Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1850-04-13


by my colleagues resolutions If there be any member
this fo. who wishes that broad latitude to speak upon
would still be disposed to continue the whole subject before
the Senate so as to give them opportunity but II there be
SUCH willing adopt the resolution offered by the
gentleman from Mississippi in the hope OF avoiding the dis
agreeable predcament in which some Senators will consider
themselves be placed indicated by the Senator from
Virginia. think that in matters Of great moment, such as
those have TO act upon, we ought to consult
far can the feelings of every one, and try far
not to create any just foundation for complaint the
part Of any one With these views, shall against the
amendment proposed by the Senator from Connecticut hop
ing that if the committee be raised at aand believe, sir
shall for raising t-that not only the bill for the adj
mission of California, but the Territorial bills shall also go to
that committee and trusting also that the committee will
first act upon the bill providing for the reclamation OF fugitive
slaves and then make recommendation to the Senate and
the country relation all the other bills and that when
they back again. shall take them in the order the
committee present Them and act upon them in that order
There will then be pledge sir, far as the recommends
lion Of the committee operate, that compromise in rea-
ton to these bills shall be carried out.
In that order would advise the committee to proceed In
the first place, proceed with the bill for the reclamation of
fugitive slaves That is the first step towards settling the
agaons Of the country In the place. take up either
the Territorial bills the bill admitting California State,
and admit California regulating the boundaries either chang
ing them letting them remain as they are and then pass
the Territorial bills without any provso, thus leaving the
question Of slavery its existence existence its intro
duction or non introduction depend entirely upon the legs
aton Of the people Of the Territories, upon the Judicial in
depreciation of the constitution contended for by gen.
emen Of the South Ii then becomes Judicial question for
if slave be introduced into New Mexico Utah. the ques
ton arises for the judges to decide under the constitution,
it exists unless the Legislature of the Territory acts upon
it, whether the slave be held in bondage in land made
free by Mexican law If that course would be adop'ed by
the committee and they should give the weight OF their
high recommendation, would relieve, to some extent the
embarrassment which gentlemen seem to labor under in
regard to the admission of California under present clrcum
stances.
do not think that if the California bill taken up
first, and she admitted, the consequences to
suit which my friend from Virginia has pointed out and which
somewhat plainly indicated by theSenator from
Mississippi Yesterday do think, sir that any such
consequences ought result, will result but have
much respect for the opinions and feelings Of ose gentlemen
and for others Wi whom they associated and Tor whom
they doubt feel themselves authorized to speak, that will
not force upon them the adoption rejection Of measures
vote upon these highly important subjects OF such vital in
teest they conceive, to their constituents say will not
force upon them, when they protest against it. and thus
bring them do which they think will lead to such in
juricus consequences. Therefore, for on am willing to
adopt the resolution which originally proposed to raise
this committee, and refer all the subjects their consdsra
ton and trust that the committee will Re able to make their
report in a week or two at the furthest.
Mr.. FOOTE, Tin his seat BY Monlay
t Mr.. UNDERWOOD. The tie better, in my opin-
ion Meantime, think the remarks of he Senator from Viz
ginia entitled to weight Th Government Of Cali
fona is organized, the State Government Is going and
she suffer Inconvenience injury from slight pro-
crastinstion of her admission. To besure it may be mat
ter of lit personal convenience to herself that her
speced delegation should be admiedon this floor soon
possible but it will be but Temporary delay at all events
which will be remeded in few weeks, if the course
pursued here is tending to harmony. ..
The VICE PRESIDENT. The question before the
Senate is the motion Of the Senator from Connecticut to amend
the resolution offered by the Senator from Missouri.
Upon this motion Mr. BENTON asked for the yeas and
nays and they ordered @
Mr.. BUTLER. | have no idea of OBTAINING the Senate
long, and have arisen only state that entirely
htrha frnp,L ard
offer suggestion before the is taken this ques
on II is in the power Of majority to the Unon
and to portion this country from modification and
insult by making such issues least will be consistent
with their rights Suppose that, under the existing state of
things California admitted with her present boundaries
Of PROPOSE by disregard of practical and funda
mental principle in the Constitution Of the United States
There those who reconcile it their conscences
waive all objection and organize California into State
do not say that of them but do say this, that
you admit California with her present boundaries separate
ly, you do an act of usurpaton And what comes next
Why the Territorial bills will be brought forward the Wmot
provso incorporated into hem you refuse to give any
government all, the ground that by waiting they
gradually be brought California seeks to be brought
in by assuming aposon which the constitution itself would
have authorized under the original practice fhs Govern
men The Wlmot povso then, put into these Territorial
Governments else government given TO them at all,
leaving them to in in the OF time, California
seeks in And the result Of this action will be moth
ing less than The exclusion oil slavery do not
undertake say whether slavery will go there If
may go there because of the laws of naure it is
suit to the South to have it prohibited by special enactment
But if the Wmot provso put upon these Territorial bills
Ihal utter threat shall say what nuenceit will have
upon the temper of the Southern people, have stated
but thnk understand people very we'll and think
they fully understand their rights and will maintain them.
Sir to make experiments of this kind upon the feelings Of the
South consider act if may allowed to speak, of
almost criminal temerty. You would force California upon
us and then put into the Territorial bills the Wmot provo,
what is equivalent TO it. If California is associated with
those which intended be presented
general compromse, will not say there will not be acqui
escence IN the for not prepared to state how
far adjustment of that character will satisfy every section
of this Union But if you take these issues by one and
leave the majority at liberty to its power the other
questions which have been raised you presenting most
terrific ard disagreeabe issue to the American people,
Mr. CLAY. believe that the immediate question before
the Senate proposition for amendment made either from
this the other side Of the house, the motion of the hon.
orabe Senator from Mississippi refer this subject
mttee of thirteen proposition the object of which Is to
cept from the general reference the particular subject Of Cali
forna.
Mr.. President, more than do can deplore what
the manifest state Of feeling and relation of parties this
time in both houses OF Congress II great the
result those most unhappy agtaons which prevail in Con-
gess and throughout the country These agations have
gendered feelings of dsrus OF the honor and fidelity with
which, portion the being disposed Of the
other portions OF the subject may be finally disposed of
S do parake of these feelings 10 the extent which,
sppehend, others may From the first moment of my
entry into this house until this my anxious desire has been
these great questions settled and adjusted anicaby and
harmony, and concord, and raternal affection
restored to this divided and for the moment unhappy
country And sir acting upon this feeling, have favored
every proposition which has been offered which looked to
such termination Of the subject have described Less
confident perhaps than others be- in regard particu