The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1850-08-20
THE UNION.

to speak Of il II is true that this morning compared
them Rachel weeping for her children, and would not
be colnofted, because they not" The friends oil
his bill constantly DINING ia ears their lanenIa
tons the loss OF thai measure
Now as 10 the distinction in relation TO the constu
uona power, thought had stated tr IL was admitted
upon my part that Congress had the power 20 admit new
States al their discretion But that power may De exer
csed and in this is exercised in violation OF the
constitutional rights OF the citizens OF the United States
That is all the distinction propose 10 make. and all that
believe Is made in the protest now before us.
Mr.. DOWNS. ! am very thankful TO the honorable
from Mississippi for his sympathy for those who
are weeping for the Compromise. But an sure he need
not extend US his sympahes longer for tears are all
dried up. seeing that the whole bill is passed nasmueh
each subject in has received the sanction Of the Sen
ate, aud are rejoicing success-ieeing regret
only that he did not assist in carrying the bill.
Mr. WHlTCOMB Mr.. PRESIDENT | do not rise to
make speech on this question But remark ieli
from the senator from Virginia that 10 the present temper
OF the mind OF the people OF the South, think ought no
to be suffered 70 go abroad without correction Ana
trust that the honorable senator himself VIII be pleased
il succeed-as hope shall succeed-in satisfying
him that he in error in the opinion which he adj
vanced. That opinion, # ! correctly understood me
senator that California had presented herself to
the Congress of the United Sales tor admission, with
clause in her constitution toeratng slavery her appca
ton would have been rejected That, sir, is not my
opinion. know of senator al least who, Ia that
case, would have voted for her admission hat sena-
ator sir the humble individual who is now addressing
YOU take no credit Tor any extraordinary exercise OF
moral courage in making this statement It's the doc
ne OF the great political party, North and South, with
which has been my pleasure and my pride to co-ope-
rate that the people of Territory in becoming Slate,
have a right to form and regulate their own domestic IN
stituons this respect. True | am lar from denying
that prefer her appearing with her constitution
than with oieratng slavery. But this prefer on
her account and not affecting myself or my own State,
or what has been called the ''balance OF power. The
fact that have settled in Tree State is sufficient proof
that consider that condition OF society best calculated
for the welfare and happiness OF mankind But there is
paramount rule OF action to which subscribe, whether
applicable society this conederacy OF States and
late its conduct and indulge its own tastes leaving
to its negbbors respectively the same exclusive control
theirs, in all matters not threatening the bonds oil
society itself Our social happiness, and all the better
affections OF nature, promoted by the observance
OF this rule, the wisdom OF which has passed INTO
proverb And only do the considerations, in all
their oce urge its observance upon the several States OF
this harmonious Union, but il is soemnly enloned
by the constitution itself As before remarked there
fore take no credit myself for any great exercise
of moral courage IN announcing this sentiment be-
eve the sentiment OF the great majority oil the Stale
have the honor III part to represent on this foor be-
leve they will continue to show H. as they have hereto
fore shown IT, by carrying out IN good faith the laws on
the subject OF fugitive slaves They nave shown by cast
ing their lots State, that they believe such
dencc is promotve OF their own prosperity; but, at
the lne they know that il slavery IS wrong they
are not chargeable with it, and il is evil they
moi afflicted with They are willing to leave TO each
State coming into the Unon the right OF prescribing its
institutions, making solely responsible for them II
bad and allowing it all the advantages II good
But there is another reason that ought 10 be saisfaco
ry the SENATOR why California, ii she had presented
herself with constitution allowing slavery would have
been admitted into the Union II must be borne IN mind
that amendment was ingrafted on The compromise
bill" is called, expressly providing relation to the
residue OF the territory acquired from Mexico that any and
all States formed OF shall be received into the
Union, with without slavery The people thereof may
determine. That, in the recollection OF all of was
passed by unusually large majority. voted Tor 1t l
would vote for II again: Il is plain, obvious consu-
tona principles and OF the few who voted against that
amendment, than stated al the time that their
votes were not TO be understood as denying the night OF
ting slave States the Union, II they presented
themselves such.
Sir do not undertake to speak for the people OF In
diana but satisfied they will make other inquiry
OF State seeking admission into the Union than,
Does she present herself according the solitary require
of the constitution OF the United States-that is
with State constitution republican in form That,
convinced is the only inquiry that the generous and
intelligent peope who have given me seat here will
make. will not say tlat this sentiment IS universal
among them No. sir. Ii is 40, am informed,
in the South only desire to say that II is the opinion
OF the great mass Of the people Nor i confined to
sentiment OF the head and heart OF the great body OF the
people of that State And speak from an acquaintance,
lar from limited, various parts OF the State and OF
more than twenty five years duration.
Why sir obvious is this principle that the senator
from New York. MIR SEWARD who regret, is not
his seat, said here 10 hearing land am sat
sed no will him OF any Partially for the in
sttaon OF slavery that California had presented het
self here win constitution permitting slavery, even he
would have voted for her admission. He thought the
raordnary Instance OF the would justify H.
By this meant, suppose, that Congress, having
ailed TERRITORIAL government Tor lbe people,
they compelled, matter OF necessity, 10 take
upon themselves the duty OF self.goyenmeni, and
ought without unnecessary delay to be admitted into the
Union.
Now, has been urged fatal objection that there
has been great deal of regularty the preliminary
proceedings in relation to the admission OF California
But there is not single irregulary in those proceedings
which has not It's precedent in more OF the
States that have been received into the Union, with the
exception OF and that exception the failure OF
Congress to furnish previous territorial government
And as TO that, the honorable senator from Georgia,
Mr.. BERRIEs, II correctly understood him. took the
ground that Congress could remedy the defect
Mr. BERRlEN. The senator has totally misappre-
hended me
Mr. WHITCOMB. Then am happy to be corrected.
But take il that when senators willing TO overlook
that rfegulariy provided certain amendments could be
adopted, such cutting of portion OF California, and
allowing her but representative until the next census,
il follows concusvey that there has been ncurabe
or unconstitutional irfegulary.
Mr.. BERRlEN. MIR President, the senator is under
entire mlsapprebenson in supposng that thought that the
eguarity OF the constitution OF California having been
formed by body of people could be cured
by any amendment which we could adopt | said in
terms, that with the reduction OF the boundaries OF Cali
lorna, and with the expunging from the bill of the
second seeton which gave II Two representatives in the
other branch OF Congress- could accede TO the pas
sage OF bill the effect of which would be to sanction
the constitution which had been formed by morgan
lied body of people.
Mr. WBlTCOMB. | am happy TO be corrected by
the honorable senator Blu, surely cannot be mistaken
when say that there several other senators the
category have mentioned. who proessed willingness
to receive California with only change in her bound
ary Those senator's therefore, could not have regard
q of "A charac ms he