The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1850-03-14
Sppsen az Rnx. snstEy wpasFRR.
OF MASSACAUNErTx,
ON THE TERRITORIAL QUESTION.

IN senate OF tniteA
The VICE PRESIDENT The resolutions
submitted by the Senator from Kentucky were
inside the special order Of the day Mt IL O'Clock.
On this subject, the Senator from Wisconsin
tMr WaLxyR has the floor ---------------
MIR WALKER MIR President this vast au-
dience has not assembled to hear me and there is
but one man, in my opinion, who can assemble
such an audience. They expect to hear him, and
| feel it to be my duty, well as my pleasure, to
give the floor, therefore, to the Senator from Mas
sachusetts. understand il is immaterial to him
upon which of these questions he speaks, and
therefore | will not move to postpone the special
order.
Mr. WEBSTER. beg to express my obliga-
lions to my friend from Wisconsin, Mr.. WALK.
Err as we'll as to my friend from New York
Mr.. SEWARD, for their courtesy in allowing me
to address the Senate this morning
Mr.. President, wish TO speak to-day, not as a
Massachusetts, man, nor as Northern man, but
as an American, and member Of the Senate of
the United States Ii Is fortunate that there is n
Senate of the United States--a body not yet
moved from its propriety, not lost to just sense
of its own dignity, and its own high responsible
ties, and body to which the country looks with
confidence for wise moderate, patriotic, and heal
ing doctrine Ii is not to be denied that we live
in the midst Of strong agtstions, and in the
midst Of very considerable dangers to our institu-
tions Of Government. The imprisoned winds are
let loose The T. lst, the West, the North, and
the stormy South, all combine to throw the whole
ocean into commotion, and to toss its pillows to
the skies, and to disclose its profoundest depths
do not expect, Mr.. President TO hold, or to be fit
to hold, the helm in this combat Of the political
elements; but ! have duty to perform and
mean to perform IL with fdelity-not without
sense Of the surrounding dangers, but not without
hope. have a part to act, not for my own secu-
rty or safety, for am looking out for no fragment
upon which to float away from the wreck, ifwreck
there must be, but for the good Of the whole, and
the preservation Of the whole; and there is that
which will keep me TO my duty during this strug-
gle whether the sun and the stars shall appear or
shall not appear for many days speak to-day
for the preservation Of the Union. "Hear me for
my causen speak to-day, out Of soicitous and
anxious heart, for the restoration to the country
Of that quiet and that harmony which make the
blessings of tho Union rich and so dear TO us
all. These are the topics thsti propose to myself
to discuss these are the motives, and the sole
motives, that influence me In the wish to commu-
nicate my opinions to the Senate and the country ;
and If | can do anything however little, for the
promotion Of these ends, shall have accomplished
| all that desire.
Mr. President, it may not be amiss TO recur very
briefly to the events which, equally sudden and
extraordinary, have brought the political condi-
ton of the country to what 1t now is. la May,
! lsi6, the United States declared war against
| Mexico. Her armies, then on the frontiers, en-
tered the provinces Of that Republic met and de-
fested all her troops penetrated her mountain
passes and occupied her capital. The marine
force Of the United States took possession OF her
forts and her towns on the Atlantic and on the
Pacific. In less than two years treaty was ne
gotiated, by which Mexico coded to the United
States q vast territory, extending seven or eight
hundred miles along the shores OF the Pacific;
reaching back over the mountains, and across the
DESERT until IL Joined the frontier Of the State OF
Texas 1t 80 happened that, in the distracted and
feeble state of the Mexican Government, before
the declaration Of war by the United States
against Mexico had become known in California,
that the people Of California, under the lead Of
American officers perhaps, generally, overthrew
the exsting Provincial Government Of California,
the Mexican authorities, and run up an iudepen-
dent flag. When the news arrived Mt San Fran.
cisco that war had been declared by the United
States against Mexico, this Independent flag WA
pulled down, and the stars and stripes OF THU
Union hoisted In its stead. So, sir, before The
war was over, the powers Of the United States
. military and naval, had possession OF San Fran
cisco and Upper California, and great rush O
cmigrants from various parts OF the world tool
{ place into California in 1916 and lsA7. But now
behold another wonder.
In January Of lS4s, the Mormons, 1t Ia said, OF
!, some Of them, made discovery OF an extrsordi
!, narily rich mine Of gold-or, rather, OF very
great quantity Of gold, hardly fit TO be called I
I. | mine for II was spread 20 near the surface--oI