Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, IA [i.e. Ind.]) 1839-1854, 1850-05-22
REPORT OF the Compromise
Con, mittee Of the Senate.

mi,tee Of Thirteen. on Wednesday pre-
sented to the Senate the following report:
The Senate's Committee Of Thirteen. TO
whom were referred various resolutions
relating 10 California, 10 other portions
OF the territory recently acquired BY
the United States from the republic OF
Mexico. and to other subjects connec-
ted with the institution Of slavery. have.
according to order. had these Iesolu-
tons and subjects under consideration.
and beg leave to submit the following
report:
The committee entered on the dis
charge Of their duties with deep sense
Of their grea, importance, and with car
nest AMI ANXIOUS solicifule 10 arrive N
such conclusions as might BE- saiisfacto-
nv to the Senate and to the country Most
Of the matters referred have been not on
lv subjected to extensive and serious pub
l!c discussion throughout the country. but
to n debate in the Senate it>"l!. singular
for its ciAbOrairnnSS and IT'S duration; so
that Il full exposition OF all these motives
and views which. on the several subject,
coni,!ei to the committee. have dci"rrnIn-
ed the conclusions at which they have ar
rived. seems quite unnecessary IhrV
viii therefore, restrict themselves 10 a few
neucral observations. and TO some rctlcc
lions which grow out of these SUBJECTS
Ou, Of our recent Territorial acquisi
fions. and in conneXion with the instItu-
tiOn Of slavery. questions most grave have
sprung. which. greatly dividing and a@ita-
ting the pcopl,, Of the United States. have
threatened t. disturb the harmony, II not
cndan9er the safety. of the mon. The
committee believe it ~ BE- highly desirable
and necessary speedily to adjust al! those
questions. in spirit Of concord. and IN a
m,nner to produce. if practicable. gene
raj ,ii~tac,ion. They think il would be
unwiSn to leave any of them open and un-
sc,,cd. u tester in the public mind. and
10 proiong. ifnot agyravaie. the EXISTING
agitation. 1t has been their object. fhere-
fore in this report 10 make such proPo-
sa!- and accommodations as would ac-
conp.~ il general a}ju,.nent Of al
those Questions.
Among ~" SUI ITS refereed 20 n
c"tttntta. which c,nI',:c'e;. their t.:>' ~
~ ton. rr,, rha rcs ,utiou~ T.re u fl..
s;.u,t, - IL. :: ,lr. ,ruil 'i-.nn. -" .
l;r Bell I;v a p,nvi>ioa il, tn. :sS,li
;s"r of Congress- anu:'xing frNa> - fne
/ niict. ..,;-S il Is i,.c, ,4re,! t'st -.fcn
>;,.',- i cut.v.si ~ -. ,>@@e,'.4L
/ oar ii ,.us !. Il, ~ i':'1 = >.,id s;a..
4 Tx =. ,a.l .:aH1 .,s- - .sH'! =
/ trc sr.v hereafter. tta tt"~e'.'
>a, a" t., i.ef,. 5ul !.- ig.rt3ri
! tiior"oi w:,is.n -.t9l, Z. eu},tt.,5 t3.4int'
>,n under the provisions +, tn Federal
constitution: a,ii such states - may 3"
1 ,riuiod out ot that portion OF sad terrific
IS ivirr south OF :50 80 north latitude.
commonly known as the Missouri com
| pro,ni>. line. >haU be admitted into the
! mon ui', or without slavery. as tho peo-
". Of each State asking admission may
| desire.
| The committees are unanimously OF
! opinion. that WHENEVER one or more
/ >t,tos formed out Of the Territory OF
! i'ex1s. not exceeding four having su!i-
/ c,nt population. with the consent of Ten
as may apply to be admitted into TIE
! MON. i,,cv are entitled, I, suci, admis-
sion bcvouL all doubt. upon the clear. IN
ambigu,uS. and absolute terms OF the
solemn compact contained il the tcso!u-
ton of annexation adopted by Congress
and asscn,cl to by Texas. But. wills,
the committee conceive t',at the right OF
admission into the Union Of any new
States carved ou. Of the territory Of i'exas.
not exceeding the number specified. ant:
under The conditions stated. cannot he
iu>ilv controvcrtcd INC committee - not
think that the formation Of any such NV
State should now originate with Congress.
I'hc initiative. in conformity with the
usage which has heretofore prevailed.
should be taken by a portion of the pco-
pie of Texas themselves. DESTROYS OF con-
s'ifuiing q new State. with the consent Of
Texas And in the formation of such
new State. il will be for the people com
posing il to decide whether they will aa-
nit or exclude slavery. And however
they may decide that municipal question.
Congress is bound 10 acqui"Sce. and 70
fulfill in good faith the stipu!aiions OF the
compact witt, Texas. The committee
are aware that It has been contended tha,
the resolution Of Congress anneXin1 TeN-
as was unconstitutional At former
epech Of our countrv'> history. there were
those (and Mr. Jc:f,'r>on. under whose
auspices The treaty Of Louisiana was con
Guided. was among them) who believed
that the State formed out Of Louisiana
could not be received into the [ MON with
ou, an amendment of the constitution
Dut the States of Louisiana. Missouri
Arksnsas. and Iowa have been all. new.
erthele>S. admitted And who would
now think Of opposing the admission o
Minnesota. Oregon. or other new States
formed out OF the ancient province q
Louisiana. upon the ground Of an alleged
original defect Of constitutional pawer,-
In grave rational transactions. while We
IN their earlier or incipient stages. differ
ences may well exist: but when once they
have been decided by constitutional
maj ,rity. and are con~umma;cd, or are il
a process of consumnation. t;ierr can H.
no other >af, and prulat, alternative thar
10 respect the decision alrea;:v rendered
49, . ncct,:nSl,- IL II L -.