The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1850-07-20

which he supported certain portions of the meas
ures reported by the Committee of Thirteen. and
also TO state the reasons why, unless the bill
before the Senate amended in the most import
ant points, he would be compelled TO vote against
it.
He gave the reasons why he could support the
bill for the suppression Of the slave trade in this
District, and the amendments reported by the com
mittee TO the Fugitive Slave bill
He next alluded to that part of the present bill
which contained the proposals 10 be made to Texas
for the settlement of her northern and western
boundaries. He said that he believed that Texas
had clear title TO what she claimed, but stated
that the greatest diversity of opinion in all sections
of the country, existed to the validity of that
claim. Under these circumstances surrounded by
the many and alarming difficulties of the time he
was in favor of settling il in the manner proposed
by the bill He said that il objected to because
1t would convert large portion of territory now
belonging to Texas and subject to her laws into free
soil II he thought so, he would vote against IT.
BY purchasing the territory from Texas, he con.
tended that the right Of Texas established, and
therefore her laws should be considered as the law
of the land. This principle of law he considered
clear and indisputable. He examined the right
OF the United States to give 10 State any contgu-
GUS territory; such had been done III the case OF
Missouri; and he maintained the right to do so was
unquestonable and also the right of the United
States to run line. any where with the consent OF
the State.
The bills giving territorial governments to New
Mexico and Utah were taken up, and the provisions
of the sections controlling the action OF the terrific
rial legislatures upon the subject OF slavery. He
contended that this part of the bill framed upon
the principle of non intervention as claimed by the
South for some years past He argued to show that
under the bill il now stood, believing as he did
that the Mexican laws abolishing slavery were
wholly abrogated, the southern property was clearly
entitled to all the protection that it could claim.
He examined that part ofthe bill proposing to adj
init California with her present boundaries, and
said that TO him insuperable objection to the
bill. He reviewed the boundaries OF California,
| tnax .,tal,l fran,
ly extensive. He repealed the imputation that the
South opposed the admission of California because
of the exclusion of slavery Such objection never
was entertained by him. He desired TO change her
| extraordinary boundaries. He then described the
| extent of the limits of California and asked, was
there Senator in the body who would vote to
| admit State with such boundaries unless slavery
had been excluded by her constitution?
He adverted to the various difficulties embraced
in the present agitation, and urged the utmost ne
cessity of an amicabe adjustment of the subject
He repeated that his amendment was one which he
could not withhold, and that unless il were made
he could not for the bill He said that he would
hereafter to strike out the second section,
proposing to admit her Senators and two Represent
atives; because the admission OF such was question
clearly within the province of each house respect
| lively.
Mr.. BERRIEN was examining the amendment
| of Mr.. FooTE, and commenting upon it, when
| Mr.. FOOTE said that he intended 10 have with
drawn the amendment, had not the Senator from
Alabama proposed his amendment thereto.
After some conversation between Messrs. king,
FooTE, and BERRlEN, MIR. FooTE withdrew his
amendment, and Mr.. KING submitted his as sub
| stantive measure.
| Mr.. BERRlEN followed in support of the amend
ment, and in opposition to the admission OF Caifor-
MIA with her present boundaries. He said that II
| the amendment were adopted il would remove a
serious objection to the BILL and, If the second sec
ton were stricken out, another objection would also
| be removed.
MIR. CLAY alluded to the embarrassments which
had been thrown in the way of the bill, not only by
| its avowed opponents, but also by those who had
| been considered friendly to it. He examined the
proposition limiting the boundaries of California,
| which the Senator from Alabama had said was ne
cessary in order to obviate insuperable objection
to his voting for the bill He said that the power OF
Congress TO admit States clearly constitu-
opal, and to be exercised with a sound discretion.
The power was plenary. The objection OF the Sen
| ator not, then, one involving constitutional
question, but going TO the expediency OF admit
| ting the State.
| He then proceeded to state the reasons why he
was in favor of admitting California with her pre-
sent boundaries, AS measure OF expedlency. 1t
was part of the system of measures, which, taken
whole, he believed would restore peace and
1 har mony to the country.
