The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1850-12-27
TEF SOUTHERN PRESS.
ArcHIsoN g SPEECH.

cn,s;iion Of that vast territory lying north of the
3od or 33d degree of north latitude, extending to
the southern boundary of Oregon, between nine
and ten degrees oflatitude, and from the Pacific to
the Rio Del Norte, or about fifteen degrees of
Longitude, TO say nothing of the territory IN DIS
pute between the United States and the State OF
Texas, east Of the Rio del Norte or in other
words, all the territory included within the limits
of the State Of California and the territories OF
Utah and New Mexico.
The moment the treaty Of Guadalupe Hidalgo
was ratified by Mexico and the United States, It
became the imperative duty Of the latter to organ
ize the Governments for all these territories, but
this duty, for years, the Government of the Unit
ed States neglected to perform,
Why did Congress fail to discharge duty so
clear, SO imperative The territory Of California
contained population of from twenty-five to thir-
ty thousand, and New Mexico from forty to fifty
thousand inhabitants, at the time Of their acquisi-
ton, and from that day to the present time the
emigration to these territories has been without
parallel in the history of this or any other country
There is but one answer to the question, and that
is obvious to all. The difficulty arose from the
differences in the institutions Of States of this
Union, fifteen of which recognize the institution
of slavery, African slavery, the other. fifteen dis
card it..
The representatives of the saveholding States
were willing and anxious to organize governmental
for these territories without restriction TO sla
very. The representatives Of the free States
would not organize such governments without the
re0trictlOn OF slavery.
The slaveholding States, by their representa-
tives, insisted that these territories were acquired
by the common blood and common treasure Of all
the States, were the common property OF all, and
that there was no constitutional power in the Fed
reinforcement to make any such restrictions; Or,
il there was the power, il would be unjust and
iniqu!tocJ in the last degree to exercise it. These
positions majority of the representatives or the
free States denied. By reason of this conflict of
opinions at the commencement of the session Of
49, Cd fl,ntt lnNt,
government.
For many years past, the people of the slave
holding States have been greatly annoyed, and
have been loud in their complaints against the free
States, and portion of the people of those States
for their protection Of fugitive slaves, and their
want Of good faith in carrying out their consttu-
tional obligations. Instead Of delivering up fngi-
tive slaves, according to the clear acquisitions of
the Constitution, some of the States have attempt
ed by their legislation to prohibit the reclamation
by their owners of escaped slaves, and portion
of the people in the free States, not only protect
the slave within their borders, but encourage, per-
suade, and furnish facilities for the escape of the
slave from his master. These facts are too noto
rious to require proof.
There was also dispute between the State of
Texas and the United States, in relation to that
portion of country lying east of the Rio Grande,
called New Mexico.
These were the main questions presented at the
last session of Congress for final disposition, and
the necessity for action was pressing, they
could no longer be delayed.
The President Of the United States, in his an
nual message, recommends that California be ad-
mitted as State of this Union and that the re-
naming territories be left in stau quo. This was
the sum total of Executive advice and policy
recommended to Congress, touching these ques-
tons. Thus stood matters at the opening of the
last session Of Congress.
Early in the session, bills were reported from
the Committee on Territories, by its chairman
Senator Douglass, Of Illinois.
lst To admit California State.
I'd. To organize governments for Utah and
New Mexico.
Sd. A bill was reported from the Committee on
the Judiciary, in relation to fugitive slaves.
A resolution was submitted by Mr.. Foote Of
Mississippi, to refer these bills and all the ques-
tons connected with them to committee Of thr-
teen members Of the Senate. After three months
of discussion, the resolution finally adopted.
The committee was selected by a vote of the
Senate, six Of whom were Northern men, and six
from the South. Mr.. Clay selected chair
man Of the committee. This proposition, so JUS,
and reasonable in itself, violently opposed by
two classes Of senators, principally from the free
States. One class wanted no settlement at all; the
other, settlement except upon their own terms;
the Southern States supporting the resolution,
with but one exception, or at least very few ex-
ceptions.
Mr.. Clay, the chairman Of the committee,
ported bill embracing all theques,ions connected
with the territories.
|. For the admission of California as State
g. A government for each Of the territories,
Utah and New Mexico.
g. A provision for the purchase Of the claim OF
the State of Texas to that part of New Mexico
lying east Of the Rio Grande.
This report also recommended the passage of
the Fugitive slave bill, and the bill to abolish the
slave trade in the District Of Columbia.
Thus a series of measures were presented to the
United States Senate, embracing all the sub jects in
controversy by committee Of the most expert
Il 81 So ,,I,I,
tons upon which the two great sections Of the
Union were arrayed against each other with sach
determined luminosity, that the very existence Of
the Union was threatened.
1t was not to be expected that any proposition
Of compromise or ad ustment could be presented
that would be satisfactory to all, yet it hoped
and expected that if this series Of measures could
be adopted by Congress, they would be aqcuiesced
in by the great body Of the people Of the North
and South. These measures, from the moment
the report was made, met with the most deter
mined opposition both from the North and South,
from gentlemen entertaining the most opposite
opinions-Free-soil and Abouonists Of the
North, senators who contended for the entire
claim Of the South. They were opposed by some
upon technical grounds, for parliamentary reasons,
such as that the measures were separate and dis.
tnct propositions, some OF greater and some of
less dignity, that they were incongruous, &c,
&c, and therefore should not be ''tacked" to-
gether A species Of special demurrer in legisla-
ton or, in common parlance, and language
which every body understands species Of par
iiamentary pettagging.
These objections were applied to the bill dis
posing of the territorial questions, commonly
called the Omnibus bill. Although opposed to
several features Of that bill, l avowed myself in
its favor, and supported it as it presented
voting, however, for such amendments as were, in
my opinion, calculated to make it more acceptable
10 the slaveholdng States. was an advocate of
the Omnibus, as it was called, because wise and
patriotic men Of the North and South, Wings and
Democrats, thought it would bring peace to the
country, and save the Union from danger. | am
not ashamed Of the company kept, Of the men
with whom acted; they were neither Abolition
lists norFree- solers ,nufers disunoniss; they
were not the men to plunge the country into cvi
Omnibus was broken down and the passengers