The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1850-05-19
THE UNION.

provision which he supposes passed the House OF Repre-
ssnlailyes have the volume before me from which
the Committee the Judiciary In the Senate al the time
and the portion which he has read which is printed in
alc. = an amendment reported by the Committee on the
Mr.. CLEMENS did not say il passed the Senate.
but that 4 passed the House Of Representatives
Mr. BERRiEN. That is the Misrepresentation that de-
sire TO correct These were the amendments reported TO
the bill OF the House of Representatives by the Commit
zee on me Judiciary OF the Senate when the bill re-
Mr. CLEMENS. And voted for by southern mem.
Mr. BERRIEN. That doubt not But as have
stated these were the amendments reported by the
mitee OF the Senate, but not adopted and the sub
ject did not go TO the House OF Representatives.
Mr. CLEMENS. That is immateral to the point in.
tended to make which was, that the proposition
submitted by the senator from Mississippi Mr.. DAvIsl
was nothing newthat il had met, three years ago, the
deliberate approval OF southern congressman il is not
material whether they were members OF this body the
was proceeding TO show how far the senator from
Mississippi Mr. FoorEl entitled TO the merit OF con
sisiency AT the close of his speech he said that he
pected TO De attacked by urasts and desired TO beadd-
ing, :" no ultrastS Sir The senator's memory must
be exceedingly defective, or he must have remarkable
facility for changing his opinions On yesterday he an
nounced with great emphasis that he ultra any
southern man in Congress- to-day he says he is no ul
trast and invites assaults from of thai character
Mr. FOOTE. VIII the honorable senator allow me TO
say SIMPLY that when employed the word ultra to-day
intended will plainly appear from the context from
which he is now striving 10 deach IT, utraism Of that
kind which demands impracticable amendments OF the
venon Without the least disrespect TO any one, will
say that meant to declare that was not ultraist Of
Mr. CLEMENS Nor an l. Ihave never asked for
an amendment OF the constitution. have never believed
we could get it. do not believe get rights
under the constitution as il 49, willing to abide by
the bond il is signed but have hope that Others
will.
understood the senator from Mississippi mr. FoorEl
yesterday TO say that the admission oil California, with
her present constitution and boundaries not wrong
OF which the South had any right to complanthat the
people Of California had formed the constitution, and
excluded slaverythat they had right sc TO do, and
that her admission concession to northern feeling
Mr.. FO0rE. stated distinctly when was upon that
topic. yesterday, and when the Chair very properly
called me 10 order, that was still opposed to the adais
sion OF California as separate measure, and could only
consent to the act OF admission part of general plan
oil COMPROMISE. say yet, and would look upon its
separate admission as authorizing the strongest measures
OF resistance on the partof the South
Mr.. CLEMENS. The senator argued at some length
to prove that there concession either side and
certainly if his doctrine of inherent right be correct,
one has any right TO question the proprey OF what the
Californans have done. Let see if he has always
held similar opinions. | have here letter addressed by
the senator and his colleagues to John A. Quman, gov
erhor of The State OF mississippi
Mr. FOOfE. II the gentleman will allow me, will
state very frankly the circumstances connected with the
drawing and signing OF that letter before he reads it,
leaving then to his own discretion to make any he
peases OF it. 1t did SO happen day. during the
OF this body that letter handed to addressed TO
the of Mississippi and subscribed by several of
my colleagues having reference to the movement then in
progress the House OF Representatives for the separate
admission Of California State into the Union Being
unlimited confidence in those who sent the communca-
ZION 10 me for my signature. signed il without any
special examination OF Its contents. Alter hour or
two the idea suggested itself TO my mind that as the mat
ter to which il related was OF great Importance il would
be well enough request that the letter should be
the post office until il could be particularly
looked into The proper steps were taken Tor lie deen
ton accordingly. and meeting OF the representatives and
senators from Mississippi was called for the ensuing
night, at the room OF OF our colleagues THIS meet
ing took places and the letter first drawn up being regard
ed as more or less Objectionable, sat down at the
writing table and sketched such communication as
thought best, which had the fate also of being
rejected. A third letter was then rather hastily
drawn up by one OF my colleagues, which is the
one now in the hands OF the honorable senator
from Alabama; which, being agreeable TO all my col
then present did not object TO, and subscribed
il In that letter II stalled that in the opinion OF
us all the admission oil California, under existing crcum
stances, would be equivalent the adoption OF the Will
mot Proviso. still think, then thought, and have
repeatedly declared in debate here that such OF ad
mission, separate, substantive act would be, il any
hing than the Wilmot Proviso; and il is only as
part OF general scheme OF compromise that could vote
Tor the admission at all The letter, will be SEEM fail
ed TO suggest this distinction, but natural
much the scheme OF compromise under consider
objection to the letter at the time, in reference to this
point, but from respect TO my colleagues-a the rest OF
whom then present. satisfied with i'll forbore to
express it, But did few days thereafter to one Of
my colleagues now present, be will, IL necessary,
attest This Is the whole affair, so far recoec
H. which will be by all to be OF rather an unnpor
ant character 10 be thus formally introduced the
Of The Senate. But, the from Alabama seems
socitous TO make political capital out of il, be is
quite welcome TO make any OF IL he peases. can
assure him that my constituents too intelligent to
denim very harshy upon slight foundation as this
letter can furnish
MIR. CLEMENS resumed the floor but gave way to
Mr. DAVIS, OF Mississippi who said II the senator from
Alabama will allow me 10 say something in reply, as am
somewhat involved in this question: and my has
been introduced as living witness both sides OF the
question, suppose must testify The first fact is my
colleague has stated. We together and after long
and full discussion after rejecting letter, writing
another, and rejecting thai, agreed upon third; that
g, the one We sent, which adopted As | under
stood The agreement merely declaration Of the posi-
ion in which the question then Stood must say my
colleague that thought il regarded as being strictly
ac and that II was determined il should thus 90 out
without expression upon side as 10 the be
pursued.
did then, and do now. consider that when, without
proper authority, the people OF California assembled in
and assumed 10 strip as by their
aw, OF the right which had been threatened 10 take
rom US by the Wimot Provso, and when the validity OF
hat act - dependent upon congre ssonal confirmation,
hal such confirmation 10 notessentay different from the
,ther form OF direct EXCLUSION by Congress- known the
w inot Proviso.
MIR FooTE. wish not to be misunderstood in this
natter. SAID in the beginning that the letter sent
lere BY the author and signed without examination, as
do many letters every day, IN consequences OF the
United confidence bad IN the gentleman who sent IL
3ut say further that during the day, thought there
vas something in the phraseology which exact
right Indeed, thought il was moi necessary 10 write
and I.n.x IL. III