The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1850-08-08
PROCEEDINGS OF THE SENATE,
HOW THE OMNIBUS BILL WAS OVERSEE,
AND THE PASSENGERS TUMBLED OUT.
WEDNESDAY, july 81, 1851

The report of the Committee of Thirteen was
taken up, its friends feeling confident that this
day would witness the passage Of what is called
the Omnibus Bill. Preparation had, we learn,
been made in this city and elsewhere, to hail It's
triumph by fre-rockets and gunpowder explosions.
1t was supposed that the adoption Of Mr. Daw-
sons amendment, the day previous, had secured
beyond doubt the votes Of the Texan Senator'S and
consequently majority in favor Of the bill. But,
as SO many Of the Cas- Senators from the North
had sustained that amendment, at an immense
sacrifice of preoonceived opinion, and at immi-
nent risk of political DEATH 1t was thought moth
ing more than fair to conform the bill, as far as
possible, TO the theory Of territorial rights laid
down in the Nicholson Letter. Mr.. Norris Of
New Hampshire, who is under instructions 10 vote
for the Wilmot Proviso, and the admission Of
California unencumbered, but who ON every in.
cidental question voted uniformly 30 as to keep
the Omnibus bill before the Senate, and promote
Its success, moved to strike out from the 10th Sec
ton, the words, "or establishing or prohibiting
slavery General Cass, in his Nicholson Letter,
have the sole and exclusive right to regulate
their own concerns, including the subject of
slavery, In their own way. On this principle he
and his followers had gone into the Presidential
canvass of is4s. The bill originally reported, pro-
hibited the Territories from passing any law re-
speeding African slavery The three last words,
at the instance Of the ultra Southern men, were
substituted by the words " or establishing or pro-
hibiting slavery The section as originally re-
ported, and as amended, was in direct conflict with
the doctrine and position of General Cass IL
he and his friends should vote for It, they would
give the lie to all they asserted and argued In lsds
The design Of Mr.. Norris In moving to strike
cut the restriction on the Territorial Legislature
was to accommodate the bill TO the Cass platform
Mr.. Clay appealed to Southern Senators in be-
half Of the motion of Mr. Norris, reminding them
that the design was to conform the bill to the
policy of Non-Intervention, great Southern doe
trine for which General Cass and his followers had
suffered 80 much 10 the free States The appeal
was successful Several Southern men responded, |
and the Free-Soiers Of course voted for the mo-
tion not unwilling to leave the hands Of the
Territorial Legislature united, and to render the
bill as unacceptable as possible to the Southern
ultraists
The motion Of Mr.. Norris prevailed by the fol-
lowing vote
YEAs-Messrs Badger, Baldwin, Bell, Brad.
bury, Bright, Cass Chase, CLARKE, Clay, Cooper,
Dayton, Dickinson, Dodge Of Iowa, Douglas, Felch,
Greene, EIamlin, Jones, Msngum, Miller, Norris,
Phelps, Pratt Seward, Shields, Smith, spruance,
Sturgeon, Underwood, Upham, Wales, and Win
throp-32.
Nays-Messrs Atchison, Barnwell, Benton,
Berrien, Butler, Davis Of Mississippi, Dawson,
Downs, Ewing, Hunter, King, Mason, Morton,
Pearce, Rusk, Soule, Turney, Walker, Whit
comb and Yulee-20.
There can be but little doubt that the bill by
this vote was somewhat weakened In the South.
Then followed movement which utterly dis
appointed the calculations Of the special friends
Of the bill They had eKulted in the passage Of
Dawson's amendment, abandoning all Of New
Mexico clsimed by Texas, and yielding to the
latter an implied title, supposing II had insured
the success of their measure; but the hoop, driv-
en- down on one side, aew up on the other. That
amendment proved the death Of the bill Texas
Dragged too high, and lost all.
Mr. Pearce, the able and Independent member
from Maryland, moved to strike out from the 22d
section TO the seth, inclusive containing all that
part Of the bill relating TO Territorial Govern
ment for New Mexico and the provisions yester-
day inserted, relating TO the boundary Of Texas.
lie said that his object In making the motion
was to get rid Of the provision yesterday inserted
on motion Of the Senator from Georgia, (Mr Daw-
SON. which put Territorial Government In ope-
ration over the few inhabitants west Of the Rio
Grande, and left those the east side subject TO
such laws a. the few on the west might think
proper % adopt lie desired, by his motion, TO
rsnststs what he proposed 70 strike out, with the
exception Of what he considered Objectionable,
and for which he could not vote. The amend
ment gave an implied recognition Of title In Texas
to the land In dispute. To this he was opposed.
Mr.. Clay said he regretted that the Senator
from Maryland had moved 10 strike out that part
Of the bill relating to the adjustmsut Of the
Texas boundary. II II were not altogether right,
II could be amended. There were amendments
already spoken of--one Of which Wa that the
Territorial Government should mot 70 into ope-
ration either on the ssa& or vsst side Of the Rio
0rands. He opposed the motion II length.
Mr.. Pearos said thst the object Of his motion
was not, e had been stated, 10 defeat the impor-
tsnt part Of the bill providing for the adjustment
A.. al In.