Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1850-07-13
SPEECH OF Mr.. SEWARD,
OF NEW YORK,
ON THE CONPR OMISE Bill
In SENATE, TuEsDAr, JrLY 2, 1850.

IN SENATE, UEsDAr, JtLY X lSoO.
Mr.. SEWARD said: Mr.. President, if an alien in on
land should chance here during these high debates
he would ask whether California stranger and
my unbidden and unwecome intruder; fugitive
powerless and porioness, and therefore mpor.unate
oppessor and scourge of mankind and therefore hateful
and dangerous. We should be obliged answer, No Cali
orna yielded persuasion rather than conquest She
has renounced her lineage language, and ancient loyalty
She has brought the banks of which flow
precious sands and at the base of mountains which yield
massive gold, she delivers into hand the key that
locks the longcoveed of the Eastern World Cali
fona refuses only to let buy and sell each other within
her domain rich i'll all the elements of legitimate
merce She invites to forego unjust, injurious, and
peace OF arts and OF freedom nations beyond the
still slumberng under the mingled reign of barbarian super
sttion, and unalleyated desposm The very head and
front Of her offending hath this extent "
The President Of the United States recommends,
theess, that California shall be admitted uncondtonaiy
while committee of the Senate insist on conditions.
prefer the Presidents suggestion but not merely be-
cause it is his although honor his patriotism and confde
fully IN his wisdom Nor do prefer his suggestion out of
disrespect to the statesmen by whom it opposed Nv
vencaon for them has been abundanty manifested hereto
FORE and needs display of proestaton We in
frame OF things disont and in the confusion resulting
hom severance of parties and conunctons of
men, each OF obliged RELY on the guidance of his
own judgment and conscience. .l..
submit, sir that the conditions are unreasonable, inju-
rious and oppressive, III regard 10 California So far
they found in the bill before us they are ls the esta
bshmen of Territorial Government in New Mexico s-
lent concerning slavery ID the establishment of like gov
ernmcn in Utah; Sd, compromise of border dispute be-
tween New Mexico and Texas. The garment of compro-
misc thus quilted of various fabrics with artistic skill
genousy peced out with collateral conditions in report and
two other bills concerning slavery in the District of Coum
ba the recapure Of fugitive slaves and other national
rests or preensions OF slavery. (.
1t is pretended that California needs aid from these
conditions, that they give it. California is taxed
port, which otherwise would founder and be lost This
forced conncxon therefore hnders and tends defeat the
admission of California
Why California subjected to this embarrassment, Does
she come without right She has treaty Is that treaty
denied or questioned No, ii is unanimously affirmed.
Can California abide delay No; her anomalous condition
merely appeals justice, but touches the very virtue
of compassion within Why, them should California be
kent waiting while we make circuit throughout the entire
orbit of slavery California neither brought the States into
confederation constructed the Constitution She neither
planted slavery in the slave States nor uprooted in the free
States She is not found by the side OF Texas invading
New Mexico, allied with New Mexico IN resisting Texas
She guless equally of buying and Of selling, of holding
and OF emancpang of eclaming and of haborng slaves
anywhere She has neither vote speech here nor else
where where this angry strife can be composed she has
severed at blow and forever the loose political connexlon
tho only connexion she had with Utah and New
Mexico The slave States indeed insist right to colo
nze territories with caste But all agree that the COM
munity in any such territory may establish constitution pro-
hbiing caste California, coonized has done this already
and her maturity is not well questioned although has been
as rapid and bewderng the presentation OF midsum-
mer nights dream There is, therefore, neither community
nor connexon congruiy between the admission OF
California and tho conditions demanded. is binding Eros
70 Anteros conding youth querulous and wranglng
age; the struggling hind toravcning hounds. ..@
we were told long ago that California would time by
Welding to this most unjust combination We have
the error OF that hope We making overland journey
Of seven thousand miles between the Pillars of Hercules
when we might have crossed the Straits of Gibraltar
smooth sea, in SIX hours.