The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1850-02-15

Mr. DOWNS obtained the floor, and on his mo-
ton the subject was postponed till Monday.
STATE OF CALIFORNIA.
The VICE PRESIDENT said that there were
three motions pending. The first was TO refer the
message and the accompanying documents to the
COMMITTEE on Territories; another, that it be refer
req 10 select committee, OF which Mr.. CLAY was
TO be chairman, the latter portion Of which motion
was not in order; and there was another motion to
refer All subjects touching this matter toa select
committee of fifteen.
Mr.. CLAY thought that the subject of the admis-
sion Of California should be kept separate from any
other question, and should be acted on promptly
and before any other. He would vote for the refer
ence to the Committee on Territories.
MIR, FOOTE called the attention Of the Senate 10
the remarkable change that had taken place in the
sentiments Of the Senator from Kentucky II could
hardly be supposed that that Senator had been
verted by any Of the distinguished gentlemen who
bad just arrived here from California, by peru
sal of the unsealed and uncertfed document sent to
them by the President yesterday. When the Sen
ator had proposed his resolutions, accompanied by
his deliberately prepared speech, he had taken the
ground that ALL questions touching the subject of
slavery should be taken up, discussed and acted
upon at one time; that no one subject, point
relating to the subject OF slavery should be taken
up, until all could be disposed OF by some safe and
| agreeable compromise.
He threw this out in order that the Senator from
Kentucky might explain this sudden change in his
views. few days ago, sitting in his seat, he had
seen Senator on his left (Mr. BENToN) go over to
the seat of the Senator from Kentucky and hold n
| conversation with him. He Immediately said to n
| friend, "There is plot on foot to smuggle Cali
fornia into the Union'' Nor was he disappointed
Some time ago the honorable Senator from Mis-
souri, paid an unfortunate visit to the State of Mis-
souri, and had made several speeches there, wherein
the Senator from Michigan and others who held
that the Wimot proviso was unconstitutional were
| denounced in the strongest terms. In of those
speeches the Senator from Missouri took the ground,
and that, too, in the strongest terms-tha the peo
pie of the Territories had no power to settle this
subject of slavery until they had been authorized
| by Congress to form territorial government, and
leave granted to form State government Now,
| the Senator from Missouri had different views
What was the scene presented yesterday? The
| Senator from Missouri, when the Presidents mes
cage was being received, in his place. and with
that peculiar manner and great nasal tone for
which he 10 as remarkable as he is for his learning
and intelligence, proposed TO the Senator from Ken
lucky that he should move that this message be
| referred to select committee.
The Senator from Missouri had held a converse
ton with the Senator from Kentucky and knew
that Senator TO be in favor of admitting California
under present circumstances, into the Union a
state But the Senator from Kentucky respectful
~ declined the proposition, and the Senator from
Missouri was compelled TO make the motion him
self; adding, however, that the Senator from Ken
| lucky should be chairman of the committee
MIR. +. then, at great length proceeded to
| state the possible reasons governing the Senator
from Kentucky In the change of his sentiments,
| and also the motives which induced the Senator
from Missouri to favor the admission of California
territorial government, and without the passage Of
an act OF Congress authorizing convention, which
year ago the Senator had declared essentially
necessary And in the course of his reflections on
the course Of the Senator from Missouri he said that
1t might be attributed to the fact that distinguished
son-in- law of the Senator one of the Senator'S
chosen by California.
Mr.. DODGE, of Iowa, called the Senator to or
der. He was INDUCING in personal remarks. The
Senator moreover denounced the measure to admit
California, as scheme-as plot. He (Mr. d.
was friend OF that measure, would vote for il,
and would not allow any man to denounce it as an
unworthy scheme.
Mr.. F0OTE disclaimed any intention of reflect
ing upon the Senator from Iowa his friends. His
remarks were for another quarter; nor were they
offensive. He was only indulgng in little specu
lation, that perhaps the fraites of human nature
the love for kindrcd-had governed the action of a
certain Senator.
Senatorfrom California, and urged that his objection
to them was OF no personal nature. He had al
ways been the friend of California. The plan to
admit California as State (under very different
circumstances than those which now surrounded
| her,) originated with him two years ago
Mr. CLAY said that he was in favor OF the admis-
sion OF California as State into this Union. II he
was disposed to retaliatc the charge of inconsistent
cy, he might say TO the Senator from Mississippi,
that, two years ago, that Senator was in favor of
the admission of California without constitution
and he now opposed her admission with const-
| tuition.
| Mr.. FOOTE explained that the circumstances
were different The subject of slavery had not then
been agitated there.
Mr.. CLAY said that California came to the Sen.
| ate as did Florida and other States.
| Mr.. TURNEY inquiredif Florida had not ter
rltorial government, and If an act of Congress had
not been passed authorizing the holding Of a con-
Mr.. CLAY said that Florida had a territorial
government, but no act of Congress had been
passed authorizing convention TO form a State
government.
In his former speech he had said that Congress
should settle all the questions relating 10 the unor
tunate institution Of slavery. But he had never
sald That all the various questions should be pro-
vided Tor IN one bill His resolutions eight in
number, and embraced many different points,
all involving the subject of slavery 10 some extent
lie had never supposed that Congress was 70 take
up these subjects, cmbody them in one bill, and
pass II.
One Of the resolutions related 10 the subject Of
fugitive slaves; and at the time Of the presentation
oil those resolutions there bill before the Sen
ate upon that subject He had never supposed that,
| in declaring that Congress should settle all the
subjects involving the question Of slavery, that
bill was to be postponed ill other subjects could be
| acted upon.
Mr.. F0oTE said that he had presented bill
which did embrace all the subjects referred 10 in
| the resolutions. He would ask the Senator from
kentucky whether as Senator representing
slave State, he would vote for the admission Of Cal
ilornia a State and thus give two more votes 20
the advcrsarics Of the South?
| Mr.. CLAY said that he had been frequently adj
orcHseo as representative OF slave state, and
owing allegiance 20 the South. He owed no allie
glance 10 the South. lie knew no South-he knew
no North He knew his duties and would dis
charge them. He recognised but two soyereignties
to whom he owed allegiance; one was the Union
the whole Union the other was 10 the State of
Kentucky. When his course did not meet the APP
proval of Kentucky, be knew what his duty required
him 10 do Bot nc had last night received from
his State copy Of the resolutions Of the Lcgisla-
ture, reported after due deliberation by com.
mittee, In which every Of the series Of rcsolu
tons proposed by him as plan Of peace and con
cord were approved Of and commended.
He appealed 10 Senators that, while he should
always indulge in courteous language 10 tbcm they
would address him in like manner Iflanguags
OF personal character, was used towards him, be
greatly feared that he could trust his fccngs 10
reply, and perhaps he would use language in
return, which he had no desire TO do.
In proposing his resolutions, he had thought that
II they were acted on afiirnativcly by the Senate
nc would have them referred 10 appropriate com
inittces, where, upon such required action bills
might be reported, carrying out their object. II
n LITTLE han