Weekly national intelligencer., 1850-05-25

language have ever used in relation the admission of Cal
ona and then to show that these sentiments were fully cor
CURED in by the Senator from Mississippi.
Mr.. BERRlEN. Will the Senator from Alabama alIo,
me TO interrupt him moment He has unintentionay fallen
think into Misrepresentation in regard to the provso
which he supposes passed the House of Representatives
have the volume before from which the Senator has read
was my fortune have been the Committee on the Ju
dietary in the Senate at the me and the portion which he ha
read which printed in italics amendment reported
the Committee on the judiciary.
Mr.. CLEMENS. did not say it passed the Senate, bu
that ii passed the House of Representatives.
Mr.. BERRIEN That is the Misrepresentation that de
sire to correct These the amendments reported h
bill Of the House Of Representatives by the Committee th
Judiciary of the Senate, when the bill was referred TO them
Mr. CLEMENS. And voted for by Southern members
Mr.. BERRIEN. That doubt not. But as have stated
these were the amendments reported by the committee of h
Senate but were not adopted and the subject did not 60
the House Of Representatives.
Mr. CLEMENS. That is immaterial to the point in
tended to make which was that the proposition sub
mied by the Senator from Mississippi (Mr DAvIs) wa
nothing newthat had met three years ago, the deliberate
approval Of Southern Congressman it is material whethe
they were members Of this body or the other.
was proceeding to show how far the Senator from Ms
spp (M Foorg) was entitled the merit of consistency
the close of his speech he said that he expected to be
tackled by uraiss and desired to beading m am ultra
is," Sir the Senator's memory must be exceedingly de-
ecve he must have remarkable facility for changing his
opinions On yesterday he announced with great emphasis
day he says he is urat and invites assaults from
that character.
Mr. FoOTE. Will the honorable Senator allow me to
say simply that when employed the word ultra to-day in
tended will plainly appear from the context from which he
is now striving to detach it, traism tha kind which de-
mans mpractcabe amendments Of the constitution, through
the agency of the Nashville Convention Without the least
dsrespect to any one will say that meant to declare that
was not an ulraist of the WigfaH genus.
Mr. CLEMENS. Nor am l. Ihave never asked for an
amendment of the constitution. have never believed
could get it, do not believe get our rights under
the constitution Is am willing to abide by the bond
il is signed, but have no hope that others will.
understood the Senator from Mississippi (Mr. FooTE)
yesterday to say that the admission of California with her
present constitution and boundaries not wrong Of which
the South had any right to companha the people of Cali
forna had formed the constitution, and excluded slavery
that they had right to do and that her ADMISSION
concession TO Northern feeling.
Mr.. FOOTE stated distinctly when was lpon that
topc yesterday, and when the Chair very popry called
to ode that still opposed to the admission Of Cali
orna separate measure and could only consnt to the
say yet and would look upon its separate admission
authorizing the strongest OF resistance OF the part
of the South. a,..
Mr.. CLEMENS. The Senator argued at som, length to
prove that there either sde and
tanly if this doctrine of inherent right be corred
has any right question the proprety Of what tie Cafor
mans have done. Let if he has always he'd similar
opinions have here letter addressed by the Snator and
his colleagues John A. Quiman Governor Of tie State Of
Mississippi. Frs" ..5
Mr.. FOOTE. If the gentleman will allow me-, ( will state
very frankly the circumstances connected with tb drawing
up and signing of that letter before he reads it LEAVING then
to bis discretion to make any he please of it. 1t
did happen day. during the session OF this hdy that
letter handed to me- addressed to the Governor of Mis-
sspp and subscribed by several of my colleagues, having
reference to the then in progress in m House of
for the separate admission OF California as
State into the Union Being exceedingly occupied at the
lime, and having the most unlimited confidence those who
sent the communication to me for my signature signed
without any special examination of its contents After
hour two the idea suggested itself to my mind that,
the matter to which it related Of great Importance it
would b well enough to request that the letter should not be
sent to the post office until could be more particularly look
ed into The proper steps taken for its denton
codingly and meeting Of the Representatives d Senators
from Mississippi called for the ensuing night the
Of one Of colleagues. This meeting took phce, and the
letter first drawn up being regarded less objection
able sat down at the writing table and sketched such
thought best, which had the fate also of
being rejected third letter them rather hastily drawn
Of my colleagues which the the hands Of
The honorable Senator from Alabama which, being agreeable
all my colleagues then present. did not object to- and sub
crbed it. In that letter it stated that in the opinion
ALL the admission Of California, under existing circum
stances, would be equivalent to the adoption Of the Wmot
oroviso. still think, as then thought, and have repeated
declared in debate here, that such act of admission
SEPARATE substantive act would be- if any thing, than
he Wlmot proviso and ID is only part Of gene
al scheme of compromise that l could vote for the
admission at all The letter, will be seen, failed to sug
5est this stlnctoD was but natura nasmuch as the
scheme OF under consideration had not then
'een introduced had some slight objection to the letter at
he tme in reference to this point but from respect TO my
colleagues, all the rest Of whom, then present. were satisfied
With IL forbore express it. But did few days there
er, to Of my colleagues present, he will if ne
essary, attest. This the whole affair." far as now
collect it which will be by all to be Of rather unm
'oran character to be thus formally introduced the notice
# the Senate But the Senator from Alabama
citors TO make political capital out of it, he is quite
Welcome to make any of it he peases can assure him
hat my constituents are too intelligent to condemn me very
iarshy upon slight foundation this letter can furnish
Mr.. CLEMENS resumed the floor, but gave way 10
Mr. DAVIS, of Mississippi who said If the Senator from
Alabama will allow me- as amsomewhat involved in this
ueson, and my has been introduced witness
n both sides Of the question, suppose must testify The
st fact is my colleague has stated. We met together
nd after long and full discusson-aer rejecting one let
er, writing another, and rejecting that, agreed upon
bird that is the transmitted As understood il,
finally agreed merely to declare view Of the position in
which the question then stood, and without suggestion to
er it to the Legislature and people Of Mississippi. After it
lad been determined thus to submit the question, avoiding
my OF opinion upon side to the course to
pursued thought the letter reduced to statemen. Of
hat which all held to be fact.
did them and do now consider that when, without pro-
authority, the people Of California assembled in Conven
ion, and assumed to strip us, by their fundamental law of
right which it had been threatened to take from by
he Wlmot proviso and when the validity of that act is de-
,endan upon Congressional confirmation, that such confirm
is essentially different from the other form Of direct
exclusion by Congress, known the Wilmot provso.
Mr. FOOTE. Iwh be misunderstood in this matter.
said in the beginning that the letter sent here by the
luho and gr ed without examinations do many letters
very day, in consequence Of the unlimited confidence had
the gentleman who it. But say further that during
he day, thought there something the phraseoogy