Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1850-03-30

upon that have discretion but upon all other points
am ready unite with the just LIBERAL and patriotic
OF all parties TO put end to the controversy The ques
on Is already settled, far slavery concerned The
country now free by law and in fac- free according
TO nose laws Of nature and Of God which the Sena-
TOR from Massachusetts alluded and forever remain
iree VIII be Tree under any bill you may pass, with
out any bill at oil. 1t would have been free under all
either OF the ellis that have been poposed-under ter
rHotm Dill with Of without the prohbon-under the Clay
ton bill the State BILL under the bill at
commended by the Administration which the of all,
because contains all the elements Of mischief without
OF the advantages of either Of the other propositions.
conceive that there man in the Senate who be-
heves that the result would be precisely the same far
as relates TO slavery under each, either neither Of these
various propositions Why them we not settle the
mon For the most difficult Of all reasons; pride Of opinion
IS involved II requires but little courage firmly
and resoutey in the support Of previously expressed opinions.
Pride OF character seove the strongest passions of the hu
man heart, all impel forward and onward. But when
ne Is called upon to review his former opinions confess
and abandon his errors sacrifice pride to his conscience
requires the exercise Of The highest qualities Of nature
the exeon OF moral courage which elevates almost
above humanity ITSELF brilliant example Of this may be
found in the recent speech Of the distinguished Senator fom
always excepting that portion relating to the
Northern Democracy This pride Of opinion all that stands
In the way Of speedy, harmonious and satisfactory adjust
ment OF this vexsd question few Senators feel themselves
by positive instructions, which leave them no dis
crelion, but by far the greater difficulty arises from the
thoughtless commas during the presidential in po
ca speeches, public meetings, and partisan action, smu-
lated by policy which looked only partisan triumph,
tiny Of the country. We all perceive and feel to certain
extent these endorsements. My hands tied upon
unimporant point
i A SENATOR. Can you not break loose,
i Mn. DouGLAs have desire to break loose. My
opinions my own, and express them freely My
belong to those who sent here and whom am respon
sbe have never differed with my constituency during
seven years service in Congress- except upon solitary
question and even that have constitutional difficult
ties and have previously twice given the VOTE under
similar circumstances which required at my hands,
hoya
tion know my duty well to inerpose my private opn-
ions in opposition the deliberate soemny expressed wishes
OF my State And yet am free to say that firmly believe
the will come indeed il has not already arrived when
my constituents will that they have msIed and de-
upon this question: and that the their
tive was pursuing In reference to il SAFE prudent and
discreet at the time that would have led to the
result that they propose to accomplish in different mode.
Mr. President, find that am extending my remarks too
far, and occupying time than intended. will en-
deavor to return to the point from which dverged be-
was answering the objections urged against the admis
sion OF California; with the view Of showing that they were
not well founded, that the Irregularities complained Of ex-
isted in large number not majority, of the new States
which havebeen received the Unon and that there
regular rule upon the subject Had Florida census She
had taken in s4 showing that she then had only about
one-ha OF the population requisite to ente her to member
OF Congress- and yet she admitted in lS45 without any
other census or the previous of Congress-
Mr.. YULEE. Will the Senator allow to state the facts
Mr.. DouGLAs. Certainly.
Mr. IuLEE. census Of the population was taken under
the people taken upon the question of application for admis
sion into the Union In the year convention of the
eope assembled in pursuance Of law and adopted consi-
tuition committee OF the convention prepared and trans
mied memorial to Congress applying for the admission Of
Forida accompanied with the constitution, and with an
report OF the taken under the act OF 1885,
This proved that including the estimated population
OF those counties from which returns received was
equal TO the ratio Of representation, which believe
the time At 700 The application for admission
finally acted upon until lS45. No formal taken in
of the Legislature laid before the committees Of the
Houses which satisfied them Of sufficient population
| Mr.. DoUGLAs Well, have The facts stated by
the Senator from Florida In 1888 the constitution form
ed by the people of Florida without the previous assent of
Congress, and without any law authorizing convention
called for that purpose and without census taken I'M
der the authority If the United States 1880, although
the people Of the Territory had made such computations and
estimates satisfied them that they had the requisite popula
ton. In 1910 taken and, 10 the best OF my
recollection, showed population Of between forty and fifty
thousand being little than oneha of the amount
qured by the appoonment for member of Congress The
constitution Of Florida laid covered up under the dust
and rubbish Of the files Of the Senate and House Of Repesen
tatives from 1888 lS45 when the Senator hen dele
gate from Foda brought forth and asked to bring that
State into the Unon which done without any other
sus being taken.
from 1898 to ls45, but it because the North
willing to depart from the practice which had grown into
of admitting slave and savehodng States in pairs We
delayed, notwithstanding peremptory treaty provision
mission, and then admitted in the
Mr.. DoueLAs When did the North oppose the admission
of Florida at any time between 1888 and 1915 am
aware that the North opposed it that the South supported
il. Will the Senator inform what from the South
proposed advocated tho admission of Florida during any
portion OF that period
Mr.. YULEE. There any report, and her appca
ton never brought to a vote.
Mr.. DOUGLAS Did any Southern advocate report
in your favor, any Northern man oppose it
Mr. YULEE. was not here at the time Of the application.
Mr.. DoUGLAs. And if you not here, and bad
personal knowledge The subject bow you venture
charge the North with having defeated your application
to know whether any man. North South, supported
the proposition.
Mr. KING. Why
Mr.. DOUGLAS. do not ask why. desire to know the
fact wish to know upon what evidence the Senator from
Florida charges the North with having kept Florida Of
the Union for years. and at the time Initiating
that the South desired her admission
Mr. YULEE. presume the South desrous
than the North to disregard what had be considered
proper practice in the admission OF States, wit,
proper regard the equilibrium of the sections in the
Senate.
Mr.. DouGLAs. know of no such practice, no such
usage. 1t has happened that and while slave
time the result of accident and net Of settled pur
pose preserve equilibrium between the free and slave
holding States We disavow any such purpose. 1t
doctrine bfoached for the first time during the last few days.
Michigan and Arkansas brought into the Union the
session, and Iowa and Florida in the but it
so done merely because those States happened be