The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1850-09-19
VOL. ".

Ia
ment to her Of ten millions They were d;s,;n".
different propositions. The Speakers replv 10
the second ground of the objection was simnlv o.
evasion. The bills, moved to he added wsro -
all intents and purposes pending as separate mo.s
ures before the House The decision os an.
Speaker, however, was sustained-yeas 100 n.vs
49, ''
After some uuimportant proceedings the tIou,o
adjourned.
Thursday the Goth, the subject was resumed
when Mr.. Meade objected to further action ON
the bill at this time as being out of order Tho
Speaker overruled the point Of order, and an ar.
peal being taken, it was laid upon the table M
Burt raised another point of order which was
overruled, and an appeal being taken, the speak.
err was sustained-yeas l54, nays 81
The floor was then assigned to Mr.. BOYD or
Kentucky, who made few emphatic remarks in
favor Of the bill, and closed by withdrawing 90
much Of his amendment as related to Utah.
Mr. Clngmsn of North Carolina moved n
amend the amendment, by provision for the e.
adjustment of Territorial Government in the
southern portion of California. Mr. Mcdonald
of Indiana objected to the amendment as out of
order-tbe SpAaker rnIAJ J, 30 o-ier--an apoe,l
-~--4 I--- ~ NJ T''r., - s1v...,Ig- :.
Duer OF New York moved to lay the appeal on
the table-this motion was carried-yeas I2s.
nays 6s-all the nays being from the free States.
Nothing is more clear than that the proposition Of
Mr.. Clingman was not germane to the bill, but
the entire Southern delegation, aided by pliable
Wings and Democrats from the North, sustained
the Speaker in his strange decision.
MIR. Clingman proceeded to make speech in
support of his amendment, and was followed by
Mr.. Ashmun Of Massachusetts, who declared
ments. There had been talking enough-he
wanted action. 81 have further to say" he add
ed, shat the precise bills which have passed the
Senate shall III have the opportunity to give
my vote upon them) receive my vote as separate
and distinct measures ] am willing to vote for
each one of them but in case they should not
succeed separately, am willing to vote for them
all in one bill But do not consider that the
best policy. am #;Ning 10 vote for this Ny, ,ss
Territorial bills the California BILL separately or
together believe, however, that each one of
| them, standing BY itself, separately on its own
merits, win command more strength in this
House Let us try at least the strength Of this
bill, as it stands by itself, unencumbered with
any amendments. II it fails, we can then try
what we can do by connecting other measures
with it."
He closed by moving the previous question.
Mr.. Ashmun, up to this time had been recognised
as pledged Free Soil Whg-a committed sup
doned this measure by avowing himself in favor
of the Territorial bills of the Senate together or
separately-bills excluding the Wilmot Proviso
The conjunction of Mr. Ashmun with Mr.. Boyd
in forcing through these Senate measures showed
that the Wings had given way. The Webster
influence was potential.
The Speaker explained that, if the previous
question were sustained, the question would be
put upon Mr.. Clingman's amendment, then, Mr.
Boyds, finally, upon the engrossment Of the
bill-so that there would be no opportunity for
further amendment The editor of the Ne,o York
Tyibme has innocently asked, why did not some
opponent of the bill move an amendment? Be-
cause there were 80 many Wings like Mr. Ash
mum, and Democrats like Mr.. McClernand, to
occupy the floor, ready to spring the previous
question on all DIRECTORS.
Much conversation took place on point of or
der raised by Mr.. Thompson of Mississippi and
subsequently, Withdrawn The question was then
taken on seconding the demand for the previous
question, which the House refused-yeas "a,
nays 107.
This shows that at this stage of proceedings
there was majority in favor Of amending the
bill
Mr.. Burt now moved to refer the bill and
amendments to the Committee of the Whole on
the state of the Union--and on this motion Mr..
McClernand, one Of the chief managers in the
movement, demanded the previous question. The
Speaker explained that, if the previous question
were seconded the House would be brought to
an immediate vote on the motion to commit and
if that failed, TO direct vote on the amendments,
and then on the engrossment Of the bill. Mr..
Burt withdrew his motion Mr.. McClernand re-
newed it, and demanded the previous question,
but the attempt to gag the House again failed,
there being only IS in favor of the demand-and
nit Unexpectedly to the managers, Mr. Root Of
Ohio, a man who never sleeps upon his post,
moved to amend by adding the following:
with instructions so to amend the bill as to
exclude slavery from all the territory acquired
from Mexico by the treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo,
lying eastward Of California"
He said, che did not present his amendment in
the expectation that the House was going to sup
port it. But he offered it to the House as a test,
in order that the country may see who is for the
exclusion of slavery and who is against it. Ifhe
was not greatly mistaken, this proposition would
smoke out the Doughfaces"
A debate sprsng up, in which Mr.. McClernand
of Illinois denounced the "agitators," and MIR.
Brooks of New York who was elected as a Will
mot Proviso man, announced his abandonment Of
the Proviso, denounced its advocates, and de-
clared himself convert to the doctrine of Non
Intervention.
Mr.. Brown of Mississippi told him his CONVEX
sion happened too late, when it could do no good,
and the South owed him no thanks The follow
ing coloquy will show the nature Of the defec
tion of leading Wings in the House-the base
ness Of their apostacy-although II will be found
that Treason to the cause Of Freedom prevailed
still more in the ranks of the Democratic men,
bers.
"Mr. Brown OF Mississippi He did not want
TO be cheated in this business and nc therefore
proposed this question to the honorable gentleman
from New York: Suppose We pass these Utah
and New Mexican bills at this session without
the Wilmot Proviso and suppose the Southern
people commence moving into the Territories with
their slaves, and IL becomes apparent that they