The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1850-03-07
CONGRESSIONAL.
sPEEoH OF mia. nAMLIN,
OF MAINE,

hs Unioa dsitosred "a tie Senate Maroh 8, 1880
MI. PREsDEsri you and the senators present arr
fully sensible that have rarely respassed upon the pa
ueaee ?. me senate BuI for The extraordinary character
opposition which has been oferei in the ncpieht stages
TO the admission OF another sovereign State into this
sense Of duty 10 those citizens who have gone from the
State which Is my duty part here TO represent into
Thai distant country and who have gone there to make It
PIE who inhabit that Terriioryi should have remained
still silent The question before us is on referring the
message ot the President. accompanying The eonstilp
myself have preferred 70 have The discussion Of mis-
question upon bill, after should have been reported by
committee. In my opinion, such course would have
however. have deemed il expedent to pursue differ
ent course. The whole merits, upon this question
Of reference have been opened and discussed and every
admission OF California as State has been entered into
by senator's upon this preliminary question OF reference
to committee Under the direction which senators have
seen fit to give it. have sought this occasion to give
the why shall favor the admission Of that State
into this Union, Of its sovereign and independent
States In this discussion, the whole broad field has
been opened-slavery in all its FORMS The question
iating 10 the formation Of territorial governments, the
question Of the boundary OF Texas, the question Of the
restoration Of fugitive slaves, and every other question
conceivable and almost nconceiyab!e connected with
them have been permitted to mnge in the discussion OF
this body. Slr with all these questions have nothing
to do. With all these questions, upon the proposition
which is now submitted to us, have nothing to DO;
Let them bde their time and when they shall properly and
pcrtnenty before the Senate, then, If shall deem
il expedient may have something to say upon some o
those measures The question OF slavery ~ me Iel
the admission OF California. Il should have had no
connexon with i, in my humble Judgment, y our DIS
cussion here What what are not the boundaries
OF Texas, has as little do with the question which
directly before
When these questions legitimatey submitted to us.
shall oe ready TO act upon them Lei the question q
OF the constitution and the previous action OF the govern
mspt and let deal with Texas in reducing her bound
ariesone Of these sovereign Staes-jusly; ay, if you
please generousy but let these matters be discussed and
settled where they appropriately belong and let not the
admission o California State here be either retarded
in its progress or finally prevented.
The people OF California ask no entangling alliances
with these any other questions They ask the aid OF
fortntous circumstances not directly connected with
them They ask not to be affected by any circumstances
calculated to reard or defeat them Let each question
depend upon ITSELF and let each issue be met in its proper
and appropriate manner.
am happy, Mr. President, to know that in expressing
have been expressed by the Oldest and the abes senators
upon both sides OF this chamber This, then. being the
view which ! take upon this question, am decided,
by the senator from Missouri, Mr. BENToN,l that this
question shall be referred to the appropriate committees
that it shall there be considered and reported back dis
shall come back, then will be the time for us TO give
final action, although the discussion OF the question has
been entered into in this preliminary stage Let each
stand upon its merits, fail for the want OF merit
The maxim Of Tacitus-pur nsgotis neque atpra-is
true now as when il was uttered.
But, sir in passing along. while have disposition
to connect any subject which is moi properly connected
with California, may be permitted to make single
mark or two in relation to what we have often wit
messed and heard in this hall alfude TO that cry Of dis
union disunion! which has often resounded in
ears. Sir have no eulogiums pronounce upon this
Union. II furnishes its best eulogy The progress
Of art of science OF literature, and OF everything that
serves to elevate people its impress upon and
arms the respect which our flag commands in every por
ton OF the habtable globe the busy hum OF thrift and
terprse that up from the marts and market places
q twenty pllons Of people, sPesk more noble eaogy
here Sir all these things pronounce It's greatness its
glory, and its grandeur. would, sir, that my acts
and a ACTS Of the people ss
formed by the wisdom OF our fathers and which shall
be perpetuated by US.
Sir. there is one other matter to which | wish to
refer in this connection allude 10 that state OF alarm
which has been attempted to be created here and
elsewhere upon the public mind, whether by the pub
lie, press or By senators who have addressed this
body heretofore Sir, there is method in all this mad
ness. No man can doubt the design which il is at
tempted to accomplish, by first alarming the public mind.
and producing through that alarm those results which
are desired. feel that it, sr to myself and 10
those who sent here to declare that from all the in
vestigauon which | have been able to bestow upon
this subject, and from all the evidence which |
have been able TO obtain from everything which
| see and hear, this so much talked of alarm is
entirely unfounded and fictitious. There need be no
alarm There is no cause for real alarm and should
be created by unnecessary fear.
"Fear admitted public councils betrays like treason
We in the nom slavehoding States deiermiaed that
there shall be for disturbing the harmony o the
States and equally confident that the sound sense
and patriotism OF the people OF all the States will deter
mine that there shall be no disunon We had in that
section Of the Union froR which come class OF men
who known be disunonisis Those who shall pat
tern after their example must occupy the OF his
tory which they have occupied There is real alarm
there is no cause fear OF dsunion This Union will
stand monument OF grandeur, and glory and great
bIed dust The affections Of people will cling to
il and sustain it, in spite OF the madness OF party OF
politicians The true question, then, Mr.. President,
when separated from all these extraneous matters which
have been forced into this discussion whether another
star shall be added to ag another sister Union
and in considering IT, propose TO examine, FIRST the right
Of the people OF California 10 form the constitution which
they have presented TO and, secondly having the
right to form that constitution. have they exercised il
that we ia the discharge OF duty, should admit them
as another OF the States OF this coniederacy The cons
tuition OF the United Siates in article 4, section 3, de-
clares that
Union but no new state shall be formed erected within
the jurisdiction Of any other State any State be omed
by junction OF more States or parts Oh States
without the Of the legislatures oi the states con-
cerned, rs well as OF the Congress
Under this clause Of the constitution. the simple ques-
on Of the admission OF State Is the one which we are
TO decide Congress cannot create State II 70 no
within the power jurisdiction OF Congress to Gre
ate State. In this day, SIR, have learned 70 oe
surprised at opinion. II has been called the age
Of progress So great has been that progress. and
80 various are the opinions which, have been ex.