The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1850-04-18
CONGRESS.
CONGRESS FIRST SESSION.
SENATE.
THURSDAY, APRIL II, 1850.

7 a,;slature of Michigan In favor Of the Union,
md authorizing the Senators Of that State in
Congress 20 TO act and vote as would best promote
The interests Of The Union. Mr.. Csss accompa-
MED the presentation with few words in har-
mony with their spirit.
AZ the expiration Of the morning hour, the or
ders of the day were called The first business
in order was the series Of resolutions submitted
by Mr. Clay but these not being moved, the
California Message was taken up, and, on motion
If Mr.. Upham who wished to speak on the sub
iect. postponed till Monday. The Senate then re-
sumed the consideration Of Mr.. Bells resoiu-
lions These MIR Foote had moved to refer to
Select Committee of Thirteen, with instructions
10 ascertain whether they can natures scheme Oh
compromise for the settlement Of all the ques-
tions arising out of the institution oil slavery.
To this motion Mr. Baldwin had submitted an
amendment, adding thereto the following;
But nothing in this resolution shall be con-
strued TO authorize the said Committee to take IN
10 consideration anything which relates 10 the
admission of the State Of California into the
Union a..
The Vice President stated the question on the
latter amendment.
NJ Rentou Mr. President, gave, as reason
INV The senate should not mix up other matters
,;b Tho hill for the admission Of California, that
IN The course Of the sixty years OF our Legislation
"a - The admission Of seventeen States, there
had hssn M example of mixing up any foreign
,aa,,ar With their admission. Evefy STE -Aa3
core in on its own merits, or in company with
something connected with the State IL was sup
nosed that there was some error In that state-
ment of mine and as deemed 1t very male
rial thing that we should not now commence Win
a new State--a course which Is without prece-
dence in the annals Of our legislation-i wished,
by reference to facts connected with the aonis-
sion NJ new States. to show that this thing has
go hesn dome before. The FIRST case | cite is
that of the State of Vermont. She was admit
ted bv an act of February is, 1871, and nothing
cond he more simple or brief than that provision,
nor more worthy of our imitation now. IL is en-
titled
q An act for the admission of The State Of Vermont
into this Union.
uThe State of Vermont having petitioned the
Congress to be admitted member Of the United
States:
@Be II enacted by The Senate and House Of Repre-
seHtatiues of the United States Of America IN Con-
PRESS assembled and is hereby enacted and deetaTed
That on the fourth day Of March, one thousand
seven hundred and ninety-one, the said State, by
the name and style of the State Of Vermont,
-....s<y ;,,$r - T'--i'tsd ipto. this Union.
as a new and entire member of the United States
of America"
Approved February IS, l79l.-p Stat. at Lar,
1917
This is the first case; the next is the case Of
Kentucky.
Act of February 4, 1871, consents to the for
nation of the new State, and provides that =" on
the first day of June, one thousand seven hundred
and ninety-two,n it shall be received and ad-
mitted into this Union as a new and entire MEN,
- A. toI % Ann tat
at Lar, 1897
The act is in the briefest form, and contains
no other subject.
The next is the State Of
Tennessee - Admitted by the act of lst of
June, 1896. The act is in the briefest form, and
contains no other subject-(Stat. at Lar, 49l)
The next is the State Of
Ohio-Act to authorize the formation of Con-
stitution and State Government, sand for The ad-
mission Of such STATE into The Union" Approved
3Oth April, ls02-t2 Stat. at Lar, 1871
Act of 10Th February, 1903, to provide for
the due execution Of the laws of the United
States within the State of Ohio" declares the
State to have become one Of the United &ates"--
Il Stat at Lar 20l
Neither act embraces any other subject than
relates to the STATE Of Ohio.
There the act authorizing the formation of a
Constitution, and her admission into the Union,
were one and the same act, and containing moth
ing in the world that did not relate to the admis-
sion of the State.
Lo.;..s~a--AAmitied sth April 1912 The
act includes nothing that does not relate to that
State --t2 Stat. at Lar, 70l
Iadiaaa-Admitted by joint resolution Of It'll
December, 1916. Clear Of any other natter
g Stat at Lar, 1897
Observation-Disclosures by joint resolution of
u nha~ pfaip haotd aQ
the admission.-(3 Stat. at Lar, 472)
IHinois-Admitted by joint resolution of Sd
December, 1918. Contains nothing but the adj
mission.-(3 Stat at Lar, SAL
Alabaw.--Admitted by joint resolution Of 18th
December, 1919. Contains nothing but the adj
mission. -(3 Stat. at Lar. COS
Maiae.-Admitted by act of Sd March, 1920
Naked admissiou-(3 Stat at Lar, SAD
Missomi-Admitted by joint resolution of 2l
March, 1921 Contains nothing but admission,
and condition for the STATE to perform.--(Stat. at
Lar, 645)
I submit, sir, to the Senator from Kentucky,
who supposed that there was something else mixed
up with the act of admission, that it was merely
when the act was passed which authorized the
formation Of the meeting Of the Convention to
form the State Constitution, but that the joint
resolution for the admission Of the State itself
was posterior to that time. The resolution was
year after. That resolution contained a single
condition, which condition being complied with,
the President was authorized by proclamation to
declare Maine one of the States Of the Union
Ark0was.-Admitted by act of June Is, 1886.
Contains nothing that does not relate to Arkan-
sls.-(i Stat. ut Lar, 50)
Miehigqn-Admitted by act Of Goth January,
1887. Naked admission.-(4 Stat. at Lar, l44 J
Iona and Fiorida-Admitted by the same act,
81 March, ls45. Contains nothing that does not
relate to those States.--(5 Stat. at Lar, 742)
This is the only instance, sir, in which two
States have been coupled together in the same
bill at the time of their admission. These States
were put together. IL was case Of equal dig
nifty, and therefore they might 90 together. But
there was nothing in the act which related tc
anything not Immediately connected with one oil
both Of those States. And even this precedent
had been previously overruled in the case of Ar
kansas and Michigan, when pending before THU
body at the same time. These States were refer
red to two separate committees Mt the same time
reported upon in separate bills, and passed il
this chamber p0ri possu because it was held to b.
the right Of each State to have a separate consid
GRAFTON.
Teros-Joint resolution, lst March, 1s45.
Wiseonsm-Act Of 81 March, ls47. Relate
only to concerns of the State
Now, sir, the admission of a new State int
the Union is clear question of constitutions
authority. Congress has the written authorit,
for the admission Of States. In some cases /
becomes obligatory upon Congress to admit new
state and that is the case in every instance il
which the Congress Of the United States is un
der obligation or compact to admit q new State
when il shall fulfil such conditions as are pre
scribed. This is the case with respect to Califor
MIA. By our treaty with Mexico, we entered in
10 covenant with her to admit these State
when it could be done consistently with the prin
c,ples OF the Constitution and the system Of ouI
Government. We have both constitutional au
,hority and treaty obligation upon us for actin,
upon this subject. For, as | have said before
Salliorna has fulfilled every prerequisite which
necessary to entitle her to the right Of State