Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1850-06-15

whole controversy. Now sir il will hardly be denied here
that by the union of these measures we shall
ss. mo'e key to provide territorial governments than
scn SUBJECT were considered separately take II for grant,
% ina. California will be admitted There is such decided
IN iavor OF IT. that cannot be prevented except by
process OF delay arising out Of the machinery Of legsa
, 20 which aliusion has than once been made but
mn'cn should be very sorry to see EMPLOYED The
measures will aid each other and in my opinion their
sn% WIN render much more probable the passage of both
ou WIS 100 may be effected in shorter time than would
su1"se De necessary Objections that would be urged
ne admission Of California if that measure were presented
may De relinqushed when is associated with plan
io S .ne government of the Territories
sun s we are asked, and with much emphasis, by the
- 1 missouri, why are these measures Joined to-
semer snail answer sir and trust as emphaticaly
already said that the attempt to force the admission of
California through the Senate AZ an ;soatsJ r II
array against II every Southern Senator but one The nro
stlon would Immediately assume sectional cbaacta and
case would Dc brought into councils against
winch we were warned with much patriotism and wisdom
BY the Father OF bis Country North and South wouH be-
anagonsic positions upon Of the graves cues
Ions known TO uan addition to the sovereign States of
TINS onion How long the contest would continue and what
scenes OF violence might produce can tell But all
can tell that irritation and alienation would be introduced into
our political family, and would lay the foundation of lasting
dssensons. And not these considerations full COM
pensaton for the union of two measures both equally within
our power and both equally called for by the condition in
which we are placed I, .
Now. sir what are the objections to this course will
Try 70 deal fairly with them, far understand them.
l. II is said it will delay the admission Of California
Even II this We're suppose few days sooner or later
would DC OF little importance compared with the great interest
pressing upon u.s. am sure the citizens of California who
nave given US such acceptable proofs of their attachment to
the Union, would approve rather than condemn delay like
tna bringing with harmony and good feeling But sir,
this sacrifice required for am satisfied ma have
already said that the union of these measures will expedite
action upon EACH by removing objections which would other
wise present themselves and which could not fail to increase
the difficulties that surround us.
O. That it may defeat the admission Of California .
How 1t can produce that result utterly unable to con-
ecture lhe question OF admission far the Senate is
concerned is always within the control Of majority of this
body That majority, as have already said and as no one
Denies is clearly in favor of that If it is put to
by this union and by unexpected opposition the re-
medy IN the power of the majority and would be applied
without hesaton when found necessary by separating the
objects, and passing the California bill by ITSELF am as
strong as any one in the conviction that California should
ana as determined, SO far my voice and will
CO. that mat admission shall take place And have
doubt ou am best promoting this object by advocating the
proposed union.
But besides these objections on the ground Of delay and
mere another argued with degree of zeal out Of
all proportion, appears 10 me, TO its intrinsic Importance
and that is that the dignity Of California would be affected
BY this association and therefore should not sanction it,
Really Mr. President find it difficult to treat this topic
as seriously respect for the Senators who urge it would
prompt me- The dignity Of California affected because another
matter kindred in its object is provided for in the bill
understand many kinds of dignity, some true and some
fase-the dignity Of virtue and Of moral worth. can even
understand many Of the dgned payhngs which belong to
the ola school OF European society but the dignity of uxta-
postion-not Of person, but of want Of respect
which would be exhibited towards the people Of Cao by
providing for their admission into the Union the same time
that provision made for the government other regions
which belong to US by the tenure beyond my powers
ofcomPIehension # indeed this form Of proceeding
rendered the of admission conditional and il Cali
fonia were to be kept until something else foreign to her
interests were done should consider the effort niudicious
unjust ndeed-and should zealously oppose it. But after
all what this ndignity II not that these two subjects
are discussed In the by the persons the
same llme indeed all this does make the point of ohec-
ilon Tor belongs, in efc to political organization
must De Inc parchment or the Pens the ink the paper;
and DO not believe that single citizen Of California will
ever consider his State pride injured because these harmless
of recording the legislative will of Congress
used as well to provide for others recognise
his own But 1t is said that such has been
adopted in the whole history of our legislation This is
mistake s which is easily shown Iowa and Florida
admitted by the same act of Congress Here union Of
subjects totally distinct in their origin and their interests So
far therefore, dignity depends being alene hav
ing no other matters embraced in the process Of admission
this measure was equally undignied BOTH II depends
not on that but the nature gravity of the measure
think that the government Of extensive regions subject
from whose contact of position State admitted be adj
med nor the republic ITSELF need shrink from pollution.
but SIR we have upon our statute book example Of the
very proceeding is proposed to adopt The act Of
Congress authorizing the people Of Ohio to form constitution
and State Government and under which they admitted
into the Union provided for the government Of the
state oil Michigan till then united with Ohio, by attaching
to the Territory Of Indiana. Here the power Of
junction assumed by the present bill The third section Of
that act regulates the disposition Of Michigan and exercised
the same power Of government for Territory which
ercised here The dignity Of Ohio was, believe way
affected by this measure for was then citizen of that States
nor did ever hear the subject alluded to ia in
commentator This indigniy Of uxtapostion discovery
Of these later days.
But sir the slightest inspection Of the statute book, the
most cursoy reference to the history Of legislation will
show that this of uxaposon has exerted any
influence whatever upon the action of Congress. am
speaking Of nconguity, but Of Ddgnity Look your
appropriation bills and what strange mixture of subjects
great and small, they contain. Lamp oil, iUdter closets,
top dressing for plants, end infinite variety Of similar
matters found side by side merely with other objects
of appropriation, but with permanent legislative provisions
affecting the operations of the government and the grayest
terests Of the country The United States, Government
finds itself in strange company, agreeaby this doc
that the ZEAL the warmth the luminosity almost with which
the union Of these assaed appears out or
all just proportion to the importance Of the subject itself
have been observer and careless one Of public
and for than half century, and cannot
recall single Instance in legislative annals where
question insignificant in Itself this question Of dig
Ry-has been made to aspect grave. Really,
TO hear all that is said and is said spectator ignorant
Of and of our fierce contests with the tongue would na-
rally suppose that the Government ITSELF the very Institutions
of the republic indeed hanging upon the issue Of this
discussion, and that the talking in which
engaged Of those conflicts of opinion and Of action
which settle the character and fate Of the country But
little experience OF Congressional tactics would reassue
him, and he would learn that there other standards be-
sides the tone ard temper Of debse by which the real
gravity Of should be judged We haA grave dis
cussion at the commencement Of the Government about the