Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1850-03-16
1nasbinetult Nrws.
ESsIoNAL.

Senate-Mr. Webster's Speech on the Slavery
Question-Mr. Ca'houn's Reply-House-
The Report ofthe Patent Office. Mr.. Hill
liards Personal Euplanation-Mr Stanly's
Rcply-Mr. Sterens-lfr. Stanton, &c.
., . WASHINGTON, March I, 1850.
As soon as the doors were opened this
morning, the ladies filled every available po-
sitod on the floor of the Chamber, and every
avenne leading thereto was crowded with
anxious aspirants for similar favors.
The Vice President stated the first business
before the Senate 10 be Mr. Clay's compro-
mise resolutions, on which Me. Walker had
the floor.
MIR. Walker briefly stated that the vast as
sembly which filled the Senate Chamber had
come to hear the Senator from Massachusetts
and stated tha; he would cheerfully give way
TO Mr.. Webster.
MIR. Webster rose and after expressing his
obligations to Mr.. Walker and 10 Mr.. Seward,
for having yielded the floor TO him, proceeded
to address the Senate. He rose, he said, not
as a Southern man or Northern man, but as
an American He hoped to discharge his du-
ty with fidelity, and with the trust, that the
storm which was now raging in the land
would be lulled He spoke for the preser-
walton of the Union with an anxious heart
for the restoration of that quiet and harmony
so necessary 10 the prosperity and happiness
! of the country. These were his objects, and
if he could do ever so little for them, his end
would be accomplished.
He proceeded 10 consider the events which
had led to the present difficulties, commen-
cling with relation of the war with Mexico
its battles, triumphs and results, the princi'
pal one Of which was the acquisition of vast
territories. Prior to the negotiations for peace
the people of California, assisted, perhaps, by
officers and citizens of the United States, re-
volted against The Government OF Mexico,
and ran up an independent flag The result
was that tide of emigration set towards San
Francisco from every country Of the world
The rich and apparently inexhaustible gold
| mines Of California were subsequently dis
covered, and this new wonder had increased
to wonderful degree the emigration 10 those
distant Shores.
He referred, next, TO the failure OF Congress
to provide territorial government for the
people of this new territory, and said that un-
der this state of things, those people had la
ken measures 10 establish local government
had selected Senators and Representatives
and sent them here, with their Constitution
to ask an immediate admission into the Union
This constitution, thus adopted, and now pre-
senled here, contained a clause prohibiting
slavery in the new State, which provision
had given Iise TO the opposition now made
10 her admission. Whatever was believed
TO be the object or manner of the commence
ment of the war with Mexico, it would gene,
rally be conceded that it was carried on with
a view 10 the acquisition of territory. Terri
tory was acquired but the natural especta,
tion that it would be slave territory was dis
appointed by the action OF the people of the
territory themselves.
Mr.. Webster then went into historical
consideration of the institution of slavery,
from the earliest ages to the present time
The ancients did not justify slavery, upon the
ground that the more intelligent, and there
fore the stronger, were superior TO the weaker
The Roman philosophers and iurisis defend
ed the institution of slavery upon the interna-
tional law-arguing rightly that the eonyen,
tional law Of nations admitted that the can
tives of war, whose lives, according 10 the
notion of that day, were at the mercy of the
captors, might, in return for their lives, be
made slaves for life-;the obligation also rest
u