Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1850-04-13


say that think the Senator entirely mistaken in the fact
which he asserts that if the present bill for the admission he
adopted the public domain Of that country will not belong ID
this Government But sir he is mistaken entirely, for my
bill for the admission of California is in the usual form
is framed The principle that bills for the admission Of
States heretofore have been framed and the Senator will find
upon examination that it exact transcript of two or three
Of the bills that have been for the admission of
new States into this Union. well of the COM
pacts of which he speaks those comPacts generally
parts of bills admitting States into the Union. They
have been generally separate bills passed at different times
they were matters OF compact, not generally embraced in
the bill and the referring my State not
part Of the bill admitting my State Hence my aiten-
ton has been drawn to this subject and prepared when
the bill for the admission Of California up for consider
aon to ndcate against any charges which may be made
think that the turn this discussion has taken ought adj
mon.h to proceed to the consideration Of the bill
for the admission Of CALIFORNIA; which practical question
Mr. DOWNS. would inquire of the Senator from Iii.
nos il he that any State having public lands
within her limits has been admitted into the Union until the
Government the constitutional authority Of the State had
into formal compact to cede the public domain the
General Government
Mr.. DOUGLAS The questiono the Senator from Loui-
sana fully propey of the motion which am about
to make. If the Senate will proceed to the consideration of
the bill for the admission Of California, prepared then
vndcate from all the charges that may be brought against
desire have discussion upon the merits of the question:
and upon the bill ITSELF And, sir, if show that the
bill precisely it ought to be and that not of the OBJ
jectons really exist which Senators advance, will offer
amendments myself that will obvate those objections that
they shall not be able make criticisms the subject
Mr.. FOOTE. Will the Senator from Illinois allow to
say word
Mr.. DOUGLAS. Certainly, if it is by way Of sug-
gestion.
Mr.. FOOTE. would state that in my opinion mme-
date action upon the resolution had the honor to offer in
perfect harmony with the objection raised by the Senator from
Illinois, 1t is certainly true that this committee will be raised
probably in few moments and the Senator then
10 proceed to the consideration Of his ba motion which
shall always be happy sustain. know that gentlemen
the
proposition Immediately before Let raise this
mittee without any further discussion.
Mr. DOUGLAS As have said the whole merits Of the
bill for the admission Of California be discussed this
solution and the consequence that discussion is 60
indefinitely My object in rising was simply to state that
when the California bill up, would be prepared to show
that il framed in the in which il should be. If
do not show this will offer amendment before said
to obvae any objections that may be made In the progress
Of the bill Senators will be at liberty offer any amendments
they may deem proper The bill must go through the ord
stages before passed. and there may be acra
tons to be made in Tor do undertake to say that
perfect do not pretend that it contains every bill
Is liable TO them And now, for the purpose of making test
vote this question Of raising committee at this time,
move that the question of raising this committee lie upon the
table.
Mr.. WEBSTER. Will the Senator withdraw his motion
for moment ..s
Mr.. DOUGLAS. Certainly. ~
Mr.. WEBSTER. have very few words to say, sir.
When the question Of raising this committee before the
Senate month six weeks ago, said to the Senate that
perceive any goOu was
likely result from this proposed measure, yet if it de-
sired by any considerable portion the Senate and especial
y those who have taken lead the subject he honorable
member from Kentucky and the honorable member from
Tennessee, and Others that such committee should be
raised, should not oppose the motion. suppose that
would hardly have had much opp sion in the Senate if
had not happened that the honorable Senator from Mississippi
has used phrase prescribed mode of proceeding in his
resolution, calculated alarm in Senators
The instruction, according to his resolutions is that the
mittee shall mature some scheme of compromise Well,
probably this word scheme created little apprehension
Mr. FOOTE That is not the phraseologyof the resolution.
Mr. WEBSTER. / am quite certain it is sir let the
solution be read.
The Secretary read the resolution as follows
That the resolutions be referred select committee OF
thirteen with to exert for the
OF maturing scheme OF for the adjustment OF all
pending questions growing out of the institution Of slavery
with the right to report by bill or otherwise"
Mr.. WEBSTER. Not that suppose meaning was
intended TO be attached correp to the phrase that
it to be taken in strict but have said,
taken in this sepse the resolution has given rise to alarm in
the minds Of Senators and am free to say, if is TO be
taken in that sense, shall not agree it in any way what
ever; because it to imply, might imply do not
suppose that such is its pup e-,hat something is be
compromised something that OF importance to the
country; and dealing with the rights Of the country,
this should Sir, am inclined unite with those
Senators who have taken the lead in this discussions and also
very large portion of the Senate and allow the committee
to be appointed, far BY my vote it can be appointed
but, avoid all possible Misrepresentation hereafter beg to
say that shall not commit myself, and do not
NIT myself, TO support any measure which shall make
the admission Of California dependant upon The
Of any other proposition whatever. wish to say
other thing, sir. The honorable member from Ken.
lucky yesterday observed that the subjects which he
gaded supposed proper f the committed consideE
the admission of California, provision for the Govern
ment of the Territories and the question the boundary Of
Texas Now afraid, sir, that the question of the boun
Diary Of Texas is question which will necessarily call for
much examination and probably bring much discussion
both in The committee and in the Senate
One word further sir. 1t does that the i'm
poance of the before us, take either one
way or the other, is greatly overrated very much
overrated. Mr.. President the honorable member before
me, from the State of Illinois, (Mr iDoUGLas, desires to
bring up his bl-his clean b-or the admission of Cal
ifornia, and ready to vote for it. But then, if this
bill were now before us, the member himself must see
and all the Senate see that would be quite compe
tent for any gentleman wishing unite the question Of Cal
ifornia and the question of the Territories insert
territorial governments the BILL and you would thus
raise the same question. WELL if this committee bring in
combined BILL any member Of the Senate may strike
out territorial portions of the BILL and take for the
admission of California aone-so that after ALL arrive at
the opinion Of the maj y Of the Senate way just
well in the other. We avoid the question of its
separation, and of the combination, any way must
up, and must up in any way that we proceed
Therefore, do not think il Of much importance nor, indeed
Of any considerable importance, because stands upon the
ground Of appointing general committee to consider what is
best be done aay the existing agitation and to satisfy
all parties according to the usual proceeding in ordinary
have objection; something good may come out
Of They may express the opinion that it will not much,
il should in any degree facilitate the settlement of these
questions. We have got question upsn which to
take the Of the Senate and the opinion of the
majority of the Senate to the separate combined consde