The Port Gibson herald, and correspondent., 1850-08-09

intended by the Constitution to be. But ne
vertheless, sir, as favor the admission of Cal
itornia, although she presents herself before
US after some Irregularities in her course of
proceedings, there are greater evils, in my judg-
ment, than the admission of New Mexico as
State now at once, or than the provision that
she shall be admitted in certain time hereaf-
ter. do not think that so great an evil as to
leave New Mexico without Government,
without protection, on the very eve Of probable
hostilities with Texas, so far as can discern,
and, to my mind, with the highest degree of
probability there viii arise collision, contest,
and, for aught | know, bloodshed, in case it
should so happen that the boundary Of New
Mexico should not be settled by Congress. Sir,
know no question SO important, connected
with all these matters, as the settlement of the
Texan boundary. 1t Immediately and intimate
ly, in my judgment, touches the question of
the duration of peace and quiet in the country,
and cannot conceive how gentlemen, looking
upon this subject in all its aspects, can content
themselves with the idea of retiring from their
seats here, and leaving this subject where it is
| should be derelict in my duty if did not
persist to the last in bringing it to decision
by the authority Of Congress. Ifa motion be
to be made, to lay this bill upon the table, and
that motion prevails, why, this measure is dead.
Then there must be resort to some other
measure; and | am disposed to say, and will
say that in case Of the failure of this bill,
shall be in favor Of bill which will provide for
three things, namely: the admission Of Califor-
Mia with its present Constitution and bounda-
res, the settlement of the Texan boundary, and
the admission ofNew Mexico as State. Such
a measure will tend TO full and final termina-
tion of the controversies which now agitate US,
and relieve the country from distraction.
Sir, this measure is opposed by tire North, or
some of the North, and by the South, or some
of the South, and it has the remarkable misfor-
tune to be opposed by persons most precisely
opposed to each other in every matter concern
ing the principle Of the bill.
Where are those-I do not speak. Of course, Of
members Of Congress, and desire to be UNDER
stood as making no aIIusion whatever, in what
may say, to members of this house or the other
but there are those in the country who say,
on the part of the South, "hy this bill the South
gives up every thing TO the North, and we viii
fight to the last: and there are hpse on the part
oil the North who say, ''this bill gives up every
thing to the South. and we will fight it to the
last and really, sir, strange as it may seem,
this disposition to make battle upon this bill by
persons who never agreed on any thing before
under the light Of heaven, has created sort of
fellowship and good feeling among them.
Laughter. One says, give me your hand,
you are good fellow, (renewed laughter:l you
mean to 90 against this bill to the death, because
it gives up the rights OF the South: mean to 60
against the bill to the death, because it gives up
the rights of the NORTH So they shake hands
and cry out down with the bill, and then uni
tedly raise the cry
A day or hour Of virtuous liberty
Is worth whole eternity in bondage.
Now, sir, ascribe nothing bnt the best and
purest motives TO any Of the gentlemen on both
sides of this chamber, and in the other House,
who take that view Of this subject which differs
from my own. cannot but regret, certainly,
that gentlemen who sit around ME here, and
especially my honorable colleague, (Mr. Davis
and our friends from Massachusetts in the other
branch Of Congress, are led by conscientious
seEse OF duty to oppose measure which |
feel bound by my conscience 10 support. They
are quite as higil-mindef, as patriotic, as pure,
every way as well intentoned as | am, and
sir, TO go by majori;ies, | must confess that
nv friends from Massachusetts, would defeat
me; but still, sir, my own opinions are not
changed in the slightest degree. | feel that the
very interest of the State in whose representa-
ton | bear a part mere. as well as the very
great interest OF the whole country, require that
this measure. or some equivalent measure, some
healing. composing, consoaary measure, should
be adopted by Congress before its adjournment.
That is my object. and shall steadily pursue it.
Well, sir, how does it stand. if may analyze
the matter a little. both in regard to the North
and TO the South9 Massachusetts is Northern
State. and she may be taken as an example or
sample Of Northern interests in the subject con-
nected with this BILL What does she gain by
it? What does she lose by it, Why, if this
bill passes, Massachusetts and the North gain
what is quite an object to them, the admission
of California as free State, with her present
constitution; very intensely desirable object,
as believe, TO the whole North She gains
that She gains also, sir, the quieting of the
New Mexican question and the Texan boun-
dary, which in my Judgment, as | have said,
is the most important of all these matters, be-
cause most Immediately menacing evil conse-
quences, if such consequences be not arrested
by this or some similar measure. She gains
the quiet of New Mexico, she gains the settle
ment of the Texan boundary, objects highly de-
sirable. More than all that, sir-if any thing
can be more than that-she gains and the whole
North gains, and the whole country gains the final
adjustment of by far the greatest part of all the
slavery questions. When speak of this bill in
this connection, mean also to connect with it
the other subjects recommended by the commit
tee, and say that if the whole report of the
committee could be carried out to. day, one Of
the greatest of all the possible benefits to be
derived to the whole country is this, that it settles
to the extent Of far more than the majority of
them, all the questions connected with slave
ry which have so long agitated the coun-
try. And then, sir, Massachusetts gains, and
the North gains, and the whole country gains,
restoration of the Government TO the ex~
ercise Of its ordinary functions. The North
and the South, and the whole country, will
see Congress replaced in its position of
an active, beneficial, and parental legislature
for the whole country. Is it not of the utmost
importance that this restoration of Congress to
the exercise of its ordinary functions should be
accomplished? Here we are seven or eight
months from the beginning OF the session, and
hardly able to keep the Government alive. All
is paralysis. We are brought nearly to stand
We are all suspended upon this one topic, on
this one idea, as il there were no objects in
government, no uses in government, no duties
in those who administer the government, but
to settle one question.