New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1850-02-01
MR.. CLAY'S SPEECH.

O!utious 8 taken from the National lHtciigs7 rc-
M CLAY said Mr. President bod in nv hand
a series Of resolutions which / desire to sqbua; to
I the consideration q tbs bod - Taken t)gethe- IL
combination. they propose en- am.csh.e Arrangement
/ OF a.. glestiors Ia controversy between the FIRE.,
and tue Slave States growing cat OF the s1b'ec: o,
slavery. II Is not my intention, Mr.. President a;
tits time % enter into 9 f1l and elaborate 4i,.us
sea OF each Of these resolutions, taken separately.
! o. tie whole Of them Combined together as com
| posing system Of measures bat desire 70 rre
sent few observations u?oa each resolution. with
the purpose chiefly. OF exposing il fairly aaI fully
| before the scnate AID besre the country and 7
NAV add with the indulge nee o; the Senate. to-
ward the conclusion some general ObseTv atoms up-
Oh the state OF the country AMI the condition c. the
question t. winch the resolutions relate. Whether
they shall OK shall not meet with the approx alton
and concurrence OF the Senate AS most ariently
! hope they may. a. | most sincerely believe they
Ought truss that at least some portion of the ol-
time which have dev0tsi, wita aGd deli beTa-
ton 70 the preparation OF these resolutions and %
Tia presentation u tins great national scheme Of
compromise and harmony Wit be cmp.0y % b eacl
Senator before he pronounce, against the pro.cs'
lions embraced Ia these r-soiJrlons- Inc rf-'iI
| lions sir are all preceded by 4 short prearnh .
which Of course attach very greas sGiPortaa.ce-
! The preamble aud first resolution are a. follows.
Il beng aes raole lr me pesee coaoord AL harmony o
the Union q taese States TO seie AL a. at smcaoly
existing question. Of controversy between ben srlng
Of tic in-t11 VI S.as y, upon isr, egaia5s ald JUS
l. Es.olrss Th,iC sornis viii saiasle boundaries ought
sPon Der application, 10 be sdme as ore % me states
Of ms Iuion, without the imposition By Congress Of any
restriction In respect 20 ,hs sNcGsl,u or introduction II
slavery within those boun1an-i
Mr. President it must he acknowledged that
there has been some irresularifv IN the movements
which have terminated IN the "a, ,toa OF a Consti-
tuition by California. sni n the expire ssi0n OF hel
wish-nOi vet formally communicated b Congress
| Il Is true, but which may be anticipated IN few
| dsys-to be admitted iato the Union as a State
| There has been some luegilariy IN the manner IA
! which they have framed that Constitution twas
not preceded by any act OF Congress authorizing
| the Convection and designating tie boundaries Of
the proposed state. according all the carly rrsc
tce Of this Government according to all the cases
| Of the admission of new Statcs IntO this uiOn
which occurred prior. think, 20 that OF Michigan
Michigan. II ] am not mistaken was the irstS;8te
which. unbidden, unauthorized by an previous net
Of Congress undertook - form for herself COnSt
.nto0. and o. knock at the door OF Congress i)r
admission into the Mon | rccollcct that at the
time when Michigan thus presented herself was
opposed IN cOnss n ,uCe o that deviation from the
early practice o. the Government. TO the admission
The ma Ority determined otherwise, and II must be
in candor admitted b. all that California has
much more reason Ia Do whist she has done un
sanctioned aid unauthorized oy previous set Of
| Congress, than Michigan had - do what she did.
Sir n .wiihstanding the iuegulsrty OF thc ad
mission q Michigan into The Mon, il has boon
happy event She forms now one OF tho bright
stars Of this glorious coniedsracy. She has seui
hero 10 mingle IN our oouncls Senators and ReI-
ressnts ves-men ominently distinguished, with
whom may all associate with pride, with plea
sure and with satisfaction And trust that If Cat
lfornis-irreguiar as her previous action may have
been in the adoption Of Constitution but more
iusthshle than was the action OF Michlgan-it she
also shall be admitted as IS proposed by this first
resolution with suitable limits, that she too will
make her contribution u wisdom, Of patriotism.
and OF good feeling t. this body. IN order u con
duct the affairs OF this great and bOundless empire
The resolution proposes her admission when she
sppes for It There is no intention on my part b
anticipate such application, bot | thought II
RICH. to present this resolution part ct the gen
sra plan which propose tor the adjustment Of
those unhappy difficulties.
