Des Moines courier. ([Ottumwa] Iowa) 1848-1854, 1850-03-22
Congressional.
Thirty-ffrsf COngress---First
Session.
WASHINGTON, 9TH March.


avenue was crowded to overf1owing.
The Vice President stated that the first
business in order, was Mr.. Clay's reso
lutions.
MIR. Walker being entitled 10 the floor.
briefly stated tina, The vast assembly
which filled the Senate Chamber had
evidently come to hear the Senator from
Massachusetts, and he would cheerfully
give way to Mr.. Webster.
Mr.. Webster then rose. After express
ing his obligations, he proceeded 70 ad-
dress the Senate, not. he said, as a
Southern, man, nor Northern man, but as
an American, and he desired to do his
duty with fidelity, with the hope that the
storm which was now raging in the land,
would be lulled; he spoke Of the preser-
walton of the Union with an anxious
heart, for the restoration Of that quiet
and harmony SO necessary to the pros
perity and happiness Of our country
These were his objects, and if he would
do ever so little to attain these, his end
would be accomplished; he proceeded to
consider the events which led to the
present difficulties, commencing with a
review Of the war with Mexico, its bat
lies, triumphs and results. Prior to
these negotiations, the people of Califor.
MIA, assisted perhaps by officers and the
people Of the United States, revolted
against the Government of Mexico, and
ran up the Independent flag; the result
was tide of emigration set towards San
Francisco from every country of the
world-.rich and apparently inexhausti-
BILE gold mines in California were SUISSE
quently discovered and increased the
emigration TO those distant shores.
He referred 10 the failure of Congress
to provide Territorial Government for
the people of this new Territory. He
said that in this state Of things, those
people had taken measures to establish a
local Government; had elected Senators
and Representatives, and had sent them
here with their constitution to ask for
immediate admission into the Union
This constitution there adopted contained
clause prohibiting slavery in the new
States, which provision had given rise to
the opposition now made to her admis-
sion. Whatever was believed to be The
OBJECT or the manner of the war with
Mexico, the territory was acquired, but
the expectation that it would be slave
Territory was disappointed by the action
of the people of the Territory itself -
He then went into historical considera-
ton of the institution of slavery from the
earliest ages TO the present time He al
laded, at some length, to the feelings of a
large portion of The community, arising
from conscientious belief that slavery
is a sin, and incompatible with The Chris
ton sentiments of brotherly kindness
The question in the early days of the
Government was. how the evil should be
dealt with. 1t was thought its days
would be shortened by preventing the
importation of slaves, and proposition
was introduced to prohibit such inn
portation. He alluded TO the ordinance
prohibiting slavery in the Northwest
Territory. Mr.. Calhoun had said that
this was the first Of series of measures
calculated to awaken the South. He de
sired to say that the ordinance was
passed with the unanimous consent of
the South, there being but one vote
against it, and that one representative
from the North. Since that time there
had been great change of opinion; there
had been continually growing opinion
in the North against slavery, and grow
ing opinion in the South in its favor.
This state of things resulted from causes
which would always pr oduce like effects.
The change Of opinion in the South had
resulted, in great measure, from the
growth and increase of cotton raising.
1t was well known that the value of cot
ton exported from the United States did
not exceed $4,000. while now, perhaps,
under favorable circumstances, its value
was 500. 100000 per annum. Indeed,
he was told that when Mr.. Jefferson
was negotiating the treaty of 1894, with
England, he did not know that cotton
was raised in this country.
Mr. Webster, in reply to Mr.. Cal
houn's objections, that the operation Of
the Government had been against the
South, and calculated to weaken her,
that the contrary was the fact.
REFERRING 10 the Texas ouestion ha had