Weekly national intelligencer., 1850-07-20
SPEECH OF Mr.. GENTRY,
ON THE ADMISSION OF CaLIFoRNlA.

Of the Unon and having under consideration the President
message in relation to the admission Of California
Mr.. GENTRY, Of Tennessee, addressed the committee
follows
Mr.. Chairman Congress has been in session six months
occupied almost exclusively with The question before h
committee. Other questions of public interest," various AM
important in their nature strongly claim the attention OF thu
legislative branch Of the Government but are excluded IRON
consideration. By with Mexico we have acquired vas
territories BY the treaty Of Guadalupe Hidalgo we have
bound ourselves protect The people of those Territories
secure TO them all the rights of citizens OF the United States
and in due time admit hem States into the Union Re-
peated efforts have been made TO redeem our pghed fath
this regard but in every instance causes which Will develop
in the my remarks have prevented legislation we
begin to realize the truth that the policy OF aggressive war
CONQUEST and not suited to the genius OF
Government With coDques there comes upon US the
question: shall Congress prohibit admit slavery in the Ter
tores have acquired II IS question Haught with DIS
cord and danger. Il has in great degree, aienaed the
Northern and Southern States, and made disunon familiar
word in our political vocabulary 1t has paazed the Gov
ernmen and threatens its destruction The wsest statesmen
and sangune patriots enbe Tor the safety OF the Ne
public What policy has brought into these dangers
Who is responsible for the existing state of things Who
forewarned the country of this crisis Who-wha political
party is it that being soemny foewarned, nevertheless
bndy and reckesy perseveed steering the ship OF State
into its present perlous condition These questions which
propose 10 discuss with candor intend to speak what
think ..=
In d.batng grave subject would not left choose
for myself introduce questions connected with party politics
But the course which gentlemen the other side of the
House have thought proper to pursue leaves choice
this respect They have debated the subject for six months
and nearly all who have spoken on that side of the House
have abo fix the responsibility for the existing of
things Oh the President Of the United States. Differing wide
" the particular acts which alleged to have produced
the present state of affairs they agree in ascbng them TO him.
While gentleman urges that the existing difficulties
attributable the position which he occupied when candi
date for the Presidency another ascbes them to the advice
which he has given the people of California his cleo
on and others contend that all would have been we'll with
he had announced in his annual message his purpose
veto bill that might pass the two Houses OF Congress in
hibng slavery the Territories have acquired from
Mexico The brief hour which am limited by rule of
the House will not permit me to repe specifically, these dis
cordant mpuations but will endeavor to vindicae the
Peden. by exhibiting the true of the state OF
affairs and by fixing the responsibility where justice and truth
require recognise the right of representative the people
in the Congress Of the United States freely the of
fetal conduct of the President andeve other executive func
onay, and hold them rigid responsibility for their off
ca acts 1t right limited only by such restrictions as
TRUTH justice. and honor impose If these virtues have not
lost their influence upon the public mind the verdict of the
county will be- that the President degree responsible
for producing those evils which excite the public anxiety
To explain thoroughly and fully the which have pro-
duced the sectional excitemens and anmosites which
disturb the harmony of the Union and osruc the legislation
of Congress- necessary go back period when the
representatives Of the slaveholdng States ms,skng the
policy Of the South violently and vehementy opposed the
cepon and reference Of petitions for the abolition Of slavery
in the District of Columbia emanang from Northern aboli
this House, Of rule prohibiting the reception and reference Of
those petitions Previous to the period to which REFER ef
fosto agtae the public mind on the subject Of slavery
confined few fanatics in the -savehodng States,
who organized into abolition societies, in the habit of
forwarding Congress- every successive session. petitions
for the abolition Of slavery the District of Columbia where
they conended Congress had full power the subject
They few in numter and the great body of the Northern
people, of both political parties, neither sympathzed
operated with them But the unwise course pursued by
Southern Representatives with respect their petitions i'm
parted TO that handful of fanatics power and influence
public affairs which has largely contributed bring the
try into present condition Petitions the same subject
had from early period of the Government been from time
TO time presented received and REFERRED creating
ment in Congress among the people, 1t well for the
country the mode Of treating such petitions had been
continued. ...'
But, unfortunately, the Southern members of Congress-
under the lead Of the late distinguished Senator from South
Carona, CM CALHOUN opposed the reception and refer
ence OF those petitions, placing their opposition, remember
correctly upon the ground that the constitution did
fer upon Congress the power to abolish slavery in the District
OF Columbia, and that the reception of petitions praying for
such object would be implied assertion of the power to
grant the prayer of the petitioners that admit the exist
ence OF such in Congress would be fatal the interests
and rights OF the slayehong States and that therefore the
petitions ought not to be received Their arguments prevailed
and the rule prohibiting the reception of such petitions
established AT that me the late exPresdent John Quincy
Adams member Of this House. Descended from sire
who had made himself usrious by his public services the
Revoution-hmself eminent for high ability aud extensive
acqulfeLHentS-Venealed especially the people Of the
Northern States for his private virtues and public services
be put himself forward upon this floor, with all the weight Of
influence naturally attaching characterized and dis
tngushed, the champion Of the constitutional right Of petit
ton Distinctly declaring himself opposed to granting the
prayer of the petitioners he nevertheless conended that
the right of the people under the constitution peaceaby
assemble and petition for the redress Of grievances y and tina
it the duty Of Congress respectfully receive REFER
consider their petitions. With unexamped infe1ibity o
character he devoted all his to the contest and, al
struggle characterized by the most excited and dsodery
debates this oor and proacted through period Of seve
years. that rule rescinded Since thep abolition pet
ons the oden time, have been received and referred
every day, at least whenever any member has chosen
pesen, them, without formal notion and without creating
the least excitement here or elsewhere.
In the progress of that struggle thousands hundreds
thousands Of the people Of the non-avehodng States who
had previously scof.d and derded the abolons found
themselves brought into sympathetic association and
operation with them The unwse opposition OF the public
men OF the South to the reception of their petitions had raised
the abotons into respectable and honorable associations
and enabled them to appropriate to their objects the seeming
championship Of Mr. Adams, aid identify themselves with
aqueston that addressed itself powerfully popular sympa
thies Aided by the circumstances which have referred
they were enabled TO give such direction to political dis
cusons as tended to deepen, and strengthen, and due ia
and wide, the abstract sentiment Of hostility slavery pre-
existing in the minds Of the Northern people Meanwhile
Southern demogogues under the impulse Of motives not dis
similar TO those which actuated the abolonss had beer
equally energetic and successful in arousDg sectional passion
and creating sectional hostility. 1t when demagogue
and fanatics had thus named and excited the preudces
passions Of the North and the South that the question of an
neIng the republic of Texas the United States was intro
duced into the politics OF this county, Texas had
70 annex herself TO the United States during the Admina
hon OF President Jackson, by whom the proposition