The North-Carolina standard., 1850-03-20
SPEECH OF MIR. WEBSTER,

SPEECH OF MR.. WEBSTER,
OF MASSACHUSETTS,
Delivered in the Senate Of the United States on the It'll
Of March, 1850, on the Slauery Question.
MR. WEBSTER said, wish to speak to-day, not as
an American and member of the Senate of the United
States. 1t is fortunate that there is Senate of the
United States body not moved from its propriety,
not lost to just sense of its dignity its own
high responsibilities body to which the country
looks with confidence for wise, moderate patriotic and
healing counsels. 1t is not to be denied that live
in the midst of strong agtaons. and in the midst of
very considerable dangers to institutions of gov
eminent. The imprisoned winds are let loose The
East the West, the North and the stormy South all
combined to make the whole ocean toss its pillows to
the skies, and disclose its profoundest depths. do
not affect to hold, to be fit to hold, the helm in this
combat with the political elements; but have duty
to PERFORM and mean to perform it with delity-not
without sense of surrounding dangers, but not
without hope. have part to act. not for my own
security safety-for / am looking out for frag-
ment upon which to float away from the wreck, il
wreck is to ensuebut for the good of the whole and
the preservation of the WHOLE. There is that which
will keep to my duty during this struggle wheth
or the sun and the stars shall appear or shall not ap-
pear for many days.
l speak to-day for the preservation Of the Union.
"Hear me for my cause" l speak to-day from a
socitous and anxious desire for the restoration to the
country of that quiet and that harmony which make
the blessings of this Union rich and dear to US
all. 'Beeve me for mine honor" These are the
topics that l propose to myself to discuss. These
the motives and the sole motives that influence me
to communicate my opinions to the Senate and to the
country; and if do anything. however little, for
the promotion of these ends, shall have accomplish
ed all that expect.
Mr.. President, it may not be amiss to recur very
briefly to the events equally sudden and extraordna-
~, which have brought the political condition of this
country to be what it now is. In May, 1876, the
United States declared war against Mexico Our
armies then the frontiers entered the provinces of
that republic, met and defeated all her troops, pene
rated her mountain passes, and occupied her capital
The marine forces of the United States took posses
sion of her ports and towns the Atlantic and the
Pacific. In less than two years treaty was nego-
tated, by which Mexico ceded to the United States
extent of territory, extending for eigh:
hundred miles along the shores of the Pacific, rum
ming back the mountains and the deserts,
till it reached the frontier State of Texas. 1t 80 hap
pened that in the distracted and feeble state of the
Mexican government, before the declaration of war
by the United States against Mexico had become
known in California, the people of California, under
the direction of American officers, perhaps-Colone
Don phan in the existing pro-
vincal government of California of Mexican author
ty, and run up an Independent flag. When the news
arrived San Francisco that had been declared
by the United States against Mexico, this ndepen-
dent flag pulled down, and the stars and stripes
of this government hoisted in its stead. So, sir
before the was over, the powers of the United
States, military and naval, had possession of Upper
California and great rush of emigrants from various
portions of the world took place into California in
1916 and lS47.
And now behold another wonder. In January,
l648, the Mormons, is said, of them, made
discovery of extraordinarily rich mine of gold
rather Of very great quantity of gold, hardly fitted
to be called mine, because it lay the sur
face-at the lower part of the South or American
branch of the Sacramento. They endeavored to
ceal their discovery, and did for time. Near
the same time another discovery-perhaps of greater
mporance-was made of gold in higher part of the
American branch of the Sacramento and Suffers
fort, as it is called. The fame of these discoveries
spread far and wide. This excited more and that
spirit of emigration towards California which had
already taken place. Persons crowded hundreds and
loeks towards the bay of San Francisco. This,
have sad took place in the winter and spring of 1848
The "diggings" commenced in the spring of that
year, and from that time to this, the search for gold
has been prosecuted with a not heretofore
known in the history of the globe We all know how
incredulous the American public of the accounts
which first reached of this discovery. But all
know that they received and continued to receive
daily con6rmation; and down to the present moment,
suppose that the strong, after the
experience of those several MONTHS that there are
mines Of gold apparently nexhaustbe in the regions
near San Francisco in California, as they were at
any period of the early transmission to of those
accounts.
1t so happened that, although in time of peace,
became very great subject for legislative consid
Grafton and legislative decision to provide proper
territorial government for California but differences
Of opinion in the councils of the government prevented
the establishment of any such territorial government
for California a'he last session of Congress. Under
this state of things, the inhabitants of San Francisco
and California, then amounting to great number o
persons, In the of last year, thought it thei
duty to establish local government. Under the
proclamation of General Riley, the people chose del
egates to convention, and that convention met al
Monterey They framed a constitution for the State
of California 1t was adopted by the people of Cal
ltornla In their primary character. DESTROYS of i'm
mediate connexion with the United States senators
were appointed and representatives chosen who have
come hither, bringing with them the authenticated
constitution of the State of California and they now
present themselves, asking, in behalf of that State
that it may be admitted into the Union as one of the
United States. This constitution contains an express
prohibition against slavery involuntary servtude
In the State of California. 1t is said, and suppose
truly, that, OF the members who composed the con-
ventlon, some sixteen natives and had been resi-
dents OF the slavehoding Staes and the residue per-
haps about twenty, were not such.
Mr.. HALE. Will the honorable senator give way
till order is restored!
Nh. CAss. trust, Mr.. President, that the scene
OF the other day will not be renewed TODAY. The
eergeant-at-Arms should display more energy and
'okS care to preserve order.
Inc VICE PRESIDENT. The Sergeant-at-Arms viii
Close the doors, and permit no more be admitted.
Order being restored, -
MR. \" EBsrER resumed. It is this circumstance
at mas contributed to raise-I do not say that it has