The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1850-04-25


what a compromiser ought to do, Immediately give
up his own. And yet what is the state Of the case
to-day ! thought then that the Senator from
Kentucky was going to vote for his own amend
ment thought he was going to accept the COM
promise which he had made; and yet to-day, sir,
he flies from that amendment, he does not stand
to 1t he objects 10 the whole of his own amend
ment, which | accepted the other evening in
spirit 80 conciatory that it ought to have brought
US oil to harmonious Cancellation. Now sir, we
are going to have another compromise, plan of
compromise with this experience Of compromising
before our eyes have no great faith in compro-
misses at any time. There are compromises in the
Constitution; they are fundamental, they are per-
manent, they are obligatory we are sworn to OBJ
serve them, and those compromises | wish rell-
giously to keep. But as for these, which seem to
me like the compromises of lovers, made one even
ing TO be broken the next mOrning-as for these
compromises which have referred to- really, after
this expericnce-this, would say, fragrant expe-
rience in the face of the Senate, between my
self and the Senator from Kentucky, do think
that the idea Of bringing compromise into this
body ought to be abandoned altogether.
MIR. President, we ask the yeas and nays upon
this notion and if the Sen tors resolutiOn-for
Can call it nothing but resolution-for the gui-
dance and conduct of the Senate shall be adopted,
we shall Immediately undertake to test it. and to
whether the rules in your book not In force
| which allow Senators to offer instructions and we
are entitled to vote upon this resolution, and
which cannot be laid on the table without carry
ing the whole subject with it.
The yeas and nays having been ordered on the
amendment of the Senator from Kentucky
/ Mr. Douglas said I feel inclined to vote for
the amendment of the Senator from Kentucky,
and | will very briefly give my reasons for that
vote My object in resisting the appointment Of
the select committee was to get at the practical
question of the admission Of California into the
Union. A majority of the Senate has on three
different occasions, byshe yeas and nays, declared
that the Senate is in favor of the appointment of
committee. We are authorized to infer, from these
three test votes that that majority is determined
to appoint this committee. Sir, if they are deter
mined upon it. they have right TO the appoint
ment of a committee. | hold that If occupy the
position of making factious opposition to the ma
| jOrty of this body, give license TO factious
opposition from the other side, in the manner that
has been threatened, in order to keep California
out of the Union. | will do no act, here or else
where, that shall be precedent that shall be a
! license TO an opposition under the rules Of the
body. but which can only have the effect to occa-
sion delay by thwarting the majority. will sane
ton no course of proceedings which may give that
| license when California shall be put upon her
passage For this reason, feel disposed TO vote
for the amendment offered by the Senator from
yfp II, ed or ia T1'. SI @s@~nd D. bin :
that is to cut off all amendments, and let this mat
ter 90 to a committee ifthere is majority to send
it there for them to act according to their discre-
! tion.
Mr.. Webster. The Senator from Kentucky
will excuse me if doubt the propriety of his
notion | suppose it will not be in order if this
resolution is passed, to have any further amend
ments. | very much doubt whether such mo-
ton should be received by the Chair. | doubt
whether it is not question for the Senate TO de-
eide, whether any amendments that may be pro-
posed shall be adopted Ii is my opinion that it is
Mr. Hale. Although the Senate may not
deem it necessary to express their opinion trust
they will permit one of the humblest of its men,
bers to express his; and that is that here is the
State of California DESTROYS of coming into the
Union and the sole serious objection that exists
in the minds of Senators 10 that admission is,
that she has in her Constitution embodied the
principle of freedom.
A Senator Nobody has said so.
Mr. Hale. know that nobody has expressly
assigned that as an objection.
Mr. Foote | call the honorable Senator to
order, and will state my point of order under
stand the Senator from New Hampshire TO alude
TO the motives Of Senators. He stated that the
reason which was operating upon the minds of
Senators here who are adverse to the admission
of California a separate measure, il that she
had adopted in her Constitution n prohibition OF
slavery lie now says, that although such Ian
guage has not been used in debate, yet the infer
ence is deducible that such are the motives of
Senators This consider to be supplementary
The Vice President Ii is out of order to as
crihe motives to Senators, but the Chair did not
understand the Senator as having done so.
Mr. Foote | am satisfied with the decision of
the Chair; but | trust the Senator from New
Hampshire will not pursue that line of remark.
Mr. Hale Does the Senator from Mississippi
consider that it is an impeachment of the motives
of Senator 10 say that he is opposed TO the adj
mission of free States into the Union?
MIR Foote Yes, sir, do consider it very
serious mputaton upon myself, and those rep
resent here, to have it charged that |, in their
name and with their sanction, feel inclined to
present the least obstacle to the admission of Cal
! ifornia, on the ground that in her Constitution
she has excluded slavery from within her limits.
Every Southern Senator will say directly that it
is an imputation that is grossly untrue.
Mr. Hale have said nothing, sir about the
motives of any one. said there were reasons
that lie back of those that were assigned | think
it is a matter of history do not mean old his
tory but very modern history, if | am not mis-
taken-that one of the Southern States, to wit,
the State of Georgia, has passed a resolution to
the purport that the admission of California MT
this time with their present Constitution, would
be a sufficient cause for dsunion.
Mr. Footc. There is nothing about slavery
mentioned in that resolution.
Mr. Hale. As do not wish to say that any
one is actuated by improper motives, will not
speak of the Senate, but of outdoor opposition.
| wish to be understood, then, as saying nothing
about the motives of any Senator, but shall
speak of the great moving cause Of opposition out
side of the bar Of the Senate to the admission of
California into the Union, because she has adopt
ed Constitution excluding slavery from within
her limits. That is what believe; and do not
deem that in the words of this resolution it is
necessary to express in advance any opinion rs
to what the state of things is inside of the bar
A laugh That sir, is the state of the facts.
and it is not worth while to shut eyes to it.
think we should call things by their right names
for we cannot, by calling things by other than
their right names, change their nature. IL were
in the habit of quoting poetry like the honorable
Senator from Mississippi, would say something
about u rose by any other name not smelling so
sweet. This is TO be the compromise A certain
portion Of the Confederacy have found in the
course of events that it becomes necessary to SUBJ
NIT to this great evil that is the odous sin of adj
hitting State with Constitution excluding sla-
very What is to be done? You are next to
frame two Territorial Governments which shall
contain no such provision. What is the intent
of this7 Why, that slavery shall be carried into
these Territories so that when they come here to
ask admission as States they shall have that in
stitution embodied in their Constitutions, and be
admitted as slave States. This is the true state
of the case. We had better look at the question
as ii is and not pretend to be more purely patri-
otto than We really are. This, sir, is my opinion
of the state of things outside of the bar of the
Senate
would say another thing will tell the gen.
temen of the Southern States that they will beat
us that the North will be beaten, as she always