The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1850-07-04
THURSDAY, JUNE 81, 1850.

resolution was offered by Mr. Cass, inauir.
ing into the expediency of prohibiting by law
any military officer from exercising any civil
| function.
bill granting lands to the State of Msss-
sppi in aid of the completion of railroad passed
The resolution of inquiry, submitted by Mr..
Foote, in regard to the late events Ia New Mex
leo, was taken up and adopted unanimously.
Mr. Webster addressed the Senate at length
in reply to Mr. Sou6 He urged the immediate
admission Of California, and gave his opinion that
If her admission was delayed till another session
1t would be too late
Mr. Webster should have acted 10 accordance
with this conviction, and used his influence in
the beginning for the admission Of California
separately
Mr.. w. showed that the honorable Senator
from Louisiana Mr.. Soul6l had followed a pre-
cedent which had been set here some twenty
years ago, when the same principles as to the
public domain were argued here and refuted, and
the question settled. He showed that the doc
trincs Of Vattel and other writer's ON public law
did not apply TO this case. The United States
owned California--it was their acquisition; and
another State or Power could not divert her from
the possession.
lie showed, however, that the distinction was
recognised by Vattel. The United States could
hold land In California-but only for one purpose,
to sell--and soon as IL was sold, 1t fell under
the municipal sovereignty whose it was with GER
tain exceptions as to taxing power The unani-
nous dscision Of the Supreme Court was that the
compacts with the States, securing the title
OF the United States 10 the lands, were use.
less, and that the title Of the United States was
good without them. They had been omitted In
regard to many States. He hoped the honorable
member from Louisiana would lGok to the laws |
and judcature Of the country, and review his |
opinion. lie appealed to the honorable gentle
man to aid in the work Of admitting California
Mr.. Barnwell Of South Carolina spoke in OPP
position to the bill. He claimed for the South
equality Of rights. To their intellectual and
moral excellence be might appeal as being such
as warranted no exclusion Of them from q parti-
cipstion In the common privileges Of ell the
States
lie went on TO recite the miseries which the
South had endured from the Northern people
not fanatics, but celebrated and intslig gent men
members Of Congress The Territorial questions
were only indications Of this disease, 70 deeply
rooted. lie argued that slaves were property,
and had been claimed as such by this Govern.
ment-referring TO some Of Mr.. Clay's State
papers
He declared. In conclusion that the South
would assent TO the Missouri Compromise, MS o
recognition Of the equal rights OF The South, but
they would demand that south Of the line slavery
should be protected.
Mr.. Foote explained his position and the rea-
son Why he should vote fer the Missouri Com
promise,
Mr. Butler explained the views Of Mr.. CAL
houn In regard 10 the Missouri Compromise
MIR Jefferson Davis spoke against the bill, and
announced his uhimaium, which he said was sus-
tanned and adopted by the Nashville Convention
Mr. ID. alleged that, from the beginning OF the
session, the country had been filled with missives
abusive Of Senators and Of all who sustained the
right Of the South; newspapers were employed,
and the more base Instruments Of letter-wrters,
TO brand every Southern man as disunionist,
who opposed the compromise. One letter.writer,
be said, the basest Hessian Of them oil, was now
receiving pay, 70 traduoe him and other Southern
men, as disunionists. II any respectable person
would say that he Was disunionist, he would
answer bin in monosyllsbles lie had a super
siitious reverence for the Union.
Mr.. Foote replied
Mr.. Davis again took the floor, bat gave way
to motion TO adjourn and the Senate adjourned
FsiDAr, JrNK %, 1850.
After the business Of the morning hour, on
motion Of Mr. Hale the Senate went into short
Executive session When the doors we're opened
he 0mnihs1s hill Wa tsks