlemen upon this floor and another. That is dis
iinction which, for one, viii never consent TO make
upon questions OF couEesyip yield to IN regard to
subject what would not yield TO another REGARD
TO another subject feel satisfied, Mr. President, that
the the experiment is tried and prosecuted if the
Senate shall now yield what has been It's uniform prsc-
iice Tor sixty years, the embarrassment and diff.
Guilty will they find in their future progress
But, further Mr.. President my friend from Maryland
MIR Patti alluded TO sorlion OF this protest which
seemed imply a reflection upon Uncomfortable
Der OF gentlemen here who represent southern con
sttuences, they had concurred Ia system oil
ures, the object OF which 10 inure the South.
know, however thai my friends meant such thing for
they they meant such thing.
Mr. HUNTER Will my friend read that portion Of
the protest To which he refers
Mr. BADGER | do not wish To remark upon H. My
friend from Maryland Mr. PRATTl drew attention to this
yesterday wish TO call the attention of the Senate 10
another portion OF the PAPER. heard very little OF il
read yesterday, as came 10 Just before the reading
concude and took then upon the representation OF
gentlemen here that there nothing the paper except
simple statement OF the teasons OF the gentlemen who
offered II why they were opposed 10 this bill, Now
that does not strike being correct view OF what
the paper really hnd part OF il IN these words
In view OF all these considerations the undcrs,gnsd
constrained believe that this government could be
brought 10 admit state presenting itself under such cir
cOmstances Were not for toe purpose OF excluding the
people Of tic slavebodng States from Oh opportunity Of
settling with their properly in that Territory.
do not propose TO inquire whether This opinion be
true or not true, correct incorrect With that have
nothing to do but am asked TO put upon the Journal OF
the Senate in the form OF protesta thing never done
before in this hodya paper which asserts shat this gov
senng itself under such circumstances If II not for
the nj pxcludng of The savphOulnq