The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1850-07-04
DAILY.


senators in relation to the amendment proposed
by the senator from Louisiana. That amend
ment is in accordance with compromise which
once, gave peace to the country during peroid
of intense excitement, and resulted from desire
to save the Union from danger, with which it
was thought to be seriously threatened | cannot
believe the danger was Us imminent then it is
now. Then there were patriotic hearts in Con-
gress from every section of the country that came
to the rescue upon this tital question. Does such
patriotism exist in the present Congress as was
found in that of 1892 Are there not those around
me who will meet this question with the devoted
patriotism which the crisis demands, and if need
be, sacrifice thrmseyeAs5 the good OF their coln-I
E try? Ifany other plan shall be presented which
believe would be final would terminate this distract
ing controversy, and restore the fraternity that
existed among our fathers, would make what
ever personal sacrifice such plan would embrace.
At an early stage OF the present session ndicat-
ed my belief that the extension Of the Missouri
Compromise the only basis upon which n
settlement could be made, and all that has trans
pired from that day to this has served to confirm
me in that opinion. / was among those who sup
ported the raising of this committeeman that the
bills then before the Senate should be combined,
but with the hope that it would bring in mea-
sure of adjustment, compromise, or settlement
which would receive from can appreciation which
could not give to those bills. The hope that
something would be presented to us upon which
we could all unite has met a grievous disappont-
the Senate by general examination of the bill, |
may be permitted to say that | have found in its
heterogeneous features nothing to command my
support a Southern man, or one who desires
the restoration of fraternity to this republic. see
IN it no termination of those elements of dlscord
which now disturb u.s. | see beyond it the same
questions which now exist. Beyond it |
higher excitement than that which surrounds us,
and the distant vista is enveloped in gloom from
| the contemplation of which | turn sorrOwfully
a., IA
adopted in 1890, as we were told yesterday, that
sage and patriot, Mr.. Jefferson, said it was but
a reprieve. Such, sir, it has proved. The re-
prieve has expired, and its extension is denied
| Now the measure Is considered too extreme
concession from the North, which then they en-
forced on the South. Now we, the minority, are
to be brought at once to execution. Shall we
submit, or shall we resist , This is question to
which treemen can give but one answer. What
ever may be the result, |, for one, feel myself
bound to maintain, by every means at my com
mand, those constitutional rights which am here
to represent. lfevil shall result from my course
upon the head of others must rest the responsible
ty. However sad may be its consequences TO
myself, if down it is my fate to fall, | shall re-
tain in my misfortune the Conscientious conviction
Of having done my duty as Representative, a
patriot, and as an honest man.
In the remarks | propose to offer upon This
question, shall direct myself to other considera-
tons than those broad and general views which
have been presented by others, and probably will
be presented again. shall contend for this
| amendment as measure of eXpediency--as
measure which is written by the hand of Nature
upon the surface of the country for which we
propose to legslate-a measure which is indicated
by the character Of the people for whom we are
about to provide governmental organization, and
demanded by soil, climate, and productions, agrl-
cultural and mineral. The fathers of this country
were neither unwise nor protane as to deny the
overriding Providence whose intcrposing hand
was often felt in shaping the destiny of the
infant republic. And if there be special in
terposton-a guardian care over us still think
it is manifested in the identity of the geograph
ica and political considerations for the renewal
Of the compact, the extension of the line
of $50 80, which is now presented. Never were
political considerations more fully maintained by
, geographical reasons In looking at the map of
California, as it was remarked by the senator
from Louisiana, its unnatural boundaries most
} forcbly strike the eye-extending over impassl-
) be mountain barriers, including in one govern
ment plains which have no other connexions and
embracing the whole seacoast if the whole
frontier were marked out for empire instead Of
State of the confederacy; as though its purpose
was to have distinct International policy, to
sumo the command of the whole commerce Of the
Pacific, and of those vast countries which lie be-
yond it, and to control the naval stations on the
western coast, which greatly tended to create
desire for its acquisition by the United States.
Here we see country, backed by snow-covered
mountains, broad valley, with two rivers to
water, and coast-plaln connected with it. There
is the natural demarcation of State. On the one
r side the Sacramento, and on the other the San Joa
chin, coming from the north and the south to pour
their treasures into the great entrepot of the
try, the harbor of San Francisco, their common
and only receptacle. As well might expect
that the country watered by the Sacramento,
would be united to the valley of the Willamette,
ard become part Of the Territory of Oregon, as
IL ~f af
chin would be included in the State Of Califor-
mia. Other motives no doubt combined with this
reason to induce the delegates of that part of the
territory to object to the formation Of State con-
stitution, the first operation Of which, as learn
from my correspondence in that country, has had
such effect that in most Of the towns south of San
Luis Obspo they have held public meetings for the
purpose of petitioning Congress for separate
territorial organization and government.
But to return to the point which promised to
considerable geographical arguments for this po
litical line of SO deg. 80 min. At the intersection
of this parallel with the sea, as am informed, the
coast range of mountains terminate In bold prom
ontory that overhangs the ocean; thence eastward
it passes over desert mountains, crosses the arid
plain of the Monterey river, and enters the valley
through which the San Joachim flows south ofthe
permanent tributaries Of that river, passing be-
tween it's southern branches and the Lake Tulares
which, it is represented to me, does not, as Is
usually shown on the maps, regularly flow into
the San Joachim, but only does so when, in
time Of freshet, the flats to its north, extending to
the San Joachim, are overlooked. Shut out from
the breeze, this plain represented having
almost tropical heat and as being fully occupied
by quiet, harmless race of fishing Indians, to
whom the country is particular y adapted. But if
it ever passes into the hands of those who require
commercial ports, they must be sought in the
South Distance and facility Of route leave no
+ doubt that San Pedro and San Diego, not San
Francisco must be the ports Of this section.
Then, am | not sustained when say that the
hand of Nature has written this line upon the
country in characters which might have been read
; before it was possessed by man. But, again, the
line Of 80 deg 80 min. divides the pastoral and
agricultural, the scmi-tropica country, from the
mining and the gran-growing regions OF the north.
South of this line mine has proved productive
North of it are the placers, which have, as by
f magic, drawn together the men who seek to con-
stitute this State Leaving Monterey, which is
about six miles north Of this parallel Of 36 deg.
30 min, and following the valley of the Monterey
,,fntrN