Daily Richmond times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1849-1850, 1850-06-15
CALIFORNIA IN THE HOUSE.

Tuesday, the long awaited day for taking the
vote in the House of Representatives, in Commit
| tee of the Whole, on Mr. Doty's California Bill,
| transpired without result. After Mr.. Mcdowell
had closed the debate, there was a scene of great
confusion in consequence of contest between
different members for the priority of their respec
| tive amendments.
| The first section ofthe bill was read as follows:
Be it enacted &C. That the State of California, with
the boundaries described in her constitution, shall be
one, and is hereby declared to be of the United
States of America and admitted into the Union on an
| equal footing with the United States in all respects
| whatever.
Mr.. HHLlARD moved amendment, striking out
that part relating to boundary and inserting at the end
of the section, that said State shall embrace within
its limits all the territory acquired from Mexico known
Upper California, lying North OF the parallel Of Sc
| deg. 80 min. OF North latitude"
| Mr.. Green, of Missouri, contended that an
amendment previously offered by him was proper
y in order.
Mr.. Seldom offered an amendment altering the
whole phraseology of the section, and therefore
claimed that it should have precedence Of Mr.. Hill
liards. Its effect was to recognise California as
hitting her as State.
The Chair (NIr. BoydD decided that the ques-
ton would be on Mr.. Seddon's amendment; but
the committee reversed the decision, and declared
that the question was on Mr.. Green's amend
ment, which was in these words:
| " Provided, hoDeuer, That the southern boundary
of the State of California shall be the parallel of st-
| tude of tiirty-s degrees thirty minutes
"%nd provided, further, That the line of thirtysix
degrees thirty minutes, known the Missouri compro
mise line be extended to the Pacific ocean, and is here
by revived and declared to be in full force and binding
future organizations of the territory Of the United
States, in the same sense and with the same understand
ing with which it was originally declared. And upon
the ratification of the boundaries OF the State of Cali
ornia hereby limited and declared by the people of
the said State in such manner the Legislature thereof
may propose, the admission OF said State INTO the
Union on an equal footing with the original States,
shall, by proclamation OF the President OF the United
States, be declared completed"
The House has rule that, after debate has
been stopped by resolution, any member offering
an amendment may speak five minutes in expla-
nation of it. Mr.. Seldom and other gentlemen
therefore proposed amendments pro forma, and
after making five-minutes speeches, withdrew
| them
Mr. AsHMuN offered an amendment to the amend
ment of Mr. Green, to strike out the second pIoviso
Mr.. STANTON, OF Tennessee inquired whether it was
not in order to amend the portion of the amendment
proposed to be stricken out.
that motion put
The CHAIR decided in the affirmative.
Mr.. AsHMUN appealed from this decision Of the
Chair;
And the question on the appeal being put the deci-
sion OF the Chair was overruled-yeas IA, nays H.
On Wednesday, the question being on Mr..
Ashmun's motion to strike out the second provso
of Mr.. Green's amendment, number of five mi
nutes speeches were delivered.
Mr.. Schenck offered an amendment that the
binding force of the Missouri Compromise should
depend on public opinion. 1t was rejected, yeas
10, nays 10.
Mr. Ashmun withdrew his amendment.
Mr.. Seldom offered one, declaring that the Ter
ritory was acquired with the understanding that
the Missouri Compromise would be applied to it
rejected.
Mr. Seldom offered another amendment, in sub
stance that the Missouri Compromise line shall
be extended to the Pacific ocean, "as by the past
action of the Government the benefits of that line
have been realized by the Notwithstanding States.
There followed this good many speeches on
the point as to what was the understanding when
the Territory was acquired. Mr.. Stephens affirm
ed that there was no understanding that the Mis-
souri, line would be extended, but the contrary
was openly avowed by the North. For that rea-
son he voted against appropriations for buying the
Territory
Mr.. Seddon's second amendment was rejected
| yeas So, nays l03.
Mr.. Stanton, OF Tennessee, offered an amend
| ment:
Provided, ho,eeper, That it shall be no objection to
the admission into the Union of any State which shall
hereafter be formed OF the territory living south OF
the parallel OF latitude OF thrtysix degrees thirty mi
nues, that the constitution OF SAID State may authorize
| or establish African slavery therein"
Pending this amendment the House adjourned.
! A Coon PRICE FOR WHEAT.-The crop of wheat
grown by Charles Friend Esq, of Prince George coun-
w. not vet cut was purchased yesterday by one OF our
| mIlers at 10 cents cash.-Pet NeloS June 49,
| EXCHANGE BANK-Five shares OF the stock OF this