Daily Richmond times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1849-1850, 1850-02-19

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n the bosom OF ultra Democrat like me, sentiments
)f peculiar sympathy for that highspred and ntel-
gent peoples for learn that there part OF the whoe
Republic so thoroughly Democratic as Is CalllornME1
So far the Senatorial Representatives from Can-
ornia concerned, have none but kind ieengs Io
both of them. One of them is chiefly known TO me oy |
ame the other has been my kind, devoted and stesoas
friend for more than twenty years With the permission
Of the Senate will go further, and say that u w III
M. Gwin and myself for some years residents pi
the same town in the Far West. He was my ianly
physician, and efficiently instrumental III say
ing my life when others despared OF my escape from he
grave. We belonged for many years TO the same Po
tcal party, and cordially co-operated win each oher
in support of our common principles nave incurred
personal hazards on his account, OF which l know
him to be more than mindful !; ana | nave received
kiudnesses in return for which shall be ever CRATE
fnl I stood by his favorite brother not many years
ago upon the field of honor, and saw him bravey
receive that wound which ultimately consigned him
to the tomb / know Doctor OWNS abilities, his
virtues, and his friendship for me If could make
ND my mind to sacrifice principle in order to gra-
tify tho wishes of any human being, in such
the present. should feel that he might call upon me to
make such a sacrifices Ii | could reconcile it to my
OF duty to generous constituency to disregard
their claims upon at this trying moment in his
tory the considerations which have named would,
with persons, furnish plausible But, sir,
feel that my first and highest duty to that nothing
is done here which may bring detrment upon the soye-
reign State OF Mississippi which might serve 10 multi
ply the dangers which at present environ u.s. Whatever
committee the motion under consideration may be re-
upon without due regard to all the important inte-
rests nseparably ntertwined with it. may be In error,
but cannot help confidently believing that ii com
mttee Of fifteen such have asked Tor, could be
raised they would in very few days indeed be able
to mature Il scheme OF compromise which would prove
satisfactory to the whole country Sure am that
know gentlemen on both sides of the chamber, and of
both the great political parties, who could be safely
trusted with the whole subject OF slavery in all its
poets and bearings; who would be able TO devise
scheme Of adjustment which would relieve us from all
fI,ItIr prInu nd
this Union OF thirty States from the most Sc
rous dangers has ever yet encountered. So thinking
and believing, yet hope that such committee as
have mentioned may be accorded
Mr.. CLAY Isuppose sir, there is nothing very novel
in the idea that in favor OF the admission OF
California State into this Union. And allowme
to say to the honorable Senator from Mississippi that
il disposed retaate at all upon him in reference
supposed change of opinion, it would be quite easy
orme to tell him. that, according to his own COMES
sion to-day, he was in favor OF the admission OF Cali
tornia year ago. when she had constitution but he
isopposed to her admission now, when she has come
here with a constitution in her hands, precisely in the
in which Florida, Arkansas, l believe, and
Michigan did.
Mr. FooTE. Ii the honorable Senator understood mo
saying that opposed to the admission of Cali
fona he is mistaken. On the contrary, am in favor
of the admission of all that part OF California lying above
the line of Be- deg 30 min. as State. But want all
the questions settled together said that favor
OF her admission State before certain influences had
operated there which have thrown her into her present
Mr. CLAY. With regard to this alleged influence,
shall take up time OF the Senate during the discussion
of this subject intend to dvest myself much as |
possibly can OF all party feeling.
| Mr.. TURNEY. | understand the honorable Senator
from Kentucky to say that California has presented her
self now precisely Florida did. l would inquire
whether Florida had not Territorial Government :!
and whether there was not law OF Congress auhori-
zng the people Of Florida 10 form constitution, in Or
der to their admission into the Union State?
| Mr. CLAY. think not; there was no law whatever
! bad haIc
mia local governnent-not given to her by the Gov
eminent of the United States, but depending upon the
laws OF Mexico prior to the cesson OF that territory to
chgan and think of Arkansas believe in reference
to wo if all three Of these States-tey came into
the Union without any previous act OF Congress autho
zng the call OF Convention for the formation OF
stution, and the decision OF the Territory whether it
should come in as member OF the Union not. How
ever, it is not matter OF much importance do not
know that should have risen at all had the worthy
Senator from Mississippi made sort OF omnibus speech
which he introduced all sorts OF things and every kind
Of passenger, and myself among the number laugh
teri And have risen rather to vndicate myself from
the charge OF inconsistency which he has attributed
me- than Tor any other purpose and if do not do to
his satisfaction, shall be much more surprised than he
was at my advocacy of the admission OF California
l But first, declare you, Mr. President that did
not even know the OF the members of that COM
mitee except that OF the chairman. do not know the
opinions OF any member of that committee have,
indeed, heard it ntimated that the chairman of that
own But this is not matternto which have inquired
| or to which attach any Importance.
But, sir am charged with inconsistency, and ncon-
sstency great that the Senator from Mississippi has
not been able find language strong enough to express
the establishment which he feels. Now, sir the worthy
Senator will allow me to say that really cannot gov
ern his emotions He is gentleman OF fine imagination
and of great fancy and If he will permit himself be
operated upon by certain emotions which produce fances
which he can find no language to express, / can
| not help it; it must be the fault of his own pc
fifrfnn Ill
the honor OF addressing the Senate former coca
sion that wanted settlement OF all the questions
connected with the unfortunate institution which has
brought upon the dangers which threaten this
Union. want them all settled. And, sir, there is not
syllable which the Senator has read of the speech
made by on that occasion, nor in any speech that
ever made which declares that all these subjects should
be incorporated into BILL and that upon the decision
Of that bill should the fate OF all the questions con
neced with the institution of slavery. No, sir. Now
| look at it for a moment
| Mr. FooTE. Will the Senator allow me to say ono
word here? On tho morning after the honorable Sena-
tor delivered the first part OF his speech his re-
solutions, the Union newspaper OF this city, have
heretofore suggested, placed the same Interpretation
upon his remarks which have felt authorized to aix to
them, as believe all the leading presses in the republic
likewise did The editors Of the Union went SO far
even as formally to euogize thapar of the honorable
Senator's speech of the first day which was understood
by them as insisting upon adjustment of all the slavery
questions together upon one general plan. The homo
rable Senator, as supposed at the time, that he
was mus construed, ana yet renamed Silent appeal
to him whether my first impression as to the import of
his words might not naturally have been confirmed into
full conviction by the circumstances stated even had
regarded it, as certainly did not, case of dubious
interpretation!
Mr.. CLAY. Mr. President, it is really surprising TO
me- though will not express establishment about it, how
the honorable Senator could thus have msconceived
me. Irepeat it now as have often reiterated before,
that think Congress ought to settle all the matters
which appertain to this question, every of them
which has threatened this country with danger 1t is
thing, however, to settle them ALL and another to
fix upon the mode of doing it. was going to show the
honorble Senator from Mississippi how utterly mpossi-
bic it is to settle them alin the manner he proposes
My first proposition. in the series OF eight resolutions
which offered, relates to California, and declares that
she ought to be admitted the second relates the Tor
ritoria Governments; the next to Texas and the pay
ment OF certain sum of money to her A; the fifth re-
slavery in the District. The sixth or seventh dor
have not got them before mel relates to the re-
covery of fugitive slaves Why, sir before introduced
H.. L ~ Il