The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1850-04-18
After some remarks by Mcssrs. Hale and

d,
by the Senator from Massa chusetts is fair enough
In the abstract, bot when you come to look into
its operation, it will be found to be very unfair
He says IL Is competent for any Senator to move
an amendment. Certainly IL is; and when we
come to take up the BILL il will of conrse be COM
petent for any Senator TO move an amendment by
adding to it and thus we shall have the ex-
preston of the sentiment Of the Senate upon IL
at once. This mode will save great deal Of time,
besides having the effect OF getting Mt the sent-
ment Of the Senate, which is a material point.
The Senator from Massachusetts, says it is not
material whether the question of combining tn, iif
ferent subjects is taken now or after the report
Of a committee. Sir, there is very great differ
ence both in parliamentary law and in practice
la the first place. IL that committee goes out il is
to be appreheuded that il will be composed Of
those who are determined upon one thing. If not
why struggle for the committed The names Of
the proposed committee were read here some
weeks ago. ! wish they could be read again now
if the list is convenient, as perhaps it might be
seen that there will be majority on that COM
mittee in favor Of doing the identical thing in the
committee room which the Senator from Massa-
chusetts has referred to. There is great differ
ence in point Of parliamentary law, and in every
thing, which side has the onus which side has
the burden Of proof, which side has to establish
the affirmative. Suppose that instead of taking
the vote in the Senate, where every Senator votes
openly his own sentiments-and how Senator's
will vote | never inquire-it is carried into
committee room, where there is known 10 be
majority in favor Of the identical thing which is
contemplated here now They will make con-
junction of these subjects, and report a measure
which has to be attacked here The burden will
then be thrown upon the other side It will come
with additional weight in its favor After the
feeling which has been created by spreading all
over the land that this is committee Of compro-
mise, committee of harmony, a committee that
Is going to give peace to the distracted country,
which is going to reconcile a nation of brethren
to each other, and prevent them from cutting one
anothers Threats whatever that committee may re-
port will come back before the country as healing
measure, and whoever goes against that healing
nostrum will be looked upon as a man in favor Of
dssension and against peace, harmony, and concl-
istion 1t is in that point of view, and in that
character, that all those will stand who shall OPP
pose whatever this committee shall report We
are equal now. Shall we be equal then? The
Senator from Massachusetts, says we are equal
now, and that it is immaterial which is done.
Then let it alone. We have a bill here now be-
fore the Senate ripe for action, which there is
no doubt and on which we are even let us take
up that bill and vote upon il in this chamber and
not send it TO committee first But sir, ii is not
even; the Struggle here for two months shows
that it is not even. II the thing WAS even, WY
struggle to get it into this committed Why,
Sd 81 We have 3, bill here. it is an. injury to
California to send her back and create delay
by it.
Mr. Douglas now renewed his motion to lay
the subject on the table, and Mr. Fooe remarked
that this would be test vote The yeas and
nays were then ordered and the result was:
YEss-Messrs- Baldwin, Benton, Bradbury
Chase, Clarke, Corwin, Davis Of Massachusetts,,
Dayton, Dodge of Iowa, Dodge of Wisconsin
Douglas, Felch, Greene, Hale, Hamlin Jones,
Miller, Norris Phelps, Seward, Shields, Smith
Spruance, Upham, Wales, and Walker-26.
NAYs-Messrs. Atchison, Badger, Bell, Bor.
land, Bright, Butler, Cass, Clay, Clemens, Davis
of Mississippi, Dickinson, Downs, Foote, Hunter
King, Mangum, Mason, Morton, Pelrce, Pratt
Rusk, Sch ,stian, Soule, Turney, Underwood
Webster, Whitcomb, and Yulee-2S.
So the motion was not agreed to.
The question then required on the amendment
Mr. Baldwin called for the yeas and nays.
The only votes against this proposition from
the free States were those of Webster, Cass
Dickinson, Whitcomb, and Bright Mr.. Web
ster could not carry single Wing from the FREE
States with him for the scheme of using Califor
mia MS q means to kill the Proviso He found
himself in very strange company-Cass, Dickin
son, and Bright! How Mr.. Whitcomb, who re
ceived the votes of Free Soil members of thu
Legislature of Indiana, on the ground that hi,
views on the subject were sounder than thos'
of Robert Dale Owen, could vote. with Cass ant
Webster for their scheme f1Dmpromise, we can
not understand. We know very well that ha'
| his competitor succeeded, his vote would hav
been uniformly given for the admission of Cali
| fornia unembarrassed with any other question
II will be observed that, had MIR. Webster voted
as venture TO say ninety nine hundrsdths of tn
people of Massachusetts, would have desired hin
to vote, there would have been tie and tn
casting vote of the Vice President would doubt
less have put the subject on the table Hoy
much one false step costs
"Things bad begun make strong themselves by ill"i
Mr. Webster read the amendments proposed Il
| be offered by Mr.. Benton, as follows:
| Prouided, That nothing in this instruction shall
| be construed to authorize the said committee I,
take into consideration anything that relates {,
either of the four following subjects:
| /. The abolition of slavery within the States
The suppression Of the slave trade between
the States
3. The abolition of slavery within the forts
arsenals, dock yards, and navy yards of thu
4. Abolition of slavery within the District o
| Columbia.
| And prouided, further, That said committee shall
not take into consideration any question In rela
| ton to the subject Of domestic slavery in tn,
United States which shall not be specially refer
red to il by order Of the Senate.
Mr.. Webster said that If they were to 20 on in
this way, they would spend a fortnight on tn,
| question of reference If they were to be called
upon to discuss all possible questions, he did moi
know but 1t would be better to take up the Cali
fornis bill at once.
Mr.. Foote, after some conversation, withdrew
his motion of instruction, and then moved that the
resolutions Of MIR Clay, and those Of Mr.. Bell, bS
referred to q committee Of thirteen.
To this, Mr.. Benton moved the amendment of.
fered to the other motion by Mr.. Baldwin as fol.
lows
"But nothing ia this resolution shall be con.
strued to authorize the said committee to take into
consideration anything that relates TO the admis-
sion of the State Of California into the Unionn
The ayes and noes having been ordered, were
| taken, and the yeas were 26, nays 2s-tbose who
had voted nay on the resolution to lay on the table
also voting nay on this question
| Mr. Benton announced his intention to offer a
series of amendments, denying all power in Con-
gress to touch certain questions Of slavery, and
stated that on each he should call for the yeas and
nays.
| The Question recurring upon the amendment Of
Mr.. Baldwin of Connecticut, Mr. Bradbury made
few remarks, stating that it was his purpose Il
obey the instructions Of the Legislature Of his
State to vote the Proviso, and arguing the exped
| ency Of the proposed committee Of compromise.
The Secretary then, at the request Of Mr.. Ben
| ton, now read his amendments
Mr.. Mangum called upon the Senate to vote
them down, as they were only calculated 10 en-
barrass the question.
Mr. Claw thou0ht he had an Amendment which