The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1850-04-05

MIR. BuRT, of South Carolina.
GRIssxLL, of Massachusetts.
FEArHERsToSE, Of Mississippi.
GENTRY, OF Tennessee.
DISNEY, OF Ohio.
|" KING, of New Jersey.
McLANAHAN, of Pennsylvania.
CONRAD, of Louisiana.
JACKSON. of Georgia.
DELEGATES FROM NEW MEXICO AND DEsERET.
Mr. STRONG, from the Committee of Elections,
made two reports. One of them enters into his
tory of the affairs Of New Mexico, concluding with
the following '.It must however, be apparent
that the election of MIR. Smith a delegate from
New Mexico by inhabitants residing on both sides
of the Rio Grande, and principally by residents
within the asserted limits Of Texas, is an act done
in denial of the sovereignty Of that State the
country which she claims and in direct hostility to
it. To admit such delegate would be to sanction
that denial, and to make the House of Representa-
tives party to that hostility" They, therefore,
append to the report resolution, declaring II to be
inexpedient to admit Hugh N. Smith as delegate
from New Mexico, to a seat on the floor
The other report of the committee Ito whom, as
in the former case, the memorials and credentials
were referred) concludes with the following: sit is
| apparent that those by whom Mr.. Babbitt sent
do not contemplate his admission to a scat in the
House until some form of government shall have
been given TO them by Congress-" and they con-
clude with resolution, that sit is inexpedient 10
admit A. W. Babbitt to seat in this body as
delegate from the alleged State OF Deseret."
The reports were committed to the Committee of
the Whole the state of the Union, ordered to be
printed and made the order of the day for the 29th
| of the present month.
The House then resumed the consideration of the
| motion to reconsider the vote by which resolu-
ton for the purchase Of waterrotted hemp, for the
use of the navy, was referred tothe Committee Of
| the Whole the state of the Union. Debate
| sued, and the subject had not been disposed Of
| when
| The House resolved itself into Committee of
| the Whole the state of the Union and took up
| the special message of the President, transmit
| ting copy of the Constitution of the
STATE OF CALIFORNIA.
| Mr. GREEN, who was entitled to the floor said
| il was well known what had brought about the
present condition of affairs, and that the causes
| were duly appreciated. But practical men, as
Legislators, it their duty act as to produce
the greatest good to ALL the least possible evil
Slavery existed in the States when the Constitution
formed. 1t entered into the basis of the Union.
| 1t was found in all the branches of the Govern
ment. The very fact of creating the Union en-
HANGED the value of slave property, and if the pro-
such will be the effect, the value of all things
depends on the security by which it is held. Ger
| tainly Government cannot exert its power to des-
| troy any of its elements. 1t would be sui
| cidal, and gentlemen should look to the conse-
| quences before it be too late. II il be wrong to
! raise the question Of slavery, and endanger the
Union, those who do not oppose the agitation are
accessory to all the consequences which may result.
| The Wilmot proviso was one plan; the other
was to bring in California an independent State
Slavery is to be excluded from the remainder OF
| ",
| The design of the Provisoists is to exclude the
South from participation in the territory acquired
| from Mexico. This looks like wanton insult To
| the South. They do not ask for increase Of
slavery they do not seek to establish it by law.
All they ask is that, from the territory, which is
common property of the whole Union, and not be-
longing exclusively to the North, the South ought
not to be excluded, by excluding slavery or any
| guarantees of the Constitution This is all they
ever insisted on If they have not this right IN
der the Constitution, they do not ask it. If they
have the right, surely they ought not to be de-
| prived of it. He had paid some attention to the
| physical condition of the black, and had come TO
| the conclusion that there is, comparatively, mu-
| tual advantage to the white and black man, when
! the former control and direct the latter He was
free to admit that If slavery were not in the
country, he would be opposed to its introduction,
because he was against two distinct races in one
| community; but, it is here, we must 30 re-
| gulate il as to produce the least evil.
He said that there was not solitary State more
devoted to the Union than Missouri. She would be
hereafter as she now, for the preservation OF
the Constitution and vgilantin protecting her peo-
| pie from aggression. He would exert every power
which he possessed to maintain their honor and in
terests. Gentlemen here dare not attempt to de-
stroy the Constitution which they have sworn to
support; but they should do nothing to drive the
people to Madness and stimulate them to resort to
some revolutionary remedy. Should this ever be
forced on the people, let the deep, whitening exc
crations Of mankind rest those who press the
measures which may produce it. All Of our diff
cutes result from the agitation of the question OF
domestic slavery. He was pleased to notice that the
| opinion was being difused that if gentlemen will
meet together on proper terms and in becoming
spirit the distracting question can be adjusted He
proposed the Missouri compromise line the basis
OF settement-savery TO be tolerated south oft and
excluded north II was rendered as n peace-offer-
| ing, TO the Union from the calamities which
now hover around il. In addition, he desired the
passage of law more effectually to recover fugi-
tive slaves, and the slave trade regulated is
\ the southern States. He would like TO see bill
combining these principles, passed by both Houses.
and approved by the President. II would have a
| peaceful, happy influence the minds of vast
majority of the people-those who sincerely de-
sirous that the present agitation shall cease. He
said that he would vote against the admission OF
California, unless it entered into general plan Of
adjustment
| MIR. SPALDING, of New York, said that he was
much more inclined to act than TO talk He bad
looked over the various plans which had been sub
United in both Houses, and, so far as he was
bled TO Judge, better calculated TO settle
the questions at issue than that submitted by the
President in his California message of the 2lst of
January last. II was based on the mmutabe prin-
ciple that men capable Of self government and
that the people Of the Territories are competent 10
form their own constitutions before their applica-
ton 70 Congress for admission States. He said
that he would endeavor TO speak, as a national
representative, entrusted with the duty in part to
lcgslate for the whole country. He did not regard
the Contribution as an agreement, co-partnership,
a confederation Of States. On the contrary, il was
a fundamental law, which we cannot infract with
out mourning its penalty The Supreme Court was
the proper tribunal before which TO try all viola
| tions oft. The Union cannot be separated by the
independent action of any of the States. We are
one people, one country, having mutual interests,
reciprocal duties, and common destiny; and he
should ask for no Legislation which unconstitu
tional and none which he believed would not be
beneficial 10 the whole country. And he wished IL
TO be understood, that he would stand by the Pres
idents plan, and preferred that 10 any other; but
if territorial bills shall be introduced into the House,
and pressed by southern gentlemen, he should feel
bound to vote for inserting the Jeffcrsonian ordi
nance Of 1881, prohibiting slavery.
He defended the President against the attacks
made upon him respecting his position North and
South on the Wilmot proviso. Hc denied that the
President was represented at the North as being in
favor Of the proviso. The friends of General Tay-
lor insisted that he occupied a national position.
that he would not interfere 10 control the action Of
Congress on questions of domestic policy, and would
not interpose his veto where questions of constitu
| tional power had been settled by the departments
| Of government and acquiesced in by the people I;
that whatever bis personal opinions might be- nc
| did not believe he would veto any Territorial hill