Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1850-04-20


must be the same in both now understand the
question to be decided by the Chair,
The VICE PRESIDENT. The Chair thinks it is
proper QUESTION for the Senate to decide.
Nh BENTON. Then understand that the amendment
is pending and offer amendment TO the amendment
the fourteen points Of instruction; and shall ask the vote of
the Senate and the yeas and nays upon each of these fourteen
pon and will see whether or not the previous question
The VICE PRESIDENT. The Senator from Missouri
to amend the amendment by adding thereto the fol-
lowing
l. With instructions, that in any bill, scheme, other
the admission os the State of California with any other pro-
posed legislation which shall require the Of any other
State to its completion
That they shall the admission of the State of
California with any which is connected with
ton boundary or other controversy with other State
That they shall the admission OF the State OF
California with other measure OF less dignity than the
cepton and admission Of sovereign State to be new and
L. That they shall not make California party to- any
include connect her WITH provision in the nature
intent of compact relating slavery, any slave
State slave Territory other than the compacs OF the
stitution.
S. That they shall not make California party to- IN any
include or connect her WITH any provision in the nature
intent OF compact description, other than the
pacts Of the constitution, and those compacts relating to the
domain which have been heretofore required OF States
formed out Of the Territory Of the United States.
10y That they shall not report any measure proposing any
alteration in the boundaries OF the State OF California
n That they shall not make the State Of California party
way connected WITH the question OF her adms
sion connected with dependant provision
in the nature OF compact which has not been required OF
either OF the following named States Ohio Indians Illinois,
Michigan. Louisiana Miss ssipp Alabama Arkansas Mis-
That they shall not make party to, or in any manner
bind include connect WITH provision having the
political anzasion of State not in this body
That they shall connect the admission OF the State OF
California with any matter foreign to the admission Of that
State direct manner precisely equal footing with the
and unincumbered with any other conditions,
responsibilities, Or considerations
Mr.. BENTON There were five others offered before
these which will would take precedence of them.
| They were read as follows
Prored That nothing in this instruction shall be
srued authorize he said committee take into consdera
ton any thing that relates to either of the four following
l. The abolition If slavery within the States.
The suppression Of the slave trade between the States
s. The abolition slavery within the FORTS arsenals, dock
yards, and navy yards OF the United States.
l. Abolition Of slavery within the District Of Columbia.
ad brovidd tler That said committee shall not take
into consideration any question in relation the subject of
domestic slavery in tie United States which shall be spe
cslly referred to it BY order Of the Senate
Mr. DICKINSON. Il understood the Chart to decide that
i, question for M Senate determine whether the amend
ment now by Senator from Maine is not the
in substance as that offered by the Senator from Missouri
The VICE PRESIDENT. The Chair decided that it
was not SO denticalas to make it the same.
/ Mr.. DICKINSON. understood that the Chair going
| to submit the question to the Senate ...
! Mr. UNDERWOOD. This, il I understand it. is pro-
position by the Sen,tor from Missouri to amend proposition
4
to the point Of orde in reference the proposition submitted by
the Senator from hane but wish the decision Of the Chair
upon the point of Older embraced in the offered by
the gentleman from Missouri Now, we have just adopted
resolution that We will not instruct the committee The
resolution rsther amendment proposed by the Senator
from Name does not propose to send any instructions to the
committee, butts exception of portion Of the subject
be committed II seems me, however, that the amend
ment of the Senator from Missouri contenpaes instruction
as 10 what the committee shall and what shall not do anc
therefore presents itself to my mind that SO far as they
propose direct the committee that tsha shall not do sucf
and such thing il is in violation Of the amendment OF my
colleague which has already beer decided and therefore
in ORDER although the proposition OF the gentleman from
Maine may be in order. .
While am up permit to make one or two other re-
marks must say that concur entirely with the remarks
which have been made by the honorable Senator from Mch
gan this subject. think they were very seasonabe
and hope they may have their due weight regret exceed
ngy that should be here hour aer hour, and day ate
day. discussing things Of Importance and would subm
to the honorable from Missouri whether there be
any utility in proposing such instructions, or IN taking thu
be is pursuing. Sir, would 1t do any good II
to take up the constitution Of the United States ane
propose thatthe committee should no. interfere with the
adjustment Of religion in the country that should not III
erfere with liberty Of speech that should not grant titles
nobility any other Of the hundreds Of things which may
be prohibited by the constitution, by the whole tenor OF
institutions Certainly sir, fa young member like myself
gent unknown to fame, humble and unpetendng as
am, should do thing of that sort, what little reputation
do possess would very soon be lost
Now, sir that these general abstract pro-
positions although perfectly true, and although would
gansay of he should not be alarmed at rejecting in
this way II does that we intend to come
any practical result we will allow the committee to go out
proposed by the Senator from Michigan to give US the be-
net of their consultations and when they present the
suit Of their labors before consult hem and we
will get rid of all these abstract propositions, which the
gentleman from Missouri must only calculated to
embarrass the question it is desirable should be settled
Mr. President present the point of order think out
of order propose these points OF instruction. when the Sc
have already decided that they will not instruct the com
mttee. ....
The VICE PRESIDENT. The amendment Of the sena
tor from Missouri objected the ground that it is an
instruction the committee, and therefore inconsistent with
the resolution relation to the instruction Of the committee
which the Senate has adopted The Chair is OF opinion that
the proposition presented by the honorable Senator from Mis-
souri, is in the nature Of instructions to the committee to
cept from their deliberations certain subject But the ques
ton that presents itself is whether inconsistencies are ques
tons of order On the l69h page OF the manual find that
ssIf an amendment be proposed inconsistent with al
ready agreed is fit ground for its rejection by the
House. but within the competence OF the Speaker to sup
press If against order. For, he permitted
Of consstence within the vortex OF ORDER he
might usurp ne gave important notifications, and sup
press, instead of subscribing, the Legislative will"
The Chair is of opinion that the amendment is in order,
but it is for the Senate to decide. ..
Mr.. CLAY rise perform the painful duty of appeal
from the decision Of the Chair and ask the and
nays on the question. I do 10 take up time. My
opinion is that when the Senate has decided that will
do given thing it is of order for that thing TO be pro-
posed DONE and is within the province Of the Chair to
decide be of order The question is, whether the
Senate will maintain its power, whether il will maintain its
dignity, whether will maintain its consistency and upon
that ground take appeal from the decision of the