The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1850-03-23

fingered from 1888 to lS45 but was because the Nor
was unwilling to depart from the practice which pa
Igrown into OF admitting slave and non-saveholdni
States in pairs. We were delayed, Notwithstanding
peemptory treaty provision in favor, until northern
Territory was prepared for admission. and then were ad
MI. DOUGLAS. When did the North oppose the ad
mission OF Florida at any time been 1888 and 1882
not aware that the North opposed i or that the Soutl
supported It, Will the senator inform me what man froa
the South proposed or advocated the admission OF Fords
4 during any potion Of that penodi
nat fULEE There was never any report, and he
i application was never brought 10 vote
4 Mr.. DOUGLAS. Did any southern man advocate
report IN your favor or any northern man oppose
Mr.. YULEE. was not here at the time Of the appi
4 MI. DOUGLAS And il you were not here. and had
personal knowledge the subject how can YOU ven
ture to charge the North with having defeated your ap
plicaton ! want to know whether any man. North 81
South, supported the proposition.
Mr. DOUGLAS. / do not ask why. Idesire to know
the fact wish to know upon what evidence the sen.
ator from Florida charges the North with having kept
Florida out of the Union for years, and at the same
lime intmatng that the South desired her admission
| Mr.. YULEE, | presume the South was no more de-
srous than the North 10 disregard what had come TO be
considered proper practice in the admission Of new
States TO wit proper regard to the equilibrium Of the
Mr.. DOUGLAS. | know Of no such practice. no such
usage II has happened that once and while slave
me it the result Of accident and not Of set
tied purpose to preserve equilibrium between the free
and slaveholdng States We disavow any such purpose.
II new doctrine, broached for the first time during
the last few days Michigan and Arkansas brought
into the Union at the same session, and Iowa and Fo
da in the same act; but it was 80 done merely because
those States happened to be prepared for admission at
the same time. Florida was kept out by the common
consent OF the whole Union for years. not because
there northern Territory ready, but because she
Mr. KING / will explain that matter, if the senator
N Mr.. I'D DoUGLAs. Certainly. viii hear the expla-
MA
Mr.. KING. The South acted then as the South s dis
posed 10 act Their object was to ascertain the
TACT as TO the requisite population Let the Territory be
where may, whether was TO come In as slave or
free State, the South was only desirous that the
State proposing to come in should have the requisite pop
uation That population not existing in Florida at the
time the taken, they did not vote for the adj
mission Of that Territory into the Union until it was as
cerained that the requisite population was there.
MI. DOUGLAS. thank the senator from Alabama
Mr. YULEE. Twas about to correct the senator from
Alabama by observing that the application Of Florida for
admission was made when the ratio OF population was al
forty thousand, and when her population was equal
Mr.. DOUGLAS repeat my thanks to the senator
from Alabama ior his explanation He tells us that the
Sonth did not vole for the admission OF Florida from
1888 to 1885, and gives the reasons why they did not
Now, ask the senator from Florida why he says that
The Norh kept Florida out Of the Union for seven years
Has he not done great injustice to the North
Mr.. YULEE. That certainly was the understanding
at the time. was citizen OF Florida. and advocated its
that our admission could moi Be expected until the North
had free Territory ready to bring into the Union with
US.
MIR. DOUGLAS do not question that such was the
understanding in Florida for it is difficult to get any
derstandng there which is not prendcla TO the North
But am willing 10 take the explanation of the senator
from Alabama, Tor he here al the time, and had the
means OF knowing and, besides, he bears testimony to
the fact that the South did oppose the admission of For
da during the period alluded TO- and places the opposition
upon principle which is fair and legitimate. would
readily give him the benefit Of this principle applicable
TO California, il not for the fact that the whole South
voted for the admission OF Florida in ls45, without the
previous OF Congress- and without showing BY
actual that she possessed the requisite population
H. therefore, there is any force in the precedent,
iabshed in the Florida case, the South Is estopped
the mode dsih IN Which she now s psssenis herself voted
with them for the admission Of Florida and think that
have right to claim their votes for California now
South Carolina, and indeed several others, have objected
to the admission OF California upon the ground that she
has been guilty OF usurpation, gross usurpaton.
Mr. B9T6ER Ti,hdw the WSs,.gg Word gIOs. ss.
sstl Whose rights have the people Of California usurped
Certainly not the rights Of the United States; for they
Pessy acknowledge 9u. soyeregniy they claim to Pc
Joy the same rights and privileges in common with us
What rights then, have they usuped Not the rights
Of Oshey expressly % ,seosSss the Is Is and s
public properly within the limits Of their State What
laws have they violated Not the laws OF the United
States Tor their complaint s tnat we nave not extended
our laws over them Not the laws in force in the
country al the time for one OF their objects in seek
ing to establish government wass 10 be able to
cute those laws, so far as they might be found
applicable TO their present condition What pro-
vision OF the constitution Of the United States have
they infringedi They recognise TO the fullest extent
that constitution the paramount law, and have formed
for themselves State constitution in strict obedience to IT,
No senator peiends that any ri a 81 The o
ted States What have they done IN violation OF the
pncpIes of Justice OF law, public private, local or
iionaii Noie has been specified. and apprehend none
will be- How whole community can be guilty of usur-
patton without violation OF law an invasion OF rights,
leave others to explain. hold that the people OF Cali
forna had right to do what they have done yea that
they had moral political, and legal right to do all they
have done.
When we to the discussion oil questions OF this
kind il is necessary 10 look into the rights OF men and
communities they are acknowledged TO exist through
out the civilized world. Have the people OF the Terro-
res OF the United States rghtsi had supposed that
the principle was universally conceded in this country
that all have certain inherent and nalienable rights
and have yet TO learn upon what grounds the people OF
this principle. hold, also, political axiom that
all mankind have an inherent and inaiienabe right
TO government This principle is universal IN its
application, and Ia recognised and acknowledged where
ever civilization prevails and civil governments exist
do speak OF any particular form OF government
whether IL be free or absoluie--a republic or mon
archy, or combination Of the two systems But assert
ncontroveriIbe axiom in political science that oil
men are entitled TO government OF some kind II any
one OF the crowned heads OF Europe chooses 10 with
draw for lime his authority and protection from any
one OF hs provinces dependencies, the very act OF
such withdrawal authorizes his subjects thus deprived OF
government 10 institute one Tor themselves, TO continue