Weekly national intelligencer., 1850-03-09
SPEECH OF Mr.. WEBSTER,
OF MASSACHUSETTS,
ON THE TERRITORIAL QUESTIO NJ
In SENATE, MARCH z, 1850.


might hear the ongexpected speech of the Senator from
Massachusetts,.
The VICE PRESIDENT called the Senate to order at
five minutes to u O'clock and the devotional exercises
performed by the Chaplain, the Rev. e. NJ. BUTLER
The Journal Of yesterday about TO be read, when
Mr.. BADGER moved that the reading OF the joune be
dispensed with.
The VICE PRESIDENT said be was in doubt whether
tina. could be done without the unanimous consent Of the
Senate.
The SECRETARY accordingly read the journal of the pro
ceedngs of yesterday.
ADMISSION LADIES.
Mr. FOoTE. Mr. President, move that the ladies he
permitted occupy the floor, which they now are doing
The VICE PRESIDENT. The Senator from Mississippi
(Mr FoorE that the ladies be permitted to occupy
the floor. This motion requires unanimous consent.
Mr. HALE. move to amend the motion Of the Senator
from Mississippi by substituting the word "invited for the
word "permitted." [Laughter
Mr. FoOTT. will not be astidious, but do no, know
why they should be invited when they already have pos
session. .s'
Mr.. CLEMENS Would it not be well enough to make
the clear the gallery o. its male occupants
allow the ladies' occupy i-as then could act
with comfort. Somebody must be put to inconve-
nenceether the Senate, the ladies' (Which do not de-
sre or the male occupants Some such action is necessary
for the proper transaction of the business of hs Senate
The VICE PRESIDENT Is the motion Of the Senator
from Mississippi objected to .f
Mr. FOOTE. woald suggest to the honorable Senator
that he should not make the innocent responsible The Ia
dies dsordery. and do not why they should
be made responsible for the dsordery conduct OF
think under the circumstances, it Is better that motion
should be adopted and will participate with him in any ac-
ton he may propose for the purpose of clearing the galleries
of disordeIy men, if there be any found there compelling
them BE orderly which, sorry say, they not
always upon occasions of this sort.
The VICE PRESIDENT. The Chair hears objec-
ton the notion and the order of the Senate will be
cued. ..&s .'..... 49, 4
THE COMPROMISE. .."....
The VICE PRESIDENT. The resolutions submitted BY
the Senator from Kentucky made the special order OF
the day IL o'clock. On this subject the Senator from
Wisconsin (Mr WALKER) has the floor.
Mr.. WALKER. Mr.. President this vast audience has
not assembled he2r and there is but man. in my
opinion who assemble such audience They expect
hear him, and feel TO be my duty we'll my plea
sure give the floor therefore the Senator from Massachu
setts understand it is immaerial to him upon which of
these questions he speaks and therefore will not to
postpone the special order. ..... Ill, ..
Mr.. WEBSTER. beg to express my obligations to my
friend from Wisconsin, (Mr WALKER as well to my
friend from New York. M SEwARD for their courtesy in
allowing me address the Senate this morning.
Mr. PRESIDENT wish to speak to-day, not as Massachu-
man, Northern man. but American, and
member of the Senate Of the United States 1t is fortunate
that there is Senate Of the United Statea body not yet
moved from its propey, not lost to just sense OF its
dignity, and its own high responsibilities, and body to which
the country looks with confidence for wse moderate Patroc
and healing doctrine. 1t is not to be denied that live in
the midst Of strong agatons and in the midst Of very
siderable dangers to institutions of government The i'm
prisoned winds let loose. The East the West, the
North and the stormy South all combine to throw the whole
into commoon, and TO toss its bow to the Skies and
10 disclose its profoundes depths do not expect Mr. Pre-
siden hold, be fit to hold the helm in this combat Of
the political elements but have duty TO perform, and
TO perform it with idey-not without Of the
surrounding DANGERS but not without hope have part to
oct not for my security safety for looking out
for no fragment upon which float away from the wreck
wreck there be- but for the good Of the whole and the
of the whole and there is that which will keep
my duty during this struggle whether the and the
shall appear shall not appear for many days. speak
to-day for the preservation of the Union Hear my
cause speak to-day, Of socous and anxious heart,
for the restoration the country Of that quiet and that har
nony which make the blessings of this Union rich and
dear all These the topics that propose myself
discuss these the motives, and the sole motives, that
influence the wish communicate my opinions to the
and the country; and if do any thing, however
le for the promotion of these ends, shall have accomplish
ed all that desire. 7.
Mr. President it may not be amiss recur very briefly to
the events which, equally sudden and extraordinary have
brought the political condition Of the country to what now
is In May 1885, the United States declared against
Mexico Her armies then the frontiers entered the pro-
Of Republic met and defeated all troops pene
traed her mountain passes and occupied her capital The
marine force of the United States took possession of her forts
and her the Atlantic and on the Pacific In less
than years treaty negotiated by which Mexcs ceded
70 the United States territory, extending eight
hundred miles along the shores Of the Pacific reaching back
over the mountains and the DESERT until joined the
frontier of the Texas. II happened that in the dis
raced aud feeble Of the Mexican Government before the
declaration by the United States against Mexico had
become known California, that the people Of California
under the lead of American officers, perhaps generally
threw the existing Provincial Government of Caforna-the
Mexican authorites-and up independent flag. When
arrived San Francisco that had been declared
by the United against Mexico, this independent flag
was pulled down and the and stripes of this Union hoist
ed in it's stead so sir before the ove the powers
of the United States military and naval had possession of
San Francisco and Upper California, and grearuh OF emf
grants from various parts the world took place into Caor
mia 1916 and ls47. But now, behold another wonder
In January of s4s the Momons is said, hem
made discovery of extraordinarily rich mine of gold
or rather of very great quantity Of gold, hardly tit to be
called mine for spread the surface-on the
lower part Of the South American branch of the Sacramento
They have attempted conceal their discovery for
but another discovery, perhaps Of greater
inn orance made of god in another part Of The Ame
branch of the Sacramento, and Suffers FORT IL
called TIE fame of these discoveries spread far and wide
They excited and the spirit of emigration towards
California, which had already taken place and persons
crowded in hundreds and focked towards the bay Of San
Francisco This have said, took place the winter and
spring Of ls4s. The digging commenced in the spring of
that year, and from that time this the work of searching
for gold has been prosecuted with heretofore
known in the history of this globe We all know, sir how
incredulous the American public at the accounts which
reached us at first OF these discoveries but all know that
these received and continue receive daily con
nation and down the present moment Isuppoe the
RANGES as srong after the experience of these
nhs, Of mines of gold apparently inexhausbe in the
regions San Francisco in California, they at
any period of the earlier dates OF the II hap
pened sir, that, although in the time of peace, became
very important sube for legislative consideration and egs
decision provide Territorial Government