Mr. c. alluded TO his conncxion with the bill,
and repeated that he had but one object IN view,
and that was to discharge his duty To his country
by doing all in his power to effect restoration o
| harmony in the Union
4
| tional powers of Congress 10 admit new States,
and the application of those powers to the present
| application for admission by California
| Mr.. HALE said that he had withdrawn hs mo
ton TO lay the bill the table, under the sugges-
| ton that all amendments were TO be hrst voted
upon, and then the bill debated as complete
measure. He hoped the amendment would be Vo-
! ted on without further debate.
| Mr.. DAVIS, of Mississippi, moved TO amend the
amendment by striking out "thirty,hVe' ana IN
serting "thirty six" that it would read by the
| line of thirty-six degrees thirty minutes
After some remarks by Messrs. KING and DA-
Wis, the question was taken, and the amend
ent 10 the amendment was rejected by the follow
ing vote:
YEAs-Messrs Atchison Badger, Barnwell,
! Berrien, Butler, Clemens, DAVIS OF MlssisslpPl'
| Dawson, Downs, Foote Houston, Hunter, King,
| Mangum, Mason, Morton, Pratt, Rusk, Sebastian
Soule, Turney, Underwood, and Nulee-25.
NAYs.-Messrs Baldwin; Benton, Bradbury,
| Bright Cass Chase, Clarke Clay, Cooper, DAVIS oil
| Massachusetts Dayton, Dickinson, Dodge OF Wis
| consn, Dodge of Iowa, Douglas, fclch, Greene,
Hale, Hamlin, Jones, Miller, Norris Phelps, Sc
ward, Shields, Smith, spruance Sturgeon OPAaIhi
| Wales, Walker and Whitcomb-32.
The question recurring on the amendment OF
| Mr. KING, il was also rejected, a. follows;
YEAS.-Messrs. Atchison, Barnwell, Berreni
Butler, Clemens, Davis Of Mississippi, Dawson
| Downs, Footo, Houston, Hunter, King, Mason
Morton, Pratt, Rusk, Sebastian, soule, Iurney'
| and Yulee-20.
| NAYs.-Messrs Badger, Baldwin, Benton, Brad
| bury, Bright, Cass, Chase, clarke, NiaJt NoVPe''
| Corwin, Davis Of Massachusetts, Dayton, Dickin-
| son, Dodge of Wisconsin, Dodge OF Iowa, Douglas
Fetch, Greene, Hale, Hamlin, Jones, Mangum, Mil
Ter, Norris, Pearcc. Pheps, Seward, Shields smith
Sprusnce, Sturgeon, Underwood, Upham, Wales
| Walker, and Whtcomb-37.
MIR. CLEMENS moved to lay the bill ON inc
| table
| Mr.. FOOTE sent an amendment to the IhalI
| which read for information. IL proposed thal
the Southern boundary Of California should be Tue
line Of 35o 80, and provided territorial govern
for the territory south Of that line TO be called
the territory of Colorado.
| Mr.. CLEMENS said that nc would not Withdraw
his motion for any other amendments, but would
withdraw the motion TO enable the Senator IRON
Kentucky to make his closing argument on the
| bill.
Mr.. CLAY said that he desired 20 say something
| 10 the Senate the general BILL before II wa
disposed Of finally lie desired 10 reply TO ar
guinents made m opposition to It. lie had dc
! signed TO move amendment tomorrow, ina
| is 20 fill the blank in that part OF the Dill con
tanning the proposal TO Texas. That would lead
10 debate, and to several motions, which would
take up a greater part Of the day He desired
that action should be had on the bill az carly a.
possible, but he would prefer that the test vote
should be had upon the engrossment oil the bii
| and he thought that by Tuesday next vote coYld
Iai ..I q l.. Hn