The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1850-06-08
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,

/ *.
The Senate then went into Executive session, and
shortly afterwards adjourned.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,
| SPECIFICATIONS FOR PATENTS.
Several resolutions of inquiry were adopted; one
offered by Mr. SrANLY, as To the propriety OF pro
vdng by law that specifications for patents shall
| be prepared by competent persons in the Patent
Office, when applicants arc unable TO prepare
them
Mr. DANIEL moved that the House go into
Committee of the Whole on the private calendar.
The question was taken, and decided in the mega
| tive; and
On motion of Mr.. BURT the House resolved itself
into Committee oil the Whole on the state Of the
Union, and resumed the consideration of the special
message Of the President communicating copy
| of the constitution of the
/ STATE OF CALIFORNIA.
| NIessrs. HUBBARD, RICHARDSON, and WILL
LIAMS severally, gave notice of their intention to
offer amendments IN lieu Of the bill OF Mr.. DoTY to
admit California
/ MIR. CALDWELL, of kentucky, addressed the
committees, and examined into the causes which
have produced the present state of affairs. He said
that they did not originate with the acquisition OF
territory, but with northern politicians, long since,
Who seized on the slavery question as a means TO
augment their political power Since VIC have seen
that this is hereditary disease and in the nature
ot man, the question presents itscli Is there any
practicable plan OF adjustment He had serious
doubts to whether not there be set
Element He had examined all the propositions
which have been submitted; and with the limited
capacity which he could bring to bear, he confessed
that there terms which he willing 10 take,
but he did not know that he could get them. He
was willing to plant himself on what he regard
ed as the Democratic PLATFORM, growing out OF
| a strict construction OF the Constitution, name
/ ly, that the people of States, when they
ask for admission into the Union, have the right
! to determine for themselves their own local IN
situations. He went for the doctrine Of non
intervention Ii was no new idea with him.
| He would consent To provide territorial govern
mcnts for Utah and New Mexico, without any in
reference with slavery, and to admit California as
| State. lie was willing to forcgo the objections
which he had 10 the admission vi that State; and
he would do ii III the liberal spirit OF concession IL
| was the most anxious wish of his heart to restore
peace To a bleeding and distracted country; II gen
tlemcn each side will conccdc something, they
can 60 home and say that they have come to an ad-
jusment. As separate measure he would vote
against the admission Of California II the South
do not get all they ask they will get peace Their
honor will be preserved, and the Wilmot proviso
will not be enacted And the banner OF the Union,
entire, will continue to wave over all In conclu-
sion, nc appealed to the Democracy to come to the
rescue, as the South have nothing TO expect from
single northern Wing.
Mr.. ROOT, of Ohio, said that the gentleman who
had Just taken his had come nearer 10 the
truth than Others TO the cause of the present diff
! hcultes He spoke of the war with Mexico, as be
ing waged for the acquisition OF territory, that
slavery might bc extended. He, from the COM
menccment, opposed the accused war" What
glory resulted from it, let gentlemen have il;
whatever guilt, it did not rest upon him. The
North have always manifested their feelings Of hos
tility slavery; yet the South yentured 10 bring
in this territory, and the chance Of its being
made slave territory. The people Of the North
we're all one way; and there would be nothing Of
doughiacery here, If they were honestly repre-
scented on this floor. The Wilmot proyiso was the
dread Of the South, but il had made California
glorious new State, and free. And this was glory,
and more than glory enough lie then paid his re-
spects to Mr.. WINTHRoP, who, he said, lodged,
sneaked away, during the earlier part Of the
sion, TO avoid voting for the provso Tho gentle
man had said that he MIR. X had set trap to
catch him. II he had desired to catch that gentle
man, lac should not have baicd his trap with the
| Wilmot proyiso Laughter. There we're other
bats TO be made use OF; and il he had one of them
he might count ON a capture.
The CHAIRMAN pro TEN. (Mr. CARTER)
minded the gentleman that personal remarks were
not in order.
Mr.. ROOT said that lac claimed as much latitude
as was allowed, on a former occasion, TO Mr.. WIN
THRoP and lac could read for the information Of the
Chair, an extract from that geutlcman's speech 10
show what latitude was at that time taken. II he
(Mr. R. had secretaryshp or foreign mission
10 use as bait IN his trap, he should have caught
him, aud had the representative OF the modern
Athens in his bag. [Laughter.l lie denied that
he (Mr. r. had ever lodged any question. In
conclusion, he reviewed the legislative course of
Mr.. WISTHRoP the Wilmot proviso, and stig-
| matizcd him a doughiace.
| MIR. JOHNSON, OF Arkansas, spoke Of the Con-
stitution having been violated by the North. There
common principle tbcrC but the exclusion
OF the South from every foot Of territory acquired
from Mexico This Government commcnds itself
~ respect only 80 long IT secures and protects
tho rights of all the States lie feared that the time
was rapidly approaching when the affection for the
| Union would pass away. No portion VI the coun.
try Jealous 10 acquire Oregon up to
54o 40 than the South; although II was known that
| from the territory north OF so 80 slavery TO
be excluded. But IL supposed or
known that territory To be acquired from Mex
ico than the northern States instructed their repre-
sentatiycs ~ vote for the Wilmot proyiso, and
thereby Tx upon the South ncipcnt ruin and deg
| radiation There Democrats, no Wings,
when they come 10 tlc territorial or slavery qucs
ton. II Affects all party relations. lie then re
| viewed the speech Of Mr.. Stanly, which lac said
was bypocritcal, untrue, and contained OF
Misrepresentation.
The Missouri compromise has given us peace and
brotherhood; and the south ought to reject any
other. They have acted under IL in good faith. II
adopted, 1t would give them only one. third Of the
territory, and the North the remaining two. thirds.
While the North united, the South divided.
The doctrine of non-interventiOn has unsettled the
great Democratic party. Before this was avowed,
the Missouri compromise their settled policy.
southern Whiggery was satisfied with II. II is TO
the abandonment Of this policy that we must attri-
butte our present confusion and discontcnt. The
South, he repeated, should unite 10 resist northern
aggrcssions lie proud to say that nc had adj
vocated the holding Of the Nashville convention,
and would defend II so long il shall be true 10
the interests Of the South. All OF the South who de
nounce it are false and cowardly W the South. I'm
conclusion, bc spoke Of the Importance Of support
ing tho proposed southern organ in this city.
i Mr. DUNCAN, Of Massac husetts, said that hc
would stand by the Constitution in all its compro,
misses and would maintain them as he understood
that instrnlgont. lie, in tho language Of Mr.. Win
throp, for "our whole country, however bound
cd" lie was in favor OF the admission Of Cafor-
MIA with her present constitution and boundaries.
II territorial governments be proposed for New
Mexico and Utah, he should vote for the exclusion
Of slavery and, believing u important Tor the intc-
| reat ofT Ne nd New hat tbel bDun
should be settled, he should for any just and
proper measure for that purpose. He was in favor
Of the extinction Of the slave trade in the District Of