The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1850-04-19

that effect and ask the yeas and nays upon that il the
Senate will lay down and postpone the subject now before
and 70 ae nsh this week.
have the benefit OF the OF those gentlemen who VIII
be absent under order OF the Senate, from and after Mon
day next and that we shall save great deal o. me, oe
foma separate State government H. on the contrary,
Mr. President, this motion shall not prevail and we go
q l. eommse Seen Will Is Be-
required, by the nature of their mission, to sit and
slider length Of time before they report DR. Frank
lin, in his wisdom--and his wisdom was such that il
picked out whatever was wise or even decorous in the
conduct Of nations and OF people OF an Indian chief
to whom q proposition was made which required an
his part but he considered tnot disrespect
u towards the interrogation to postpone his answer until
the next day. in order that he should to have CON-
sidered the question which was put to him Now, upon
the principle that this Indian chief took one night in
order to consider what he had to answea sim
pie question-this committee OF thirteen, invoked to be
raised under such impressive less
than the salvation OF the Unionwould think, have to
consider many nights before they could come back to
tell us thar they had performed mission which the SEN
gave them to perform II they returned inconnenty,
should suppose they had not considered al all or,
what might be still material had considered i be.
forehand, leaving to infer that il was all solemn
farce-her going out and coming back with what, IN
They must consder-they will be obliged to consider
two or three weeks, perhaps before they present any
propositions under such grave circumstances Here them
is to be great deal OF time lost II the committee ls
raised then this week is gone beyond all question An
attempt then, Mr. President, to go on and raise this
commee,l consider as postponement OF the question
for weeks and then we will be likely to have brought
forward innumerabe questions which do not belong to
this and which may necessarily give rise to debate and
possibly to disagreement between the two houses, and
the long delay both houses may occasion the loss OF
the California bill by disagreement nothing sir,
but long delay, and imminent danger 10 California, BY
proceeding any further with this motion OF reference to
committee. We have now before us, as remarked, a
bill for the admission OF California which is briefly and
pontedly worded. shall, therefore, make the motion
intended to make yesterday, that the question shall
ment is gone into move accordingly that this subject be
laid on the table, for the purpose OF taking up bill No
l69 for the admission OF the State OF California; and
upon that motion ask the yeas and nays.
MIR. CLAY. Mr. President, hope the senator from
Missouri will Withdraw his motion for a moment
Mr.. BENTON. Oh, certainly; anything in the spirit
Of compromise. especially in relation TO California
Mr.. CLAY. With respect to the parliamentary OBJ
lection made by the senator TO my amendment, if he
ever the subject up. My amendment was drawn with
full consderaon-as full could give to any question
OF form that could arise. But pass that by.
Sir, ii isa most unhappy non-concurrence for poor Cali
fornia-ths non concurrence between the honorable
senator and myself. He wants her admitted; so do l.
He is regreitiDg the lapse OF time before her ad-
little singular that the honorable senator himself-I
say il in all respect and Difference to him--is now
one of the causes which prolong the admission Of
that SENATOR on Friday last, think il was, and will
renew il day. 10 let this committee be appointed with
out further opposition, (Which opposition, ! think, will
be found to be wholly unavailable, and TO be productive
of no other result than that OF additional consumption OF
tme) and lei the bill 10 admit California be taken up
notwithstanding the appointment OF the committee and
acted in the Senate, and when II comes up as have
already inmaed will propose amendment to that
bill the annexation TO II OF the two territorial governments
without the Wilmoi Provso Bur- cir. short as that bill
is not occupying space than half the span oil the
honorable senator's hand does he suppose that is GO
ing pass in the shape in which Is, even supposing
rejection OF my propositons Why, sir, he talks about
early precedens III he refer early precedens for
the admission of new States, let tell him that vo
late all of them, il California be admitted For how
were new States admitted. commencing from the act for
the admission OF Ohio, and going upwards by the
passage Of previous law proposing certain articles OF
compact which were binding and obligatory on both
parties. How is il with California Why, cir, upon the
subject OF the public domain, upon the subject OF the
rights OF the United States in California if the bill were
10 pass in that little brief space which the honorable
senator proposes the consequence might be the loss OF
the public domain in California ] know tie honorable
senator from Illinois. who has this objection TO his
BILL has turned his attention TO il and hope he will add
to the very valuable labors which he has already rem
dered TO the country and 10 the world the OF
suitable amendment protect the interests OF the United
States in California
But IL California be admitted at all, il only be by
annexng condition to her admission, that nothing IN
the act of her admission shall coniravene or impair the
rights OF the United States in the public domain. Well
confess here that, although have rather brought my
mind TO that mode OF her admission, upon the condition
oil reservation anu WestINatOn oi Tue
ted States in California, do moi think il quite equal 10
what il will be, ii IL a solemn compact between
California and the United States prior TO her admission
Now, the senator talks OF the delay which will ensue
II California be not taken up and acted on. com
miee, upon a melancholy and lamented occasion, ~
TO leave on Monday, and be absent Tor weeks; and
the honorable senator in view OF this iact thinks we
might get through the California bill oday Withdraw
the opposition 10 the committee then Let be appointed
and then move TO take up the California bill Let the
amendment proposed TO II, or which may be contemplated
10 be proposel, be offered and decided Really, sir, Il
say without any intentional disrespect 10 the senator
from Mssou the senator himself y prolongng the ad
mssiop OF California, and not those who conendng
for this committee Let look at all the facts Sup
California With the suitable guards and protection OF the
public properly there Why sir, we must turn our at
iention TO the condition OF the other House The pas
sage O. the bill through the Senate does not admit Cali
forna II must have concurrence OF the oher Drancn
OF Congress and OF another department oi the govern
ment oi the United States And, IL we are to Judge oil
the present and the future BY the past should be very
happy 10 be perfectly assured that the other branch Of
Congress would be in condition to transact business ~
two weeks hence II they consume as much OF ,hef ume
IN the election OF officer 10 supply the place OF le
lamened gentleman that has died, as they dd n the
early part Of the session in the election OF other ohcer
will be three or four weeks before that body would
be prepared to act upon that bill even we pass y mere
But am willing 10 give California the chances We
are consuming time, / acknowledge, and The senator
from Missouri compes me TO do i in responding 70 nun
But let him object 10 the Communicated It's tate
be decided and II the Senate decides against u there
be majority against il, no parliamentary or dsoderly
attempt 10 thwaft the will OF the majority OF thus Sen
ale II such an attempt should be made, charge no
one j though il may embarass and delay for monthsno
such attempt ought or can will prevail Let us, then,
o m work like men let us decide upon this committee,