The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1850-04-11

siitutlons of education religion and humanity these
great States great in their present resources, but
| greater far in the mighty energies by which the re-
sources Of the future are 20 be developed; THESE,
| these are the monument of Jefferson. His memorla
| is over all our Western land
Our meanest rill, or mightest river,
Rolls mngling with his fame forever.
But what monument should be erected 10 those
whose misapplied talents, energy, and perseverance
have procured, or whose compromising timidlty has
permitted, the reversal OF the policy OF Jefferson !
| What inscription should commemorate the acts OF
those who have surrendered vast terri cries to slave
| ry; who have disappointed the expectations oil the
fathers Of the Republic; who have prepared Tor our
country the dangers and difficulties which are now
around u.s. and upon us 1t is not for me, sir to
say what that inscription should be. Let II remain
| u blank forever
Without concluding Mr. CHASE gave way for a
motion to adjourn; whereupon, the Senate ADJOURN
ed
WEDNESDAY, MARCH q, 1850.
Mr.. CHASE resumed: If Mr.. President, the
views which submitted to the Senate yesterday are
correct, there be no foundation whatever tor the
doctrine advanced, and somewhat boldly OF late, that
an equilibrium between the saveholdng and non
| slaveholjng sections of our country has been, is,
and ought TO be, approved feature of our political
system. No such equilibrium, nothing looking to-
wards such an equilibrium can be found in the Con-
stitution, nor in any early action under ii. Ii was
| not thought OF by anybody. On the contrary, the
six slave States, and with full knowledge, the part
OF those who framed and those who adopted IL, that
provision had been made by the Ordinance for the
erection OF five additional free States out OF the
Northwestern Territory. II was equally well known
that vermont must soon come, and that Maine must
ultimately come into the Union, and both as free
States. Many expected also that Kentucky would
come in free State. 1t is matter of history that
! a strong effort was made In the convention which
framed her Con ttutiun 10 provide for the abolition
Slayprv within her limits and that this ptfnrt
very success. On the other hand, there is
nothing in history, so far as am aware, which gives
the least suppOrt t@e sea tifnt yGt WISHED 01
the extension OF slavery beyond the limits of the
,isn2 STATES for the lrc"'ion of any more new
slave States wllnnnT nvss INNS. puI, iet II Dd con-
ceded that ii was anticipated that all the territory
west of the Aleghanes and south of the Ohio would
be formed into slave States, Just 1t has been, and
where then would be the equilibrium? Four slave
States-Kentucky, Tennessee Mississippi, and Ala
bama-added TO the six existing slave States, would
make but ten whereas the seven expected free States
added TO the seven existing free States, would make
fourteen thus giving TO the free States, after the
division of every inch of territory into States ma
jOrity of eight in this Chamber as well as large
majority in the other House. The truth is, sir that
this idea of an equilibrium was never started until
after began 10 create slave States out OF territory
acquired from foreign Powers. Ii is alien to
original policy, and inconsistent with the interests
and the duty Of the country.
Nor, Mr.. President is there any better foundation
for the assertion that slavery and freedom entitled
TO equal regard in the administration OF this Govern
ment. The argument is, that the States are equal;
that each State has an equal right with every other
State to determine for itself what shall be the char
acter of its domestic institutions and, therefore,
that every right acquired under the laws Of any
State must be protected and enforced in the National
Territories as in the States whose laws conferred IT..
Sir the argument does not warrant the conclusion.
1t is true that the States equal entirely absolutely
equal; il is true that each State, except where
restrained by constitutional proviso Ms, may form
its domestic institutions according To its own
pleasure; but ii is not true that everv right derived
from State law can be carried beyond the State into
the Territories or elsewhere II Is MT true, for
ample, that, if a State chooses TO authorize slave
holding within its limits, Congress is therefore bound
TO authorize savehoIding in the Territories. Ii is no
more true than that bank, chartered by the laws OF
a par ocular State would have right under that law
establish branches in the Territories although the
National Government might be consiitutionally in
competent to legalze banking. Why, sir, slavery
depends entirely for It's existence and continuance
local law Beyond the sphere of the operation OF
such law no man can be compelled to submit to the
condition of slave except by mere unauthorized
force.
