The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1850-04-13
Interesting Debate in the Senate
MIR WEBSTER AND Mn FOoTE,


Mr. WeHsrER remarked, that four months
Of The session had IrAnspired, and yel 90
progreAA whatever had been made with lhe
public buHneEF, Whatever ekeBss had 90.
ifled in the past for this delay,the Time seem
ed 10 him 20 have now come when lhe Sen
ate ought TO proceed 10 some nciion II
would require weeks, and perhaps months
Of deliberaiion and active operation Of Con-
gross, TO transact the business actually nee
, caAhry. after Tho queAiion Of tic admission
Of California shall have been disposed OF Tie
was therefore in favor of early acton upon
this question: per %. tie suggested Ihnl Mr
/ Clay aud Mr Bell who had Introduced prop
ouiiiunH rrlutiug go this question, ought To be
heard in reply 10 the objections when had
been made To those proportions, not u was
a question for consideration whether no
Senate ought TO continue, day 0Ner day, the
same course 0Iremnrk', without any lcndon-
CIV or approximation 90 any action, lie ihol
l the Sennks orAhLlu tHkc up the bill reported
from tho 1drteriBl Committee, for the adj
mission Of California and dispose of Il irsti
aud Then lao was Ia favor Of action upon the
territorial bill. lle de.Jfod settlement OF
oil the questions IN controversy, and there
ioro was IN favor oC commencing nj tho be-
ginning, aud going through with them ALL.
Such a course, he believed, would give great
satisfaction Ia the country. Tie expected TO
see none OF the important business Of tho
country disposed Of until these disturbing
causes were removed, aud II was imIerihnl
for the credit of The Republic, that they should
no longer DO PERMITTED To distract aud OBJ
slruct the legislation ofC0pgrcss.
Mr. Foorr said, the first practical measure
preAenied TO the Senate, waA hia Terrliorial
bill, which had precedence Of tho California
Ma fh.rf ilttng aafI0H ln
the soil Of California. or woro her people
moru entitled TO the protection al ii,s Fede-
fnl Government Than her own ,uiiow.ellzcns
oflhe 'iorritoriesi The Territorial question
wns infinitely tho most important. The ad.
mission Of California IL known as fixed
fact; the question Of Territorial Government
wusstIii mn,'rr OF difficulty, d,seass,on aud
doubt; aud lao undertook 10 assert, also, that
the admission OF California, ha an ipdepcn-
dent measure, could never pass bc,n llouses
Of Congress. Such n measure would create
one undivided feeling Of indignation upon
the part of the South, aud no Southern man,
who was not either stupid or traitor, could
advocate II. lfun attempt was made to force
the measure through, there were pnrlinmen-
tary means which would be- used fenrlessly,
earnestly, fully, and 10 the lRfrI to resist such
an outrage. Ito would say further, that if
y
carry ing ihc measure through, IL would DIS
solyo the Union. Why, then, should gentle
men insir, upon tie course proposed Was
il wise, iiblitic aud Just-under all the CIR
cums;anccs, was II decent,
Mr. WIBsrIN expressed himtrii cnurcy
incrcdulous Of all prophecies ~ 'isso'u.lVn
of the Union growing ont of the acton nl 80
present Congress. The Senator from Miss.
N"uld FsR,ga,l.ar that IA ihcac hitter days
of prophecy there wos a certain day on which
dissolution wns to take place. The Satur-
day came; all spent very pleasant day. aud
retired nj nighl, fully conscious OF The integ-
riiy Of the Union. The Senator had spoke
Of certain persons handing together For
wha, would they band together
Mr. FoorE-Fur patty purposeE
Mr. MEHsrER-Well, suppose they will
band together under the Constitution, and
hy the yUus urId ifny-, rtt.l-if tl'e yeas aEs
more than the nays, upon any question be-
fore them, The yeas will carry H. MIR Web
-.-- l,,,,l 49,. .s az ll4lnE extraordinary III
the early future Senators might have some
more good speeches, but IN the end, when
the tnsle for discussion has been grained,
tho question: would be brought TO vote, and
tho minority would decide then ns they al
ways had heretofore. lie had nothing to do
with tho action Of the other House, This
was the Senate, and his duty was to perfect,
rs much M possible. the measures beiore
that body, without References 10 any probhbie
action anywhere else.
Nc Fooic again explained the circumstnn-
ces connected with his prophecy, and It's
.ful6lment
~. Shields stated that no ugreod entirely
with the observations which had fallen from
Mr. Webster, and expressed his regret that
he felt obliged to ask the PERMISSION oil the
Senate to occupy the floor tomorrow, to ne
fine his position.
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