Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1850-08-24
DEBATE IN THE SENATE.

DEBATE I'm THE SENATE. /
PROTEST AGAINST ADMISSION OF CALIFORNIA.
THURspAY, AUsUsv l5, 1850.
The debate on tnis subject was continued as follows, in
addition that which published in the negencer on
10 Friday morning
Mr. HUNTER MI. President, there have been two
classes Of objections made this morning the motion of the
honorable Senator from Tennessee Mr TuasEr to insert
hin paper upon the record One of them confcss er-
pected 10 hear They made yesterday and expected
hear them repeated for upon these considersons
me- depends the merits Of the mean those
which relate to the cxpedency and propiey Of permitting
peesent which might hereafter grow into usage IN Tsla
ton to the insertion Of protests upon the journal but
sir, FOR the Other, confess not prepared fo dld
that therewas nothing IN that protest which the
Senate amy poronof the Senate could take as retecon
upon their motives upon themselves is true that we
dissent. and dissent strongly from measure which has re-
ceved the assent G approval Of other gentle and IS
pshaPs impossbie occrson to present reasons for
dissent which myts not by some ingenuity Of construction,
be tortured into te conclusion impugng the motives OF
those who held the other side Of the ISSUE WeTay that we
bsleye these Things be unconstitutional that believe
that they viofke the constitutional rights Of
but nowhss say that Secve % those VINO voted for
them voted ,hem with with that opinion. Il ID difference
raopincn wch we express and 10 mot question m the
least degrec s motives Of who may have voted d
are opacns of the tendencies Of these measures and for
that voted against them have not intended
to pute to other gentlemen impure motves nor have we
preteRded TO say that they voted for them thinking they
would herve the effect which suppose they will have
Now hat the construction of 1t t mere express
sion Of difference Of opinion between gentlemen in relation
to this pnae Objections have been taken particular pas
sagss which will be found upon warrant
the constru .on which has been placed upon them The
Senator fro IN Michigan objects to this passage:
Becau the right of the iavehoding States to common
and equal enjoyment Of the territory Of me Union has been
W .cedent of law Of the constitution, were an-
testify con rived for that and which Congress must
sanction md adopt, should this bill become law"
Now, sir this clause relates system Of
coRtrived nd adopted here Far from IT, 1t is elsewhere
that suc system Of has been contriven Cali
forna par ty arising of heacon of the executive branch
Of this Go ,ernment, and partly originating with the people
there's and say that think that Congress- by passing
such law this would be adopting and sanconng that
system of We do say that the gentlemen who
voted for the bill thought They doubtless thought other
wise. but entertained these opinions could not vote
M ASS. The honorable Senator referred to me think
III. uNTER ask pardon Of the Senator from Michi-
gan; In say the Senator from Wisconsin, r Walk
BR) But, Mr. President the Senator from North Carolina
referred to another paragraph which he seemed
to thnl the most Questionable. It is this:
In view all these considerations the undersigned
lined believe that this Government could be
broug admit State presenting itself under such crcu-
o % the asehodn @ States te from opportunity o Settling With
their property in that eerritory:"
Az he seemed to think that this clause imputed to every
man who voted for the admission Of California that intention
and purpose BY But this that unless
there persons here who did from such consdera
tions united with others who voted for from other consde
ratio MS, this bill could have passed presume that
nobc dy will dispute that there gentlemen here who voted
upor such considerations and voted conscienousy
such considerations believe they will admit it. and con-
slider right 70 sanction any system Of measures which
cades slavery, and to reject any system which allows the
slavehodng States to extend themselves equally with Others.
The support of the bill made up of different paes OF
gentlemen acting from different motives. But this
say that we believe that but for the influence Of the anti
slavery feeling here, Territory presenting itself under the
circumstances in which this has been presented could
have been received State into this Union That what
we mean to say. might ask the Senator from North Caro-
a be believes could have been admitted here presenting
itself under such circumstances if it had come here with
constitution admitting slavery do not ask him his
own vote, but as to his belief.
Mr.. BADGER have the strongest to believe
that would not have been admitted The honorable Sena-
tor will understand that did undertake to investigate
whether the propositions stated there not
stated precisely that they might be correct. have my
opinion about that and he has his but Iinendsd to be
understood that here statement the motives
reasons supposed govern oe the whole of the
members Of this body who voted for the BILL and the Senate
puts that statement onthe record, will ofolow that if these
gentlemen desire to put their proposition in the
record must be put there also That the purpose for
which read the extract
Mr.. HUNTER. i shall come to that presently. only
referred for the purpose Of showing that 1t did not
sariy carry with reflection the motives Of any gentle
man. believe there gentlemen here who would take
it compliment rather than reflection their motives,
have said that they had acted such considerations
and who think it would be doing what right and proper
to act such considerations But far from inn
puting to all who voted for the BILL that legitimate
inference deduction from this passage. But sir there is
another passage to which the Senator from Wisconsin (Mr
WALKER) objects for the same reasons. II is this:
"But, lastly dissent from this bill and solemnly protest
against its passage because in sanconing coutra
ry focr precedent obvious policy the spirit and
intent ofthe Constitution of the United Stes for the purpose
of excluding the savehodng States from the territory thas
be erected into State this Government in effect declares
that the exclusion OF avery from the territory of the United
States is object high and important justify
disregard not only all the principles of sound policy but aso
Well sir, expressing opinion in relation only
what the constitution is and not imputing those gentle
who supported the bill that they voted against their
belief to the constitutions But say that for us to
have sanctioned it. would haze been have sanctioned
measure having this tendency and purpose, and it
is in this point Of view that gentlemen should it in
looking into the paper whether its are
fu or ao But submit that the contents of the paper,
provided they respectful have nothing do with the
question whether It shall 60 upon the journal No
gentleman is responsible for the protest except those who
signed it. All they responsible for in voting for il the
establishment Of precedent far il makes any. on
which others claim similar favors hereafter Now that
Is the whole question involved in the controversy
to me and come that branch Of it. II has been
said that because thing of the had never occurred in