The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1850-08-02

Now, cir, It II not wise to conceal from ourselves
our condition. Suppose we admit California alone.
MY honorable friend from Illinois brings In, then,
q bill for territorial government for New Mexico
and Utah. We must open our eyes to the state of
opinion in the two Houses respectively, and en-
deavor to foresee what would be the probable fate
OF such bill. II 1t be bill containing prohibi-
ton OF slavery, we know it could not pass this
House. Ifit be bill without such prohibition, we
know what difficulty 1t would encounter else where
So that we very little relieve ourselves from the
embarrassing circumstances Of the condition in
which we are placed, by taking up California and
acting upon it alone am therefore, sir decidedly
in favor of passing the bill in the form in which It
ID upon your table.
But sir if it be the pleasure of the Senate to ap-
prove the motion which it is proposed to make to
the Senate, shortly, for laying this whole measure
upon the table, and thereby disposing of this bill,
feated by that proceeding, or any other. hold my
self not only inclined, but bound, to consider any
other measures which may be suggested; because
the case Is pressing, and the circumstances Of the
country are urgent. When in the world have we
had any foreign question, if may say So any ex-
terror question, that has occupied the consideration
OF Congress for seven months, and yet been brought
to no result? When have we had subject before
US that has parayzed all the operations Of Govern
ment that has displaced the regular proceedings of
the two Houses of Congress- and has left at the end
OF seven months OF session, without the ordinary
annual appropriation bills? When have we ever
had before, in the history of this Government such
an occurrence as that? What is now proposed is,
to make a territorial government for New Mexico
and Utah, without restriction. / feel authorized to
assume, from the circumstances before US, that it
In the power OF gentlemen of the South to decide
whether this territorial government without re-
striction, provided in this bill, shall be estab
lished or not. have voted against restriction,
for the reasons which have already given to the
Senate, and may repeat; but 1t now lies with south
ern gentlemen to say whether this bill, thus pro-
vding for territorial governments without restric-
ton, shall pass or not; and they will decide that
question doubtless by reference to what is likely to
happen, if it should not pass. Now, sir, am pre-
pared to say that if this measure does not pass lam
ready to support other proper measures that can
pass, and will pass. shall never consent to end
made for New Mexico. Utah is less important.
Let her rePose herself upon the borders of the Salt
Lake another year, If necessary. But to New
Mexico, situated as she ID, with a controversy on
hand, as she has, with her more powerful neighbor,
Texas, shall never consent to the adjournment Of
Congress without a provision made for avoiding a
collision, and for the settlement of the point in con-
troversy between that Territory and that State.
have the strongest objection to a premature
ton of States. stated that objection at large in
the Senate some two years ago. The bringing in
OF small States with representation in the Senate
equal to the representation OF the largest States in
the Union, and with very small number of peo-
pie, deranges and disturbs the proper balance be-
tween the Senate and the House of Representatives in
Congress. 1t makes the Senate kind of oligarchy.
There may be Six, or eight or ten small States in
gress they have Representatives. This objection
is founded upon the incongruity which such
produces in the constitutional relation of the Sen
ate and House. II dishgures the symmetry Of the
Government; and in this respect il docs not make
the slightest possible difference in my estimation,
whether they to be free States slave States.
am not disposed to make Territory that ia i'm
mature and not tit TO come into the Union, on
count OF want Of population, State, merely be-
cause IT will be a free State. That does not weigh
with me hair. But my objection has been and is,
as have stated or attempted 10 state, that the ad-
mission of such States with such small amounts of
population, deranges the system. II makes the
Senate what it was never intended by the Constiu-
ton to be. Nevertheless, sir, as favor the admis-
sion Of California, although she presents herselfbe
fore with some regularity In her course of pro-
cecdings, 30 there are greater evils, in my judg-
ment, than the admission OF New Mexico q
State, now, at once, or the provision that she shall
be admitted in a certain time hereafter. l do not
think that 30 great an evil IL would be TO leave
New Mexico without government, without pro-
lection, on the very eve Of probable hostility with
Texas, 30 far as / can discern; for, to my mind
there is the highest degree Of probability that there
will arise collisions con tests and for aught know
bloodshed, If the boundaries of New Mexico shall
not be settled by Congress.
Sir, know no question important, connected
with all these matters, as this settlement of the
Texan boundary. That Immediately and init
mately, in my judgment touches the question of
the duration Of peace and quiet in the country and
cannot conceive how gentlemen looking upon
that subject In all its aspects can content them
selves with the idea of retiring from their seats
here and leaving il where il is. should be dere-
lct TO my dutyif i did not persist, to the last, in
bringing ii TO decision by the authority of Con-
gress. IL motion be made as ithns been announced
TO be intended 10 be made, 10 lay this bill upon the
table, and that motion prevails, this measure il at
an end. Then there must be a resort 10 some other
measures and am disposed To say that in case of
the failure OF this BILL shall be in favor Of bill
which shall provide for three things, viz The ad-
mission Of California with its present constitution
and boundaries, the settlement Of the Texan boun-
Diary, and the admission of New Mexico as a State.
Such a measure will produce final termination of
the controversies which agitatc US, and relieve
the country from distraction.
Sir, this measure is opposed by the North, or
some of the North and by the South, or of the
South and IL has the remarkable misfortune to en-
counter resistance by persons the most prec,scly
opposed TO each other in every matter connected
with the subject under consideration. There are
those do not speak, OF course, OF members Of
Congress, and do not desire to be understood az
making any allusion whatever, in what may cay 4,
10 members of this House or the other-there are
thoee in the country who say, on the part of the
South, that the South by this bill gives up every
thing 10 the North and will fight IL to the last
and there those, on the part Of the North, who
say that this bull gives up every thing 10 the South,
and we will fight it TO the last And really, sir,
strange as IL may seem, this disposition 10 make
any thing before under the light Of Heaven, has
created a sort of fellowship and good feeling be.
tween them. One Gays. Give me your band, my
good fellow; you mean to 60 against this bill to the
death, because gives up the rights Of the South;
mean to go against the bill 10 the death, because
il gives up tho rights Of the North; let us shake
hands and cry out, Down with the bill;" and then
untcdly raise the shout, "a day. hour, Of virtu
ous liberty is worth whole eternity in bondage"
Such is the consistency of the opposition to this
measure.
Now, sir, ascribe nothing but the best and
purest motives to any Of the gentlemen, on either
side OF this chamber, or Of the other House, who
take that view Of this subject which differs from my
own. ] cannot but regret, certainly, that gentle
men who sit around me, and especially my honor
able colleague, and my friends from Massachusetts
in the other House, obliged, by their sense of
duty, 10 oppose n measure which feel bound by
my conscience to support TO the utmost Of my abi-
ty. They are just high minded, patriotic, as
pure, and every way as voll-intentioned as ! am;
and cir, If II was put TO vote, and the thing
TO be decided by majority, must confess my
friends from Massschusetts could outyote me. But
still my own opinions are not changed. not in the
least degree changed. feel that every interest Of
the State, ono OF whose representatives | am, as
well as every great interest Of the whole country,
requires that this measure, some equivalent mea-
sure, az healing, composing, and oonciliatory as