The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1850-04-07

Their convention would not permit the question Of sla-
very 10 be passed BY the people separately They re-
fused 10 do so. The constitution OF California had been
adopted in considerable measure BY strangers not de-
signing 10 remain there Mr. g. proceeded TO show.
The Executive had advised and accomplished what Con-
ess had positively refused to do in the matter OF erect
ing State government in California de was willing to
pass bill making territorial government for California,
with provision requesting the citizens thereof 10 al
adopt constitution, and embracing pledge that
their adoption exclusion OF slavery therein should moi
mission under that constitution Would the free sellers
stand upon this platform with him
Mr.. SPALDlNG next addressed the committee, agu-
ing in favor OF the plan OF the Executive, being in
exact keeping with the great American principle, that
the people were competent and entitled TO determine their
institutions for themselves When. these Territories
land vested in the United States government Thus
the government had the right to make all needfu rules
and regulations Tor their governments yet be considered
lican. He regarded the constitution fundamental
lawnot compact between separate and Independent
sovsTegn,es / could not, therefore be a6rogasd BY
apart OF the Union. had been said that Gen, Taylor
held two faces wheR before the peopea Proyisois at
the North, and against il at the South. He had not
been % represented a. the North as the speaker went on
his integrity, and voted for him on the strength OF the
General Taylor had pledged himself permit Congress,
unswayed BY him, settle all such questions His po
sition the question OF rivers and habors had gained
discussed at ihe North and was OF more importance
his immediate constituents To them il represented
that he would not use the veto against them The meet
ing OF the great Chicago Convention helped much to
cenate public opinion in favor OF Taylos
position on this subject.
The policy OF the administration had been condemned
the ground that tended to exclude the South from
participation in the enjoyment OF the territory acquired of
Mexico. This not true On the contrary, such had
been the effect OF the policy Of the last administration,
M t,ol, ho
Marcys instructions General Keany to make civil
government in New Mexico. and ehearsng the history
OF General KS action under those instructions, argued
that ne had reesablshed and continued in force the
anti-savery law the organic law OF the Territory
This he had also done in California IN connection with
Commodore Stockton and Others. Therefore, Mr.. s.
argued, this administration is not responsible for the
fact charged by 30 many gentlemen OF the South.
In MIR Folks message OF the 9Th OF December lS4s, It
was asserted that these governments Tor California and
in those Territories thus, that action had been endorsed
by the late Executive. :,
MIR. McLANE (interruptng Mr.. 50 argued TO show
that instead of endorsing the Mexican prohibition OF
slavery the American officers making those governments
had with them many slaves who were held BY them
there and were subsequently brought back into the
States, thus protecting slavery as i were.
Lane aoSsTos sTEvESs ana
Mr.. SPAULDlNG, who, continuing his speech, went
TO show that the action OF the United States military
officers there had, in fact. excluded slavery The only
alternatives left for Congress in the matter Of California
to leave her independent OF the United States government
On the restoration of peace, the late President had
commended TO Congress 10 pass territorial bills Such
bills had passed House, and lost in the other
II remains for this Congress to act on the subject
which before them in somewhat different form
Mr. here argued that the form in which i now comes
up was such imperatively demand that California
should be admitted and that no responsibility for her
ton in forming constitution Justly Chargeable
the present administration. He did not believe in the
propriety Of equilibrium between the two sections of
the Union, not based on an equality OF population Any
such equilibrium against the spirit OF our govern
and institutions, and could not stand The had
been prosecuted for the avowed purpose of extending
slavery A member from Virginia, on the question OF
voting for supplies and many southern newspapers also,
had refused TO vote for them unless portion OF the Ter
rores thus acquired should be devoted to slavery II
they got than they had bargained forf they had
obtained the territory, and BY their own policy had made it
free they should not charge the North with responsible
~ for this result They had overreached themselves also
in the matter OF sending generals out having sent one
through whom the wings had wrenched the government
from their hands He desired TO give notice that if the
South designed annexing Cuba, the North would insist
that she should come in without slavery.
Mr. TooMBs (said Mr. 81 has reminded the North that,
IN case OF Instruction, they bound TO aid in sup
pressing it He would remind him that the North was
also bound to suppress efforts for the dissolution OF the
Union, II essayed by the South.
Mr. TOOMBS remarked that he should as little expect
the gentleman TO perform his duty in the Of these
in the other.
MIR. SPAULDING, continuing, praised the determine
ton OF the President stand by the constitution. His
power, in hands like his, would be sufficient to crush
every effort resistance the part o. the South The
great confidence in his capacity 10 preserve il.
Mr.. WALLACE having next obtained the floor,
On motion, the committee rose, and the House adj
journed.