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

possible thata hgh-spirited patriotic and resolute
minority can successfully protect itself and the
vital interests Of the Republic from the usurping
violence Of an overbearing majority. These er.
pedents, assure you, will be resorted TO- If all
ordinary measures Of defence fail, and you will
find your California bill defeated by a non action.
which will be alike fatal TO all the other leeisla-
| tive measures Of the session Why, then, ask of
the Senator from Massachusetts,, and those with
whom he is acting upon the question at present
| under consideration-why will they insist upon
| claiming precedence for the measure of California
admission, with all these serious consequences
staring them in the facet Do they desire to Sc
cure the early admission Of California; The
course which they are now pursuing will inevita-
bly, postpone the realization of their wishes, and in
all probability defeat them altogether Do they
desire TO restore concord and brothery feeling in
| our midst7 The scheme which they are striving
to execute will revive controversial strife. and
make pscifcation utterly hopeless Do they wish
to save and to perpetuate the Union Their pres
ent action Is calculated greatly TO deepen and
| multiply the perils which encompass this fair ais
terbood Of States, and if persisted in to the end
must terminate in the dissolution Of the Com
federacy itself
Mr. Webster. must only say that am quite
incredulous to all the predictions Of disunion from
anything growing out of the present controver-
sy-qute incredulous. My honorable friend
from Mississippi will allow me to remind him that
in the prophecies Of later times there was GER
tain Saturday mentioned. The day went over
and no pillar of the Constitution was shaken-no
bond of the Union was severed The sun rose in
the morning, we all enjoyed very agreeable day,
and we all went to bed at night conscious of the
integrity -Se.be Seysss@eat ssh! sass:sSsc,
trust that in meeting these questions we shall
act according TO our constitutional duties and ac-
cording to our rights, as members Of this body
As to this question Of California, do not wish to
hasten it, but wish to take course that will
lead towards its decision. And when the time
comes my word for it, We shall vote as on other
questions. We may have some protracted sit
tings, and many calls for the yeas and nays, but
when it is ascertained there is n majority of the
Senate for or against admitting California, fee
no doubt that majority will control As to the
other wing of the Capitol il is no concern of mine
] mean to do my duty here and leave it to others
to do their duty elsewhere. We of the Senate
have this subject now before us-we of the Senate
propose to act on this subject; and we ofthe Sen.
ate, according TO the Constitution and our rules o.
proceeding and Of order, will dispose of it so fan
as we are concerned, and then we will leave it t.
the other House to dispose of it according theil
sense of duty. They are one set Of public ser
! vants-they must answer to their masters and W,
But | do not concur in any notion or assump
! tion that 'Ssrs IL r ~ 9pytbjag extraordinary
| arising out Of this business-anything out Of
| the usual course and mode Good speeches W,
shall have, and have had Perhaps we shall
| have as we have had, some rather long speeches
and make one Of them; but in the end, wher
cur taste for discussing shall have been satisfied
shall come TO the vote. Ii will be put to us by
the Clerk who sits before you, and the ayes snC
noes will decide it just as they always have, and
no occasion arise for alarm to us or to the coun
try. That is my view
Mr.. Foote. IL is not necessary for me- upor
this occasion, to make special acknowledgment o
extraordinary intellectual powers of the honors
| BILE Senator from Massachusetts, they are known
| TO US all, and to the civilized world Yet sup
pose that may be allowed to congratulate mysel
that he has been in this instance not little for
bearing and merciful; and that do not find tina
he has said anything in reply to what | hsv
already said which it is not 6bundantly easy fo
me to answer.
Mr.. Foote then proceeded to reiterate his view.
Mr.. Shields of Illinois obtained the floor, AM
the Senate adjourned
FRIDAY, APRIL 5, 1850.
A great number Of anti-slavery petitions wer
| presented by Messrs Seward and Chase iron
citizens of New York, Ohio Illinois, New Jersey
and Pennsylvania all Of which were received ant
ordered to lie upon the table
The Deficiency bill was reported from the Com
mittee on Finance, and made the order of the DAY
for half past twelve on Monday next
Mr. Atchison, at his own request, was excused
| from serving on the Committee on Foreign AT
The resolution in regard to the Public Print
ing was made the special order of the day 70
Wednesday next.
resolution to allow one hundred dollars +
James Robertson, in consideration of his impris
onment for no adequate cause, through the sctio
of the officers of the Senate gave rise to consider
able discussion, but was at length passed.
The resolutions of MIR Bell, with the resolution
Of Mr. Foote to refer them to committee of thr
teen, were taken up, aud General Shields ad
dressed the Senate at some length. He contend
ed for the power of Congress to legslste for tn
Territories, upon the subject Of slavery, ant
avowed his intention 10 vote in obedience to hi
instructions for the Wilmot Provso He dis
claimed sympathy with sectional movements ant
agtations - advocated compromise - denounced
all projects Of disunion-thought the best condi
ton of the slaves WAS slavery-ssid that tn,
surest protection of the South was in the Consti
tuition Of the United States. He was opposed I,
Mr.. Foote'S motion, insisted upon the admission
Of California as a separate measure, and said tha
the power of the whole Union was unequal to thu
task Of forcing slavery On that new State.
Mr. Mason of Virginia followed in a short
Speech in which he denounced in the stronges,
terms the scheme Of bringing California into the
Union, az a separate measure. He insisted upon
taking up the Territorial bills first, and then the
California bill, to the passage of which he should
not object, provided her boundaries were reduced
MIR Underwood Of Kentucky had been at first
against the motion TO refer to Select Committee
| kuth In ,l,ata anI
therefore now support the motion. Let all the
subjects be referred to the committee and be
would advise that committee to recommend first
the passage of the fugitive bill, next the pas
sage of the Territorial bills or the Californis
bill, he did not care what came irst-the Cali.
fornia bill, with or without reduction in her
boundaries, the Territorial bills without any re-
strcton as to slavery.
The Vice President stated the question on the
amendment Of Mr.. Baldwin, to except California
from the motion of Mr.. Foote, and Mr. Benton
demanded the yeas and nays
|. Mr. Butler concurred with Mr.. Mason, and
would never consent TO the passage of the Califor
MIA bill by itself
Mr. Clay admitted that at first when the Pres
dent's message concerning California was sent
, in, he was in favor Of recognising the new State
without delay But 80 impressed was he with
the necessity of doing all in his power to promote
harmony, he would now support the motion Of
Mr. Foote. and insist that all that relates to the
Territories to the boundary Of Texas, and to
California, be referred 10 the committee Of
thirteen.
Mr. Benton said that, when at first he had
moved to except California from any movement ia
adjust Nil the questions before them he had rea.
Sous for wishing to keep the bill for her admis
sion separate measure-aDd those reasons had
grown stronger He would never consent tc
make the admission of State weigh in the bal
ance against the catching Of runaway negroes
Nur would he 20 through the form Of adjusting Q