The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1850-02-22
DESERaED DEsArE.
In srsArr. WEDNESDAY. February 20, 1850.
ADMISSION OF oALIfoRNIA

~~r~~c'
ADMISSION OF CALIFORNIA.
The Senate proceeded to the consideration OF the special
ORDER being the motion TO refer the Presidents message,
transmitting the constitution OF California.
Mr. Gle MEMS The motion OF the senator from Mis-
sour, Mr. BESToN and the first Of the series OF resolu
tons presented not long by the senator from Ken
tucky Mr. CLAYl are in substance the shall con-
slider and treat them identical They seem TO be so regard
ed by the senator from Kentucky himself though speech
at one time certainly left different impression on my
mind. ! suppose did not understand him rightly. be
that however, may there is entire concord OF
opinion and action between himself and the senator from
Missouri concord which is by no means the least
significant Of the portents by which we are surrounded
have read, indeed, that time coming when the lion
and the lamb should lie down together, but did not ex
pect to witness anything approaching that happy state
in my day. All incredulity, however, is at end,
and am prepared to believe in any miracie and treat
with HsssT any opaes Wn
"he great imbodiment'-are found holding sweet con.
verse WITH each 9iher torgeiiing The q
iSsl Ca" be nothing % Wild and ancu as 70 dey BE-
lief We live, MIR. President, in strange times, and
strange are being enacted around Il related
o the celebrated Simon de Montfor, that when he sur
yeyed the host Of Edward the field Of Evesham, he
murmured, .'Now God have mercy souls, Tor our
bodies are Prince Edwards"
II il was in my nature to despair of good cause,
should have been oppressed with something like the
same feeling when the senator from Michigan short
time concluded his memorable speech the consti
monat mower of Congress to enact the Wilmo Proviso
When even he with his clear convictions of duty, with
his deep love for the constitution, and his great readiness
to make sacrifices in its defence, dared go beyond the
assertion OF general principles wholly inadequate TO the
protection OF the South the mos. sangnne might well be
excused for yielding TO dependency know that in the
opinion Of some OF our friends the course he pursued
was wisest and best but, when that sconceded it only
proves the magnitude OF the present danger, and the
fearful nature Of that destructive element with which
he is compelled to deal SO tenderly, III anything
were wanting TO add to the alarm which such a
Speech under such circumstances well calculated
to excite has been supplied by the senator from Ken
lucky After all the reflection which he has been able to
bestow upon the subject aided by the resources his long
experience and his great familiarity with difficult ques
tons in trying imes he has been able to suggest
edy which does not recognise the right OF aggression
the one sde and demand unconditional submission
the other He has submitted for consideration
mes OF resolutions dignhed with the name OF compro-
mise, but which, like most other compromises between
the weak and the strong, is little better than cloak to
hide from the public gaze hideous wrong 1t is not my
purpose now to enter into any general examination OF
those resolutions. shall refer to OF them. and
only Of that one desire to speak uniniuenced by
prejudice against or partiay for the author have been
all my life carrying warfare against his political
measures, and do not think it would be altogether in
good for to indulge in eKravagant euloges OF
man whose public measures never did approve. and
whose latest act has been deadly blow at the rights and
interests Of my constituents For his personal character
have that respect and admiration which genius and high
talents, combined with great bodness. fail to in
spe but long ago he made his choice between the North
and the South Long ago he became the advocate OF q
system calculated to build up and enrich the commercial
and manufacturing interests at the expense OF agricul
ture Deluded, perhaps, by the phantom OF an en-
larged patriotism, the wants OF his own section Of the
Union small attract his notice, and he almost
forgot that il constituted part OF the nation which
claimed his With the best Intentions you choose
he mstook for generosity the feeling which prompted
him to disregard the complaints OF the southern States
and with strange infauaon, honestly believed himself
to be aborng for the good OF the whole nation when he
was only pointing out way for one part to enrich itself
the plumber OF another Still laboring under the
deluson, sill clihgng TO the fatal that true patriot
ism can only be manifested BY an abandonment OF sec
tona rights, and disregard OF sectional interests the
sde and full recognition OF them the other, he
comes forward now with compromise which comedies
everything demanded by the Morrill, and proposes moth.
ing for the satisfaction OF the SOUTH but the reasseron
less solemn form OF rights already guaranteed and adj
mtted. IN
The first Of the senator's resolutions, and the one 10
which my remarks will be confned, is in these words:
/" Rs,cued. That California, with suitable boundaries,
States OF this Union without the imposition by Con ;e.; OF
ofslavery within those boundaries"
The latter part OF this resolution might as well have
been omitted, for II nothing in the present posture
Of affairs California has herself imposed restriction
and the question is, not upon her right to do, but
the right 10 form constitution and State government, her
right TO regulate the subject OF slavery for herself is
Questioned and deciding .g thus mas
yet OF high importance, and shall make apollo
gy for their introduction In Hickeys copy Of the Cons
ution, | hnd this language;
uon and established the United States
der the third section OF the fourth article OF the constitution
e'eryed TO themselves In Congfess assembled the right
and the power admit Stacr, by declaring that new
States may be admitted by the Congress OF this Union
and, the fourth section the same article requires thar
he United States shall guaranty TO every State In this
Union republican form OF government has in Practice
been deemed prerequisite tatth people proposing 70
ton, 10 be submitted Congress-, enable that body
dge OF It's republican character, before proceeding 10
ercise that hgh and sovereign OF admitting distinct
community o people 20 the inostimabe rights privileges
efninent and upon equal oong In all respects what
with those States that jointly achieved The inde
Psndence Of the country, and WHICH together with those
u period, have borne the harships, trials md difficulties
both internal aud external through the nation has
passed and which have secured tlc stability, power and
happiness Of the county" "
According TO this authority, law authorizing the for
to admission into the Union Noone pre,ends that the
California constitution owes its Existence TO any such
law II sprung into being without law OF any kind un.
less the mandate OF the President s law, and presents
itself here not the legitimate fruit OF legislative action
bat rather as the corrupt child Of military usurpation
its source and no art can clear the sream OF its impur
ties. read again from the same work:
"rhe constitution also declares that the Congress shall
have power dispose Of aud make all needIu rules and
regulations respecting territory other property belong
ing the United Siates aud nothing IA this constitution
shall be 50 coostrueda as 70 prejudice any claims oitne on
Under clansc Congress exercises the power otcre
atng territorial governments which, In process OF time, ny
the increase OF population and other concurrent causes
apply, on behalf ofthe people, or authority 20 orm constr
uions and State governments, with View 70 Admission
INTO the Union at future period and Y - the congress
Of the United Satcs In the exercise Of their high constu
uona, powers and under the soemn respons bl'tes I'm.