The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1850-03-30
CITY OF WASHINGTON, SATURDAY MORNING MARCH 80 1850

old articles Of confederation and present 10 the people
were not delegated Tor any such purpose Their power
were limited to the amendment OF the articles oi confed
Grafton But sr, they that the exigency had arseI
when this people required something more-that gov
eminent should be estabshed--and they assumed th'
responsibility OF framing and presenting to the people
constitution. Mr. Madison, in speaking OF this in the
| Federalist, says:
.They have recoected that all great changes
of established governments forms ought TO give way le
stuled by informal and unauthorized propositions
The declaration Of independence, too. not ac
competent TO the colonial legislatures 1t an act oil
original inherent sovereignty by the people themselves
in whose name they undertook TO act and to declare
these United States to be people But If the act o
California were to be regarded revolutionary
measure and not merely an irregular exercise OF theil
right under the treaty by people desrous OF coming
into the Union and enjoying the rights and protection s
ulaed by the treaty. we should all be ready 10 admit that
ary act BY an old State with view 70 disunion and all
the disastrous consequences that would follow.
Thispeople have done act in disregard OF our au-
thory or in denial Of our right to dominion over them
Seeing the impossbily Of our comforting upon them
government such was required by their wants. they
formed government for themselves, of which they ask
their population now probably exceeding I2O O0o and
daily increasing with unexampled rapidy, to their
pacy for freedom, 10 their republican constitution. and
and to the earnest desire OF the people to be admitted to
the enjoyment Of the rights and privileges which they
claim TO be entitled under the treaty
| IT, then, Mr. President, the people OF California are
/
upon Congress to udge, in the language OF the treaty
OF the poper time for their admissionf they exhib-
tied themselves before us in such light that in the ex
ecise OF honest judgment, are constrained TO say
they entitled to admisson--what, ask, has the
North, what has the Souh what has any sectional inter
est to do with its decision Why should they be mixed
affecting themselves The great question which has
agltaed us in regard to other Territories they have set
tied, rghtfuly settled. for themselves Then. why is
this introduced OF the elements OF compromise,
by which conflicting opinions conflicting interests are TO
be adjusted by committee chosen with reference TO
,ona n,sress i a. hey have right to Ds mere, heTs !,
claim admission, because the proper time" in the udg
ment Of Congress has arvedthey have right to come
they shall mol Be- embarrassed in any way By being in
volved in the agitating questions OF sectional politics.
What good effect, Mr. President be anticipated, un-
der these circumstances, from the appointment Of COM
mittee of compromise to take into consideration this
claim OF California; committee OF this body not
formed upon any principle OF compromise, but OF our
rate b-for the admission Of California and terrific
nal bill ior the government OF the other Territories ac-
quired from Mexico
But it is said by gentlemen representing sectional in
terests that the admission OF California as free State
will disturb fancied equilibrium which il is deslra-
bic 10 maintain between the free States and the slave
States and hence it is proposed to exclude California
Notwithstanding she is here under the claim OF right
I'LL by some arrangement new State can be introduced
formed out OF Texas, and perhaps until we % can form
territorial government for New Mexico and Utah which
shall open them for the introduction of the pecuar nsu
tons Of the Sonth until we shall settle the account OF
~ o a. oq IN G
the constitutional power OF this government can per-
ceve sir no reasonable hope Of benefit in the organza
ton OF any such committee. On the other hand, should
they report compromise series of separate bsone
for the admission OF California for the admission OF
States from the territory OF Texas, for territorial gov
ernmens containing certain provisions in regard to New
Mexico and Desere and in relation fugitive slaves
Why sir, il any OF these should be adopted and
the others should ia should we not hear OF mputatons
l.f ka1 all. h.
measure thus reported Sir, to the ap-
pointment Of no committee who shall have even the
moral power to pledge me or my action as member OF
this body IN regard TO future measure which may be
offered TO my consideration. must act Tor myself must
act according 10 the dictates OF my own Judgment and
every senator should be in condon to act upon every
individual proposition that is made 10 this body without
being subject TO the imputaton OF bad faith, II some
measures which he approves should be adopted, and
other measures which he disapproves rejected BY his
vote. IT, the other hand, instead OF reporting these
different in separate bills they all ncorpo
rated into bill. what is the consequence Why, SIR
unless they all meet the approval Of The majority Of the
Union, her people are TO be lett unprotected, and the
faith OF the government pledged by the treaty is 10 be
violated, because we cannot agree TO carry out all me
elements OF compromise that maybe recommended by this
comm tee.
Sir as said before this Is mode OF legislation which,
in my Judgment against the spirit OF the constitutions
ii is wrong though well intended, know, the part
OF the distinguished senator from Tennessee who into
duced the resolutions and OF whose patriotism and spirit
OF C0nciiiatOn no one can CUuet
OF legislation which invites sectional combinations and
the pursuit OF sectional claims for the purpose of being
presented the elements OF some future compromise.
The resolutions OF the honorable senator from Tennes
see Mr. BrLLl propose that Congress shall renew the
assent given by the joint resolution ot March, 1885, for
the formation OF three four slave States within
the present territory OF Texas, asserting, the face of
the resolution that the faith Of the already
pledged for their admission. IT. indeed, Mr. President
that be the effect OF the joint resolution act OF
strengthen or impair the obligation Whether be
10 be question which this Con-
gress competent TO solve. The entire territory
OF Texas has been admitted a State Her admission
State has been acquesced in by the people OF the United
States She is a member OF this Union sovereign
State standing upon equal footing with all her
States But, the constutionalIty OF the act which
invited her, and which, is claimed, constituted ire
vocabe compact with Texas in regard TO future subdvis
ions and the admission Of States formed out Of her
territory, protested against BY many States as being
an unconstitutional enactment That sir, may indeed
say the sentiment OF the majority OF this body for
the joint resolution could have been passed. had
not there been clause attached TO the bill giving the
President the alternative OF acting by negotiation which,
il was confidently supposed by who voted for
the resolution the President elect pledged TO adopt
| Sir, the conshtutionaty OF that act was protested
against by my own State and by the State OF Massachu-
and her protest recorded here after the pas
sage Of the joint resolution, and the acceptance by Texas
in March, ls45 The general assembly of Connecticut,
at their session in May following, passed resolutions in
these words:
Resoiped That the power to admit into the Union new
States Is not conferred upon Congress by the consttu
tion,
.Rssoiped, That the annexation OF large slaveholdng
territory by the government OF the United States, with
tnfs.s he .Aa -