The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1850-06-20
SPEECH OF HON. JESSE C. DICKEY.
THE HOUSE OF REPR EsENTArIyl

IN THE HOUSE OF REPREsENTATIvEs,
In reference 10 The admission Of California and The
subject Of Slavery.
Made in Committee Of the Whole, June g. iS5O.
Mr.. DICKEY said
Mr.. CHAIRMAN: have not made an effort 10
obtain the floor for the purpose Of display of
oratory on this all-important subject, which may
truly be said 10 be, not only the question of the
session, but the question of the day. Nor do
presume that Il will be possible for one of my
limited experience in legislation TO throw any
new light upon question which has been so ably
and learnedly discussed on this foor by older
and ADLER men, or even to present old ideas in
snch manner as TO command the attention Of the
Committee. have sought the floor for no such
purposes; but to define my position, and desig-
nate the course which shall pursue in reference
to subject which has been the occasion of SO
much interest-intense excitement, may say
and the chief topic Of debate for the last FIVE
months in both branches of Congress. need
scarcely say, sir, that the subject to which refer
is the admission of California into this Confed-
eracy, with provision in her Constitution pro-
hibting slavery or involuntary servtude
The application of California for admission
into the Union a. q State has ooeasioned strong
desire and apparent determination, on the part of
the Representatives of the South to have settled,
at the same time, and definitely and forever, some
elk. other questions involving the institution of
slavery more or less in their discussion, and esch
of sufficient Importance for separate and distinct
bills, and distinct action. Sir, conceive il to be
duty which | owe TO the intelligent as well as
numerous constituents whom | have the honor 10
represent, that should speak plainly and boldly
on subject in which they feel such deep and
abiding interest My constituents are emphat-
cally reading, thinking, and intellectual people
Many Of them are the descendants of the compan-
ions and associates of the illustrious man who
4 ~ .O-stss.s 11Sl~s, sA 49,. ,aS..
ago az 1852, and from whom the glorious "Key-
stone of the Federal archn took its name. The
opposition Of the early settlers In Pennsylvania
to the institution of slavery and its further extern
sion, has long been proverbial Mild and truth
full, yet firm and unwavering on this subject,
few, If any, within the limits of my district, have
ever expressed q willingness that slavery should
extend to another foot Of American soil and with
them, on this subject, most heartily concur.
Mr.. Chairman, my native State, at one time
groaned under the weight OF this great political
and moral evil but, thank God, the incubus has
long since been removed from our shoulders, and
we now breathe the breath Of freedom From
the fact that we have had slavery at one time in
our midst, and now have freedom, we are the bet
ter able judge Of the curse of the one and to ap-
preciate the blessings of the other. We consider
slavery incompatible with true patriotism, JUS
tice, or humanity and It's extension to hitherto
free soil, and to free people, blight, blast, a
mldew, q scourge, and curse, which we would
disdain to receive from any Of the other powers
Of the earth, and which we would pour out our
treasure and exert our strength to avert from our
land and from our children Why, then, at
tempt to force 1t upon people now free from Its
miseries2 1t would be violation Of that golden
rule, by which [ have always desired to be gov.
erned in my intercourse with my fellow men
that is, to do unto others as would have them do
unto me; and, consequently, can never 80 far
forget that rule as to give my vote for the fur
Their extension and propagation Of slavery
Sir, that great and eminently distinguished
statesman, whose statue stands In front Of the
Executive Mansion, with the Constitution in
hand, has left on record an opinion on the subject
petual rememtranss by every trnsz essstea Amer;
loan. He, In speaking on this subject, said NJ
tremble for my country when ! remember that
God is JUST He also said, as you will remember
so true as there is God In heaven 90 true will
this nation be punished for the sin Of slsvsry!l
And that there is, Mr.. Chairman, a God, to pun.
ish and reward, is beautifully illustrated by the
quotation from the poet Thompson, made a few
weeks since by my friend and colleague, Mr.
CHANDLER which tells US that Nature proclaims
the fact through all her works The same poet
also says that God must delight In virtue, and
that which God delights in must be happy Now,
it must be apparent to ALL that the great and good
men of Virginia could not have looked upon the
institution of slavery as virtue, or ~ productive
of good else Why use such terms in their writings
as have quoted from Jefferson2 Mr. Jefferson
was Southern man, in heart and soul, born and
reared in its sunny Cline in the midst of slavery,
and no one was better qualified than he, to appre-
ciate the moral, political and religious effects of
the institution, on O community where 1t existed.
He was statesman of learning and ability and not
only well versed in the arts and sciences but as
statesman, politician, and juris he had few equals
and II is due to his memory, that his opinions and
writings on questions Of the greatest national In
terests, living when and where he did, should be
we'll pondered by the present generation. His
efforts to effect the abolition Of slavery commenc-
ed as early as 1859 As member Of the Legis-
lature of Virginia, he was appointed one Of COM
mittee to revise the then colonial laws of his
tive State. Before that committee, he urged and
warmly recommended the gradual abolition Of
slavery In the colony.
Mr.. Chairman, having thus spoken Of slavery
as suggested by the question Of the admission OF
California into the Union as o free State, will
now proceed to give few reasons why she should
be admitted with the Constitution which her peo-
pie have 30 unanimously adopted, and with her
prescribed boundaries, and her population as
1t is
The Mexican Province of California, named as
such In the treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo, IL sit
uated upon the Pacific ocean, between 800 and
40 north latitude and 800 and 47o west longi-
tude from Washington. It contains some 700
miles Of sea coast, and an area of some 900
square miles, bounded on the north by the Oregon
Territory, east by the Sierra Nevada, or great
Snowy Mountains, and west by the Pacific.
Though the sea coast Is 90 extensive, yet her
harbors are but few, the principal one being the
bay Of San Francisco. This bay is locsted near
the centre Of the sea coast and IL said to be one
Of the most capacious and safe harbors In the
world, affording moorsge for at least FIVE hundred
vessels. This, Mr.. Chairman, Is ell desire to
say ut present in regard 10 its geography.
or the many reasons which msy be urged In
favor Of her speedy admission into the Union, an
important one IL, the great distance she Is from
the frontier settlements aud the seat Of the Ma
tonal Governmsnt--it being from the western
settlements. by the Rocky Mountain route, 100
miles, and, by the way OF the Isthmus Of Panama,
some forty-fve days journey from New York.
When, sir, we consider this great distance from
the capital Of the country, In connection with the
varied character Of her population, being rep
resentation Of almost every nation on the face OF
the earth, one would readily suppose that her In
terests, a. well a. the interests Of our Govern
msnt, would demand her immediate admission as
q State II we look to former presidents In the
admission Of States, we have no excuse for this
delay. The population Of California, at present,
consists probably Of at least 100000. This pop
ulation, owing 70 the peculiar and very extrsor-
binary circumstances which have brought them
suddenly into such close proximity, have made
them call loudly, and with earnestness, upon us
TO admit them Into the Union, and thus TO afford
them that protection and those rights which our
respective States possess, In order that they may