The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1850-04-24

,res calculated to weaken the ties binding the different
eons of the country together in their attachment TO the
Mr. PECK, having next Obtained the floor, called the
attention OF The committee to the propositions before
HEM with the Recommendation OF the Presidential admit
California and to make no governments for the other Ter
rofies The Californians claimed to he admitted their
natural right, and again their right under the treaty
with Mexico Congress had also assumed the obligation
Df admitting or making governments for the Territories.
fornia Thus Congress was doubly bound to provide
such republican government for the people OF Califor
MIA as they desired. Mr. p. next enumerated many
Of the objections that had been urged 10 the present
admission OF California and argued to show the faacy
of each Among others he referred 10 the allegations
that the Cafofnians had proceeded without previous
was not necessary six or eight new States having been
admitted without the raising OF such objections in their
There soundness in the objection alleged
against the character of those who voted the adoption
Of the constitution So far information had been spread
before Congress- this objection shown TO be unfound
ed The objection that her limits were too great was not
sess Ssr a su he
example previously set by Michigan and Iowa Texas,
she claims her limits TO be- much larger than CAL
ifoma, and can support far greater population Even
Pennsylvania, with her comparatively small limits, could
support larger population, containing more arabic land
Under these circumstances. he could see no serious
objection % her admission on this ground Of opposition
In Illinois and Michigan. in adopting their constu-
tons, aliens had been permitted TO vote and in Tennes
see free negroes Then why object to the votes Of aliens
IN California On similar question: But behind all the
objections urged there lay the secret controlling cause OF
opposition to the admission OF the applying State This
was her exclusion Of slavery This at least was the
real ground Of objection held BY most southern gentlemen
One Of the most distinguished southern statesmen, on the
occasion Of the admission Of Missouri, had protest
ed against the right Of Congress to inquire into the
M 81 ne people q aa Ss On n @smsss q
bama, had held the same doctrine on the question OF
the admission Of Florida Mr. z quoted other examples
n s
exclusion oil slavery. 4.4
In ls11 Congress applied to. permit the people OF
louisiana e form State government Mr. Quincy, Of
Massachusetts, that occasion, had opposed this action,
on the ground that Congress had power to admit q
State into the Union formed out Of territory acquired BY
purchase He (Mr P9 then declared that any such ac
ton would be virtual dissolution Of the Union.
Mr.. Poindexter. southern member, had rebuked the
Massachusetts member for his disunion sentiments
Here Mr.. PECK read extracts from the speeches Of
both those gentlemen, at considerable length sg4
The language Of Mr. Poindexter, the southern doc
rne at that time, claimed that had right to look
to dsunon remedy against the action OF Congress In
admitting new State, under any circumstances How
stood the South nowi They proposed resist admission
Of California first by their votes, and then BY other Gum
mentloned) means which many regarded TO be omnous
of an effort TO dissolve the Union on this account On
that occasion the objection to the admission OF Louisiana
placed on high constitutional grounds The adms-
less dignified, and carrying far less weight
Mr. p proceeded the consideration oil the duty Of
Congress to make The proposed territorial i
wa wD Ssspschns General Rsany q New
Mexico had sscad him 2 pledge the limited States
rtoral government So, also, in the of the in
structions giyento Commodores Soat and Stockton to
make Like proclama;ons in California yet we have
the treaty with Mexico pledged this government also to
protect the people Of California and New Mexico until
their admission as States into the Union. This promise
He anxious for the settlement of the whole terri
ora question, not being among those TO be benefited by
keeping open and desiring its settlement, II possible,
the question: Mr. proceeded at home length to show,
would be TO divide the country into dangerous sectional
parties early the next presidential canvass The
mend to Congress General GAss at the last canvass had
proclaimed his adherence to the nonnteventon prnci-
pe the ground OF the absence OF power in Congress
70 interfere with the rights Of the people OF Territories in
the matter OF their Institutions.
The wing party OF the North had done its best TO prove
that holding 10 his position CAss was aiding in the ex-
tension OF slavery. II So his recommendation in its
suits was precisely like what would be the end OF carry
ing out the action recommendation OF the Execu-
tive He did not favor the views OF General CAss upon
usry qH n sSs BEING himself w%o. pos
sost He would not 20 into the constitutional question,
which had been 80 fully and ably argued time and again
the course OF THIS deDae. r. WOulu CONTENT
self this head with rehearsng the history OF the var-
acts OF Congress in exercising this now questioned
power, which he did at some length.
II had been held that the application OF the Proviso to
the Territories now in dispute virtually TO discrim
mate between the rights Of the people OF The two sec
tons in and to them This Mr. denied; referring to
the fact that Mr. Jefferson, when President had signed
bill embracing the same principle at least, and declaring
that then il not alleged that was infracion OF
the coequal rights Of the South The South insist that
the North are insisting on the Provso as mere matter
OF feeling This was not so--the North having d.
emigration At the formation OF the constitution, and
since, southern statesmen OF high epuie had held this
doctrine South Carolina, in assigning her reason for
moi furnishing her quota OF men for the revolutionary
war, had alleged that the presence Of her large slave
population compelled her TO keep her whites al home
European emigration went very little into savehodiag
territory, which was another reason to prove that the
presence of slavery essened the value Of region TO the
North The right Of majority was civil, not natural
right and the Supreme Court was the tribunal in which
questions OF the nature Of this slavery constitutional
question should be tried.
Mr.. WILMOT having next obtained the floor, on mo-
lion the committee rose; and the chairman MIR. IHoMP-
SON, OF Mssissipp) having reported, ~
On motion OF Mr STRONG, the dispositions coming in.
in the OF the contested elections in Iowa and Penn
syvana, ordered TO be referred 10 the Committee OF
Elections they might be received without further
lion on the part oil the House.
On motion, the House then adjourned.
Washington and Alexandria New Steamboat, Thomas
CoIIyer.
s The OF departure, Cor present, boat