| come, now Mr. President, to consider in the
hight of these general principles, the particular ques-
tons under the consideration OF The Senate. The
honorable Senator from Kentucky has submitted 10
us several propositions, which mark ont general
plan for the settlement of ell questions growing out
of the subject of slavery | am afraid, sir, that the
plan will hardly prove comprehensive enough: live
were prepared to adopt the whole scheme who can
say that ether questions and other difficulties will
not arise from this prolific source of embarrassment
and trouble.
laes to the admission Of California. II is not now mat
ter Of dispute whether California shall or shall not be adj
med into the Union That question is settled. No one
doubts that California Is 10 come In, with the boundaries
which she claims and with the Constitution she has adopt
ed. ! concur cordially in this decision: As Western
man. should have preferred the erection of two States
rather than out Of the Territory acquired from Mexico
the Pacific and wish also, in common with many OF
the most intelligent citizens OF California, that her eastern
boundary had restricted TO the range of the Sierra
Nevada Under existing circumstances however, desire
California In az she is, without restriction and
without delay.
Bu il is proposed In the admission OF California
with the general settlement Of the slavery question is
propose also since the report of bill for her adj
mission. and OF bill providing Territorial Governments
for Utah and New Mexico from the Committee on Terrific
ries give to this Territorial bill precedence over the
California bill. am opposed sir, To both these PROPOSE
tons expect good result in the present state OF the
country from the appointment OF such committee TO de.
wise general plan OF settlement in which the admission
of California shall be included The appointment OF such
an omnibus committee would excite alarm, dsrlst ndg
nation. II would not, IN my Judgment inspire confidence
or command respect The task assigned to il would be
impossible work. Membership OF Il would be an unenva.
bic distinction Any adjustment that could devise would
be likely TO compromise The compromises Than to
restore Tranquility the country hope that the motion
for the appointment of this committee may not be pressed.
have observed, indeed with pleasure some indications
that il will not be pursued
HUI ii will be insisted that the Territorial bill for Utah
and New Mexico shall have precedence OF the California
admission bill That, sir, ~ adjustment IN another
form. The design oft is palpabe enough II Is expected
that it will be easier to carry the Territorial BILL without
any restriction 10 slavery before than after the admis
sion OF California. do not know how this may be but,
tor one, will not consent 10 change the order in which
regard, and, in my Judgment, will Justly regard any
change in that order postponing the California bill Ia the
Territorial bill, concesson to the demand for the ex'
tension OF slavery over free Territories No such conces-
sion can ever receive the sanction oil my vote.
Mr.. FOOTE. viii the Senator bear with me for
Mr.. CHASE. With pleasure
Me-. FOOTE. did not myself hear a remark which fell
from him some time since but understand that he is
der the impression that do not intend pressing tho
ton have made for the appointment OF a committee
Mr.. CHASE. said hoped il might not be pressed
Mr.. FOOrE. With the Senator's permission Will EN-
brace the opportunity say and wish 10 be heard by
all The Senator's present at eastby those who favor
able 10 the measure that had hoped that this day the mo-
ton would ave been taken up and acted on am still IN
hopes that after get through this dseusson may be
acted on II not to-day, at the earliest possible period
deem my duty, my most solemn duty, TO press the mo-
ton most earnestly.
Mr.. CHASE. am sorry to find, Mr.. President, that
have been under misrepresentation as 10 the Senator's In.
enon 10 not believe that II will be esteemed In future
times cred 'ble distinction TO have BEEN in the year OF
grace 1850, member Of any committee, by whose inter
venton by whose intervention. free territory
subjected 10 the blight OF slavery anduness the committee
il designed 10 promote this object see no reason why its
appointment should be pressed
Mr. President, the next two propositions OF the Senator
from Kentucky relate To the adjustment of the Texan bum
debt
seems 10 me, sir that both these questions have been
brought premauTely into this discussion ! see no good
for pressing them at this time upon the considers
ton of the Senate. Texas is here Her senators In
this chamber her Representatives the other branch
of the National Legislature She Is OF the United
States Ia too late 10 question the constutionaty OF her
admission Aud we might well leave all questions con.
nected with the erection Of States within her limits
the liability of the United States for her debts and the de-
termination OF her western and northwestern boundary 10
be disposed Of when they arise. Not one of them is i'm
porant now, except that which relates the boundary
between Texas AMI New Mexico aud that should be de-
termned in bill for the government of that Territory
rather than by resolution IN forced connection with dis
tnct matters Hut AS these questions here aud have
been made the subject Of debate by Senator's who have
preceded propose Ia stale essious IN