The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1850-06-19

leaders, exclusive friends Of California should, as
has been the case contribute also by their motions
and speeches to delay action on this subject, is
past my comprehension. For be 1t known every
where, that the South alone is not responsible for
all these motions and delays for three days past.
/ Let any man look over the debate, and he will
find that, though southern gentlemen have made
more speeches, yet you will find that northern gen
tlemen, who will have California alone, if we be-
eve their professions, and nothing else, have fur
nshed most unnecessarily and unwisely the text
for these speeches. The country cannot fail to
see that all such motions and speeches are out OF
place and suicidal on the part Of those who desire
TO bring the House to vote on this question, and
the fact.
| word AS to the amendment now under con-
sideration, vote upon which has so strangely
excited some gentlemen in the South. have
rarely heard it questioned by any one, that the
people, IN forming State constitution, have
not right to do as they please in reference to
slavery, and that no objection can rightfully be
made against their admission into the Union, let
them decide il as they may. And surely Wings
OF the North who advocate the Presidents plan,y
must admit this, for he urges no action by the
Government, in order to let the people do this
very thing.
lie withdrew the amendment.
Mr.. VlNTON renewed the amendment. He
said he should vote against the propositions, and
also against the which his colleague had given
notice that he should offer What was the pro-
position 1t was, that If any State hereafter
formed a constitution which permitted or recogni-
zed slavery, this should be no obstacle to its
admission into the Union. Take (said Mr.. VI
the first Of these alternaves--for suppose the
meaning rs that il constitutes no constitutional or
legal objection against their admission-take the
first of these alternatives that it shall be ol5ec
uon to the admission of State into the Union
that It comes with constitution that excludes
slavery. Why, sir; want no such affirmation
as that. Already, sir, since the adoption Of this
constitution, seven States have come into the
Union with such provision in their constitutions,
and greater number have come in with consti-
tutions admitting slavery. If there is anything
that is settled more indisputably than another
It Is that there is no constitutional legal objec
Lection TO the admission of State on the ground
| that slavery is excluded. / am not for affirming
a proposition that is undisputed. The very act
of proposing to affirm it implies that it is dispu-
table and shall not vote to throw a doubt upon
a proposition that is more firmly settled in tho
history Of this Government than any other per-
haps that can be named. As Southern man, |
would not vote for the proposition, and as North
ern man will not. do not wish any such pro-
position made. There is no doubt about the fact,
| and therefore am not for voting for it. The
whole thing is neither more nor less than waste
of time; it is perfectly idle, it is a matter that
/ would be more appropriate in debating club
there is nothing in it that pertains to legislation
j WeAre supposed to be engaged in the business of
! legislation, but this proposition is not legislation,
it does not partake Of the character of legislation ;
it is mere abstraction which benefits nohodyand
amounts To- nothing That is my objection.
i tie withdrew the amendment,
/ am in favor Of the Presidents plan, which the
! gentleman from Tennessee has alluded to- tell
him, sir, that am not afraid to assert the princi-
pie embraced in that plan l am not afraid to as-
sert it here, or anywhere not applied to Cali
! fornia; because am opposed to the Remembering
IOf / IN, f,yo of har ad,
she stands, with her constitution as it is and
her boundary as it has been fixed by her
am in favor of her admission without amendment
to her constitution, and without restriction or
limit to her boundary, other than that embraced
in her constitution But say the principle itself
| am favor of; and take occasion to say now,
that it is on the Presidents plan. If you leave it
| to the people, If you refer the question to the
people of the territories for their arbirament and
decision, you must abide by that decision,
| Mr.. lNGE, (the floor being temporarily yield
ADJ said he understood the gentleman from Penn
syYaqla to explain the Presidents plan as Der
ing opposed to the proposition which he had
submitted. h
MIR. CASEY, (resuming.) No, sir, say that
the principle embraced in the proposition of the
gentleman, though not as applied to California, is
the correct doctrine; it is the substratum, the
foundation upon which our government is based,
and upon which all free governments rest for their
support. say, if you refer fthe settlement of
questions Of principle which are to govern a
certain people to those people, you are bound by
their decsion--you cannot go beyond it, You
might as well refer to Judicial tribunal the set
clement OF disputes and suppose that you are
bound by the decision il it be in your favo, and
are at liberty to reject it if it is against you
withdraw the amendment.
Mr., HOUSTON renewed it, have listened
(said Mr.. H. with infinite pleasure to the remarks
of the gentleman from Pennsylvania. l am happy
to find sir, that at least of the sons OF that
noble and gallant State which lies west of the lit
tie State which have the homer In part to repre-
sent, who is about to support me in the position
which have always occupied upon the question
now before the committee. | was one of those,
sir, who voted-and did so most cordially-for
the amendment that was submitted by the gentle
man from Kentucky, | voted for II, not with the |
view to embarrass the bill, for such would not be
its effect but voted for it, sir as great cardinal
republican principle, upon which am not only |
willing to risk my political existence, but nv life
and, If it be necessary, this Union ITSELF for see
sir, is to to the issue which has been pre-
scented here yesterday and the day before and |
to-day--to the question of disunion--of dissolu-
tion---and nothing can preyentIt. And, sir, when
that day arrives, and the issue is made up will
now take occasion to say to gentlemen from all
sections of the country, that tho blue stream which
winds its course within sight Of this Capitol will
BIO the dividing limit but, sir, on the beautiful
banks of the Delaware, where the loudest roar Of
the Revolution was heard, and It's severest shock
felt, there we will be found TO stand firm, against
those who dare to make dishonorable terms to any
portion of this country.
/, sir, am in favor of the admission of Califor-
MIA as single, naked question. am in favor
of the Presidents plan, and | understand the
Presidents plan to be precisely as it hasseen de-
monstrated by the gentlepan from Pennsylvania.
The President leaves to the people Of the terri
tories. when they come forward and ask admission
into the Union, TO settle the questions aud help
me Heaven, if there be man here or elsewhere, |
who meaps to deny this sovereign and republican
right, ain against him to the death, Let the
issue come then, and shall be ready to meet it.
Now, j vote for these amendments, because
they contain principle which cordially approve.
am in favor of the admission of California, be-
cause | believe the people of that State have
| voluntarily excluded slavery. If the people of
New Mexico should prefer voluntarily to adopt it,
they shall be admitted if it be in my power to Sc
cure their admission. If they are to be excluded
on that ground alone, the Union is at an end
| Aud thara Ia tho In tho