The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1850-03-28

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stand upon the same ground with him in that re-
spect. | voted against that treaty in ls4s, as /
would vote against il now and If that gentleman
had stood by me, and two or three other gentlemen
on this side of the Chamber, this controversy
would never have arisen
Mr. Hale want to make one further explaua-
tion, sir, and am sorry, very sorry, to be driven
to do it. The honorable Senator asks me why |
did not vote TO keep it out call upon the Sen
ate to mark what | am about to say. A motion
was made by the Senator from Connecticut TO in
sert in the treaty provision keeping slavery out
Of the whole country that we should acquire, and
upon that vote my name stands recorded in favor
of the proposition and upon that vote the name
of the honorable Senator from Massachusetts, does
not appear at all, although 1t appears that he was
in the Senate five minutes before and f We minutes
after the vote was taken So much for that, sir
| voted in fact against the war. | voted against
all supplies to the war and voted for the treaty.
because | thought, in the words think of Benja.
min Franklin, that there never could be a good
war or a bad peace; that peace was better than
war, and therefore that would take the best
peace that could get. tried to make the peace
better, but when found that we had got the best
that We could get, took it.
1t was, sir, with no purpose of provoking con-
troversy with the Senator from Massachusetts,.
or any one else, that | alluded to this matter
He says and says with great truth that if the re-
mark was not made under the impression that
there was discrepancy he does not know what
it WAS made for 1 state distinctly that | do be-
lieve there is difference, and very wide one.
between the position assumed by the honorable
Senator in lS4S and the position assumed by him
few days since. IL am mistaken in this, | am
not alone in it. The whole country so under
steH3s it. Ltbink .hars have .hsen he ynost aat
| teri hq dat
bestowed upon the honorable Senator for the po-
sition he has taken in 1880, from sources where,
for the first time in his life be has had anything
savoring Of commentator. IL will be found in a
newspaper published in this CITY, the most con-
slant, most uniform, and most INSCRIPTIONS in
abusing, without measure every man from the
North that has stood up for Northern rights and
the honorable Senator among the rest, until the
speech made the other day allude to the Union
And now, all at once, it seems as if'he vocabu-
larry of adulation was exhausted TO find commenda-
ton to bestow upon the honorable Senator for the
course which he took in that speech by paper
which, up to that moment, had constantly and
continually abused him, and not only him, but
every man who stood with him If am mista-
ken, this very astute and sagacous editor is mis-
taken and the whole country is mistaken, also
But, sir, have impugned and impeaohed no
mans motives | would sooner almost lose my
life than suggest that the honorable Senator, in
making the change, has been governed by any
thing but thA hi0h and na,~intie motives which
have been imputed 10 him and the other honor
able Senators who have made an effort to settle
this distracting question which disturbs the ooun-
try; but cannot shut my eyes to the convictions
Of my own judgment; and when see man oc-
cupying the position which the honorable Sena-
tor occupies, q man whose fame is part of the in
heritance Of every son Of New Hampshire, at
least, il not OF the whole country; when | see
him taking course calculated in my judgment,
to sacrifice interests which are dear to every
Northern man-when | see him, in this great
contest now in issue, when the eyes of Christen.
dom are fastened upon us, and ON which the in
terests of unborn millions throughout the count
less generations in which the world shall exist are
suspended-when see a man occupying such a
position in contest like this takuga course diff
ferent from that which be has hitherto pursued,
cannot shut my eyes to the fact and | have sim
ply called attention to it, without suggesting any
| thing improper or discourteous towards him
| And, | think, that If an issue is to he made be-
tween my candor and intelligence and that of any
body else in this matter, that the verdict of the
country must be, that there is a marked and wide
difference between the position occupied by the
honorable Senator now and that which he occu
pied in ls4S.
Mr.. Webster. This is not question of mo.
tives. l do not throw myself back for protection
upon the purity Of motives II is question OF
opinion question Of consistency. The gentle
man says that he quoted this extract without say.
ing there was any Inconsistency about it; yet his
whole argument now is to prove that there is such
inconsistency. He says the whole country thinks
30 too. Sir, do not take that gentleman's un.
Outstanding of the opinion of the whole country
as authentic, nor do think him competeht wit
ness to prove what the whole country's opinion i
in regard to the consistency Of my opinions. III
can speak for himself, and state his own impress
sions; but he is taking rather too large juris
diction to himself when he stands up here t.
speak for the whole country. demur, hesitate
| doubt, | repel any such authority of the honor
| able member leave IL to the country to iudg
and to speak its own opinions; l shall not say
what is the sentiment of the country. | do no
find myself competent to say, yet trust ! an
nearly as competent as the member who under
takes TO lay down what the sentiment of the Who'll,
country is After all, | believe, sir, it comes
pretty much to this The gentleman's observa
tions, If they did not originate in, are somewha
tinctured by--they take little flavor, an odor, 6
perfume, from the fact not 1t seems, at all agree
able to him, that a certain portion of the publ,
press, which, he says, for q series of years has
been unfavorable to me, now comes out in com
mendaton of my speech and my sentiments.
Mr. Douglas, from the Committee ON Terrific.
res, reported a bill for the admission Of Califor
MIA as State also bills for the establishment OF
Territorial Governments in Utah and New
Mexico
THE first bill proposes to admit California as
she is; the others propose the organization of
Territorial Governments in Deseret and New
Mexico, without the Proviso. A section provides
for the settlement of the Texan boundary by a
pecuuiary compensation to Texas, in consideration
of the release of the claim to the territory In dis
pute between herself and New Mexico.
The bills were severaly read and passed TO a
second reading
The Presidents message relating to California
wss then taken up, and Mr.. Hunter delivered a
speech of nearly two hours length, taking the ex
IRENE Southern ground on the question of sla-
very.
On motion of Mr.. Uphnm, the subject was post
poned till Friday next
The Deficiency bill from the House was read
twice and referred 10 the Committee on Finance.
The Senate then went into Executive session.
HOUSE OF REPR EsENTATIyES.
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 20, 1850. -
The morning hour was taken up in the consd-
GRAFTON Of report from the Committee on
D.;n hat 4 ayfra conea