The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1850-08-03
THIRTY-FIRST CONGRESS.
FIRST SESSION,
FRIOAY, August 2, 1850.
SENATE.
MopIrlcATIoN OF THr TARIFF,

bENJAMlN r. SMITH
Mr.. HALE, from the Committee on Pensions re
ported d bill for the relief of benjamin p Smith
and, after explanation, the bill was ,read third
time, and passed
WIN. MAXWELL.
Mr. BERRIEN, from the Committee on the Ju-
dietary reported back House bill for the relief OF
VIM Maxwell, late United States MAJ shal for the
district Of Georgia; and, after explanation, the bill
was read third time, and passed.
AMERICAN vEss ELS SEARCHED BY BRITISH CRUISERS.
The PRESIDENT of the Senate laid before the
Senate communication from the President of the
United States, in reference to resolution Of the
Senate calling Tor information as TO whether any
American vessel had been searched on the high
by British cruisers. The message and the accom-.
panying papers were referred 10 the Committee
on Foreign, Relations, and ordered TO be printed.
ISAAC SEYMOUR
Mr. DAVIS, Of Mississippi, moved, and the bill
from the House, granting pension to Isaac Sey
mour, was taken up, read third time and
passed.
THE PENSION LAWS
Mr. HALE moved, and the Senate proceeded TO
the consideration OF the joint resolution from the
House amcndatory of certain pension laws. After
n debate upon some amendments which were
adopted, the joint resolution was postponed till to-
morrow.
CALIFORNIA,
Mr.. DOUGLAS called for the order of the day,
and the Senate proceeded TO the consideration of
the bill for the admission of California "a State
into the Union
The question pending, was on an amend
ment proposed by Mr. DOUGLAS, to add to the
bill an additional section, providing that Cali
tornia shall interfere with the primary dis.
posal OF the soil; and pass no law impairing the
right of the United States to do so; the public do
main not to be taxed non residents TO be taxed 10
higher than residents; the nayigable waters to be
free, &c.
Which Mr.. FooTE had moved to amend by in
sorting therein the following;
'And that the said State OF California shall never
hereafter claim within her boundaries, nor at
tempt to exercise jurisdiction over any portion of
the territory at present claimed by her. except that
which is embraced within the following bounda-
ries, to wit: commencing in the Pacific ocean three
English miles from the shore, at the forty second
degree of north lattude5 thence with the southern
boundary line of the Territory of Oregon, 10 the
summit of the Sierra Nevada; thence along the
crest of that mountain 10 the point where it inter
the parallel Of latitude Of thirty five degrees
thirty minutes; thence with said parallel of latitude
10 point in the Pacific ocean three English miles
rom the shore; and thence to the beginning, in
GLIDING all islands, bays, and harbors adjacent 10
or included within the limits hereby assigned to
said State And new Territory is hereby estab-
lished, to be called Colorado to consist of the resi-
due of the territory embraced within the limits OF
the said State of California specified in the con-
stution heretofore adopted by the people of Caifor-
MIA; for the government of which Territory so es-
tabllshed, all the provisions of this act relating to
the Territory of Utah, except the name and boun
diaries therein specified, hereby declared to be
in force in said Territory of Colorado"
MIR. BERRlEN addressed the Senate in opposi-
ton to the admission of California, and commented
upon what the course was which had been mark ed
out by the Legislature of Georgia. in case that ad
mission should take place
MIR. FOOTE followed in maintenance of the DO
sition taken by him yesterday, in opposition to the
dsunion and secession sentiments lately uttered in
South Carolina.
Mr.. BERRlEN rejoined, and Mr.. FOOTE re-
piled.
MIR. ATCHIsoN said that he had considered the
compromise bill as surrenderng to the North every
thing in respect the Territories except the honor
OF the South. He was willing 10 make thfs conces-
slon for peace and tranquility. He believed the
bill would have restored this TO the country He
had no complaint to make of southern men oppos-
ing the bill, because he believed it surrendered al
the South had claimed. But according to the sen
uments and opinions of every northern man. sla
very was excluded from the territory by the law o.
nature, soil, and climate and also by the Mexican
lave. Why these men did not support the bill h,
could not understand He was sorry TO say, they
either had no faith in their own opinions, or wcr,
the veriest hypocrites that ever crawled upon IN,
earth. This was HE opinion of the bill and of thos
who acted upon it. lie deprecated this discussion
on the subject Of disunon. 1t should not be spoker
OF here. IL should be left beyond these halls Sat
action, by Its constitutional agents, was one thing
and was a proper subject for comment; but wha
was said by sergeant, a colonel, or a ms or in
South Carolina on fourth Of July, or what wai
SAID anywhere else, at public meeting, or on the
stump about disunion, &c, should not be made III,
subject Of discussion in the Senate
Mr. FOOIE replied that he had been attacked
by those persons who had made the speeches alud
ed TO, IN South Carolina and he had acted entirely
IN seli.defcnce. He had opposed that ultraisiI
which declared that, with or without provocation
the State Of South Carolina would seize the Who'll,
California, and take possession Of the mouth Of III,
mississippi and blockade the whole northwest.
Mr.. AICHlSON rejoined; stating that in biz
opinion, all that was said on the stump, and
public meetings. about resistance 10 the Govern
H.. | ,fpta an
blOckading the northwest, was all gas and unwor
thy 70 be introduced in the Senate. To suppose {
blockade, by taking possession the mouth of the
Mississippi, ridiculous. II the whole State o.
South, Carolina were removed and placed at In,
mouth Of that river, the very first rise, upon III,
breaking up Of the ice in the spring, would wasl
the whole State away. tLaughter.l
A message was received from the President oil
the United States, by his private Secretary.
Mr.. DAWSON asked that it might be read.
The CHAIR said that il could only be read by
unanimous consent, without tho bill being laid
Mr.. YULEE askcd If the reading the message
would act as postponcmont Of the bill,
The CHAIR replied 1t would not.
Mr.. ULEE said that he would object to the read
ing lie desired the bill TO be postponed to enable
him 10 submit motion.
After some further conversation, the objection
was withdrawn.
The message was read. Il said that, in answer
TO resolution Of the Senate calling for in formation
relative 70 the evacuation Of Fort Polk all the in.
formation in relation thereto would be found in the
accompanying documents. [Iaughtcr.l
Mr.. CLAY asked for the yeas and nays on the
amendment CT Mr.. FooTE, and they were ordered
Mr.. BADGER addressed the Senate for come
time. He said that he preferred If California vas
10 be admitted, that Ehe should come in with her
present boundaries. lie would rather have one free
state on the Pacific than two three But ifa di-
vision of her territory would make her admission
lees Objectionable 10 any portion Of the people Of the
uiOn, or If bis southern friends were Of opinion
that u would be considered more favorably at the
south, then he would vote for the amendment
lie entered into a discussion Of the evils com.
planned oi by the North existing in the institu-
uona Of slavery, and denied that they were sue h
social or moral cyis az was represented. lie urged
that the most humane policy 20 be pursued by the
friends OF the African sihyc, was 10 diuse over the
widest cxpanse the proscnt slave population. lie
then advcrtcd TO the doctrine of secession, &C. and
denied that any one was authorized 10 say thai
North Carolina was prepared 10 do any act directly
or indirectly tending 90 dissolve the Union III,
IN disuuion no remedy for any wrong. lie wal
for remaining in the Union and Tor fighting uuGci
the Union for their rights. lie pointed out, thai
although the South was IN a minority, there wcr,
some subjects-the tarif-On which the Norl
could not get what they wanted without southern
help. Could they not by this means, by refusing
ali aid and protection, compel the northern men L