The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1850-06-14
THIRTY-FIRST CONGRESS.
FIRST SESSION.
THURSDAY, June -, 1850.
SENATE.
,,ro.yIA ooMpnoMlsE

SENATE.
CALIFORNIA COMPROMISE
Mr.. CHASE presented petition from certain
citizens of Ohio demonstrating against Congress
making the admission of California dependant up
on any other measure, and against the estaonsh-
ment Of territorial governments without prohibi.
ton against human slavery
Mr. e. said that in the letter accompanying the
petition he informed that II contained the SEN
timents of nineteen twentieths of the people OF that
State. =
Mr. BRIGHT said that if the fact was as the Sen
ator stated that nineteen twenueths OF the people
of Ohio opposed to the proposed settlement oil
the questions Of the day, he would say that he was
surprised at the wide difference between the senti-
ments of Ohio and Indiana.
He then alluded to the evidences OF popular opin-
ion in Indiana, and cited the instance OF the hold
ing of the United States district and circuit courts
in that State at its capitol, when the grand jury
selected from all parts OF the State at the close
of their business embodied their views on the
compromise reported by the Committee of Thir-
teen in a sort of report; that report was in IA
Of the adoption Of that plan OF adjustment, and
presented 10 the court. The court highly APP
proved the sentiments expressed by the grand jury
and ordered the proceedings TO be entered on the
record OF the court.
Mr. CHASE replied, and Mr. BRIGHT rejoined;
and the petition was then laid on the table.
MIR. CLAY said that he knew the people of Ohio,
and unless he was greatly mistaken in them, as
well as in the people Of some other portions OF the
country, some representatives,, upon their return
ency, that il, far as rejecting the will of their
constituents concerned. Be that as it may, he
rose to present some resolutions adopted by por
ton of the "fantic people OF the country in favor
of the compromise bill. They were the resolutions
adopted by large meeting of the people of ST.
Louis composed of both Wings and Democrats. 1t
was the unanimous expression of the opinion OF the
persons present at that meeting, who, he was as
sured the principal citizens of that great city
at this time, and which destined to be the great
metropolis of the valley of the Mississippi. He
moved the reading OF the resolutions, and they were
read:
Whereas, The agitation of questions growing out
of, connected with, the subject of slavery has
produced much ill feeling between the different
sections OF the Union, and, II continued, threatens
to disturb the tratcrnal relations that can alone
preserve this Union in its spirit and intentioncan
alone conserve the rights and interests OF all;
and whereas the Senate of the United States has
appointed committee of thirteen of its most patr
Otto and experienced members to report such a
measure Of compromise shall heal the wounds OF
The country and restore to it peace and concord;
and whereas the said committee have reported a
plan of compromise such as in the opinion of this
meeting, appears just and adequate to the settle
ment OF the whole question: Therefore
RESOLVED, That We, the people of St. Louis, with
out distinction of party, assembled here, declare
our deep and unwavering devotion TO the union OF
these United States, and avow solemn and in
flexible purpose TO adhere to it, i'll despite of every
effort made or meditated against il, either by the
fanatics of the North or the hotspurs of the South
Resolptd, That of the West have too large a
stake in this Confederacy TO allow our misguided
brethren of either section to cndanger its integrity.
Resolved, That, while many OF us differ in opin
ion respecting of the details of the several
propositions or bills reported by the committee Of
the Senate, yet, believing that those propositions,
taken q whole, arc just and equitable in respect
10 the rights and interests of the whole country,
We yield our hearty concurrence and support to
those measures, compromise of the conflicting
opinions and measures that now agitate the people
in different portions Of our common country.
Rssoiped, That, in the opinion of this meeting, if
the principles OF the compromise are faithfully
carried out by the action of Congress, peace and
harmony will speedily be restored, sectional jea-
ouses allayed, the union Of the States firmly
cemented, and all will aid in strengthening and
perpetuating the institutions of our beloved coun
Try.
Resolved That the peace, harmony, prosperity
and integrity of the Union can only be preserved
by that spirit of magnanimous concession and com
promise in which the Federal Constitution had its
birth, and that we deeply deprecatc and deplore
the factious spirit which has manifested itself in
Congress, calculated to weaken the bonds of fra
ternal union for sectional and oelfsh purposes
On motion Of Thomas Harvey, esq, 1T was
solved that the proceedings of this meeting be for
warded TO Senators and Representatives in
Congress; and, on amendment OF A. 5. Mitchell,
esq, to the Chairman Of the Committee of Thirteen,
TO be by him communicated to each member of that
committee.
On motion, it resolved that all the papers in
this city requested to publish the proceedings
Of this meeting.
On motion, the meeting then adjourned.
II. 5. GEYER, President.
s B. w; sT FtAco, }secretaries.
He then moved they be laid on the table.
Mr.. BENTON asked the Senator TO Withdraw
the motion.
Mr.. CLAY said that he would withdraw the mo-
ton certainly, but contrary course would be but
treating the Senator with reciprocity.
Mr.. BENTON said the Senator like those
persons mentioned in the scriptures who return
good for evil and thereby heap Goals Of fire on the
heads Of their enemies His head, however, had
not been burned yet. He asked that the last re-
solve be read.
The resolution relating TO the transmission of the
resolutions then read.
Mr.. BENTON said that he had not received the
resolutions yet His colleague might have received
them; If 30, he supposed his colleague would pre-.
sent them. When he received his copy he would
present them. he would present them as duty
due 10 any portion Of his constituents, but particu-
iariy TO those whose names appeared in the pro-
ceedings Of this meeting. They respectable
persons. Their names were familiar TO him, and
ne knew greater part Of them personally.
He asked that the first words OF the paper be read.
(rhe Secretary read that portion Of tho proceedings
which stated that the mass meeting was held in the
Rotunda in the city of st. LOUSY
Mr.. BENTON said that the "mass meeting was
held in the "Rotunda-" The Rotunda, it was true,
would hold great many people; but when he ad-
dressed mas meeting in the city Of St Louis the
mass could no more be got into that Rotunda than
II could be got into his jacket pocket lie bad seen
the call for that meeting in the st. Louis papers,
and If he remembered il correctly, il call for
meeting Of the friends Of the object Of the meet
ing, and no. Of the citizens generally. This ac-
counted for the unanimity The meeting was enc
of the friends Of the measure. This sufficient
90 account for the unanimity. St. Louis a city
Of 10000 souls. The people there have their differ
ences and divisions well all other people, not
even excepting the great committee Of concord.
lie would not have felt himself called upon 10 say
any thing upon this subject, had not the Senator
from Kentucky by his remarks made il personal
matter with himself He generally took his own
positions and made his own arguments. He never
resorted to petitions and memorials purporting 10
express public opinion to back up his arguments.
He never declared that what he did was the desire
of four 6fths, -tenths, nineteen twentieths,
ninety nine hundredths, nor nine hundred and
ninety nine thousandths Of the people. This was
the course in the olden time In the days Of Jack
son, the time Of the Senate taken up with the
presentation and reading Of memorials and proceed
ings OF public meetings, all bearing unanimous
public opinion upon public matters. lie then said,
that notwithstanding these evidences of public
ument, they were, at the next general election,
wholly exploded and rcfuted.