Daily Richmond times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1849-1850, 1850-07-29


the duties and attend 10 the rights and obligations
which belong to the exercise Of the government OF the
people OF the United States. twill turn IT. am quite
sure, when the returns OF the census are made that
there is stated population in New Mexico, such as
would justify US in receiving her into the Union and III
giving seats 10 be occupied by members from that State
may not say it I'm this august assembly,
Now, sir, New Mexico herself was conscious of her
own imperfect condition. New Mexico was DESTROYS of
territorial government. If she has been pushed upon
the proposal OF government OF different character,
to which her population and her condition did not adapt
her it has only been in consequence OF her extreme
cesy pressing her to despair upon her part of obtain
ing any territorial government.
Thus, then, Mr.. President, we all agree about the
neces sty OF territorial government, with without
the Wilmo Proviso We all agree about the necessity
OF adjustment Of the Texas boundary-a boundary
out OF which | say there Is imminent danger OF
sprngng-lt the question be not adjusted during
the present session OF Congressone, il not two civil
wafs--the civil war between the people of New Mex-
co IN resistance TO the authority of Texas. TO which they
are utterly averse and the civil war lighted up upon the
upper no GTande which may, IN time extend itself to
the Potomac. All, therefore, must agree-al have felt
every senator who has expressed his opinion upon
tns SUBJECT during the progress of this debate has
ayowed his conviction OF the necessity of ADJUST
ment, compromise, settlement OF tn 5 boundary
1t has been objected against the measure that it is
compromise. 1t has been said that it is a compromise
OF principle or OF principle. Mr. President what is
compromise! 1t is work of mutual concession-an
agreement in which there reciprocal stipulatons-a
work in which, for the sake of peace and concord one
party abaes his extreme demands in consideration of an
abatement of extreme demands by the other pary it s
measure OF mutual concesson-a measure of mutual
sacrlhce Undoubtedly, Mr. President in all such mea-
suies OF compromise one party would be glad to
ger what ne wants, and reject what he does not desire
out winch the other party wants But when he comes
10 reflect that from the nature of the government and
Its operation, and from those with whom he is dealing
It is necessary upon his part in to secure what he
wants, to grant something to the other side he should
oe vsheb he has made in
consequence of the concession which he is TO receive
there is no great principle involved such as violation
Of the constitution of the United States. admit that
such compromise as that ought to be sanction
ed adopted But now call upon any senator in his
place to point out from the beginning to the end from
California to New Mexco,a solitary provision in this
bill which is vioative OF the constitution OF the United
States. Sir, adjustment in the shape Of compromise
may be made without producing any such consequences
as have been apprehended. There may be mutual
forbearance You obea upon your side to insist upon
the application OF the restriction denominaed the Will
mot Provlso. Is there any violation OF principle there9
The most that can be said, assuming the power to
pass the Wlmot Proviso, which ia denied is that there
Is forbearance 10 exercise, not violation Of the
power 10 pass the Provso. So upon the other hand
II there was power in the constitution of the United
States authorizing the establishment of slavery in any
OF the territoriesa power however, which contro-
verted by large portion OF this Senatef there was
power under the constitution 10 establish slavery the
forbearance TO exercise that power violation OF the
constitution, any more than the constitution is violated
by torbearance to exercise numerous powers that
might be specified that granted in the constitution
aud that remain dormant until they be exercised
by the proper legislative authorities 1t said that the
bill presents the state OF coercionthat members are
coeced in order get what they want to vote for that
which they disapprove. Why, sir, what coercion is
thefe Is there any coercion IN the numerous treaties
made by the United Staes-the treaty in settling the
Maine boundary the treaty coming down from 50 deg
40 min to 49 in Oregon; all treaties which have been
made upon commerce, upon boundaries and other
questions from time to time by the United States unon
the principle OF mutual and reciprocal concess upon
the part OF those who made them Is there any more
coercion in this case than in the passage of bill con-
tanning variety OF provisions, of which you ap-
prove and others OF which you disapprove2 Can be
SAID upon the part OF our northern friends because they
have not got the Wilmot Proviso incorporated in the
territorial part OF the bill that they coerced-want-
ing California as they do SO muchto vote for the bill
II they do vote tor ts Sir, they might have initiated
the noble example of my friend IMr COOPER from that
state upon whose devotion 10 this Union place one
OF my greatest reances in its preservation What
was the course of my friend upon this subject of the
Wimot Provisol He voted for it; and he could 90
BACK 70 ms constituents and say, all OF you could go
paek and say to your constituents you chose to do
So we wanted the Wimot Proviso in the bill: we
tired to get itin; but the majority OF the Senate was
against it. The question then came I'D whether we
should lose California, which has got an introduction in
her constitution which in point OF value and duration
is worth thousand Wilmot Provisoes we were in.
duced as my honorable friend would say to take the
bill and the whole of It together although we were
disappointed in our votes with respect to the Wimot
matter it may have in 1t, account of the superior
amount of good it contains
Il s said, Mr.. President, that this omnibus, asst is
called, contains too much. thank from the bottom
OF my heart the enemy OF the bill who gave it that de-
nomination. The omnibus is the vehicle of the people,
OF the Of the people. And this bill deserves the
name for another reason that, with the exception Of
the two bills which to follow, contains all that is
necessary to give peace and quiet this country Its
said sometimes, however, that this omnibus too hea-
yily treighted and that it contains incongruo matter
che
TO you heretofore, showing that according even 10 the
British parliamentary law. but especially accor-
ding 10 the congressional law, this bill is 10 confor-
nifty with practice in nnumerabe instances But the
ostensble objection that it contains much matter is
not the real DO you be eve that the senator who
sits before me, Mr.. Baldwin, and other senators IN
this neighborhood, il you would attach to the terri
torial bills The Wilmot Proviso, would have seen the
sncongruity! Would not the senator from Mas
sachusetts Mr. Davis have voted for the whole of this
incongruous bill with pleasure, il it had only contained
the Wilmot Proyiso! II Is not that the bill has too
much in it it has ittle according to the wishes OF
its opponents and am very sorry that omnibus
cannot contain Mr.. Wimot, whose weight would
break IL down, am afraid, if he were put there
Laughter This incongruous measure, which has al
ready too much matter in it, has not enough tor the
senator from Tennessee. [Mr Bell.l He wants to put
IN it two orthree more States from Texas PROVISIONAL
iy upon the event OF their becoming applicants for adj
mission into The Union. No, sir it is not the variety
OF the matter-is not the ncongruy, the incompat-
Utility OF the measures and the bill but it because the
bill does contain enough TO satisfy those who want
the Wimot," as it has been properly called placed
10 the omnibus
Why, Mr. President incongruous as ii may be sup
posed this measure has not half the incongry of the
elements oopposition 10 the bill. While upon this part
OF my subject, allow me to answer argument de-
vered with all the triumph OF conscious victory by the
honoIab senator near me Mr.. Hael the other day
he said he had gone into certain apartment OF this
Capitol, and there he had found my friend from NJ chi-
gan INF Cassl and myself in close conversation and
the senator from Mississippi Mr. Footel with senator