The North-Carolina standard., 1850-05-22

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THE COMPROMISES REPORT.
Mr.. CLAY, from the Select Committee to whom
were referred various resolutions relating to Calfor
nia to other portions of the territory recently acqui
ed bv the United States from the republic of Mexico
and to other subjects connected with the institution
of slavery, having, according to order, had these
solutions and subjects under consideration, presented
the following report:
The Committee entered on the discharge of their
duties with deep sense of their great importance,
and with earnest and anxious soicitude to arrive at
such conclusions might be satisfactory to the SEN
ate and to the country. Most of the matters referred
have been not only subjected to extensive and serious
public discussion throughout the country, but to de-
bate in the Senate ITSELF singular for its elaborateness
and its duration that full exposition of all those
motives and views which, on the several bjects
confded to the committee, have determined the con-
cusions at which they have arrived, seems quite
necessary They will, therefore, restrict themselves
to few general observations, and to some reflections
which grow out OF those subjects.
Out of recent territorial acquisitions, and In
conpexon with the institution of slavery, questions
most grave have sprung, which, greatly dividing
and agating the people of the United States, have
threatened to disturb the harmony if not to endanger
the safety, of the Union. The committee believe it
to be highly desirable and necessary speedily to ad
lust all those questions in spirit of concord, and in
tion They think it would be unwise to leave any
of them open and unsettled, to tester in the public
mind, and to prolong if not aggavate, the existing
agitation. 1t has been their object therefore, in this
report, to make such proposals and recommendations
would accomplish general adjustment of all those
questions.
Among the subjects referred to the committee,
which command their first attention, are the resolu
lions offered to the Senate by the senator from Ten
nessee, Mr.. Bell. By provision in the resolution
of Congress annexing Texas to the United States, 1t
is declared that new States of convenient size, not
exceeding four in number, in addition to said State
Of Texas, and having sufficient population, may here
after bv the consent of said State, be formed out of
the territory thereof, which shall be entitled to adis
under the provisions of the Federal Constitutions
and such States may be formed ont of that portion
Of said territory lying south of $50 80 north latitude
commonly known as the Missouri compromise line,
shall be admitted into the Union with or without
slavery as the people of each State asking admission
may desire.''
The committee are unanimously of opinion, that
whenever one or more States, formed out of the ter
tory of Texas not exceeding four, having sufficient
population, with the consent of Texas, may apply
be admitted into the Union, they are entitled to such
admission, beyond all doubt, upon the clear, unambi-
guous, and absolute terms of the solemn compact
contained in the resolution of annexation adopted by
Congress and assented to by Texas. But, whilst the
committee conceive that the right of admission into the
Union of any new States carved out of the territory
Of Texas, not exceeding the number specified. and
under the conditions stated cannot be justly con-
overted, the committee do not think that the forma-
ton of any such new States should now originate
with Congress: The initiative, in conformity with
the usage which has heretofore prevailed, should be
taken by portion of the people of Texas themselves
desrous of constituting new State, with the con-
sent of Texas. And in the formation of such new
States, it will be for the people composing it to de-
eide for themselves whether they will admit or will
exclude slavery. And however they may decide that
purely municipal question, Congress is bound to ac-
quesce, and fulfil in good faith the stpuatons of
the compact with Texas. The committee are aware
that has been contended that the resolution of Con-
gress annexng Texas was unconstitutional. AT a
former epoch of our country's history, there were
those (and Mr. Jefferson, under whose auspices the
treaty of Louisiana was concluded, was among them)
who believed that the States formed out of Louisiana
could not be received into the Union without an
amendment of the Constitution. But the States of
Louisiana, Missouri, Arkansas, and Iowa have been
ALL nevertheless, admitted. And who would now
gon, or other States formed out of the ancient
province of Louisiana, upon the ground of alleg-
ed original defect of constitutional power! In grave.
national transactions, while yet in their earlier or in
clPent stages, differences may well exist; but when
once they have been decided BY constitutional ma
Jorlty, and are consummated, are in process of
consummation there can be other safe and prudent
alternative than to respect the decision already
dered, and to acquiesce in it. Entertaining these
views, majority of the committee do not think it
necessary or proper at this time,
pecvey, any new State or States to be formed out of
the Territory of Texas. Should any such State be here
after formed, and present itself for admission into the
Union, whether with or without the establishment of
slavery it cannot be doubted that Congress will,
der tu sense Of honor, of good faith, and of all
the high obligations arising out of the compact with
Texas, decide, just it will decide under the nfu-
enee of similar considerations in regard to new States
formed of out of New Mexico and Utah, with OF
without the institution of slavery according to the
conclusions and judgment of the people who com
pose them, as to what may be best to promote thei
happiness.
In considering the question of the admission o.
California as State into the Union, majority of the
committee conceive that any irregularity bY which
that State was organized without the previous author
OF an act ct Congress ought to be overlooked il
consideration of the omission by Congress to estab
sh any territorial government for the people of Cal
ornla and the consequent necessity which they were
under to create a government for themselves bes
adapted to their own wants. There are various in.
stances, prior to the case of California, of the adms
sion Of new States into the Union without any pre.
slous authorization by Congress. The sole condi
on required by the Constitution of the United States
respect to the admission of new State is that its
constitution shall be republican in FORM Californis
Presents such constitution; and there is no doub
oi her having greater population than that which
according TO the practice Of the government, has beer
nerefore deemed sufficient to receive new n int
the Union. -''>
=. regard to the proposed boundaries Of California
Me Committee would have been glad If there existed