Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1850-06-22

States Of this Confederacy respectable the free
States do not presume he would make such declaration
OF opinion How, ask, be insulting to California to
the opinion that she may hereafter possibly alter her in
stituions
The honorable Senator says that il is insulting to the peo
pie Of California suppose that they will change their civil
institutions Why, the people of California have lately adopt
ed civic institutions and take for granted that they
like the people of the rest Of the republic, will from time to
time change their organic law in such manner time and
experience may dictate to be polite On the other hand
think would be insulting grossly insulting, to the people Of
CALIFORNIA; suppose that they would live under constitution
hastily adopted, however kuy framed forever, without
any amendment OF il whatever II would be certainly in
sung to them suppose that their laws, like those Of the
Modes and Persan, remain forever unchanged while
the whole world is in state OF progress while science and
arts all advancing; while the science of government in
particular in every part Of the world in both hemspheres
| advancing with celebrity never heretofore known.
The honorable Senator from Ohio suppoes that the people
of California utterly stupid ignorant, creduous
bgoted, to have resolved hereafter change
their political institutions II there be any pon, all to the
Senator'S argument he must either that the people Of
California should live under their present constitution
changed for all time come he supposes that the simple
introduction Of the institutions existing in the South would
have the effect OF degrading the people of California know
the honorable Senator will not undertake maintain this
latter proposition He may throw out dark innuendoes which
mean somehngn part ofthe country, and something very
different nothing in another but Unjust confess that gene
raj demeanor Of the Senator here has been stkingy
courteous and kind notwithstanding certain rather
speeches OF his delivered here that had certainly formed the
opinion that he would be very far from offering deliberate
insult to those of this floor who representing slave
States.
Mr.. SMITH. Mr.. President it seems to me that is ut
ery ridiculous to be bringing these hypothetical questions
| for the consideration of the Senate.
Mr.. FOOTE. This question not first raised by me.
was raised by the Senator from New Hampshire, (Mr
| HALE.) ~ ..s "
Mr.. SMITH. know that very WELL But obec, to this
whole mode of proceeding. will against it exactly
the ground that voted yesterday against the PROPOSE
he from ,ouisi M Waha
here what has been denominated "omnibus bill and
there are three passengers in -Califona, the Terrific
RES and the boundary Of Texas. And honorable gen.
emen are engaged in putting IN all manner of passengers,
by way of hypothesis.
We have been engaged in the consideration of this subject
about six months have occupied my here profound
silence have been anxious to have these matters brought
an Issue, and wish to when they will be terminated
Honorable gentlemen do be satisfied with consd
erng the question whether shall shall not organize
Territorial Governments for New Mexico and Utah but
yesterday it was proposed to ahead and anticipate the for
nation of State Governments for New Mexico and Utah.
We were called upon to consider what would do, the
supposon that they would form constitutions excluding sla-
very That was one branch Of the alternative. We were
then called upon to consider what would do if they should
form State Governments toeratng slavery And called
on to say yea or nayto say whether would admit them if
they passed constitution toeapg slavery voted in the
negative on that proposition And nothing is be inferred
from that vote except that considered the proposition utterly
ridiculous and that ought be introduced to our con-
sideaton the present occasion This running ahead of
events
Mr.. BERRIEN. would ask if the gentleman is in
order A.. ..
The VICE PRESIDENT. The gentleman is not in or
der, unless he speaks the question before the Senate
Mr.. SMITH. beg pardon did not say any
thing disrespecu to the Senate Every honorable member
OF the body that knows will understand that meant no.
thing disrespectfu to the body But must be permitted to
say in general terms, without referring any one this
business of anticipating events considering questions which
may before Congress in the remote futue-if this
he
an end to these bills
We are called upon by the honorable Senator from
New Hampshire to consider the possibility Of division ofhe
State of California being sought by that State at some remote
day-an which is not likely ever to happen We are
called upon moreover by the Senator from Mississippi sup
pose that if California shall be divided into or more Staes
the people OF the States to be formed out of her limits
Will tolerate slavery. And then am called say whe-
Their, 10 this remote contingency, would would
for the admission of such State into the Union oerang
slavery want to know what that has do with the prac
tca question before There several contingencies
California may consent division of her territory.
may seek division, and Congress may give their
sent If Congress give their assent the convention of the
people may or may not introduce provision into their
stuon prohibiting slavery 1t may be years hence; it
may be fifty years hence may be hundred years hence
am totally opposed to this of proceeding desire
to have this bill expedited although DO suppose it will
be IN my power to vote for il when it shall have been
summated But if we to have all these questions
raised if we to have all of hypothesis brought
IN; we are called on to say what shall do in event
which may happen years hence fifty years hence or
FIVE hundred years hence desire know when we are to
have an end to this thing? may receive the sanction
Of majority Of this body and then what will be condi
ton In the month of July will have to commence the
work de noro and take the question Of the admission
California separately Or if it receives the sanction of this
body may not pass the House of Representatives. Or
the sanction of both the House and the Senate
are oher matters to which should our attention
There are the appropriation bills and the whole legislation OF
the c'untry, which remains unattended to.
have thrown tho
OF inns pill have given votes throughout sustain the
honorable chairman of the Committee Of Thirteen in exre
dldng 1t and will do hereafter. But am totally on
to this sort Of hypothetical legislation is not states
manlke. II
Mr.. FOOTE. call the gentleman to order for saving
that this Is not satesnanike. Laughter.l
The VICE PRESIDENT. In the opinion of the Chair |
the Senator is not Of order. |
Mr.. SMITH This is not sound legislation r. the hon
orabe Senator from Mississippi wishes to saw any thing by
way OF Interpolation, will yield him the floor
Mr.. FOOIE will occupy the attention of the Senate
but for moment The honorable Senator saws that this il
an omnibus BILL and that there on board
egitmaey The irst is California then the Territories
and then the Texas boundary question. The omnibus in
motion He says is proposed ntrude other
who, he thinks fit to be brought in association with
the geneel people already on board.
The gentleman has made great mistake so far "A am
concerned 1t is the honorable Senator from New Hampshire
Mr HALE who has undertaken stop this omnibus and TO
Introduce offensive passengers who likely annoy the
good people already the omnibus Now what done
have done what any civil sentleman-any humane man
would be inclined TO do propose put another
on board and perfectly decent one, who may expe the
fensive person. with view preventing his doing insult to
the company, may such figure. In other words
have dispatched weasel after being able otherwise
conveniently 10 accomplish the destruction of this peserous