The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1850-02-28

Ia COMMITTEE of The Whole on the state of The Union,
on 'hs Resolution referring the Presidents Message
10 the appropriate Standing COMMITTEES.
Mr.. Roor addressed the Committee as follows
Mr.. Chairman la the remarks which | shall
submit to the committee | do not intend to wander
far from that portion of the Presidents annual
&c which relates to the Territories recently
acquired from Mexico | shall first notice his
recommendation respecting California; and beg
leave here to say, that perhaps under other cir
cumstanees should feel disposed to criticise some
OF the proceedings which led to the formation of
constitution for California and her application to
be admitted into the Union as a State. | might
think that better boundary might be prescribed
for her on the east. Yet as things now stand |
am perfectly willing, ready aud desirous to have
her recognised as a State with her boundaries as
they are. 60 further, and say that wish her
eastern boundary were the Nueces instead of the
one she has prescribed for herself Sir with all
that territory California would not be much larger
than Texas-certainly not larger than Texas
would be if she could get all she claims; and
1t would enable US, if she were admitted a State
OF that size, 70 make of those fair compromi-
SEES of which we have heard so much of late. We
could then carve out of California free State to
go along with any slave State that might be
carved out OF Texas. But that is out of the ques-
tion now; and only repeat what | have said
before, that in the present state of things | am
glad that California has. 50 much .spritoEy within
her boundary, and shall 60 for recognising her
as State, admitting her into the Union, and rat
flying all that she has done in the premises not
withstandiDg any irregularities that may have at
tended those transactions
So far am ready, Mr.. Chairman, to second the
Presidents recommendation. But he has gone
further, and has given us advice with respect to
the residue of the territory acquired from Mexico
40 nnf tall aNuho ha Ana;r 10 hui
tells he desires MS to do nothing that we should
let New Mexico and the rest of that territory
alone-have nothing 10 do with il. Again, with
respect to the boundary Of Texas, he desires
10 let that alone, too. He warns the legislative
authority not to interfere with that matter.
Here, sir, | cannot follow his advice here !
must be permitted to question the wisdom of his
recommendations. ] am for doing something
believe that Congress has duty to do, and am
for having it done By Congress, And would like
TO have that done which believe best, not only
for that territory, but best for the whole counry
ANAf helieye that far as the %0Ssti9n Of action
or non-action is concerned large majority both
in this House and 10 the other branch of Con-
gress, are ia fayor'S ". certain i'6m thattneiet
alone policy-the mastery inactivity policy
cannot find many friends among the people. To
be sure, there may be very wide differences of
opinion among gentlemen. Some may desire that
one thing, some another, and some that still an
other thing should be done; but believe that
there is majority of this House who are in favor
of having something done Most gentlemen seem
to think that action and prompt action, is required
at our hands; and may be permitted, trust, to
express my surprise ut the wonderful change that
has been going on in the mind, not only Of the
President but Of good many Of his Northern
friends since the close of the last session of Con-
gress. | need not tell you how urgent the friends
of the President We're then TO have some sort OF a
cd far al
my own knowledge, say that the President was
urgent. mover heard him say word on the
Huhtct; but IL WAS said he was and paper in
this city, protesting to be advised of his opinions,
and to speak for him, said he was very anxious
indeed hat Congress should provide gov
eminent for California. Why, his conversations
were published in many newspapers-whether
correctly or not don't know but it was asserted
and so far IA know not Contradicted that no
urged personally upon members of Congress- "For
Gods sake to provide Soms government for Cal
ifornia beside the government of the bowie knife"
and the only dispute about what his views and
wishes were, was az to the kind Of government
which he desired. Some gentlemen insisted that
he favored the proposition which originated in
the Senate, and was stuck on the civil and diplo-
matte appropriation bill--known rs the Walker
amendment others said he was perfectly indiffer-
ent as to what kind of government it was, so that
some government was provided. Well, Congress
y,
Mr. Chairman as well as | do-any member of
the last Congress, who was present at the close OF
the last session. must have understood perfectly
well why n government was not provided for Cal
ifJrnia IL was not the fault of the House The
House, in season. passed bill providing terri
torial government for California; they sent it to
the Senate in time for that body to have acted
upon il, if they had been disposed to do so but
that august body did nothing with it they laid
it away and it was never heard of again. The
next we heard from them on the subject was
money bill-the civil and diplomatic appropria-
ton bill-with the Walker amendment attached
10 it, | think it was pretty generally believed at
the time by the friends of the present Administra
ton, and perhaps by others, that that amendment
WAS TO become law. | cannot speak authorita-
lively, but know we had n very decided express
sion of opinion from gentlemen, then and now
members of this House, that it would pass The
men who were to pass it were, it said, all
counted and booked and if the screws only stuck,
we were told il would 60 through We had some
exceedingly tight screws, and then again good
many loose ones The latter gave the former
good deal of trouble and vexation of spirit. All
who We're here at the last session must remember
that last memorable enthusiastically night and
Sunday morning We remember what efforts
were made TO pass that Walker amendment and
we remember how it was defeated. 1t er
relinquished until it became fixed fact" that
if insisted upon TO the bitter end the whole civil
and diplomatic appropriation bill must he lost
Ay, know the fact now, and knew it then, that
there were sufficient number ofmen bound to that
purpose and they would have carried it out if
God had spared their lives and strength Yes,
sir-I was one of them. Never never should the
Walker amendment go through the House. if we
by any legitimate proceedings could prevent 1t.
We are told that Southern gentlemen have that
example in view
voice Yes, and we intend to profit by it,
Use it sparingly, gentlemen. We had only
thirty-six hours to fight against. | believe If we
had had thirty-seven some Of our men would have
given out and they were precisely those who
were fercest at first Ii you begin six months
beforehand you will get out of breath, think
Don't jump too quick, nor take too long n start
Take it cOolly, as We did, and then-good luck
to you.
Let me inquire again why it is that the Adj
ministTaton. which was no longer ago than
March last so anxious TO provide some kind Of u
Government beside "bowie-knife government"
for California, which then had population, |
believe, not extending 100000 should now, when
we come to consider of territory containing
population of at least 100 600 think bowie
knife government" is just the right sort of govern
ment for them II they wanted a law enacted for
California last session, why not have law enact
cd for New Mexico now ? If a bowe-knife gov
vernment would not answer for California then,
with a population Of 1000, why isa bowie-knfe
government good enough for New Mexico now,
with population Of 100 0002 "Ohl there is n
little alarm among them about Indians; but then
there isa sufficient military force to protect them"
I4tL,t all the danger7 What say the people, or
rather what says their Convention, of their wants
wishes AMI condition. lfthere was evera people be-