Daily Richmond times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1849-1850, 1850-04-09
IMPORTANT DISCUSSION.
In SENATE, FRIDAY, APRIL 5rH.

In SENATE, FRIDAY, APRIL 5TH.
The question being on Mr.. Foote'S motion to refer
Mr. Bells resolutions to committee of ID, with an
amendment moved by Mr.. Baldwin, that the commit
tee report separate bill for the admission of California
Mr. SHIELDS spoke at length: after which
Mr. MASON said Gas his remarks are sketched in the
Republc that he had intention of going at large into
the examination of the questions involved in the issues
before Congress. The disposition to be made of those
questions had not been disclosed by the majority of the
Senate. The South claimed and maintained the right,
and the constitutional right, of her citizens go into
all the Territories with all their property. This right
they asserted and were ready to maintain Virginia,
Alabama, Mississippi, Carolina and Georgia. had each
asserted their determination to maintain that right with
out regard OF what might be the result. He wished to
the state OF the question before those whom he
represented The question before the Senate was
the reference of all these questions to compromise
committee motion is now pending to except from
this reference the subject of the admission of California
This motion was first made by the Senator from Con-
nectcut and since modified and adopted by the Senator
from Missouri. The Senator from Mississippi had told
the Senate yesterday most truly that the admission of
California, separate and distinct measure and with
out any settlement OF the territorial question, would be
considered by the South determination on the part
of the majority deny the South any protection in the
formation Of the territorial governments.
He desired to vote for the admission OF California
He unwilling that he should be forced by the hasty
action OF the majority to deny by his vote the admission
OF that State. He wished that she should be admitted
but not admitted without proper regard for the rights
and feelings Of others.
He called upon those who ready to vote for the
admission Of California, and who did not desire to
throw any impediment in the way of happy settle
ment OF the difficulties to torbear that vote He knew
that California organized DIS State and that new
life and vgor would be given her prospects BY admit
ting her. yet when that could only be done by doing vo-
lenee large portion OF the States Of this Union, he
could not see the for the hasy action There
were other Territories and their petitions praying for
the protection OF government before u.s. and
he could not see that there was greater necessity for
adj nj faIIf
government for these Territories.
He knew who had a greater reverence for
the Union than he had yet he would say gentlemen
that if California be forced into this Union against the
appeal and protest of every representative from the
Southern States, they forced him to consider the Con-
sttution not worth the parchment which was writ
ten The Southern States, when satisfied that they
were to be denied their constitutional protection ane
consideration, would with mnch alacrity and VII
lngness go out OF the Union, they had shown in CO.
ming into it.
nature from the Territories He contended that if the
agitation had not continued in Congress- thousands of
southern men would have gone there with their slaves
He showed that in the California Convention free ne
groes were excluded because shown that if blacks
wele allowed to live there slavery would come there
that masters, IN consideration of the immense value of
the labor of their slaves, would enter into contracts to
berate their slaves after two years that the la
Dor OF slave which, in the Atlantic States would be
worth a hundred and fifty dollars year, would be
worth in California five or six thousand dollars.
and if they were settled California would be ad-
mted.
Mr. SHIELDS said that in his remarks he had omitted
to say that being DESTROYS preserve and carry out
every part OF the Constitution he would vote for any
bill to carry out efficiently the provision relative to the
rendition OF fugitive slaves.
Mr. UNDERWOOD said he had opposed the raising of
this committee when first proposed. He would now OPP
pose any Senator was DESTROYS to debate the gene
raj questions. Hnot he was in favor of the committee.
or this reason he would vote against the amendment
proposed to the motion OF reference He would COM
init to the committeethe fugitive slave BILL the terrific
rial bills and the California bill, and if they reported
them he would vote for them.
He did not think that if California were admitted,
the results anticipated by the Senator from Virginia and
others would ensue But out OF respect for their feel
ngs he would not force them to a upon any ofthe
questions. Let them all go to committee, and
port would be made in few days, and would harmo-
nze all sections
MIR. UNDEowooD said he did not think that if the Ca
ornia bill wasfrst taken up the consequences predict
cd by the Senator from Virginia would necessarily re-
suit but he summed up his own views thus
with this view, sir, shall vote against the amend
men proposed by the gentleman from Connecticut, Mr.
Baldwin, hoping that ii the COMMITTEES be raised at all,
land believe shall vote for it, not only the admission
OF California, but the territorial bills, may also go to
that committee and with them the bill to provide for
the reclamation Of fugitive slaves. Then, sir, trust
the committee will make recommendation to the Sc
nate and to the country, in relation to all these bills,
and when they come back to us that shall take them
up IN any order that the committee may present, and
act upon them in that order. There will then be a
pledge, SO far as the recommendation of the committee
can offer it, that what they may conceive compro-
mise in reference to all these bills shall be carried out
And in that view, if may be permitted to suggest,
would advise the committee to say In the first place,
we present you this bill tor the reclamation Of fugitive
slaves. That is the first step in paccaton of the
questions that agate the country In the next place.
we present either the territorial California bls- do
not care straw whch-and we recommend the adlnis-
sion OF California with the regulation of her boundaries
or without it. Then we recommend the territorial bills
to be passed without any proviso, leaving the question
OF the existence of slavery its nonexistence its in
PRODUCTION its non-introducton, depend entirely
upon the legislation OF the people of those Territories
or to depend upon the judicial Interpretation OF the
stitutlon, as commended for by some gentlemen Of the
South in the present state OF things 1t then becomes
judicial question; and if slave be introduced into New
Mexico or Utah, the question is for the judges decide
under the constitution, 1t exists whether that
slave can be held in bondage whether he is free under
the Mexican law unless the Legislature OF that country
acts upon the subject"
Mr. FooTE remarked that the committee could report
by Monday.
Mr. BUTLER concurred entirely in the views of Mr.,
MASON, said there were many Senators Though he
would not say he was one) who would waive their OBJ
jectons to the admission OF California, if connected
with general adjustment. and concluded with this re-
mark
Z" If California is not forced upon us in the first in
stance and all these matters reserved and in some
brought into the scope of such provisions as
shall result in the adjustment of these subjects will
say that there will be ultimate acquiescence OF
how far the adjustment will accommodate the senti-
mens and opinions OF every section OF this Union but
if you take these issues one by one and leave the ma
lorty at liberty to use this power upon other questions
which will be reserved, say you presenting most
dangerous and terrific issue to the people,"
Mr.. CLAY. believe, sir, the immediate question be-
fore the Senate is proposition for amendment made
to the motion of the honorable from Mississippi
refer these subjects of thrteen-a
position the object of which to except from other ques
lions reference Of the subject of California Mr. Pre-
siden no can depore more than do what is the
manifest state OF feeling and the relations of parties
result OF this most unhappy agitation which prevails in
Congress and throughout the country This agitation
has engendered feelings of dsrust, both Of honor and
fidelity which have induced of US to fear that one
portion of common subject having been disposed Of
other portions of the same subject may Tail to be finally
disposed Of Sir do not partake of that feeling to the