Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1850-04-20
SSs>i.>Ss%a
THE COMPROMISk COMMIT
liz SrsArE-ArRiL II, 1850.

see lMr and oil the senator hentuchy
CLAY) to a committee of thirteen.
The VICE PRESIDENT announced the first question to
be the amendment Of the Senator from Missouri mod-
fcation Of which by Mr.. CLAT he had accepted
The amendment, originally proposed by The Senator
from Missouri, was in these words
Prorided That nothing in the motion shall be construed
to affirm the existence OF power in Congress over
4 1. The abolition of slavery within the States.
The suppression Of The slave trade between the States
s. The abolition of slavery within the forts arsenais dock
yards and navy yards of the United States.
J. The abolition Of slavery in the District Of Columbia
The Senator from Kentucky proposed to amend that it
should read
ro,led That nothing in the reference shall be SO
srued imply the existence of power what
Congress for the abolition by Congress of slavery
within the States authorize the suppression by Con-
of the trade between the States that Congress
ought to abolish slavery in the forts dock yards and
abolish slavery in the District Of Columbia.
Mr.. CLAY. Mr.. President, desire offer amend
to the amendment proposed by The Senator from Mis-
souri, II will be recoected by the Senate that the Senator
from Missouri proposed amendment when this subject
last before the Senate to restrict the committee in its consi
dera;ion Of these resolutions thirteen topics which
enumerated in his motion and that afterwards moved
amendment 10 that amendment, which the Senator from Mis-
sour accepted Therefore, the amendment as 1t now stands
the which proposed to modify and which the Senator
from Missouri accepted now wish propose amend
ment to the proposition modified by the Senator from
Missouri
The amendment which now propose is to strike out all
the propositions of the Senator from Missouri after the word
"provded and insert the following
Tha the Senate does not deem necessary express
advance opinions Instructions either general
or specific for the guidance OF the said committee"
/ Mr.. President will make single remark. The amend
of the Senator from Missouri stands, proposes
to declare that Congress possesses upon certain SUBJ
iecs therein mentioned. Such declaration the part Of
the Senate, it to me- wholly unnecessary the Sem
would, by unanimous voice. declare the belief that
Congress has no power to abolish slavery in the several
States and forth. think it, therefore, useless as it at
prese md / arinp
that the Senate does not deem necessary, in advance,
express any opinion give any instructions whatever to the
committee. | hope the amendment may be adopted
Mr. BENTON. Mr. President the amendment which
is called that of the Senator from Missouri the amendment
Of the Senator fom Kentucky himself, which accepted
by the Senator from Missouri Thursday last in spirit Of
compromise The Senator from Kentucky proposes to
amend his amendment by rubbing all Why, sir,
will withdraw it, and fall back upon my original amend
men', which will undertake get through, if can, and
will call for the vote upon each point. withdraw that
amendment.
The VICE PRESIDENT The amendment Of the Sc.
nator from Missouri having been withdrawn the amend
menis to that amendment fall with it.
Mr.. BENTON. Mr. President, now offer my own
ssProuiaed That nothing this reference shall be
stued authorize the said committee take into consdera-
ton thing that relates to either Of the four following sub
81. The abolition of slavery within the States.
& The suppression the sayetrade between the States
5. The abolition of slavery within the fort arsenas
dock yards, and navy yards of the United States.
The abolition OF the Columbia
".4nd provided further That said committee shall take
into consideration any questions relating the subject of
nestle slavery in the United States which shall be special
~ referred to them by order of the Senate"
! Mr. CLAY. Mr.. President, now move my amendment,
just proposed to the amendment of the Senator
Missouri Strike out all after the word "provded" and in
sert the following Fl, "-." IS"
ha the Senate does deem it necessary to express in
advance any opinion give any Instructions either
raj specific for the guidance of the said
Mr.. CAss i seems TO me that the two amendments
in conflict Do understand that the amendment of the
Senator from Kentucky is to be substitute for the ameod-
ment Of the Senator from Missouri
Mr.. CLAY. Certainly.
Mr.. BENTON. rise with great reluctance and defer
ence to the honorable Senator from Kentucky who certainly
protessedly Of the best skilled parlamentaans and
perhaps is equal in that respect to any America Eu-
rope say is with great Difference that would suggest
that he is not proceeding patamenay when he offers such
resolve that is, and calls an amendment do not
think under the name STYLE description of an
amendment at ALL The object of can be attained in par
amenary way by voting down the proposition have sub
mlted An amendment Is to improve thing, make it
bette but here design to obtain resolution from the
Senate declaring that they will not upon the subject ALL
Now Mr. President it is my intention, before go into
the question OF amendments consequence of what
communicated yesterday the absence portion of the
Senate on Monday next bring motion before the senae
which communicated yesterday Half dozen Senators are
to be absent by order of the Senate and follows of
that no questions in which the States they represent are
rested will be taken up during that II half dozen
members the Senate go Monday mission that
must keep hen away one or two weeks it will be week
or two weeks-no tell how long-before any thing
that concerns California again be taken up the Senate
Now we have three days and half Of this week to work in
and during these three days and half it that
what ncerns California be disposed of way the
other and before these gentlemen 60 away that State will
have decision upon her application for admission. IF any
thing done which prevents decision upon her application
It stands over for weeks more in addition 10 the
eight weeks which have already elapsed since the President
communicated his message with the constitution Of California
1t Is my DESIRE Mr. President after having lost eight weeks
to avoid the loss of two more which will be dead loss be
cause we cannot touch the during that time and all
OF us are sufficiently acquainted with what happens in para
rentay bodies when any thing is laid down for two weeks
aad gets cold When you take up again. you take it 10 de
oo and give US hash every thing that has been said
before with the addition of much has bee thought
of in the mean time. To proceed in way which will not
bring the Senate decision upon the admission If Caf
mia this week. is 10 make dead loss Of two more weeks 10
be followed by many weeks the discussion NAV
last. feel It TO be my duty, in consequence Of what was
to the Senate yesterday have made up nv
mind accordingly, to move, before into the question
of the committee to take the bill No 6 reported by the
Committee Territories, for the admission of the State of
California. deem it my duty make that notion upon
the belief that having had this subject upon our hands
shape other since the meeting of the Senate in De-
cemberacr having had the question of the admission OF
California in some shape upon minds the whole that
time, we shah be able the three remaining DAYS
this week. TO act upon in way another our action
is confined to that bill, and nothing else
Now, sir, will readha BILL and let the Senate see how brief
and to the point is and how comprehensive the points
which the bill contains. They these That the State
OF California shall be and she hereby declared
the United States Of America equal footing with the
original States in all whatever, That ia