The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1850-03-13
SPEECH OF MR.. WEBSTER
MIR. CLAY's RESOLUTIONS.
Delivered IN the Senate Of the United
States, March 7, 1850.

DtdIeS, JHurch 4, looU.
ted by the Senator from Kentucky were made the
special order of the day at IL o'clock. The Sena-
tor from Wisconsin (Mr. WALKxR) has the floor.
Mr.. WALKER. Mr. President, this vast audi
ence has not assembled to hear me and there is
but one man, in my opinion, who can assemble
such an audience. They expect to hear him and
feel it to be my duty it Is my pleasure, to give
the floor, therefore, to the Senator from Massachu-
sets. understand it is immaterial TO him upon
which of these questions he speaks, and therefore
will not move to postpone the special order.
Mr. WEBSTER; ! beg to express my obliga-
tions to my friend from Wisconsin, (Mr. WALKER,)
as well as to my friend from New York, (Mr.
SEwARD,) for their courtesy in allowing me TO ad-
dress the Senate this morning.
Mr. President, wish TO speak to-day, not as a
Massachusetts man, nor as Northern man, but as
an American, and member of the Senate of the
United States. is fortunate that there is Senate
of the United States; body not yet moved from its
and its own high responsibilities, and body to
which the country looks with confidence for wise,
moderate, patriotic, and healing counscs. 1t is
not to be denied that we live in the midst of strong
agitations, and are surrounded by very considera-
BILE dangers to institutions and Government.
The imprisoned winds are let loose. The East, the
West, the North, and the stormy South, all combine
To throw the whole ocean into commotion, to toss
its pillows to the skies, and disclose its profound
est depths do not affect to regard myself Mr..
President, holding, fit to hold, the helm in
this combat with the political elelncnts but have
duty to perform, and mean to perform 1T with
fidelity, not without sense of surrounding dan
gers, but not without hope. have part to act,
not for my own security or safety, for am looking
out for no fragment upon which to float away from
the wreck if wreck there must be, but for the good
of the whole, and the preservation of ALL and there
is that which will keep me to my duty during this
struggle, whether the sun and the stars shall APP
pear, or shall not appear, for many days. Ispeak
to-day for the preservation Of the Union. "Hear
me for my cause speak o-day, out of a solici-
tous and anxious heart for the restoration to the
country of that quiet and that harmony, which
make the blessings of this Union rich and 80 dear
to us all These are the topics that propose to
myself to discuss these are the motives, and the
sole motives, that influence me in the wish to COM
municate my opinions to the Senate and the coun-
try; and if can do any thing, however little, for
the promotion of these ends, shall have accom-
pished all that expect.
Mr. President, it may not be amiss to recur very
briefly to the events which, equally sudden and cx-
traordinary, have brought the political condition
of the country TO what It is. In May, lS46,
the United States declared war against Mexico.
Our armies, then the frontiers, entered the pro-
vinces of that Republic, met and defeated all her
troops, penetrated her mountain passes, and occu-
pied her capital. The marine force of the United
States took possession of her forts and her towns,
on the Atlantic and on the Pacific. In less than
two years treaty was negotiated, by which Mexico
ceded to the United States vast territory, extend
ing seven or eight hundred miles along the shores
of the Pacific, and reaching back over the noun
tains, and across the desert, until it joined the
frontier of the State of Texas 1t happened that
in the distracted and feeble state of the Mexican
government, before the declaration of war by the
United States against Mexico had become known
in California, the people of California, under the
lead OF American officers, overthrow the existing
Provincial Government of California, the Mexican
authorities, and run up an independent flag.
When the arrived at San Francisco that
had been declared by the United States against
Mexico, this independent flag pulled down and
the stars and stripes of this Union hosted in its
G Lx(s- 49,. slxz-
of the United States, military and naval, had pos
session of San Francisco and Upper California, and
great rush Of emigrants from various parts of the
world took place into California in 1876 and lS47.
But now, behold another wonder.
In January of Is4s, the Mormons, or some of
them, made discovery Of an extraordinarily rich
mine of gold, rather, OF avery great quantity Of
gold, hardly ht TO be called mine, for ii was
spread near the surface, on the lower part of the
South, American, branch of the Sacramento.
They seem TO have attempted TO conceal their dis
covery for some time, but soon another discovery,
perhaps of greater importance, was made of gold,
in another part of the American branch of the Sa
cramento and near Suffers fort, il is called.
The fame Of these discoveries spread far and wide.
They iniamcd more and more the spirit Of emigra
ton towards California, which had already been ex
cited and persons crowded in hundreds, and hocked
towards the bay of San Francisco, This, as have
said, took place in the winter and spring of 1S4s.
The digging commenced in the spring Of that
year, and from that time 10 this the work OF search
ing for gold has been prosecuted with success not
heretofore known in the history of this globe. We
all know, sir how incredulous the American pub
lie at the accounts which reached US, at first,
Of these discoveries; but we all know, now, that
these accounts received, and continue TO receive,
daily confirmation, and down 10 the present mo-
mentI suppose the strong, after the
experience of these several months, Of mines of gold
apparently inexhaustible in the regions near San
Francisco, in California, they at any period
of the earlier dates Of the accounts IL happened,
sir, that, although after the return of peace, IL
heca leo latttr
consideration and Legislative decision, TO provide
proper Territorial Government for California, yet
differences Of opinion in the counsels Of the Govern
ment prevented the establishment of any such Ter
rtoral Government at the last session Of Congress
Under this State OF things, the inhabitants OF San
Francisco and California, then amounting to a
great number of people, in the summer Of last year,
thought il TO be their duty to establish local Gov
crnment. Under the proclamation Of General Riley,
the people chose delegates 10 a Convention; that
Convention met at Monterey. They formed a Con-
stitution for the State Of California, and il was
adopted by the people Of California in their primary
assemblages DESTROYS Of immediate conncxion
with the United States, its Senators were appointed
and Representatives chosen, who have come hither,
bringing with them the authentic constitution Of
thc State Of California; and they present them
selves asking in behalf Of their State, that il may
be admitted into this Union Of the United
States. This constitution, SIR contains an express
prohibition against slavery or involuntary servi-
tude in the State of California. II is said, and
suppose truly, that of the members who composed
that Convention, some sixteen were natives, and
had been residents, in the saveholding States about
twenty two from the non slaveholding States,
and the remaining ten members were either native
Cslifotnians or old settlers in that country This
prohibitions against slavery, IL is sad was inserted
With entire unanimity.
Mr.. HALE. Will the Senator give way until order
is rcstored5
The VIcE President. The Sergeant at-arms
will that order is restored and no more persons
admitted 70 the floor
Mr. CAss. trust the scene of the other day
will not be repeated. The Sergeant at arms must
display more energy in suppressing this disorder.
Mr.. HALE. The noise is outside of the door.
MIR. WEssrSa. And IL is this circumstance,
dr. the prohibition of slavery by that convention,
which has contributed 20 raise, do not say it has
Wholly rAised, the dispute ss 10 the propriety Of
the admission Of California into the Union under
tits constitntion II is not TO be denied, Mr. Pres.
itent nobody thinks Of denying, that, whatever
rtssons were assigned at the commencement Of the
lie war with Mexico, il prosecuted for the
p,rpose Of the acquisition OF territory, and under
th alleged argument that the ccssion of territory
WIS the only form in which proper compensation
cchld be made 20 the United States by Mexico for