The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1850-03-08
In CONGRESS- OF THE q. STATES.
THURSDAY, MARCH 7. 1850.
SENATE.
The Senate having been called to order
PRIyuEGE or rur FLOOR

sSSh@A< ae4 y
PRIVILEGE or rue FLOOR.
Mr. FOOTE moved that the ladies' be permitted to oe-
IN MI. IA HALE M moved 10 amend that motion, BY putting
the word tnvstsd in the place of permitted
Mr.. FOOrE did not see the necessity of using the
word nviied" when the ladies already present,
Mr, CLEMENS objected 10 the motion, unless il was
80 amended as TO give more room 70 the ladies 10 the
Senate He thought il would be well enough to direct
the Sergeant alarms to clear the circular gallery Of the
male occupants, and permit the ladies' to occapy it. Either
the senators, the ladies. ihe gentlemen spectators
were % be iacommode and he thought tha, was best
to incommode those whom he had designated.
MIR. FOOrE hoped the honorable senator from Ala
bama would withdraw his objection. The ladies' were
never dsordery and he hous,t thai the dsodery con-
duct OF ought 10 be visited upon the ladies.
He hoped that his motion would be permitted to be
adopted this morning, and afterwards he would will
y q ne
ry 70 say that that had sometimes been the caseor COM
pei them TO be orderly
The objection being Withdrawn, the order was agreed
to-
The journal having been read III
The VICE PREsIDEN stated lie drs. business be-
fore the Senate to be the unfinished business OF yeser-
daythe motion to refer to the Committee on Territories
the message OF the President o The United States, trans
mitting the constitution OF California. upon which the
senator from Wisconsin Mr WALKERl had the hoor.
Mr.. WALKER. Mr. President, this audience has not
this morning assembled 10 hear me There ls but one
man. in my opinion who could have attracted them, and
they expect to hear him. feel my duty as well as my
pleasure yield the floor TO the honorable senator from
Massachusetts as understand il is not material with
him upon which of the two questions before the Senate
Nj WEBSTER Before go onI must return my
thanks 10 the senator from Wisconsin Mr.. WALKERl
and the senator from New York Mr. SEwARDl for their
kind courtesy in allowing me % address the Senate this
wish to speak to-day. MOI as Massachusetts man.
nor as noIthern man, but as an American and mem
ber of the Senate OF the United States II is fortunate
that there is a Senate Of the United Sates-a body not
moved from its propriey, not lost to just Of its
own dignity or lis own high responsibilities body to
which the country looks with confidence wise. moderate
patriotic and with true feeling. Il is moi TO be denied
that we live in the midst OF strong agalions. and
in the midst OF very considerable dangers TO our
are lei loose .srhe East, the North, and the stormy
South, are all combined TO make the whole ocean
toss its pillows to the skies. and disclose lis profoundest
Depths do not affect 10 hold, 10 be fit to hold, the
helm in this combat with the political elements; but have
duty perform, and mean to perform Il with fidelity
not without sense oi surrounding dangers, butnot with
hope. have part 10 act not Tor my own security
satety--for am looking out for no fragment upon
which to float away from the wreck, wreck is 10
suebut Tor the good Of the whole and the preservation OF
the whole. there is that which will keep me to my duty
during this struggle whether The and the stars shall
appear or shall not appear Tor many days.
speak to-day Tor the prsss Ivalon ol the unoa hear
anxious desire for the restoration 10 the country OF that
quiet and that harmony which make The blessings OF this
Union SO rCn anu SO dear 10 US ALL DciteVe me LOT
mine honor" These are the topics that propose to my
self to discuss These the motives and the sole
tves that influence to communicate my opinions TO
the Senate and the country and if do anything,
however liiile for the promotion of these ends, shall
have accomplished all that wish.
Mr. President II may not be amss 10 recur very briefly
to the events equally sudden and extraordinary, which
have brought the political condition Of this country 10 be
what In May, 1916, the United States declared
war against Mexico. Our armies then on the frontiers
eneied the provinces OF that republic met and defeated
alrher troops penetrated her mountain passes and
pied her capital The marine forces OF the United States
took possession OF her ports and towns on the Atlantic
taied by which Mexico ceded the United States vast
extent OF territory, extending Tor eight hundred
miles along he shores OF the Pacific running back over the
mountains and the deserts. till il reached the from
tier Stale OF Texas II happened that in the distracted
and feeble Of the Mexican government, before the
declaration Of by the United States against Mexico
had become known in California, the people of California,
under the direction o American officers perhaps-Colonel
Doniphan in pancularoverurned the existing provIn.
cial government oI CALIFORNIA q Mexican authority and
San Francisco that war had been declared BY the Uned
States against Mexico this independent flag pulled
down, and the stars and stripes OF this government hoist
ed in its stead So, sir before the war over. the
powers OF the United States, military and naval. had pos
fesson OF Upper California and great rush OF emgran
from various portions OF the world took place into Cali
And now behold another wonder. In January, ls4s,
the Momons, IL is said, or some oil them, made tis-
covery oil an extraordinarily rich mine o. god-or rather
mne because IL lay near the sufface-ai the lower
part OF the South American branch OF the Sacramento
They endeavoed conceal their discovery. and did so
for some time Near the ume another discovery
perhaps OF greater importaDce-was made OF gold 10
higher part of the American branch OF the Sacramento.
and near TO the fort called The fame OF those dis
coveries spread far and wide. This excited and
that spirit Of emigration towards California which
had already taken place Persons crowded m hundreds
and hocks towards the bay OF San Francisco This,
have said took place in the winter and s.ring isis
The sdiggings" commenced in the spring OF that year
and from that time 10 this the search for gold has been
prosecuted with heretofore known in the
history OF the globe. We all know how incredulous the
American public OF the accounts which first reached
us OF this discovery But we all know that they
ceved and continued TO receive daily confirmation;
down to the present moment suppose that the
RANGES are as song after the experience oil those several
months that there are mines Of gold apparently mex
haustibe in the regions San Francisco, 10 Caliior
MIA they at any period oil the early transmission
10 us OF those accounts.
II 30 happened that, although 10 time OF peace, be-
came very great subject for legislative consideration
and legislative decision 10 provide proper territorial
government for Calonia; but differences Of opinion 10
the councils OF The government prevented the establish
ment OF any such territorial government ior California az
the last session OF Congress Under this state OF things
the inhabitants OF San Francisco and California, then
amounting to great number Of persons, IN the summer
government Under the proclamation OF General Biiey,
the people chose delegates to convention, aud hai
convention met at Monterey. They framed aconstilu-
ton for the State of California II was adoped by the
people OF California in their primary character DESTROYS
o immediate connexion with the United States, senators
appointed aud who have came
hher bringing with them the authenticated constitution