The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1850-06-13

In Committee Of the Whole on The state Of the Unio'
on the Presidents Message transmitting tie Con
ahmion Of California.
JUNE 4, 1850,

In Committee of the Whole on The state of the Union,
onthe Presidents Message transmitting tie Con-
anmiom of California
Mr. BOOTH said:
Mr.. CHAIRMAN: Custom often makes law; and
though such laws are not always of the most
binding character, the custom of members of this
House to express their views on the great ques-
ton which now agitates the country is 30 general
that an omission on my part to do so might create
surprise, and would place me in the attitude Of
being singular. This impression, and the hope
of explaining to my constituents the votes ] ex-
pect to give, induce me, against my former incli-
nation, to express my opinion not expecting
however, to shed light on q subject which has
been so long and 80 ably discussed ia this House
What, Mr.. Chairman, what is the subject 80
deeply interesting to the country at this time
IL Is the admission Of o new State into this
Union a great subject, ! admit; and were we
now called upon, for the first time, to add new
sister to the family, there would be some novelty
IN the transaction. But II seems to me, that after
having received some seventeen like sisters into
the family and more than doubling the original
number, with so many precedents, there need be
no great difficulty in bringing the proposed one
to the altar, and performing the nuptial tie
What hinders2 She has on her bridal attire !;
she has for sught | can see, performed all the
stipulations for the occasion that have been re-
quired Of her elder sisters who have been vel
coined to our embrace.
But, Mr.. Chairman, what binders the last
binding ceremony to bring this new State into
that alliance she 80 mnch desires, and which,
doubt not, the country equally desires7 Is 1t the
distance Of her location from the rest of the fam
ilyl Not at Gil. The country has been con-
quered and purchased for the very purpose Of
peoplng II with our sons and our daughters,
large numbers Of whom have gone there and ta-
ken possession of the land. Besides, We have
long had possessions on her northern borders,
that were lonely in that distant region, and we
have now provided neighbors for them.
Is il that she has not q population sufficient to
form q respectable Slater This objection is
family urged against her by some, but any such
objection must vanish before the great fact, that
no new country on this continent was ever
peopled with such rapidity ss this very country
and the tide Of emigration thther is flowing
in such rapid currents, as 10 give assurance that
her present growth is, and that her future
growth will be, without precedent In THE or in
any other country.
Is IL because her inhabis&sts are not sufficiently
enlightened for self-government7 Look at the
Constitution she has formed, and | fear not to
affirm, that no gentleman will hazard his reputa-
ton So much az TO briDg this objection against
her. h 1t because she has been provided by the
former action Of Congress with all that legisla-
ton and protection new country needs, or viii
| require for years to come? This cannot be
pleaded against her she has been left, almost
without a shadow Of protection. Is 1t because
her boundaries are too Target This has been
urged by few but, after the account given of
the face of the country and the condition of her
harbors by the honorable gentleman from Or
egon do not understand and cannot believe 1t
TO be an objection, with any considerable number
Of gentlemen in this House. IL would be
strange spectacle, indeed to see gentlemen stran-
| gle at California who could swallow the empire
or Republic of Texas without inconvenience.
Is Il because an undue influence has been exercised
by the Administration in the formation OF her Or
| ganic Law, her Constitution Whatever may have
been thought on this subject in the early part OF
| the session, that objection has been disPelied
| We have evidence, conclusive TO my mind, that
the formation OF her Constitution is the sponta-
| neous result Of her own will and choice; and II
| any form OF government ever manifested the
wisdom and reflection Of sound, unbissed minds,
! We have the evidence in her Consultation and
form Of government, now officially placed be-
fore u.s. What, then, Nr. Chairman, Is the cause
| of dslay7 What Gauss for jealousy exists, that
we should say TO this ster, nov knocking at our
| door, You must not ONE into our sanctuary ~
| is Il anything she has done1 No. sir, NO. She
has done her part we'll; she comes With clean
hands and open and honest heart, 10 perform her
duties why shall she not be admittsd1 irepeai
the question, why1
Sir. I dislike to call 10 mind the real reason
that think exists aud causes this delay because
| 10 my opinion, this reason ought not 70 shut heI
out q moment But, Mr. Chairman, We mus
look ut things a. they are. In the laie treaty
! With Mexico we obtained large territory, and i