The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1850-02-20
The Beginning OF the End.

The first struggle upon distinct legis-
lative proposition, pertaining to or involved
in the agitation of the slavery question,
took place in the House of Representatives
on Monday, upon the following resolution,
offered by Mr.. DoTY, of Wisconsin, and
upon which he demanded the previous
question:
"Rssoired, That the Committee on Territories be
instructed to prepare and report bill providing for
the admission Of the State Of California into the
Union, on AN equal footing with the original
States with the boundaries and limits defined in
the Constitution, which was communicated 10 the
House in the special message Of the President Of the
United States the thirteenth ofFebruary instant
said bill TO embrace subject or matter relating to
territory without the said State Of California
A motion to lay the resolution upon the
table was lost by very large majority,
and the demand for the previous question
was sustained by vote nearly as decisive.
Then commenced parliamentary contest,
in which the minority succeeded, by pri-
vileged motions and calling the yeas and
nays, in battling all efforts to force direct
vote upon the resolution, till after mid
night, when the House adjourned.
Much as we abhor a mere factious re-
sistance to the will Of a majority, il must
be conceded that the minority had as good
an excuse for the character Of the opposi-
ton they presented to the resolution, as
was ever furnished by the journals Of
Congress. II was IN the last degree un-
fortunate that an attempt should have
been made to gag through the House a
resolution Of this importance by help Of the
previous question, without debate Of any
kind, either for or againstit The resolu-
ton would be regarded by the country as
deciding the whole question as commit
ting the House as fully as though bill
had been at its last reading. TWAS known
that an opposition Of serious, if not formid-
able nature would be made to the propo-
sition contained in it.; and yet it was
sought TO force the House into committal
upon IT, by species of coercion which is
always irritating, and which never should
be resorted to until the opposition to the
will Of the majority becomes evidently and
confessedly factious.
Mr.. DUER, in the few remarks he made
at an advanced stage Of the proceedings
of Monday, said that $50 far as he had
consulted gentlemen who were in favor of
the resolution, they only wanted bill for
the admission Of California reported, and
were then willing it should be discussed
for two months, if desired" Now we re-
specially submit the propriety of gagging
a resolution through the House without
debate, which would essentially commit
it 10 proposition which would require
or admit of two months debate when
brought forward in the form of a billl
Why not have the debate at oncel espe-
cially when to precipitate decisive vote,
by invoking the rigor of coercive par
liamentary rule, was only adding fuel to a
raging fire. IL the friends to the admis-
sion Of California are strong enough to
vote down amendments to a bill presented
in conformity with Mr.. Dory's resolution,
they are strong enough TO prevent the in
structions TO the Committee on Terrific
ries from being encountered with foreign