The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1850-06-18

ment, which had just been voted upon, had been
phrased in precisely the opposite manner, he
should have voted against it, just as he had now
done. And he would vote against everything that
was calculated intended TO cucumber or embar-
l rass the bill for the admission of California. He
had again and again declared his purpose to vote
for the admission Of California as an isolated
measure. He was in favor Of her admission pre-
cisely in the condition in which she had presented
! herself. And he would therefore vote against
every amendment, Of whatever shape or kind it
| might be, that would have tendency to embar-
rass or impede the passage of the bill under con-
sideration. He cared not what the nature of the
amendment might be, whether it was for slavery
or against it, whether it was for the line of $50 80
or against it, he would vote against every amend
ment that might be offered that did not pertain
directly and purely to the bill for the admission of
California. This was his policy, and he had no
further explanations to give. He withdrew the
amendment.
MIR. HALL renewed the amendment, and said:
Mr. Chairman, in view of what has been said
with reference to vote just given by the COM
mittee, desire to offer few remarks. did not
vote for the amendment Of the gentleman from
| Kentucky. MySoblections to that amendment
were twofold. In the first place, considered it
entirely unnecessary. The Missouri compromise,
so called, is before us. That compromise has
| long since received construction with which
am satisfied. II has been for years past under
stood as applying only to the Territories, and to
]
Territories. IL is true, the language of that COM
promise prohibits slavery forever in certain Terri
tories; but, repeat, that language has been settled
to apply only to the Territories as such. When
ever, therefore, a State is admitted from Terri
tory covered by the Missouri compromise, il
belongs to the people Of such State to determine
the question OF slavery for themselves. Now,
sir my constituents are in favor of the Missouri
compromise. l am in favor Of it, also; and
mean to vote against all amendments calculated TO
weaken or change that measure, care not by
whom offered or by whom supported In the
next place, understood the amendment of the
gentleman from Kentucky to intimate, that Con-
gress might have the right to exclude State
formed out of Territory north of $50 30', because
its constitution admits slavery. cannot assent
to any such proposition; and will vote for moth
ing which, by intendment can be construed into
the admission Of the right on the part of Congress
u prescribe any other condition to State coming
into this Union, than that its constitution shall be
republican. / care not whether State is formed
out of Territory north or south Of given line,
the people thereof-and they alone-have the
right to pass on the question Of slavery for them
| selves.
| One word more, sir, and / will be DONE 1t has
been said that the people of California south Of
$50 80, are opposed to coming into the Union as
| a State. do not so understand the fact. 1t is
true, that the delegates in the California Conven-
ton from the section south Of the line | have
mentioned expressed themselves i'll favor Of a
Territorial government; but when the question
was submitted to the people, there were only
twenty one votes cast south OF $50 30 against the
| constitution. @
] Mr.. THOMPSON, of Mississippi Was not
| the question submitted to the people merely
whether they were in favor OF the constitution or
| not?
Mr.. HALL. Sir, the question submitted was,
"Would the people come into the Union as a
| State under the constitution prepared by the Cali
| fornia Conventono That was the question; and
upon that question but twenty-one negative votes
were cast south OF $50 30'. My authority for this
statement, is memorandum furnished me by
three of the Representatives of California, now in
this city.
He withdrew the amendment
! Mr.. TOOMBS renewed the amendment, and
resumed Tire gentleman from New York avows
his readiness to support the principle affirming
the right of the people Of Territory in forming
a State constitution, to admit or reject slavery,
affirming that principle upon his opposition to all
amendments to the California bill. Why this
j opposition! What is there for it, II is in
| order. 1t has precedent in its favor. The Mis-
| sour Compromise was introduced as an amend
ment to the bill admitting Missouri into the Union;
and there is no parliamentary or Other, sufficient
reason for offering it at this time in this place
| Where would the gentleman have it In what
form would he affirm the principle
MIR. DUER here explained that he had given
notice Of bill allowing New Mexico to come
into the Union at once, and the rest of the Terri
tory as soon as the population should be sufficient
! Mr.. T. resumed and said: Then you would
| introduce the principle in a bill to admit New
Mexico, but not in a bill to admit California into
| the Union. am unable to see the reasons of its
appropriateness in the one bill and not in the
other, and apprehend the principle will be hard
to find. -. --rs
The member from Boston MR. WMTHRop] de-
1 MES my right, from our relations, to call him to
the floor. Call him to the floor! Whether he
| comes to the floor not, is matter wholly
Indifferent to me- but if he supposes that, because
thought him unfit to preside over this House,
that therefore his speeches and public career here
are exempt from my criticism and such comments
as may choose to make upon either, he is mis-
taken. As to his hypothetical remark about
g hurting back insults, - find such remarks from
such source, difficult to reply to, especially
make it point not to quarrel here; but if he is
responsible as gentleman for what he utters as
member of this House, and will drop his hypothe-
| sis, and put down his hands as becomes gentle
man, shall then be relieved of all difficulty in the
case. But notwithstanding that members usual
laudation of his own openness and candor, he took
| his seat leaving the point unsettled He does not
vet state, and doubt if he be brought state,
whether or not he would vote to admit the rest Of
! the territory as States into the Union with con-
situations protecting African slavery. The Presi-
dents plan avows this principle; the member pro-
fesses be for the plan but do not believe that
profession to be sincere, and offer him the OPP
portunity to speak out AS to the gentleman
! from New York, Mr.. DuER, if he waits until he
gets q vote on his bill to let New Mexico into the
i Union before he afirms this great principle, he is
not likely to be soon embarrassed by the question.
No considerable portion of Congress or the coun-
try can seriously entertain the idea of admitting
the population of New Mexico to the exercise of
the rights of a sovereign State Of this Union.
! The proposition is monstrous.
i (Mr. DUER. Did not the gentleman from
Georgia vote to admit them into the Union at the
last session Of Congress'
Mr.. TOOMBS, (resuming.) No, sir; no sir.
i No such proposition ever was voted for in Con-
1 gress that know of. If the gentleman alludes
to the bill of the present Secretary of the Navy,
of the last session, have to say, did not vote
for that bill, and do not think, from the shape
it assumed, and by the vote of the North, that it
got any votes at ALL was in favor Of the bill as
introduced by its author, but it embraced all Cali
fornia, and upon calculation then made which
L Al