The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1850-07-30

hibition Of its introduction. Am fright in this
constructions II Fam then what Is the objec-
ton that my, honorable friends make to that pro-
\ vision Are we protected in our property II we
choose to 60 there think that we are protected.
think that the territorial legislature would
have no power to pass any law which should be
destructive of the interests OF any species of
property, but that they are bound on the other
hand by all rightful legislation to protect prop
erty of every description. Now, ii am mista-
ken in this then hold it to be the duty of Con
gress to render it more specific. Do not tell me-
NJ. President, that tho Mexican laws come in and
prevent them from protecting that description of
property, because it is prohibited by Mexican
4 Legislation; for have no doubt as regards the
question Of the Mexican laws, and ii ! had any
doubts, they have been entirely removed BY the
able, and | think unanswerable, arguments OF the
honorable Senator from Louisana, Dir. SoULE.
| | have no fear of the operation of the Mexican
laws-none whatever. If choose to remove
with my property of that description to any Of
these territories should not be deferred by the
apprehension that there was any law in existence
that could interfere with me or prevent me. Sir,
we are told that property is sensitive. BE it so !;
but our people are intelligent. They can be
made easily to understand what are the laws and
what are their rights. M
| If it should be made question, L have no fear
whatever Of the result. If / am wrong, let the
error be pointed out. know there are some
gentlemen who entertain different opinion, be-
cause their wishes, their desires are that slavery
should be prohibited; but am decidedly Of
opinion--andl do not wish to take any advantage
OF any construction put upon the bill differing
from what other gentlemen may consider to be
correct-that the provisions OF the bill give us
the protection which we demand. Mr.. President,
/ promised to be rs brief as possible; and /
come now to the principle object which induced
me to say a word to the Senate have been
more than anxious from the commencement, as
have stated over and over again, to see this
unfortunate question settled in such a way as to
protect the rights Of all the citizens OF the United
States to take from none what they are fairly
entitled to under the Constitution, and to give to
all that participation which they have right to
ask as citizens. From the commencement Of
this whole matter, to every individual who
thought proper to ask my opinion, ! have stated,
that the boundary of the State of California, MS
it is called, was an insuperable objection to my
mind tits not necessary to go into any exami-
nation of the extent of the country that is taken
by few indivduals-Im must call them a few in
| dividuals- stationed mt Monterey and and San
Francisco, and few scattered upon the line
an extent of country which there is not a
man in this Senate, Venture to say, would mark
out as the boundary of any State, if the map
was laid before him, and he had the designation
of the boundary himself; not one. If there had
been no action upon the part of California, and
we had been about to prescribe the limits for a
State, and to authorize her to form a constitu-
ton and State government, what should we do
Would you not give he reasonable limits
Would you not give her limits similar to those
granted to the largest States in the Union? Linn
it's which would enable her to perform the duties
| that appertain to State governments! Certainly
you would. Then why is it that disposition
does not prevail now? Unfortunately Mr.. Pres
dent the reason is too apparent. 1t cannot be
disguised; and felt little, must confess some
time ago, when my honorable friend from Hi
nois, Mr.. DoUGLAs] with that ardour, and elo-
quence, and ZEAL that always characterize him,
thought proper to intimate that the objection of
the South to the admission of California was
because she prohibited slavery. Was that just
Was it fair (! Did it fairly represent the opinions
expressed by honorable Senators from the South?
Not so certainly not. View prepared from
the beginning believe may say-and speak
of most of the Southern men, aud probably of
ALTO waive the many objections from irregu-
llarity and informalities- objections that under
other circumstances, would be almost ia3uper-
able sstsf s.s.s.I
/ But in order to get clear of this unfortunate
question if practicable, without sacrificing
everything on our part, we were prepared to adj
NIT California, with proper limits, waving all
objections. know that the question will arise,
whether, if her limits are restricted, you can
admit her instantaneously That is question
of considerable doubt. have entertained the
opinion that such admission might take place,
though must confess that the precedents are
against me, as in the case Of Iowa, and Michigan
and Arkansas. Mr.. President, what desire
and my4amendment shows my desire, is to give
to California boundary, natural in itself, very
extensive giving her all the facilities that a
/ State ought to have, and, in truth, preventing
what may take place hereafter, if the whole
country is thrown into one empire; preventing
what gentlemen seem very anxious to prevent,
i the setting up these people for themselves
4 When you give them such an extended territory
of 1000 miles upon the Pacific, you take step
that more endangers the loss Of that portion Of
the country than any other you could possibly
take. 1t is an empire Of itself II takes all the
front. It leaves all the rear dependent upon
| them, to unite with them and make common
cause. Whatever that front, commanding as it
must the most valuable trade of the world, deter
mine upon, the whole interior must acquiesce in.
If you divide that front, you divide the interest.
You make your possessions much more secure,
4 and you benefit the people themselves; for they
can discharge their duties better as citizens with
two governments, than if obliged to travel 600
or 100 miles in order to get to the seat ofgov-
! eminent, passing almost impossible barriers,
the mountain range. would ask honorable
Senators, over and again, to say to me.
/ speak of those in favor of admitting Cali
| fornia with her present extent of limits-to say
to me and to the country, as independent, as,
frank, as honorable men, and as senators of the
United States, whether they would vote for that
territory, ms extensive as it is marked down
here, to be State, if slavery was prohibited.
| Will any man answer me that! do not be-
| l;oyo there 10 ., mn II, tho Sanatn that would