The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1850-07-04
CONGRESS-, THE LAST WEEK.

several EFFORTS were made by the friends OF the
immediate and unconditional admission of Cali
fornia to resume the consideration of the Califor-
mia bill, but they were abortive and then much
time was wasted, purFOsely, we fear, in the dis
cussiOn Of the questions above mentioned.
Having disposed Of the Iowa case last Saturday,
'nSEv ue1ng rnvnl sl,~,ss. oI~e>, Z. G1oa16t ras
made to 20 into COnmittee Of the Whole on the
state of the Union, for the purpose of taking up
the bill for the admission of California 1t was
then only half-past one o'clock, and there was no
reason which could justify further pOstponement
But the opponents of California, sustained by
many Northern Wings and Democrats, carried an
adjournment.
We cannot shut our eyes to the fact that the
majority Of the House is acting in relation to this
matter with what seems to US criminal indifTer-
ence OF timidity The country is scandalzed at
the inertness and inefficiency Of its representa-
tives. There is majority of at least fifty in the
House in favor Of the admission of California sep
arately from all other questions Have they no.
been forbearing enoughl Has not time enough
been lost Was 1t in this way the friends of
Texas trihed when they urged her annexation to
this country? There was nc halEheartedness
then They were bold, rapid, decisive In a
sVsh better cause, with a larger majority, what
Is the conduct of Northern Representative? We
cSS upon the people'tS Iuske'tkscHss=-sE NJ -
and felt in Washington There will be resist
ance perhaps fictious and extreme But this
might as well be at once encountered. Let the
struggle come now, or next August, or next year,
it will be all the same. The majority must resolve,
and execute its purpose. On it devolves the re-
sponsblity. 1t can vote down all motions calcu-
lated to delay obstruct business 1t can sit all
day and all night, and seven days and nights in
the week. Let it be calm, cool, enduring, i'm
movable. Until the minority become convinced
that the majority has fully made up its mind and
taken position from which it is never to be
driven there will be no hope for California.
In the Senate, Mr. Soule moved an amendment
embodying the policy ofthe Missouri Compromise
line 1t proposed the extension of the line of
36O 30 to the Pacific, thus dividing California,
the part below the line to be formed into Terri
tory. He supported his motion in a speech occu-
plying parts of two duys, and characterized by
much ability. Mr.. Soule is a classical speaker.
and though you may differ from his opinions, you
cannot fail to admire the graceful energy with
which he enforces them. Generally, Mr.. Soule
is distinguished for his courtesy but the exordiun
OF his late speech was extremely faulty both in
style and temper 1t does not become the foreigner
who by the liberality of our institutions has &C.
CURED home among us, and high seat in our
national councils, TO undertake to question the
right Of American-born citizens to discuss freely
any subject which, in their Judgment, affects the
interests of the Union or to revile as fanatics n
large majority Of the people of the country that
has kindly adopted him. Fifteen State Legisla-
lures of this Union representing twothirds of the
Tree population Of the United States, have passed
solemn resolves in favor of the policy of the posi-
tive prohibition of slavery extension This con-
sideratiOn should restrain Mr.. Soule from char
ging the supporters of the Wilmot Proviso with a
blind fanaticism" Towards foreign immigrants
wewould exercise the utmost lberality We would
admit them promptly to the rights of citizenship,
placing them upon an equality with the home
population. But, in return, we have right to
demand from them respect and courtesy towards
all the members Of the great political family to
whose privileges they have been welcomed.
Mr.. Soule labored to show that his substitute
was necessary TO secure to the United States the
right to the public domain lying in California, and
that the boundaries Of California were extrava.
CANT and unnatural He was answered by Mr..
Douglas Of Illinois in a strong, conclusive speech;
and by Mr.. Webster who, in clear, compact ar
sument demolished the theory Of the Louisiana
Senator in relation to our public domain
MIR Davis of Mississippi supported the amend
ment in speech imbued with the spirit of the
Nashville Convention, with whose proceedings he
appears to sympathize.
MIR. Foote also addressed the Senate in expla-
nation and vindication of his course in relation to
the Compromise bill He showed that he had
been an early and earnest advocate Of the Mis-
souri, Compromise line; that in this particular, he
had differed from Mr. Calhoun, who denounced
that Compromise as the necessary source of
geographical distinctions and parties that this
same line, as basis Of adjustment, was then
strenuously opposed by those who now were dis
posed to make it a sine qna non; that he visited
Mr. Buchanan last year, with view to induce
him to make declaration in favor of its policy
that Mr.. Buchanan, in the early part of the pres
ont session, had letter prepared, in which he
took ground in support of it, and that it was
withheld from publication only because Mr. FoOte
and some other Southern gentlemen, on full in
quiry, came to the conclusion that it would not
receive the support of Southern men.
Mr.. Foote said that he then fell back upon the
doctrine Of non.intervention--a doctrine first in
sisted upon by Mr.. Calhoun, and fully en-
bodied in the Compromise bill Those who we're
now 30 intent upon the Missouri Compromise line
meant nothing more than to defeat this bill For
himself, he would vote for that line, because he
approved of it, although he knew it could not be
adopted and he intended to stand by the Compro-
mise bill, whatever the consequences 10 himself
He saw no necessity for disunon and, should the
people of his own State, under present circum-
stances, the Compromise bill passing, raise the
Dag Of disuniOn, so help him Heaven, he could
serve them no longer
Mr. Foote is bold and an ardent politician, de-
voted in heart, We doubt not, to the Union. His
present position separates him in action from his
colleague in the Senate, and the Representatives
Of Mississippi in the House and it is not unlikely
that he will be compelled to fight just such bat
tle in his own State against ultras and dlsunion-
lists, as Mr.. Benton has commenced in Missouri.
We need hardly inform our readers that the
substitute of Mr. Soule was voted down Ii is
extreme folly to dream of re6stablishing the Mis-
souri, Compromise line, or dividing California.
The vote ON his substitute stood as follows
YFAs-Aiehiasoa, BamreH, Berrin, Buler,
Clemens, Darts Of Mississippi, Da~sOa DOpns,
80 Hnunon. Hnntsr. kAg Mason MOTION |