The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1850-04-06

where il was established by positive law il was ex
cluded, because it was an institution opposed to
human rights.
Independent of all law, Mexican or American,
slavery would never exist in those Territories:
The principle Of the Wilmot proyiso was extended
over the Territories by law of nature; and the
man who expects to plant slavery there, might,
with as much pausibility, expect TO plant orange
groves in Siberia
He reviewed the question of the difference in the
| boundary between Texas and New Mexico. He
denied the claim of Texas to the territory in dis
| pute. He was ready to comply with the compact
and spulations contained in the resolutions Of an
! nexation of Texas. He considered that man
could urge objections TO the obligation Of the stipu
lations of those resolutions, which he might not
urge against the obligation of any private con
tract. He did not know the sentiments OF his
State this point, but believed that there no
Iinoian who would vote against the obligation of
contracts, especially since the Mormons had left
that State. The Mormons denied the obligations
of the Decaogue. He did not think there were any
political Mormons in Illinois.
He understood the reason why the South desired
a new State to be formed out Of Texas was, that
the balance of power might be preserved. He
thought that the South would govern the whole
country effectually if the equilibrium de-
stroyed. He would say, however, to his southern
friends, that the free States destined to prepon
derate in this country; and he would also say, that
the people of this country would never consent that
one foot of free-soil should become slave
State.
He investigated the doctrine of an equilibrium in
government, lie cited the attempt 10 establish IL
in France, and its complete failure there. He pro-
nounced the thing impossible.
He considered the idea of peaceful separation
equally confounded. He would soon expect to
the Senator from Mississippi stand up and quietly
submit TO the whip, to see the people of this
country quietly submit to the breaking up OF this
| Government.
| The people of the valley of the Mississippi were
one by the laws of nature, and could not be sepa
rated. They would never consent that the mouth
of the Mississippi should be in the hands of foreign
nation.
| He examined what the condition of the southern
confederacy would be, if it possible to estab
| sh it. An alliance with some other nation would
| be necessary. The South had cotton, brave men,
and lovely women, but the other elements OF a ma
| ton wanting. An alliance was necessary.
| With whom would il be made? Old England was
as much opposed to slavery as New England. And
John Bull was as headstrong and as obstinate in
his abstract notions were the people OF the cast
ern States. Before six months he considered the
| alliance would result in supremacy on one eide and
dependence on the other The southern confed-
eracy would become a confederacy OF masters and
| slaves, under the supremacy OF England.
| He examined the question OF the emancipation OF
slaves, and thought that separation from the other
States would be the destruction OF the institution OF
slavery, and curse TO the blacks themselves. He
4 considered the two races could exist to-
| gether with happiness to both. He considered
the true policy Of the South, in order to preserve
the institution of slavery and of those who desired
| the eventual emancipation of the slaves, to abide
and maintain and preserve inviolate the Constitu-
ton of the United States
! Mr. MASON said that he had no intention Of
going at large into the examination OF the questions
involved in the issues before Congress. The dispo-
sition to be made of those questions had not been
disclosed by the majority OF the Senate. The South
claimed and maintained the right, and the consti-
tutiona right Of all her citizens go into all the
Territories with all their property This right they
asserted and were ready to maintain. Virginia,
Alabama, Mississippi, Carolina and Georgia, had
each asserted their determination to maintain that
| iorht vi a
He wished 10 set the true state Of the question be-
| fore those whom he represented The question
before the Senate the reference ofall these
| questions to compromise committee. A motion
| is pending to except from this reference the
| subject Of the admission of California. This mo-
| ton first made by the Senator from Connect
cut, and since modified and adopted by the Senator
| from Missouri. The Senator from Mississippi had
told the Senate yesterday, most truly, that the
admission of California separate and distinct
measure, and without any settlement Of the terri
| torial question, would be considered by the South
determination the part of the majority to
deny the South any protection in the formation Of
the territorial governments.
He desired TO vote for the admission Of California
He was unwilling that he should be forced by the
hasty action of the majority 10 deny by his the
admission of that State. He wished that she should
| be admitted, but not admitted without proper
gard for the rights and feelings of others.
He called upon those who were ready TO vote for
the admission of California, and who did not desire
to throw any impeachment in the way Of happy
settlement OF the forOear that vote
He knew that California organized a State,
and that new life and vigor would be given 10 her
prospects by admitting her; yet when that could
only be done by doing violence TO a large portion
OF the States Of this Union, he could not the
| con for the hasty action There were other Terri
tories and their petitions praying for the protec
ton Of government were now before us, and he
could that there a greater necessity for
the admission Of California than there for pro-
| yiding government for these Territories.
| He knew no man who had a greater reverence
| for the Union than he had; yet he would say to
gentlemen that If California be forced into this
| Union against the appeal and protest Of every
| representative from the southern States, they
forced him TO consider the Constitution not worth
the parchment on which il was written. The south
ern States, when satisfied that they TO be de-
MED their constitutional protection and consdera-
ton, would with as much alacrty and willingness
go out Of the Union, as they had shown in coming
| into IT,
lie denied that slavery was excluded by the laws
Of nature from the Territories. lie contended that
II the agitation had not continued in Congress
thousands Of southern men would have gone there
with their slaves. He showed that in the Califor-
MIA convention free negroes were excluded because
| il was shown that If blacks were allowed to live
there, slavery would come there; that masters in
consideration OF the immense value Of the labor Of
their slaves, would enter into contracts 10 liberate
their slaves after two years; that the labor
Of slave which, in the Atlantic States, would be
worth hundred and fifty dollars year, would be
worth in California five or six thousand dollars.
He advocated the consideration Of the territorial
bills and II they were once settled California would
| be admitted
Mr.. SHIELDS said that in his remarks he had
omitted 70 say, that, being DESTROYS TO preserve
and carry out every part Of the Constitution he
would vote for any bill TO carry out efficiently the
provision relative 20 the rendition Of fu give slaves
MIR. UNDERWOOD said he bad opposed the
raising Of this committee when first proposcd He
would now oppose It il any Senator was DESTROYS
20 debate the general questions. If not, be was in
| favor Of the committee For this reason he would
vote against the amendment proposed % the mo
ton Of reference. He would commit 20 the com.
mitee the fugitive slave bill, the territorial bills
and the California bill, and IL they reported them
/ he would vote for them.
lie did not think that if California we're admitted
the results anticipated by the Senator from yirgi.
mia and others would But out Of respect Tor
| their feelings, he would not force them 20 a vote
upon any Of the questions. Let them all 90 10
committee, and report would be made in a few
days, and would harmonic oil sections
Mr.. BUTLER made some few remarks, coincid-
| ing with the Senator from Virginia
Mr.. CLAY said the immediate question before
the Senate TO refer the resolutions OF the sena-
tor from Tennessee TO select committee, and 10