The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1850-09-26
THE CALIFORNIA BILL THE VOTES.

We conclude to-day the record of the action Of
Congress upon the measures recommended origi-
nally by the Compromise Committee of the SEN
ate
Sqiurdav September eth, the bill for the almis-
sion of California was taken from the Speakers
table and read twice by its title. Mr. Boyd Of
Kentucky las usuaD was recognised by the Chair
and proposed an amendment providing for the
establishment of Territorial Government for
Utah. Mr.. Vinton objected that the amendment
was out of order not being germane to the bill.
The Speaker said the decision made by himself
when the Texan Boundary bill was under discus
sion covered the point of order raised by Mr..
Vnton; therefore he ruled the amendment in or
der 1t will be recollected that, when the Speak
er decided that the amendment of Mr.. Boyd, in
cooperating the bill for the establishment of Ter
ritorial Government in New Mexico and Utah
with the Texan Boundary bill, was in order, he
was sustained on an appeal, by a vote of 100 to
So His decision that the amendment, adding
the Utah Territorial bill to the bill for the adj
mission of California, was in order, was identical
in principle with the former one, and had the
House been consistent, it would have been sus-
tanned. That it was an erroneous decision, every
intelligent and candid mind must, it seems to US,
acknowledge But, in the former case, the ma
iority was in favor of a combination Of measures,
in the latter, against it, so that the vote in both
cases was controlled by determination to effect
a certain purpose. The decision of the Speaker
was sustained in the former case by vote of 1919
to 50, or a majority Of 46; and reversed in the
latter by vote Of rs to 81, or majority of 2s !
Mr. Thompson of Mississippi obtained the
floor, and moved a substitute for the bill, propos-
ing to organize the State of California north of
$50 3O, and form Territory south Of that line.
lie at the same time accepted and moved an
amendment to the bill, providing that the south
ern boundary of said State be established on the
parallel of 800 80 north latitude.
Mr.. Richardson of Illinois demanded the pre-
vious question, and the Speaker explained that if
il were seconded, the House would he brought
TO vote first upon the amendment, then the sub
stitute, and finally upon ordering the bill to
third reading. Motions were made to adjourn,
yeas and nays asked, but the House resolved to
DrOCeeu 10 u uNClslOu nc previous QucS-
ton was seconded, and the question being put on
Mr. Thompson's amendment, it was rejected
yeas IS, nays l32-all the gas being from the
South, all the nays from the North, except Cen
try and Williams of Tennessee, Raymond of
Virginia Houston of Delaware, Kerr of Mary
land Phelps of Missouri, Stanly of North Caro-
lina-six Wings one Democrat.
MIR. ThOmpsOn's substitute was then rejected
yeas n, nays l94-all the yeas being from the
South, all the nays from the North, except Bowie
and Kerr of Maryland, BOwlin, Hall and Phelps
of Missouri, Gentry, Williams, and Watkins OF
Tepnessee, Stanly of North Carolina, Raymond
Of yirginia, and Houston of Delaware-eight
Wings, and three Democrats.
The question required on ordering the bill TO a