The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1850-01-24

am independent STATE Do you call ~ q territorial
government? No. Can territorial legislatures
send Senators TO Congress? They cannot, ~ Con-
gress approve Of tie action Of the Executive, they
preclude themselves from exercising authority
over the territories. II puts Congress under
serious embarrassment, and difficulty, and they
are placed In the position TO remand the State into
territorial condition, receive her into the Union.
people, numbering not more than from fifty to
hundred thousand are formed into State at the
mere votion Of the President, exercising authority
and stretching all along the Pacific coasta terri
tory scarcely less in extent than half of the thr
teen original States The southern States are thus de-
prived Of their rights In one branch of the national
legislature, however, they were not poweress. They
had been precuded entirely by the act of the Pres
ident. California has been invited TO form State
government before the settlement of the issue; and
this has been done by q kind OF coercion. The in
sidious and inevitable effect is to exclude half
ofthe people OF the country, who the sovereignty
They should not be cheated, and then insulted
Under the pretence Of non,intervention, there had
been direct Intervention. Mr. Seldom was under
stood to say that the Executive had shown himself
to be brave soldier, and il was no disparagement
10 him to assert that he had more talent for the field
than for matters of State. Hc'has Cabinet, which
ought to be composed of men whose legal attain
ments should guard against any violation Of the
Constitution Of the United States. He is eminent
jurist and, relying upon their advice, they ought
to be held responsible for this whole policy The
confidence of the President is abused, and he has
not seen the insidous character of those who sur.
round him.
Mr.. McCLERNAND obtained the floor, not to
make motion to prevent debate, but to show a pro-
per respect TO the President by moving that the
message and the accompanying documents be re-
ferred to the Committee Of the Whole the state
OF the Union, and printed; and he demanded the
previous question.
The SPEAKER said that the motion to refer the
message to the Committee on Territories had pre-
cedcnce; and without further action,
The House adjourned.
The following papers were presented under the
rule: NAE ''N''
By Mr.. COLE: The petition of s. N Lester and
others, for the extension Of mail route from
Prairie du Chen, Wisconsin, to Fort Atchison,
Iowa, via Monona, Postvile, &C. Referred to the
Committee on the Post Office and Post Roads.
Also, the petition of ]. d. Wilcox, J. l.. Wilcox,
and forty seyen others, praying Congress to abol-
gslation upon religious subjects. Referred to the
Committee on the Judiciary.
BY Mr.. GREEN The petition of ]. p. Rutter, Of
Missouri asking Congress to make donations Of
land to settlers in Oregon. Referred TO the Com
mittee on Public Lands.
Also, A memorial of B. S. Ely, of Missouri, on
the subject Of maintaining military force in Cal
ilornia, &c. Referred to the Committee ON Mill
tary Affairs.
Also, the petition OF the register and receiver Of
the land office at Palmyra, Missouri, asking add
tional compensation for locating land warrants.
Referred to the Committee on Public Lands.
BY Mr.. G. G. KING: petition Of William YER
non and others, members of one family, praying
indemnity for French spoliations prior TO 1901
Referred to the Committee on Commerce.
MIR. LASERE (under the rule) moved to with
draw the papers of A. Bandouin and A. A. Roberts
from the files of the House, and have them referred
to the Committee on Claims.