The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1850-06-25
CONGRESS.



Dicknson's amendment to the proposition
submitted by Mr. Soule, providing that Utah
and New Mexico shall, when prepared, be
admitted as States, either with or without
Slavery. as the people may elect in forming
their State Constitution.
Mr.. Clay, by authority of Mr.. Dickinson,
withdrew his amendment, and after few
words by Mr. Butler,
Mr.. Webster addressed the Senate. lie
observed that on the 9TH of March last. he
declared that there was not foot of Terri
tory belonging to the United States. the
character OF which. as Free or Slave Terri
Ntory, was not already fixed bv some ire
pealable law. He had not seen or heard
anything since that time 10 change his views
upon ME subject. That being his view of
the question. he had very cheetfuly voted
against the Wilmot Proviso, for the purpose
OF excluding Slavery from the Territories
he hal now no more apprehension of the
introduction of Slavery into the Territories
under consideration than he had of its intro
duction into Massachusetts. lie was now
called upon to vote for an amendment, pro-
vding, " That when these Territories Shall
come here as States they shall be admitted
either with or wihou, Slavery fine voted
/ "
open to the suspicion Of desiring to do that
by another process which he refused to do
by the Wilmot Proyiso. lie designed. then
TO vote for the amendment for Tie same rca-
son rs he voted against the Proviso. He
voted against that herause he thought all
such restrictions wholly useless, because
they gave offence aud dissatisfaction, and as
he desired to avoid all dissatisfaction, there
| fore. he would now vote for the amendment
| nepling. winch would have no effect one
way>or the other, and yet give satisfaction.
| He also submitted some remarks in favor of
the general features of the pending bill, ex-
pressing his conviction OF the importance of
securing its passage. When he looked a.
round him, and saw the course Of gentlemen
from his own section of the country. acting
as he knew they did conscientiou~ly and hou-
4-estly. he was well aware of the extent Of the
responsibility which lac assumed in differing
from hcn so widely. This had naturally
! led HIM 10 consider and re-cxamine his own
position. rcjudge his own Judgment, and, af
ter having performed that work. ne was
quite unable to change his first wel-scttled
opinion, lie referred TO the dissatisfaction
which his course had given rise to in some
quarters, and 20 the charges OF Inconsistency
ness. if any one hereafter was disposed to
undertake the task of proving such incon-
sslcncy to ,indicate the consistency of hi,
hNewhuryport letter, or his speech OF the 7ih
l'of March, with his recorded acts and de
rlara ions oil the past He declared his oh
jet TO be peace, accumulation: he did moi
desire to make case for the North or foi
the South; it was no, to continue a useless
4 a..
agi,aors of both North and South, against
local tests. He was an American, and knew
no county but America 10 locality in A.
merica that was not his country. Ills heart
sentiments and judgment demanded that ht
should pursue such a course as shall promoi,
the good harmony and union of the whole
country, aud he would do so. God willing
10 the end of the chapter Great applause
in the gallery, Immediately checked by tn,
Chair.
Mr.. Seward explained the circumstance
which had led to the necessary abscnce OF hi'
colleague from the city, and that he had
paired oil with him and should not vote up
on the amendment, which he should vote a
gainsi, if he voted at all, lie had no hest
tation in saving that he believed Congress
might either admit or reject the application
Of States for admission. # Congress had
the right to admit they had the right to re-
iect or admit They had the right to impose
restrictions, and for his own part he knew
no circumstances which could Use thai
would induce him % consent 10 the admission
of States formed from any part Of these Ter
ritorieS, il they presented themselves for adj
nssson as Slave States.
Mr.. Cass said he considered Mr. Soule',
amendment mere work OF supererogatlon
having no more effect than n provision de-
Glazing that there shall be a President of the
United States. He alluded to the position
taken this morning by Mr.. Seward, saying
that he had never before supposed il posi-
/ Bile that there was any man here who denied
the very first principles Of our government,
that a State has "A right TO decide for Itself
its municipal institutions and such decision
should be no cause for its rejection but as
! that here had been denied this morning, he
! would vote for the amendment. because he
was DESTROYS OF putting himself on record in
rebuke OF such an assertion as That made by
Mr.. Seward.
After some remarks by MIR. King in OPP
position to Mr.. Baldwin's pIoposiiion,-
Mr. Hale replied to Mr. Cass. lie thought
the amendment should be passed, if at all.
with preamble stating that it was not de-
signed 10 have any binding effect at all but
only AS a rebuke of lurking spirit of ia
naticism in certain incorrigibe members,
T Laughter.
The further consideration of the subject
was then postponed until tomorrow, after
the submittal by Mr.. Hale oil an amendment
providing that two new states may be created
ont Of the territory of The State Of Calilor-
MIA with the consent of that State.
A Message was received from the Presi-
dent OF the United States in reply TO a res
o.u,ion of the Senate Of the ll.h inst, in
curing whether any orders had been issued
to any military officers at Santa Fe, TO hold
possession against the authority of Texas, or
in any way to embarrass the exercise of her
| jurisdiction over that country. and to furnish
the Senate with copies of any correspon-
dence on tie subject. The President says,
in reply to that resolution
g. state that no such orders have heen
given. ! herewith present TO the Senate
copies of all the correspondence referred TO
/ in the resolution all the other orders rela-
| ting to the subject matter Of the resolution
| have been heretofore communicated TO the
| Senate. ! have already, in a former Mes
SAGE. referred TO the fact that the boundary
between Texas and New Mexico is dispuicd.
have now to state thar information has
been received recently that certain Rob
ert S. Ncighbors, styling himself Commits
sioner of the State OF Texas, has proceeded
To Santa Fe with the view Of organizing
counties in that district under the authority
of Texas While have no power to de-
eide the question of boundary, and no de
sire to Interfere with il as a question of title,
have to observe that the possession of the
territory into which it appears that Mr..