Daily Richmond times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1849-1850, 1850-06-05

|
minds OF the American people to concurrence in the
measures proposed by this bill, those who oppose i eth
er senators or REPRESENTATIVES. are denounced through
press as uttrdS, the meaning being that all who do
not admit that this bill as reported forms the true basis
on which the controversy should be adjusted are utras
or against any : adjustment" Sir, there was time,
nearly the whole delegation Of the South in the other
wing ofthe Capitol abandoned their seats and left the
hall because they would not remain present as mem
bers OF House that tolerated discussion even on the m
stution of slavery. Such the of feeling then
before this scheme of the Introduction of slavery in the
Territories had been devsed-a protest in advance
against the discussion of that institution for any pur-
pose whatever in the Congress Of the United States
And where are we now? Present, day after day in
TINS chamber patient listeners to Debates upon nsti
tuition with which the des:ines OF the Southern States
are nseparaby connected, and from quarters utterly
unconnected with it, except in aggression and hos
tlity.
MIR President, declare in advance here that shall be
gratified than could be at any other occurrence
in life, if should be adopted by this Congress
coming from any quarter, which will really adjust the
controversy now subsisting between the North and the
South. | will lend my aid most cheerfuy to any such
measure | am prepared to make conce ssions-con.
| cessons too that, so far as | informed, have not
yet been found coming with free will from the South
am prepared to state now what these concession will be-
but am not prepared and God forbid that should
be, to yield one inch to the demands OF a right by law
to prohibit people from going into any Territory
| belonging to the Government and taking with them
all or any part OF their property unless upon terms
similar to those adopted in 1920, the occasion of
| lr,
to ascertain the true character of the compromise pro-
posed by this bill let US first understand what the
point OF division between the parties and the ground
occupied by the South. The right as asserted bv
| the Southern States TO occupy the Territories as
common property, and for their people going there to
take their property with them, is derived under the
constitution which provides common government
tor the States.
is the right of the people in all the States to 90 into
any Territory as the common property of all the States
and to take with them any or all their property and to
reside there and to enjoy it, under the protection of the
Constitution and the laws of the United States.
Ii this be true, and ! apprehend there are none to
drance to this right existing in the Territory neither
it has Its origin in the laws OF such Terrific
ny before it became the property of the United States
or whether has been created since by any unauhorz
ed act OF the rst occupants of such Territory it is the
duty OF the United States at interpose to re-
move such hiDdrance
say that we refuse terms OF compromise unless We
refuse any modification abatement of it as thus
strictly defined. AS right derived under the fuuda-
mental laws OF the government, should be fully JUS
titled in refusing any terms which would qualify or i'm
parit and yet, sir, the South is already committed to
more concllatory course, and by which have LITTLE
| doubt she is yet prepared to abide.
First, by the terms OF the act which passed the Sc
nate two years SINCE under the sanction Of Southern
votes usually called the Clayton BILL" it was agreed
to dispense with any act of Federal Legislation open
ing the way into the Territories the people with their
slaves, trusting to the Constitution for the protection of
property when taken into the Territories, and mere
y providing proper forms OF redress through the Judi
cia tribunals. This was mode of adjustment sane
toned by Southern votes, and founded in large con-
cesson OF our existing rights
But there Is another far better understood and which
has the sanction OF acquiescence of thirty years.
Failing back on this basis of compromise adopted on
the admission OF Missouri let take the parallel of Sc
deg. ~ mln North latitude as the line of partition in
the new Territories thus agreeing divide and enjoy
separately common property, what differing nst-
tuons would seem to forbid that we should enjoyin
common.
Either form OF djusment have little doubt would
be found acceptable to the South The first would sim
ply organize governments for the Territories in the
usual torm and leave the rights of the citizens of the
different States in those Territories to be determined by
the courts Of the country, under the constitution and
the laws bIt this would require that much of the
Territory OF California as has recently been erected
into State Government should be remanded to terri
oral condition, and retained until reasonable time
was allowed to citizens OF the Southern States to re-
move there with their property if they chose to do So
The second is far the practicable and conve-
nent, and would allow the admission of new State at
once tor California after proper notifications of the
constitution which has been adopted and it has the
merit of precedent, adopted in 1920 the admission OF
the State OF Missouri and since fully acquiesced in If
any adjustment can be made OF the character of COM
promise this has certainly the strongest claim 1t d.
vdes, as have said into separate property that which
we cannot ENJOY as common property and apportions
to the North and South respectively, territory in those
atudes most likely to be valuable to their differing ha
bits and labor.
But let it not be supposed that am at all the euogst
of the original :" Missouri compromise" Il was Fan
evil day for the South, have always thought when it
was adopted, and has been fruitful source Of dscord
since 1t has been acquesced in nothing more. This
acquiescence has made it familiar to people, and
am satisfied their earnest desire preserve the public
peace, and with the union OF the States would lead
them to acqulesce in it again.
Having promised this much, Mr.. President on the
true position held by the South under the guarantees of
constitutional right, aud having thus indicated the ex-
tent TO which we are willing to go in concession for
the sake OF the public peace trust that those Senators
from Southern States who arrayed in opposition to
this bill will no longer be denounced ''utras And
yet am free to declare, if the most decided purpose
sanction by word or VOTE so much of the bill
as admits California within the boundaries adopted and
as dismembers Texas from the parallel of 80 deg be
ultra position for the South plant myself there firm
y and irrevocably happen what may We are sincere
ly DESTROYS of adjusting this unhappy controversy on
terms that may harmonic opinion, but law which
excludes the institution Of slavery in any territory be-
low the line adopted in 1920 will ever be tolerated or
as trust and believe be endured.
Now, Mr.. President to the bill itself What are its
terms9 1t proposes, first, that the Southern States
shall submit to the exclusion of slavery by law in Cali
forna down to the 32d parallel OF north latitude being
four and half degrees below the Missouri compromise
line, and embracing the whole front on the Pacific
ocean. Because provides for the admission of Cali
fonia with the boundaries she has prescribed which
come down to the 32d parallel OF North latitude 1t
proposes to the people OF the Southern States that they
shall acquiesce in their exclusion from the territory now
belonging to the people Of all the States within the Ii
mts OF the State OF California as low the 32d de-
gree OF north latitude, bringing down. as have said
four and half degrees below the Missouri compromise
line. That is the first proposition.
And what is the second The second is that the
Government of the United States shall procure from
Texas by liberal grant OF oney cession Of all the
territory claimed by her north and west of line run
from the 32d the 34th parallel OF north latitude COM
pretending bout 1000 square miles, and sufficient for
the erection OF two medium sized States the effect of
which would be to release much of the territory of
Texas from the institution of slavery, and subject
TO the sole jurisdiction OF the Federal Government
These are the two propositions presented to the South
ern States And what is offered az, an equivalent 3
The sole equivalent is that the North will organize
Territorial Governments for the residue OF California
usually called "utah," or "Deseret" and for what re-
mot PROV iso."
Now sir 10 these propositions, as made in the bill
never can assent cannot assent, because they bring
down yet lower, and the extent Of four and halfde
grees limits from which are to be excluded with
our slaves, And it does more takes from one OF the
States OF this Union large territory subject the
ttIItion Of Sla L