The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1850-05-22

declarations were made long ago-as far back
any how as General Jackson's administration. lie
had never heard any complaints from any quarter
account of this declaration.
IL is implied by the Senator that the President
has directed a naval armament TO go TO CUBA Tor
certain SPECIFIC purposes; and, II the iacts are as
they conceded 10 be, those purposes are strictly
constitutional, proper, and positively required by
the statute.
The fact is that a military expedition has been
fitted in the United States TO go TO foreign land
and this is prohibited, and il is made the duty of
the President by law 10 prevent il. The law says
a military expedition in the United States. There
difference whether the expedition Is fitted out
by citizens of the United States, or others. The
fact to be ascerained is, whether the military
petition fitted out in the United States; and,
If the fact be so, the law makes il the imperative
duty of the President to arrest H. using the military
and naval forces of the Government for that pur-
pose, wherever the same may be found within the
jurisdiction of the United States. The jurisdiction
Of the United States extends every where equally
for the protection of the United States and for the
citizen, where the flag of the United States is used
And every vessel sailing under that flag, wherever
she may be, in the harbor OF foreign port, Is
much under the jurisdiction OF the United States
as If she were in the harbor of New Orleans. This
denied few days ago by the member from
Ohio, and the Senator from New York said no
believedi it. Who doubted it now1
The law directed that the naval and military
forces of the United States shall be used for the sup
preston of such an expeditions if the naval arma-
ment was to be used, where could 1t be used il not
on the high seas!
The Senator thinks that warrants for the arrest
of these parties necessary, and that the Presi-
dent has no power TO arrest them without the war
rant. Suppose instruction were to break out,
would not the President have power to suppress it?
Would he require warrant to arrest an expedition
which would come up the Potomac 10 burn this
Capitol?
He had seen, on the part Of the President, such
disposition Of hostility 10 the cause OF freedom. He
believed the President knew what his duty was,
and that he would perform it firmly; and he be-
leved also, that the President was about as good
republican as the most OF them.
Mr.. CLAY said that he thought the resolution
somewhat premature, but he did not rise to discuss
it. He had no desire, and he hoped the Senate had
no intention to leave California and follow expe
dition TO Cuba. He moved, as the hour had now
solution on the table And the motion prevailed
SPECIAL ORDER.
The Senate then resumed the consideration Of
the special order, being the bill reported by the
select committee of thirteen to admit California as
State into the Union; to establish territorial gov
crnInents for Utah and New Mexico; and making
proposals to Texas for the establishment Of her
western and northern boundaries.
The question pending was on motion by Mr.
DAVIS, of Mississippi, to amend the following por
ton of the tenth section of the BILL "That the legis
lative power of said Territory (Utah shall extend
to all rightu subjects oflegslation, consistent with
the Constitution of the United States and the pro-
visions of this act but no law shall be passed in
teriering with the primary disposal of the soil,
respect TO african sldrey, &C., by adding there
to:
Provided That nothing contained in this section
shall be so construed as to prevent the territorial
legislature from passing such police other laws,
or providing such remedies may protect the
owners of African slaves in said Territory, who
may remove to said Territory, in the enjoyment of
such rights as they may possess under the Consti-
| tuition and laws of the United States.
Mr.. SOULE said that he desired to lay before the
Senate and the country few remarks explanatory
of his position in respect to the bill before the SEN
ate, and particularly in respect to the amendment
| of the Senator from Mississippi, Mr. DAvIs.)
He said that all the points in difference between
the North and the South might be stated under
four heads.
The first relates to the claim the part of the
South to an equal share in the enjoy of the
Territories of the Union.
The second relates TO that power, which is de-
MED by the South, in Congress over the subject of
slavery IN the District of Columbia and the slave
trade between the States.
The third point relates to the right on the part of
the citizen OF slave States 10 go into free State
and reclaim his fugitive slave
And the fourth to the boundaries of Texas; a
question pertaining almost TO that State
but from circumstances intimately connected with
matters which make the settlement of all those sub
jects question of deep moment TO the country.
He desired to consider these subjects they had
been disposed Of by the Compromise committee.
The last point had been settled by the committee
| reducing the boundaries OF that State from what
they under the resolutions Of annexation, and
| reducing the of slave territory two degrees
more than what was done by the Missouri com
promise line.
On the point relating the recepture of fugitive
slaves, the committee have reported certain amend
ments, and seem not TO have considered that this
difficulty grows out Of any fault on the part Of the
North 10 perform their obligations, but the amend
ments based the probable abuse Of its rights
by the South; an abuse, however, which the com
mittee was forced 10 admit has never occurred.
On the second point, the committee have reported
if
making provision against the bringing in Of any
slave for the purpose Of sale TO resident who may
require one.
in favor Of the unconditional admission Of Califor
MA and equivalent for all this, gives 10 the
South the provision in this section, coupled with
the declaration in the report and in the speech Of
the Senator from Kentucky, that slavery is now by
law prohibited in the Territories.
The compensation given 10 the South u the
statute law OF Mexico, with the prohibition in this
section upon the territorial legislature for altering
abOlishng that law, Of giving that protection
to slave property which is necessary il security
and preservation II by this section the commit
tee intended any protection or security 70 the
South, they should not hesitate to vote for the
He then read and examined Mr.. CLAWS compro-
mise resolutions and stated that they said that Con-
gress should not pass any law concerning slavery
IN the Territories. This section was not as accept
able that part OF those resolutions, Tor u makes
Congress egisate directly, declaring that the ter
ritoral legislature shall not pass any law ON the
subject Of slavery; thus indirectly assuming that
Congress has the power 10 control the legislature
Of the Territory on the subject Of slavery. What
southern Senator who believes the Wilmot prOyiso
unconstitutional could vote for this section,
lie next examined the question Of the abolition Of
slavery by Mexico. lie considered il beyond
doubt that slavery abolished by Mexican law;
and then proceeded To inquire whether those laws
Of Mexico abolishing African slavery, were now in
force. lie came 10 the conclusion that they we're
not. Those who maintained that the Mexican laws
abolishing African slavery were now in force, must
by the same course Of reasoning, admit that the
Mexican laws in relation 10 white slavery or peon-
age were also in force. Peonagc was slavery for
debt The gentlemen must admit that If the Mex
lean laws are in force, then, while African can
not be held in bondage, free white American citi-
zen maj y, under the same laws, be held the peon
| Of Mexican lepero. He would not now reflect on
the character Of that system VI slavery particularly
II recognised by the constitution Of sister
State Of this Confederacy.
In the constitution OF Vermont, whose resolutions
| produced such excitement here some time since,
was provision authorizing the very same system
Of slavery (Mr. :. then read the article in the con
/ stitutiOn Of Vermont alluded to.)