The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1850-06-29
Senate Debate.
THURSDAY, JUNE "a, 1850.
CALF oRSIA--rERRIroRIAL GoyERNMENrs--ADJusr

sumed the consideration OF the bill for the admls-
sion of California as State into the Union, to es-
tablish territorial governments for Utah and New
Mexico, and making proposals TO Texas for the
settlement Of her western and northern boundaries
the question pending being upon the amendment
submitted by MIR. SouIE,
Mr.. WEBSTER. Mr.. President, the amend
ment proposed by the honorable member from
Louisiana [Mr. SouLEl respects that part of the
present bill which proposes the immediate adms-
sion of California into the Union n State; and
the amendment is opposed to that immediate adj
mission. II PROPOSES on the contrary, that the
subject shall be referred b,ck to the people Of Cal
ifornia, that certain conditions and notifications
Of the constitution of California shall be proposed
s that State. II the people of that STATE in con-
vention, shall accede 10 such conditions and
notifications, then the President Of the UntGi
States may issue his proclamation announcing that
fact; and thereupon California is to be admitted
into the Union, The question, therefore, is,
whether, upon the whole, 1t would be more advis-
able TO admit California now, under all the cir
cumstances of the case, than to send her constitu-
ton back again, and postpone to some future and
indefinite period, her admission INTO the Union.
In my opinion, it is highly expedent 10 ad.ait
California now. In my opinion, 1t is highly eN-
pedient to give her now proper position in the
Unon--to give her such powers as shall enable
her to revolt, among the other orhs IN our system.
And verify believe that that is the settled judg-
ment Of n great majority OF the people of this
country. Ifthere be any question growing out Of
these territorial acquisitions, in which there seems
to be general, will not say unanimous pub
lie opinion, it is that under the circumstances, it is
eXpedient and proper TO admit CALIFORNIA INTO the
Union without further delay. She presents
sution to which, in its general aspect as repub-
lican constitution, we can make no objection. The
case is urgent and pressing. No new State has
ever appeared, asking for admission into the Union,
under circumstances so extraordinary or so srik-
ing; nor have the oldest Of US ever seena pre-
| nd
There is, in the history Of mankind, within my
j knowledge, no instance of such all extraordinary
rush people for private enterprise To any point
on the globe. 1t has been estimated already that
there were 100000 people in California. Whether
there be more or less at given moment is mma-
| teria Set il at what you will: while you discuss
it, the number is filled up.
1t would seem that at this very day there are
50 900 900 persons traversng the great plains
between Missouri and the Rocky Mountains, all
bound to California. Other thousands water
borne around Cape Horn. Other thousands,
again, crowd, and press, and fill up, and more
than fill, every conveyance that can take them to
and from the isthmus. So that it may he said
truly, l think, that this very year will add 100000
persons to the population of California. Ger
tainly, sir, this is one OF the most sudden and
striking occurrences, not only in our generation,
but in any generation, SO far as respects private
enterprise and an extraordinary rush Of people to
a given point upon the earth s surface. The capt.
tai Of the Territory is supposed to contain 10000
or &C, 900 people: 200 vessels have visited it ::
35O or 400 vessels have been found riding in the
harbor of San Francisco at the same time. San
Francisco, the capital, is already city of 20 900
to 40 600 persons And California looks out upon
India, and China. and Polynesia, to the West, as
we here look out upon Europe to the East.
The question then is, What is to be done with
California; Five years ago it happened to me to
say, in a public discussion, thst perhaps the time
was not far distant when there would be estab-
lished beyond the Rocky Mountains great Pacific
republic, of which San Francisco would be the
capital am overwhelmed, sir, by the appear
ance of the fulflment Of that prophecy suddenly.
IL is the alternative. In my Judgment, do not think
il safe longer to delay the bringing of California
into this circle of States, unless gentlemen will
linz to contemplate that alternative Other gentle
men have as much means of information upon the
state Of things in California as | have, and per-
haps more. My information is such that do not
think it safe, il we intend TO bring her into the
Union at all, to defer that measure to another ses-
sion of Congress, or to any time beyond thnt
which is absolutely necessary to despatch the bu-
siness properly. Then, sir, suppose that If II il
, the general sentiment of the country, il will be
also the general sentiment Of this and Of the other
House Of Congress, that it is expedicnt, if there
be no insurmountable objections, to bring Califor-
: mia into the Union at once. do not understand
the honorable gentleman the author of this amend
mcnt, otherwise than that, If it not for
: he should be willing to admit California into the
Union.
Now, the question is, whether these objections
e are insurmountable. If they are, then California
. must be kept out Of the Union, let what will be
the consequences. But ifthey are not insurmount-
= allie, though they may stand in the category OF
: observation-disclosures things may exist which we
NAV wish had been otherw II is case OF
4 so much exigency and emergency, that it seems
to me to be the duty of Congress to admit Calf r
mia, unless, as have already repeatedly said, the
( objections arc insurmountable. ThAn let US
ut once to that point, and see what are the objec
e tons suggested by the honorable Senator from,
!. Louisiana, Mr. SoULE.
They divide themselves into two classes. In
the first place he SAYS that by the constitution Of
California, and by the bill unamended before the
f Senate, there is no sufficient security that the
United States will possess, or enjoy, or have the
right to dispose of, the public domain, the
appropriated lands in California. That is his first
: objection. The second relates to the boundaries
: of California, which he says are eNtravagantiy
: large in the first place; which in tlS second place
are unnaturally arranged; and, in the third place,
2 are impotic and unfit to be maintained.
e He proposes to remedy what he considers the
first great deficiency Of the bill, by sending back
r this constitution to California, to obtain from a
y convention Of that State an agreement, compact,
consent to the effect that the State Of California
; shall never interfere with the public lands in the
: State, or with the primary disposal Of them nor
shall tax them while held by the United
st ties; shall tax nonresident proprietors high
er than resident proprie'ors taxed. These are
the provisions which are in this bill. But then the
{ honorable members argument il, that they are
conditions which, from the nature of the case, can
r never receive the consent Of, because they can
never be presented to, the people of California;
} they are ,id and that the assent or consent OF
California to these conditions is necessary to make
$ them valid and binding. His crsument proceeds
upon this idea: that, without some such stipula-
f ton compact upon the part Of the State, the
creation of territory into Stae-a political, or,
= as he says, sovereign community-does neces-
sary establish in that sovereign community a
: control over the public domain; that when Cali
t forna becomes n State, pso acfo, she holds, pos
e sesses, enjoys, and controls the public lands.
: And this result lie verifes from argument found
Y cd upon the nature Of sovereignty, because he
says that il is the essence of sovereign power to
: control the public domain.
: Sir, we mslead ourselves often by using terms
without much accuracy, or terms not customarily
: found in our Constitution and laws. That the