The second resolution. Sir, is as follows
ID Resored THAI Slavery does not exist by law, and
likely 20 be introduced into any OF the territory
CURED BY the United from the Republic Of Mexico
Is nexpedienI for Congress. provide by law either for
introduction nio exclusion rom any part OF the said
dsss ~ b :sa MA 81 IN n Of the .sd sr
oy not assigned as the bOundie. Of the proposed STATE
Of California without the adoption Of any restriction or
eondInon on the subject Of Slavery.
THIS resolution, SIR proposes, IN the hrst instance,
a declaration OF two truths-OD0 OF law and the
other OF fact The truth OF law which It declares
a. that there does not exist at this time, Slavery
within any portion Of the territory acquired BY TIE
United States from Mexico When say, SIR. that
It is a truth, speak my own solemn and dehber-
ate conviction. | am aware that some gentlemen
have held different doctrine bat persuade my
sell that they themselves, when they come 70 re-
view the whole ground, viii see sufficient reasons
for a change, or at least a modification OF Their
opinions but that, az all events if they adhere 10
that doctrine, they will be found TO compose very
small minority Of the whole mass Of the people OF
the United States.
The next truth which the resolution asserts ~,
that slavery is not likely be introduced into any
portion Of that TERRITORY That is matter OF fact,
and al the evidence upon which the fact rests Is
perhaps accessible 20 other Senators as II IS 10
me but must say that from oil have heard or
read from the testimony Of all the witnesses have
seen and conversed with. from al that has trans
pred and IS transpring 90 believe that not with
in one foot OF the Territory acquired BY US rom
Mexico will Slavery ever be planted. and believe
it could not be done even by tbs force and power
Of pubic authority.
Sir, facts are daily occurring To justify me IN this
opinion Sir. what has occurred And aPOn thar
subject. and indeed upon this whole subject; "a
wife Senators som the free States especially :"
consider what has occurred even since the last seq
sion-eyen since the commence ment Of tbs ses'
si0n-snce thly ctf their respective constituencies
without opportunity Of consulting with theis -
on that great and m0mentous iact-the tact that
predicted that she never would establish slavery
within her limits when she came 10 be admitted a.
State; shat California herself. embracing, Of all
other portions o the country acquired by 8 from
Mexico th-t country into which u would have
been mos, hkcly that Slavery should have been IN
xoduced that California herself has met IN ooa
vention and BY unanimous vote, embracing m
that body Shareholders from the state OF Nlsssslppi
as well as from other parts. who concurred N the
resolution-thGt California by unanimous vote,
has declared against the Introduction Of Slavery
within her limits I think, then. that taxing tnis
leading fact in connection with III the evidence we
have trum other sources on the subject, an " ar
rsnted Ia the conclusion which constitutes the
second truth which have stated III this resosaslon'
that Slavery Is mot likely TO be Introduced int)
any Of the territory acquired by Ne from Mexico'
Sir the latter part Of that resolution asserts that
il is the duty Of Congress- - establish appropriate
territorial governments within al the country &C
ouired from Mexico exclusive al California not en-
brac;u- in the acts BIZ which these governments
SHAH be constituted either q Prohibition Or sn ad
mission Of Slavery.
Sir. 1unch as / am disposed - defer II high Al
tborItv. auxioEs as treaty AN 70 fad myself IA q
position that would enable ne 70 cooperate heartily
xith the other departments Of the Government u
conductipr the affairs Of tbs great people, must
saw that Icanpot-wIth0gt . dlrehetlOn ot duty
consent 70 an abandonment; OF them without cove rn
meut leaving them 70 al those scenes Of disorder,
l.. .,-kfck aurrFherd in Yasuec+