Daily Richmond times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1849-1850, 1850-02-22
CONGRESS OF THE UNITED STATES
UNITED STATES SENATE.
w ASuJNcTnN E'ab 81 10

WASHINGTON, Feb. 20, 1850.
After much debate the bill to release the sertjes OF
Samuel Swartwout was passed.
The Senate took up the Presidents Message conmu-
nicatng the California constitution the question being
the motion of Mr. Benton to refer the same to the
Committee ON Territories with Instructions to raport a
bill admitting California as a State, connected with
other measures.
Mr.. Clemens spoke at length, and argued that Cali
fornia had no right to form State Government.
tie commenced upon supposed concert OF action
between the lion and the lamb of the Senate in favor OF
this motion to force California into the Union.
He saw reason why dissolution of the Union
should not be possible but, ii not the responsibility oil
the consequences rest the North He comment
ed up the views OF Mr.. Cass
Mr.. Cass explained. believe, said he, the Wilmot
Proviso to be unconstitutional If the proposition had
at first been presented to me would have voted for it
When it first presented, the Southern men did not
show the resistance to it which they have since DONE
Some OF them in favor of it. Subsequently Mr.
Cass sad ne looked into the subject, and found that
there was no power in the Constitution to prohibit slave
ry from the territorial communities.
lie was confirmed IN his opinion by a consultation
with Justice Mclean.
He would put nothing in opposition to the Union-.
AS to the Wlmot Proviso, it project of mischief
Every age has its Wilmo Proviso 1t came in shapes
OF all varietes-once il came i'll the shape OF tea tax
The South had become excited, and the Southern
members We're determined to keep ahead of the excite
ment MIR Cass went on to say, that he had heard
violent threats long enough. These things commenting
on Mr. Masons speech he said, drive us to the wall
nave LtdIu threats 6llOu1tl--luaI New Ork IS TO
be like Modern Tyre, and the Southern cities like an
cient Iyre-tlat the North is to be made desoate-I
cannot stand this any longer, said Mr.. Cass.
We are in the hands OF God, and what he will do
with us | know not, But from men, and their prudence
and moderation, he had no hope
The storm had rolled over him, and he was broken
down. This was his last session here. If Northern
man would not say that slavery was the best institution
IN the world, the Southern men denounced him an
abolltonls AT home, his moderate course caused him
to be denounced as dough tace.
Fire and blood were invoked on both sides. Every
age had its Wilmot proviso and sometimes it came in
one shape and sometimes in another. TWAS pretext
Tor commOtion.
Mr. Clay denied the right OF the Senator from Alaba-
ma to anmadvert upon any supposed intercourse be-
tween him Mr. Clay and Mr.. Benton. He did how
ever say that there such concert. His personal
relations with that Senator had been restored and he
was glad oft.
Mr. Clemens contended that he had right to allude
to combination which appeared to affect the public
interests
Mr. Foote spoke at length on the subject of the dan
gers that surrounded the country and expressed the
opinion that there plan TO smuggle California into
the Union, and that Mr.. Clays resolutions conceded
every thing to the North and nothing to the South. He
should go to the grave with the opinion that slavery
was amoral and political evil, and wrong.
Mr.. Clay said he the best abused man in the
| country,
Mr. Cass With one exception. (Laughter)
Mr. Clay spoke of the abuse heaped on him by the
abotoniss and said he should see their assaults they
sent HIM their letters and papers
Mr. Cas-. lean show bushels OF them sent to me.
Mr. Clay. One word. With respect to the right Of
the Senator from Mississippi to comment my acts,
do question But the gentleman seems to reflect upon
the object of supposed concert between me and the
Senator from Missouri.
Mr. Foote utterly disclaimed any such intention lie
had, In his printed Speech previously denied the same
inference.
Mr. Clay went on to refer humourously to some an.
parent Inconsistency between the Senator's remarks to-
to-day, and conversation OF much interest that had
I'D ttNS al.
After some remarks from Messrs. Foote, Clay, Hale
Butler and Dickinson the subject was postponed ano
the Senae adjourned.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,
The only business transacted of any public intel es
was the passage of bill reported by the committee o
Commerce TO amend the act establishing the mint and
regulating the coin OF the U. States
The act of 1887 directs the Secretary of the Urea
sury to keep deposit in the mint for the purpose
purchasing bullion the sum OF 81 900 900. This bill
merely authorizes him to keep HAND, if necessary the
sum of 81 100000 This was rendered positvely ne
cessary consequence OF the increased amount OF bull
lion placed on deposit,-derived principally from Cali
fomla
The House then went into Committee o! the Whole
Mr. BAY mot Day OF Mo, spoke, as reported by ele
graph, in favour OF admitting California with reduced
| boundaries
The admission OF California, he said was demanded
by the voice OF the people and public Justice He alluded
then to the supposed action of Mr. King in Calltoni;
to cause the inerdicon OF slavery there That gen
teman, he said was more than one hundred miles from
the spot where the Convention met which formed thu
Constitution and interdiced slavery. The Convention
was composed Of 4S memberS-l2 of whom ma
tive born citizens of that country; of the remainder
sixteen were from the Southern States and twenty from
| the Northern States When the vote taken in tina
Convention to interdict slavery, every from thu
| Southern States voted to exclude slavery.
| Mr. BUEL spoke about Hungary. Mr.. Russell OBJ
| tanned the floor.
Adjourned.