Daily Richmond times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1849-1850, 1850-06-18

CcAAS"i
arrest. He said, however, that the stress of bust
ness made it impossible for him to try the case,
and he therefore transferred it to Mr.. Baldwin, the
| U. S. Commissioner, who Immediately organized
his special court and took bond of $4,000 for the
appearance of Lopez from day to day, with Re-
corder Caldwell as security. The court then adj
journed to Monday. Lopez was loudly cheered in
the court room, and afterwards addressed large
crowd in the street before the st. Charles Hotel.
Herr writes from California giving glowing
account of his musical operations there. He had
given twelve concerts, the success of which had
exceeded his most sanguine hopes.
THE CALIFORNIA BILL
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, WEDNESDAY, JUNE IL.
An amendment moved by Mr.. Seldom having been
withdrawn by the member last up
MIR. STEPHENS renewed it, He said that he did not
rise to take sides on the question, as to what the
understanding between the two great sections OF this
country, with which these acquisitions had been made
For his part he did not believe that there any very
explicit understanding upon this subject And out Of
this want of understanding or perhaps might be
properly said out OF this misunderstanding, most OF the
difficulties that surround arose, 1t true,
he believed, that all Of the southern gentlemen who had
favored the acquisition did with the view of having
|
was equally true, he believed that large majority, if
not all OF those from the North, who for the ac-
QUESTION: did with the view and tor the purpose OF
| having it devoted and set apart exclusively as they
av vo1 for freedom lie (Mr S. had opposed the
acquisition from the beginning-not only because he
considered the Legitimate fruits OF Of wanton
aggression but because ne toresaw the evils which
quence OF the radical difference of opinion between those
distinct divisions of the Democratic party, who joined
in the prosecution of the war Tor the purpose conquest
| rbo, from, Root tUoor uht
ing that he tMr. 81 had taken the lead in this House
against any acquisition He offered resolution on the
22d January, lS47, that the war should not be waged
| for the purpose Of conquest On motion to receive
that resolution, every Wing Of this House, north and
south, voted in the affirmative; and every Democrat,
north and SOUTH with two three exceptions had voted
In the negative And the resolution was rejected by
| vote of 76 to 80.
If the Southern Democrats had then voted with him,
and those who opposed to all acquisition of terri
tory we might now be relieved from those questions
which likely disturb the peace and quiet of the
Union for all time to come and which all will,
cry reasonable probability prove SO disastrous to
the South. This vote, too was given not only after the
| Wilmot Proviso had passed the House by sectional
majority, but after the extension OF the Missouri Com
promise line had been expressly repudiated by similar
majority 1t you'd be recolected that in August 1885,
within or about ninety days from the commencement Of
the war, when the President asked Tor two millions of
dollars to purchase these territories the Wilmot Provso
first sprung upon the country by the gentleman from
Pennsylvania, Mr. Wimot.l Every member Of this
House from the North, Wing and Democrat, voted for
it in committee, and every member from the South
Wing and Democrat, voted against it. Such was the
vote in the committee; and though some Wings and
some Democrats from the North voted against the bill
in the House after the proviso was incorporated in it,
but large majority Of both parties from the North
voted for it, and carried it by vote of IS to a.
Mr. S. said he spoke from the record. And after
that on the 18th of January ls47 when the gentleman
from South Carolina Mr.. Burt offered the Missouri
compromise line to the Oregon bill it was expressly
jected by vote of hundred and thirteen against it.,
to eghty-two only in favor oft This also was
tional vote, only six northern men voting for that line
And several southern gentlemen voted for that measure,
only with the Wilmot provso in it, but after
the Missouri compromise line had been repudiated-
Yet in the face OF observation-disclosures, southern men
had gone for these acquisitions The cry then was I'm
demnty for the past and security for the future. The
cry was taken up not only by gentlemen from the
South who went for it slave territory but by their a
lies at the North who declared by their repeated votes
that should be free territory. 1t required far seeing
sagacty then to perceive what would be the result The
only difference between parties at the North this
The Wings were opposed to acquisition but said it ac
QUESTION made the territory acquired should be tree
territory; whilst the Democrats went for the acquisition
for the purpose of extending the OF free territory
Apprehending just SUCH state OF thing as we are now
witnessing, he tMr 81 had attempted to arrest and pre-
vent the evil. He met but little encouragement from
that quarter where he ought to have got But he
knew the day OF rerbution would come. That, in his
opinion was the time for the South to have looked to
her interests and that the time for all the friends OF
the Union to have counted its value. 1t was then his
voice raised, was then that those who acted with
him denounced as Mexican Wings, for attempt
ing the country from its present calames An
nsinuaton had even gone forth from the the then Exc
cutve that all those who exposed the mischevous ten
dency OF his policy were "givng aid and comfort" to
the public enemy That insinuatlon he (Mr S. had
treated with the scorn it deserved.
The conquest, however was not arrested. Glory
all then that could be heard. indemnify for the
past and security for the future the watchwords
Well you have got the Indemnity for the past" and
what is it? that has cost you not not less than
SIG 100000, to say nothing OF the waste of human
life And for your security tor the FUTURE what is
Sir, sad Mr. Stephens) in this house, more than three
years ago. when this war was in full blast, when the
thirst for conquest and dominion at its greatest rage
| warned members from the North and South to take
heed lest in their eager pursuit after the dismemberment
of neghborna Republic, they might have the unenva-
BILE distinction of looking back upon the broken ag-
ments otanoher and more glorious cQntederacy. The
warning was not heeded-the acquisition has been made
! opposed it in the beginning Il opposed in all its
stages, and expect shall oppose il to the end. |
have never seen any good TO result from it, but mischief
incalculable am willing to stand the test Of the iu
ture upon the proprety OF my course throughout. My
motto 1T first was, to touch not taste not and handle
not" the unholy thing. never voted dollar tor these
territories; and think it was solemn duty the part
OF all well-wishers TOR the peace and harmony Of the
country to have withheld the ratification of the treaty
by which the acquisition was proposed to be made,
III all these perpexng questions which now distract and
divide the country were settled and adjusted. | OPP
posed the ratification OF the treaty the part of this
House by voting the money. In this last position it is
true regretted to find myself deserted by many yea
large majority OF the northern well as the southern
Wings Some stood by me. My colleague, Mr..
Toombs, and few others see here, voted with me
against the appropriation. But the measure was car
RED The treaty was sanctioned by all the Depart
ments Of the Government. No understanding or set
tlement OF the vexed questions was had. All was left
open-the South declaring, rightly and Justly, that she
should have an equal participation, while the North was
firm in the declaration that it free territory, and
should remain free. And we are quarreng about
tue division of our ill-goen plumber. This is the spec
| mce we present II we had come distinct under
standing first slso ud have had none of these diff
| heultes. The gentleman from Mississippi, MIR