The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1850-02-16
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,.

The House resolved itself into a Committee OF the
Whole on the state Of the Union-Mr. BoyD in the
chair--and resumed the consideration of the reso-
lutions proposing to refer the various branches OF
the annual message Of the President of the United
States to the several standing committees.
Mr.. ROOT,.of Ohio said that the President was
for the o-nothing policy; and he was for doing
something with regard to the Territories. He
wished Congress to do their duty, and he should
like them 10 enact such measures will inure To
the Territories and the whole country. He be-
lieved that the majority in both branches of Con-
gress were in favor OF prompt action. He did not
subscribe to the "mastcrly- inactivity" policy. A
wonderful change had taken place in the minds of
the President and his friends. He need not tell
gentlemen how urgent the friends Of the President
were for some kind of government for California.
He never heard the President say a word on the
subject A paper in this city, speaking for the
President, said that ne was anxious to provide
some kind Of q government for California.
1t was said that the President urged on members
of Congress" For Gods sake, give California
government" II was not the fault of the House
that nothing was done at the last session. The
House passed bill, but that august body, the SEN
ate, did not agree to it. And the next thing heard
Of was the civil and diplomatic bill. with Walkers
that this would be passed He could not speak
authoritatively, but he had the decided express
sion of opinion of gentlemen that it would pass
thatth men who would vote for it were counted
and booked-and that by means Of the screw it
would be put through. But some of the screws
were loose 1t was ON the last morning of the
sion when the bill came to the House. 1t
said that the amendment would not be relinquishcd
unless the insisting on it should peril the passage
of the BILL He was one of those who had deter
mined that the amendment should not be adopted
by the House, and helped to fight it out
They were told that southern gentlemen have the
same example in view; but he would advise them
to use it sparingly, and not to jump too quick
run too far. fany people should have law, it is the
people of New Mexico, where the bowie knife is re-
sorted to. Minnesota, with population less than
twenty thousand, had territorial government
given to her, and why not New Mexico9 1t would
be better for the people of the United States in every
respect that this should be done. What was the
objection to prohibiting slavery in territory now
free! 1t was said because it would disturb the har
mony Of the country. Was it not rather to avoid
disturbing the harmony of party? The trainers of
ofterritory. If they did, they would have made
some provision in that instrument for its manage
mint. The provisions were applicable to what was
then Possessed. We have an equal number of free
ard slave States and were told that it would be an
aggression TO admit into the Union any more free
Safes. He would ask, who has gained by this sag
gession" Is not the South, relatively, stronger
tRn she was at the formation of the Constitution?
h meant the States which were understood to adj
hire to the institution. And now the aggression is
claimed to be that peradventure, the free States
nay have one majority over the slave.
IA large majority Of the people agree this
that Congress has exclusive right to iegislnte
over the Territories. When it 10 said that it was
not constitutional to exclude slavery, what COM
promise is it to say that slavery shall be prohibited
For himself he could not compromise on a question
of constitutionality. and of right. He would not
compromise on the question of human freedom, so
help him God. He belonged to the reviled sect of
Free-Soilers. There would be no difficulty in max
ing an issue with him, and he trusted that there
would be difficulty in getting him to a trial.
The question ought to have been settled long ago.
He would not degrade the South, because he could
not do so without degrading himself. He thought
that the House should never abandon the ground.
As long as it stood firm, matter what the Presi-
dent or Senate did, the question of freedom was
safe.
Gentlemen had been tainted with the remark
that the Wilmot proviso dead; in other words, il
has kicked the bucket. II must be gratifying to
northern men thus to be addressed to be told to
their faces that tho Wilmot proviso has been muir
dered in the house Of its friends, who have tramplcd
il under their feet But, it was living and an
abiding principle in the breasts Of the people of the
free States and 1t may appear that, instead OF the
twenty northern members, who voted to lay 1t on
the table, killing the proviso, they have COM
mtted suicide Not ten, not two Of these gentle
men could have come here, IL they had told their
constituents that they would do they have done.
great change was going on in the public mind
the President said that he was for non-nterventon;
and IL was understood that this was the way TO
make matters acceptable to the great Taylor Re
publican party. One side or other Of the Whig
party was TO be deceived. He thought that there
was one thing more absurd than the dissolution Of
The Union and that the alarm which gentle
men felt about it. The dissolution of the Union was
a mere speculative question.
The honorable gentleman made further remarks
Mr. wELLBORN, of Georgia, obtained the floor
He briefly glanced at the ordinance Of 1857, and
said that il was passed before the adoption of the
Constitution of the United States by the Congress
of the Confederation.
Mr. FITCH inquired whether the first Congress
which met under the Constitution, did not re-en-
act III
MIR wELLBORN replied that il was a matter Of
fact that there was no territory belonging To the
States at the time they entered into union; ano
for that reason, as was remarked by Mr. Madison
in the "Fsderdiisf" il was out of the constitutions
power 10 apply the proviso. He proposed two res
buttons which he intended to move as amendment
at the proper time. The first declares that IL Il
inexpcdient to receive California into the Unior
with her present constitution, restricting slavery
south Of thirty six degrees thirty minutes and the
second insructs the Committee on Territories u
report bills providing territorial governments fol
the region Of territory lying south Of thirty six de
grees thirtyminutes Of north latitude and the terri
tones of New Mexico and Descrct, prohibiting
slavery north Of that line, and recognising the ad
instability of slavery south Of IL, until the adop
ton, by the inhabitants thereof of State constiu
tons and their incorporation into the Union. HI
acknowledged the right Of the people 10 self gov
crnment; but portion OF the people OF Californis
had different languages, religions, and colors. j
has been only two years since they were conquered
in arms BY the laws OF naturalization they could
not exercise the first political right-that of suf
frage. Would the free States consent that she shall
be admitted without limitation OF boundary A,
TO the second resolution the whole OF the territory
IL not given TO either section. The question ough
70 be settled now and forever; and he thought tina
his proposition would quiet discord and secure re
pose After eloquent remarks these points, b.
invoked the spirit Of patriotism. He had sometime
thought that there was only one thing TO which
people would bow, and that was the demon of par
ty. lie had imagined that the American people
had the least gratitude, and were the least consid
crate of any other ON EARTH for the untold blessing
which they possess. Contrast our own happy pc
tical and social condition with that Of the troddcn
down nations Of the old world. They, crowded to
gether and oppressed, while we have the pure, un
tainted air Of freedom. He desired the pcrpctua
ton Of the Union. He would make no threat, ans
would, for the present, rely upon doing justice 4
all sections in the spirit which should characterize
honorable men.
Mr.. MANN, OF Massachusetts said that the tern
Free Soicr had often been used here, as IL seemc'
10 him, in an unjust and opprobrious sense. III
claimed 10 be one, in the true and general sense o
that term, and deemed IL no cause of rcproach b
ayow his opinions in this hall. What is the correl
alive Of the term9 What do we mean by slave
soeri II the Free-Soilcr desires territory to b
free, save-soiler desires IL 10 bear slaves. He wa
willing TO be weighed in the balance with such cpl
thcts. The term Aboltionst has been used as
term Of reproach and contumcly; but IL may b
used in an honorable sense. II Abolitionist meal