Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1850-07-02

apprCNeiu
II heh un,ry whether il has lis origin IN 'e laws
~ customs Of such territory before hen created since nv
the uncu 80 ac, Of the first occupants OF sich territory
any UNI % the United States at once 10 hefpose 10 It.
move such ;h, clear and equvoca and say
ms Is S terms Of compromise, unless we refuse any
hai n @ ar Abatement Of it, as thus strictly dehned as
right derived under fundamental ~ , a.,s h
we , or impair il; and yet, sir, the South Is al
ready committed to more coneiiaofy course ana oy
s, bv The terms of the act which passed the Senate
~ ars since under the sanction of southern votes, nsu
v aed The "Cnyon Bill was agreed to dispense with
any , o federal legislation opening the way in the terrific
es 10 the people with their slaves trusting TO the Const
n,ion for the protection of property when taken into
Nv and merely providing proper forms of redress
bronoh the judicial tribunal This was one mode of adjust
ent sanctioned by southern votes and founded in large
concession of our existing rights.
But there another far better understood and which has
Tic sanction of acquiescence OF thirty years Falling
back tie basis of compromise adopted on the admission
Of Missouri let take the parallel OF 80 deg 81 MN north
latitude as the line of partition in the new territories, thus
agreeing divide and enjoy separately common property
what differing institutions would seem TO forbid that we
should ENJOY i'll common.
Either form of adjustment / have little doubt would be
found acceptable 10 the South The first would simply organ
ze for the territories in the usual or ard leave
the rights Of the citizens of the different States in those ter
ories 10 be determined by the Of the country under
the Constitution and the laws But this would require that
so much of The territory Of California us has recently been
territorial condition. and retained until reasonable time
was allowed 10 citizens of the Southern States TO remove
there with their property if they chose TO do So
The second is far the practical and convenient and
would allow the admission oi new State nj once Tor Cali
orna after proper notifications OF the constitution which
has been adopted and has the merit OF precedent adopted
in 1929 on The occasion of the admission OF the State of
Missouri and sinceully acquesced In II any adjustment
can be made of the character of compromise this has GER
ainy The strongest claim Ii divides, as have sad into
separate property that which we cannot ENJOY rs common
property and apporons 10 the North and South respective
y territory in those atitudcs most likely to be valuable TO
their differing habits and labor.
But let i, not supposed that am at all the euogist Of
The original missouri Compromise" Ii was an evil day
for the South have always thought when it was adopted,
and has been fruitful source of dscord since Ii has been
acqucsced in; nothing This aclGescence mas maze
il familiar 10 our people, and am satisfied their earnest de-
sire preserve the public peace and with II me union oil the
States would lead them ~ acquescc IN II again
Having promised thus much Mr.. President on the true
position held by the South under The guarantees OF consul
uona right and having thus indicated the extent 10 "hch
we are willing 10 20 concession for the sake OF the public
peace that those Senators from Southern STATES VINO
are araycd in opposition 10 this bill VIII no longer DC ae
nounced as "ultras And yet am free 10 declare, II the
most decided purpose to SANCTION by word or vote so
much of the bill admits California with the boundaries
adopted and disncmbcrs Texas from the parallel OF 81
dco be an ultra position for the South plant myself mere
firmly and irrevocably happen what may we are sincere
" csous of adjusting this unhappy controversy on terms
that may haronse opinion but no law which excludes the
institution of slavery in any territory below the line adopted
in 1920 will be tolerated. or rs trust ana Dee'e DC
endured. , o
IL proposes first that the southern States shall submit to
the exclusion of slavery BY law in California down TO the
32d parallel of north latitude being AZ degrees below the
Missouri compromise line, and embracing the whole front
on the Pacific ocean, provides Tor the admission
Of California with the boundaries she has prescribed when
come down 10 the 32d parallel Of north latitude II popo-
sc TO The PEOPLE of the Southern States that they shall
quiesce in their exclusion from the territory now belonging 10
the people of all the States within the limits OF the State oil
California as the 32d degree Of north latitude BRING
ina down ms have said degrees below the Missouri
| compromise line. That is the first proposition
And what is the second! The second is that the Govern,
men tie L. States shall procure from Texas BY liberal
ant of money cesson of all the territory claimed by her
north and of line from the 32d TO the SAN para
lei of north latitude comprehendng about l2aouo sqa;
