The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1850-04-18


aors who are to be absent by the order Of the SEN
ate. II the committee be appointed, and all these
subjects be referred TO them, they will require
time TO consider them. IL may be that every thing
is prepared beforehand, but, STILL they should have
time. DIR. Franklin was once asked a question,
and out of respect TO the interrogation, he asked
that he might be allowed To postpone his answer
till next day, in order that he might seem to have
given the subject some consideration IL was so
with this committee they should have time that
they might TO have had the subject under con-
sideration.
This was due to the committee itself, and hence
the admission of California would be postponed ior
| an uncertain period II, however, the committee
were to report incontinenty, il would then be es-
tablished what had frequently been said that they
had thought of the whole affair ior some Tune pack,
and their report TO be something ready cut and
| dried beforehand. IL there was a committee, he
| supposed there would be nothing done this week,
and the consequence would be long delay and
imminent danger TO California. He moved to lay
the subject on the table, with view to move to
take up the California bill
Mr. CLAY. Will the Senator withdraw the mo-
ton for a moment?
Mr. BENTON. Certainly, sir, will do any
thing in the spirit Of compromise, except compro-
missing away California.
Mr. CLAY said that he regretted the difference
of opinion which unfortunately existed between
him and the Senator from Missouri ON this subject
They were both in favor Of the admission Of Cali
fornia. Both regretted the delay to her admis-
sion. But, he felt impelled to say to the Sen
one Of the great causes which delayed the ad-
mission Of California. BY opposing this committee
the Senator delayed the admission of California On
Friday last he had made proposition to the Sena-
tor which he now repeated. Let the opposition 10
this committee be Withdrawn; let the committee
be appointed let them go out without INSTRUCTIONS
and then take up the California bill in the Senate
and progress with it, II this were done, he would
move TO amend the California bill by adding thereto
the bill granting territorial governments to Utah
and New Mexico, and that too without the Wllmot
proviso. The Senator from Missouri had said the
California bill was short; but did that Senator or
any else suppose that il could pass in its pres
ent shape? The Senator from Missouri relied on
early presidents; he hoped the Senator would point
ment that the public domain should be surrendered
| to the Union.
| He hoped the Senator from Illinois would have
such an amendment prepared to offer to the Cali
fofnia bill. The Senator thinks the California bill
can be acted upon this week. if so, let the opposi-
ton to this committee be Withdrawn, and take up
the California bill. Does not the Senator himself
that he is delaying the California bill by his OPP
position to this committee! Let, then, the OPPOSE
ton be withdrawn, let the committee be appointed,
| for dilatory, embarrassing, or parliamentary
proceedings could succeed in thwarting the opin-
ion and desires of the majority of the Senate, ex-
pressed by three decided test votes.
| Mr.. BENTON said the amendment OF the Sena-
| tor from Kentucky was not an amendment-it was
| a resolve, independent resolve. 1t was a re-
solve that no instructions should be given to the
committee, and such u resolve was not binding on
| any one.
| lie opposed the appointment of the committee.
4 II was nothing more than the selection OF jury,
and sending them out to consider the case, and
leaving the judges and advocates to debate upon 1t
\ during their absence Ii was To be, it was true,
| jury of the leading and distinguished members oil
| the Senate sending out the leading men, it was
| to be supposed that those left behind were led
| members. The Senator says that, by opposing the
appointment Of this committee, the admission oil
California is delayed; and urges that opposition to
| the committee be withdrawn. Had he not the
right to oppose this measure? Had ne not the right
| to present his amendments? If he had no right to
| do so, make the point of order, and let them be
| ruled out If he had the right, he would never de-
sis, particularly when he felt it to be his duty to
| do otherwise.
| There was no man who made more professions
of peace, who delighted to picture its benefits nor
| dilate upon its charms; no man who had the word
peace 50 often on his lips, the greatest of war
| riors the great emperor. And why was 1t that he
| was constantly engaged in war! Because the peo-
4 pie would resist him; when he would march his ar
mics into their nations, they would resist; and
hence il that he, the peace loving man, was a
dsturber of the peace, because the people would
resist him: Something like parallel might DC
charged him with delaying action on the Caliior-
MIA bill because he resisted what he had right to
resist what it his duty to resist, and what he
| had the Legislative experience of the past sixty
years to sustain him in doing. He was doing
nothing than he had a right TO do, and II was
lost labor to attempt TO scare him off the track.
| He had heard that persons considered
that a horse could draw faster when he had a
weight upon his back, and that several sacks OF
grain were placed the back of the animal to aid
him in drawing up hill. This doctrine was based
upon the suppostion that il kept his back bone
| straight, and his joints all directed to a common
centre This case of drawing. California
was about to be the victim of like policy, though
hers a case Of running, for she was TO run the
| gauntlet. IL was proposed by some 10 place a
Weight upon her back, and to attach another
weight 10 each OF her legs, reserving a sufficient
weight for her tail; and thus weighed down by ex-
| traneous subjects, IL was said she could run the
faster. The people Of California could not be made
to believe this. They would suppose the lighter
| the rider, and the less weight Of his equipments,
| the faster the animal would run.
| Mr.. DOUGLAS said that he was prepared 10 offer
| an amendment TO the California bin that would
satisfy every one in relation to the surrender by
her 10 the United States Of her public domain. He
did not agree with Senators, however, that such
provision was necessary; II IL was, then the Uni
for the public lands cold in those States and never
surrendered TO the United States.
Mr.. BENTON renewed his motion 20 lay the
subject on the table; and the question being taken
by yeas and nays, decided in the negative, AZ
follows:
YEAs.-Messrs. Baldwin, Benton, Bradbury,
Chase, Clarke, Corwin, Davis Of Massachusetts,
Dayton, Dodge Of Iowa, Dodge Of Wisconsin,
Douglas, Felch, Greene, Hale, Hamlin, Jones, Mil
ler Norris, Phelps, Seward, Shields, Smith, Walk
or, and webster-24.
| NA1S.-messrs. AtchisOn, Badger, bclls Dor
land, Bright, Butler, Cas-, Clay, Clemens, Davis o
Mississippi, Dickinson, Downs, foote, Hunter
King, Mangum, Mason, Morton, Pearce, Rusk,
Sebastian, soule, spruance, Sturgeon, Turney, I'm.
dcrwood, Whitcomb, and Yulee-2S.
Mr.. DOUGLAS was then proceeding 10 discuss
the California question, when
Mr.. MANGUM rose 10 a point Of order. III
stated that there nothing before the Senate fo
discussion but the amendment Of the Senator from
Kentucky.
The VICE PRESIDENT sustained the point o
| order.
Mr.. DOUGLAS said, that believing il was in or
der to discuss the subjects proposed be referred
he would appeal from the decision OF the Chair.
Mcssrs. HALE aud CLAY argued the appeal.
The NICEPRESIDENT was stating the point o
order and the reasons for his decision, when
Mr.. DOUGLAS rose to state his view Of the qucs
, | ton.
Mr.. MANGUM called the senatorto order Sor in
terrupting the Chair.
Mr.. DOUGLAS asked whether Senator or TIN
Chair had the right TO the floor when both wer
, about addressing the Senate.
Mr.. MANG UNI and MIR CLAY. The Chair, al