Daily Richmond times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1849-1850, 1850-05-16


be pr opposed For, with respect to the North there
can be no earthly doubt that il there half dozen
States made out OF Caf9Tnia they would be all what
seek such division. 1t is from the South that the op
position to acceding to the limits of California as pro
posed in her State constitution, comes. The South
other states there, another State there Some
gentlemen from the South true propose that there
should be an express recognition OF the right to carry
slaves south OF that line but believe that the major
part OF those VINO insist on the establishment of that
lne do not ask tor the recognition or a positive enact
ment OF the ghto carry slaves south Of that line and
think those who are acquainted with the country or
who have taken the pains to look over the man will
come TO the conclusion OF friend of mine from the
south twho, believe is in my hearng,) large
PLANTER who SAID tome the other day, "Mr. Clay, if
congress were to OTTER $500 piece for every slave
own, requiring me condition take them to Cali
lorna, or to either of the Territories and there to
Keep thetn--it could keep them-for ten years, l
would not accede to the proposal"
Now, suppose you take line at IS deg. 80 min or
80 deg. 30 min of north latitude cutting California in
two what would become of herr There would be the
open the side ready for the escape of your
slaves there would be the free State of California on
the other and Mexico with her boundless mountains
on the third. Who believes that, if you establish the
line proposed slavery would ever be carried there?-
Moreover, have understood that all the delegation in
the Conventlon-ot course all of them must, because
the Convention was unanimous-the whole Convention
all south OF the line 35 deg. 80 min, as well as north
OF l-voted against the introduction of slavery 1t
not therefore be, and presume it is not, under any
hope-it California should be curtaed in the manner
pTopOSeQ-tat there Will ever be slavery within her Ii
ms, OF upon the Pacific at all. The fact, therefore, OF
the establishment of State or of new States out
OF the present limits of California is merely to add to
the objection which has been made by the South of the
preponderance and influence of the North and the ap-
prehenslons which they entertain from that preponde
rance and influence of Northern power If the North
is satisfied and ii the thing is very unreasonable in
ITSELF seems to me that there should not be any hest
tatlon on the part OF Southern friends in Congress
IN acceding to these limits
But sir, it is said that they are unreasonable Cali
lorna mad some six hundred miles of coast on
the Pacific ocean. It'll said that it is too large Sir
stated in the report that with respect to all the
southern portion of California, south, for example, of
the line &c deg 80 min shortly after you have left the
coast you encounter deserts of sand which never can
be inhabited and that after you have passed these
deserts OF sand you approch mountains, till you reach
population IN the midst OF these mountains and be-
yond them, which has intercourse at all with the
racine, and whose intercourse is almost exclusively
with Mexico or with countries on the Atlantic ocean
and on the Mexican Gulf So also when you 90 to
the northern portion of California there is vast de-
sert not knownto have been passed, extending from
the country occupied by the Mormons down to the
racine ocean Now, If you go there, how could you
reach the coast OF the Pacific through this impossible
desert! There seems to to be no adequate motive
lor the curtallmen OF the limits of the Pacific with
view to the accommodation of future States at least
Judge not, from the amount of geographical knowl-
edge which we at present possess of these terrific
RES.
But, MIR. President, it said here the other dav
with respect to California that her case was different
from that OF the other new States which have been
admitted into this Union. 1t is mentioned in the re-
port that there are cases of States which have been
ADMITTED without the previous authority of Congress
ana is II not SOL My honorable friend from AL
abama stated that in all the other instances of States
wren nave been admitted into the Union, they had
served an apprenticeship OF many years; but sir
Tie observation and statement 10 the report of the
committee stands uncontradicted. Michigan, Arkan-
sas ana Florida, not other States came in without
any other act OF Congress, according to the usage
which prevailed in the early admission of States an-
eiorllng them to hold convention to frame
sututon, and to come in with that constitution They
lad on limits Tor themselves They called con-
Vehtlon they adopted constitution and thew have
come here and asked for admission 1t was said that
lley Were under the Government of the United States
~ nluch inc peter tor them they had good Gov
eminent; Territorial Government. But how is il
with California? She has no Government. You have
ueserled her; You have violated your engagement
famed IN the treaty OF Guadalupe Hidalgo and left
le 10 shltt ior herself well as she could In this
state OF abandonment she chose to form for herself
cohstutlon and she has come here to ask for admis
SION and ask again, as | had occasion to ask three
ouhs ago, whether she does present herself with
much stronger claims admission than those States
w wch mad all the advantages Of free Governments
lnlnk, then, MIR President that with respect to the
population OF California, with respect the limits of
ba and with respect to the circumstances under
winch she presents herself Congress for admission
as a Stale into the Union, all favorable to grant
her what she sollcits, and find neither 10 the
nor in the other sufficient motive to reject her
and to throw her back into the of lawless couu-
sion and disorder from which she has emerged
Sir with the committee unite in saying this occa-
sion that all the considerations which call upon Con-
gress to admit California a State and to sanction
what she has DONE and give her the benefit of self 60
yernmen apply with equal force to the Territories of
Utah and New Mexico
MI. President allow me- at this stage OF the few
observations which propose to addes to the Senate
to contrast the plans which have been presented FOR the
settlement OF these the questions. One has come to US
from very nigh authority recommending, as under
stand It, the admission OF California and doing nothing
more leaving the question of the boundary unsettled be-
tween New Mexico and Texas, and leaving the peo-
pie who inhabt Utah and New Mexico unproyided
torby Government. Mr. President l will take occa-
sion to say that came to Washington with the most
anxious desire-a desire which | still entertan-to CO.
operate IN my legislative position in all cases in which
could consclenhously cooperate with the Executive
pfaneh OF the Government. need not add, however
SIR, that came here also with settled purpose to fol-
low the deliberate dictates of nv own iudpment
wherever that judgement might carry me- Sir, it is
with great pleasure that state that do cooperate
with the President of the United States the extent
which he recommends He recommends the admission
OF California The committee propose this. There
the Presidents recommendation stops and there take
up the subject and proceed to act upon the other parts
the territory acquired from Mexico.
Now sir, which of these two courses commends it.
sell best to the judgment of those who are to act in the
case In the first place, sir, if do provide 60
yernments tor the other portion OF the country acquired
from Mexico we tail to fulfil an obligation sacred OBJ
lgation contained in the treaty with Mexico 1t is
said that they will have a govern men of their own
local government; that they have such one now;
Dul tHey have MOI SUCH d one now as they had
when they part OF Mexico When they were part
of the republic of Mexico with the common Govern
men of Mexico stretching all thepars constitu-
ting that republic, they had all the benefits resulting
from their local laws, and the additional benefit
and security resulting from the laws of the Supreme
Government covering all parts of the republic
we took the place of that Supreme Government
They were transferred from that sovereignty to this
sovereignty and stipulated with the agents of their
former sovereignty that we would extend to them pro-
teclon to their PERSONS securityto their property and
religion IN
the dictates OF their consciences. Now sir if YOU
admit California and do nothing for Utah and New
Mexico, nothing in relation to the settlement of the
boundary question with Texas | ask you in what con-
diton, in what state will you leave those countries 4?
There are the MormonS-a community of which T do |
not wish to say word of dsrespect for know yerv
little about them; heard very opposite accounts Of
hemI believe that during this session my colleague
before me had occasion to present memorials TO