Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1850-05-11
THE QUESTION OF THE DAY.
IN SENATE, MAY s. 1880.

REPORT FROM THE COMMITTEE VI thiNiA'
Mr. CLAY Mr. President, have risen to Presen. 70 tne
Senate reuort from the Committee Of Thirteen which was
appointed some weeks ago.
Th eno,t il Of some length sir and there have been
some erasues and alterations and therefore, if the Sem
ate will allow me- there may be expediency IN reading
/, myself II there is no objection, will do So
:. The senata's Committee of Thirteen, whom refer
rod various resolutions relating California, to other por-
tons Of the territory recently acquired by the United States
from the republic of Mexico, and 70 other subjects connect
ed with the institution of slavery, have, according to Order
had these resolutions and subjects under consideration
and beg leave 10 submit the following report
.sThe committee entered the discharge Of their duties
with deep OF their great importance and with earnest
and anxious socude at such as might De
satisfactory to the Senate and to the country Most OF the
matters referred been only subjected to extensive
serious public discussion throughout the country but to de-
bate in the Senate ITSELF singular for its eabsaieness and Its
duration SO that full exposition Of all those motives and
views which, on several subjects con6ded to the commit
tee have determined the conclusions at which iney nave
rived quite unnecessary They will herelore iesic'
themselves few general observations and 70 some rem G
lions which grow out Of those subjects.
tOut Of our recent Territorial acqus TONS and IN con-
nexion with the institution of slavery, questions most grave
have spung which, greatly dividing and sgalng tne
pe of the United States have threatened to disturb the har
mony if not to endsnge the safety of the Union The
committee believe it be highly desirable and necessary
speedily adjust all those questions ma spirit OF concord
and in manner to produce pIact CABLE general satsac-
ton They think it would be unwise to leave any OF them
omen and unsettled to tester the public mind and to
long not aggayae the existing agitation mas ossn
and recommendations would accomplish general ADJUST
ment of all those questions.
Among the subjects referred to the committee which COM
and their first attention. the resolutions offered 10 the
Senate by the Senator from Tennessee, Mr.. Bell. by
provision in the uon of Congress annexing Texas to
he United States it is declared that new States OF conve.
nient SIZE not exceeding four number in addition TO said
estate Of Texas having sufficient population, here
after consent of said State be formed out OF the Ter
tory thereof which shall be endto admission under the
provisions of the Federal constitution and such States as
NAV be formed of that portion Of said territory lying
souh of 36o 80 north latitude, commonly known as the
missouri line shall be admitted into the Union
with without slavery, the people Of each State asking
admission may desire.
The com mittee are unanimously of opinion, that whenever
one or more States formed of the Territory of Texas not
exceeding four, having sufficient population, with the con-
sent of Texas may apply be admitted into the Unon they
are entitled such admission beyond all doubt upon the
clear unambguous and absolute terms OF the solemn com
pact contained the luton of annexation adopted by
Congress and assented to by Texas But whilst the com
ee conceive that the right Of admission into the Union OF
any new States carved Of the territory of Texas, not
ceedng the number specified, and under the conditions stat
ed be justly controvered, the committee 40 not
think that the formation of any such new States should now
originate with Congress The initiative, in conformity with
the usage which has heretofore Prevailed should be taken ny
portion people of Texas themselves, desious of con-
shutting new State, with the consent of Texas. And in
the formation Of such State, will be for the people
composing decide for themselves whether they Will adj
NIT or will exclude slavery they decide that
purely municipal question, Congress bound to acqulesce
and to fulfil good faith the spulaons OF the compact with
Texas. The committee aware that has been contended
that the resolution of Congress anIexng Texas was unco
stutonal At former epoch of country history, there
those (and Mr. Jefferson under whose auspices the
treaty of Louisiana concluded among them) who
believed that the States formed of Louisiana could not be
received the Union without amendment OF the consi
tuition But the States Of Louisiana, Missouri, Arkansas,
and Iowa have been all, nevertheless, admitted. And who
would think Of opposing the admission OF Minnesota
Oregon other States formed out of the ancient pro
vince OF Louisiana, upon the ground OF an alleged original
defect Of constitutional power In grave national transac
TONS while yet in their earlier iEcipent stages diff r
may well exist but when they have been decided
by constitutional majority and contaminated, are in
process of consummaon there can be no other safe and
prudent alternative than respect the de ion already
dered and acquesce in it, Entertaining these views,
majority the committee do not think necessary proper
recommend, this time, prospecvely, new State
or States to formed Of the territory of Texas Should
any such State be hereafter formed and present itself for adj
mission into tho Union, whether with or without the esta
bhmen of slavery, it cannot be doubted that Congress w
under full of honor Of good faith, and of all the
high obligations arising of the compact with Texas, de-
eide, Just will decide under the influence Of similar
sderatons in regard States formed of out of New
Mexico and Utah, with without the institution OF slavey
according to the constitutions and judgment Of the people
who compose them, what may be best to promote their
happiness
" In considering the question Of the admission Of California
State into the Union, majority Of the committee con-
ceive any ieguary by which that State organized
without the previous authority of of Congress ought
to be overlooked consideration Of the omission by Con-
gress establish any Territorial Government for the people
OF California and the consequent necessity which they were
under government for themselves best adapted to
their There various instances, prior to the
of California, of the admission OF new States into the
Union without any previous authorization by Congress The
sole CONDITION required by the Constitution of the United
States in respect the admission of State is, that It's
constitutions shall be republican in form California presents
such constitution and there is doubt Of her having
greater population than that which, according to the practice
OF Government has been heretofore deemed sufficient to
receive q new State into the Union
In regard proposed boundaries of California, the
committee would have been glad If there existed more full
and geographical knowledge of the territory which
those boundaries cude There to believe that
large they they embrace guam
ty of land adapted TO cultivation And it is known that
they contain extensive Of mountains deserts sand
and much unproductire soil. Il might have heen perhaps,
better TO have assigned to California moremted front
the Pacific but even there had been reserved the shore
of that portion Of the boundary which presents for
any States is very certain that
hle interior Of sufficient extent could have been given TO
them to render approach the through their
Imits of any very great Importance
" A majority of the committee think that taere many
and urgent cCncuDg considerations in favor Of admitting
California with the proposed boundaries and of securing
her this time the benefits of State Government If here
AFTER upon increase Of der population thorough
laions which may arise between the people occupying its
and happiness State Of California, have
every believe from past experience that the ques
ton of It's admission will be fairly considered and Justly de-
cided.