The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1850-02-28
HOUSE OF REpR EsENTATIvEs.

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 90 1850.
An unimportant debate arose upon a repor
| from the Committee on Commerce, In relation {,
regulation of the Mint of the United States.
After the morning hour, the House resolved
itself into Committee of the Whole on the state
of the Union MIR Bay of Missouri got the floor
and after making some remarks in relation to the
Presidential contest of lS4s, and to the present
system Of collecting the revenue, he proceeded
more particularly to the consideration of the sub
ject before the House-California and its Consti.
! tuition.
lie could not but observe, in the recent contests
in the House, the feeling that was displayed be.
tween the two sections of the countryside North
srrayed against the South, and the South against
the North. His principal ground Of complaint
was the refusal Of the North to deliver up fugi-
tives. Many Of the States had actually made it
felony for any person TO arrest or aid in arrest
ing fugitive slaves. lie read from statute of
Pennsylvania, which provided that "any person
who should arrest, or aid, or assist In arresting
and sending out Of the State any negro or colorcd
person living within the boundaries Of this State
&c, should be deemed guilty offelony. HE had
commented with considerable severity upon such
legislation, when member from Pennsylvania
arose. and stated that "that lam Ind BEEN passed al
The speciai request Of The State Of Maryland-their
u
upon the Legislature of Pennsylvania, asking the
enactment Of such a law-Laughter
But he should pote for the gd,aissioa Of California;
and In this declaration he presumed he should
surprise many Of his Southern friends, but he
would say 10 them, Non.interueniion had olpays
bern The Southern Democratic policy, and he should
not give his vote or influence for the entire sub
version Of that principle.
HE read extracts from Mr. Calhouns former
speeches, and also from resolutions OF Southern
Legislatures as evidence of their uniform adbe.
renee TO tho non.intervention principle.
California would certainly come into the Union
az a free State, and no power could keep 1t out.
Public opinion and public custom required its
admission. The Convention that framed the
Constitution of California was composed Of forty
eight members of which twelve were natives,
twenty Northern men and sixteen Southern men.
Every member from The Southern SAFES voted in favor
of ne article e1eiudiag Slqrry from the STATE
Mr. Stevens of Pennsylvania followed In a
speech which will he reported In our next.
Mr. Buel Of Michigan addressed the House
for an hour upon the recognition Of Hungary.
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY q, 1850.
A bill was reported from the Committee upon
Public Expepditures granting 100 acres of the
public domain to heads Of families and widows Of
cradle debate it was ruled out OF order.
The House then went into Committee of the
Whole on the state of the Union, and
Mr. Bissel Of Illinois addressed the House
upon the Slavery Question, in speech that will
be given In full hereafter
Mr.. Winthrop next obtained the floor, aud after
waiting some minutes until order was restored, he
proceeded to address the House, and occupied the
most Of the hour in personal explanations and In
replying to charges mado against him by the Alb
olitionsts in general, and Mr.. Root ia particu
lar. He said he had remained silent thus far,
during the session, for various reasons. lie had
waited until the storm that had ragged and howled
so fearfully had somewhat subsidized, and had
waited patiently until the cool and calculating
voice OF the North might be heard. II had seemed
TO be the settled purpose Of certain gentlemen Of
that House to drag him into debate, whether he
would or no. lie had scarcely arrived at this
Capitol, when be found he was assailed by the
Democratic journnis rs m Aboiitionistj and on
his right, the gentleman from Ohio Mr.. Root
had charged him with being an enemy In dis
guise, while the member on his left, from Tonnes
See, Mr.. johnson, had charged him with having
packed the Committees when Speaker. But these
charges would naturally be expected from the
position be occupied hut no charges and no
taunts could drive him from II. lie abhorred ul-
traism--he wss no agitator. With regard TO Mr..
Roots resolution, introduced and laid on the
table this session. he regarded II a. mischieyous
In Its consequences and equally mschievous In
iis designs II was offered Ut wrong hour, and
at an improper time and, be would speak plain
ly, the North ought not to have been called upon
10 show their hands at that time. For the sake
Of playing Captain, and being ahead Of the music,
the honorabls gentleman from Ohio would endsn-
ger the Union, aud destroy the very interests he