miles and sufficient for the erection oil TWO medium si|e
States: the effect of which would be TO release SO much vi
the territory Of Texas from the institution Of slavery and TO
subject the sole jurisdiction OF The Federal Govern
mcn These the two propositions presented 10 me
Southern States And what is offered as an equivalent
The sole equivalent is tina, the North will organize terrific,
r Governments for the residue Of California usually called
Utah. "Deseret" and for what remains OF New Next
co, without introducing the Wllmot Proliso. ~
Now sir TO these propositions made in the bill never
can assent | cannot ascent because they bring down
yet lower and the extent of AZ degrees the limits from
which We are be excluded with our slaves And II does
more; il takes from Of the States Of this Union large
Territory subject 10 the institution oil slavery ana con-
vans Il into property of the United States, 10 be governed
and controlled in il institutions by majority from the nom
savehoIding States. ~
only no equivalent for such concessions but there Is no
equivalent that be given-a least none that can con-
rciy, heir
Nv first objection, them Mr. President 10 the bill report
ed ty the committee for the ad usmcnl Of this question Is,
that il brings down below the Missouri compromise line
in Texas: and the second that excludes the South from
admission with their property into much OF the territory
nj California is embraced within the limits OF the new
State below the same line. Sir il violates the compact
with Texas under which that State was brought INTO me
Union b the Of annexation, the Missouri conpro-
mise line bc sacredy regarded in the lorna on oi
new States of the territory Of Texas. But The BILL IN
Remembering Texas adopts ne reaching four ana
| hal below
territory lying North and West of il from the obligations oil
| that compact. A.,
spirit OF the compromise of 1920 by excluding slavery on the
Pacific border low down the 32d parallel OF North latl-
tnde am aware sir il will be said that this exclusion OF
the people Of the Southern States below the line oil 50 deg
80 min California is the act OF the inhabitants Of the ter,
rtory and not of Congress Of the United States; and
therefore that is no violation OF the Missouri compromise
on the part of the latter.
Sir shall make argument 10 prove that California IN
The whole extent well the territory embraced within the
limits of the new States that without them is YET in the
political relation 10 this Government OF "a territory Ter
rtoy within the meaning of The terms of the Constitution
the propey" of the United States; and the Of such OF
The inhabitants the assembled in convention and
formed constitution has the slightest effect 10 change
that relation California throughout The whole extent was
territory when that constitution was formed andi terrific
ry ye nor has that constitution the least validity whatever
and never have unless made good against this Govern
by force of arms, ratified by an act OF Congress- ana
this is assentcd TO- or should rather say asserted as e
Law of the question by the Senator from Kentucky himself
(Ar. Clay)
Whenever then, the constitution Of California is ratified
by Congress the clause prohibiting slavery will become Law
~ the of Congress- and by alone. We have had The
same question presented in the form in regard TO the
territory Oregon The inhabitants Of the territory, in the
absence government provided by Congress- establish
Cd system Of government for themselves, and by one o
their ordinances excluded domestic slavery from the terrific
~ In The bill reported for the organization Of terrific
lia government provision inserted ratifng and con
irming all the laws enacted by the provisional government
amongst which that prohibiting slavery, and the con
;rovesy then upon such ratification, a agreeing that
10 confirm such law equivalent direct cnacincn
by Congress.
Now sir, us this right in the inhabitants Of portion o.
the territory of California. They have authority what
eyer, in law and as little in justice, assemble them
selves upon the property of the common
property Of all the Staes-and pass law which shall
ntodic from that territory the citizens of half of the
States of this Union unless they leave their most valuable
property be hind ,hem and that very property which of all
other would be o. most vanc 10 them in the territory
Mr.. President have fallen upon strange times indeed
since this question OF the extension Of Introduction OF sa
very first brought up for discussion in the Congress
the United States Sir, what have seen the of The
Executive OF the United States in reference these
tiers! In prescribing The duties The President the cons
tuition enoas, amongst other things that The shall take
ha the laws be faithfully execmtcd. The territory oil
California the property of the United States acquired frs
bv conquest and the title subsequently, confirmed BY solemn
treaty, and for the consideration of many millions of dol
as paid and payable by the United States Mexico. Now
one would suppose if there any duty the President