The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1850-05-14

TO enttle her TO two if not more than two repre-
sentatiyes. lie said that, in the remarks OF the
Senator from Georgia (Mr. BERRIEs) ON this sub
jeot ON the day the report made, that Senator
had made mistake in supposing that 10 enuue
California TO two representatives she must nave
double that number OF inhabitants made necessary
for representative by the act OF Congress regu
ating the apportionment OF representatives by the
| law of Congress, il was expressly enacted that
| any State having an excess over moiety OF the
number fixed as the basis OF representative, snail
be entitled to a representative for that excess 80
that California, 10 be entitled To two represent
atives was not required by law to have al 900 i'm
| habitants. as the Senator supposed.
From the best evidences in his possession, and
from the address Of the Representatives from Cali
fornia il appeared that the population OF California
on the LIST of January, 1850, was 1909 900 more than
enough TO entitle her TO one representative; since
that time and up 10 the 9th of March, the arrivals
there by sea were l6,957, and from other sources
over Ii 600 The increase has been going on ever
since, and he had not the slightest doubt but that
there at this time in California a population
sufficient To entite her To two representatives, even
if there were provision granting her member
for any excess moiety. II had been said that
the people OF California were not citizens OF that
State, but adventures after gold They were
principally from our own States; they were bone
of bone, and had not lost any of their intelli
gence by emigration. He found nowhere In the
Constitution any time OF residence fixed as quail
ficaton for representation. II was also said that
many of those who there were foreigners,
ignorant of our laws and customs; but by the
treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo, the foreigners resi-
dent there were to become citizens of the United
States within one year, unless they chose the alter
native OF returning to Mexico. IL was said, also,
that thousands of those who had gone there from
the United States intended to return 1t was the
same in louisiana; thousands go there for the
| purpose OF making fortune, and with the lnten-
ton of returning, but after being there awhile, be-
come pleased with the climate, and become perma-
nent residents
The next objection to California is her boundary.
II was proposed in committee to divide California
into two Sa by the line of 300 30and again by the
line of 35o 30 but the majority of the committee de-
feated that proposition. He thought it strange that
this design of dividing it into two States should
originate with the South and be ovioently opposed
by the North when evident that if California
be divided into two half dozen States, they all
will be what ID called free States Slavery could
not be carried into any new State TO be carved out
of California south of $50 30. There would be Cal
ifornia, free State, on the one side, Mexico and
her mountains on the other; or if slavery could be
carried there, it could not be maintained. All the
inhabitants of California, in her convention,
were in favor of making it free State. The effect
of carving new States out Of her would be to in
crease that preponderance of free States which has
been so strongly objected to.
He examined the extent of the seacoast Of Cali
fornia, and contended that the condition OF the in
terror country such that no new State could be
formed there that would require outlet on the
Pacific. He also cited the cases of Michigan, Wis
consn, and other States as precedents for the ad-
steps the part of Congress TO authorize the es-
Enlistment of State governments.
While considering the circumstances and rea
sons why California should be admitted into the
L MON, he considered that there were equal con-
siderations why territorial governments should
be given to Utah and New Mexico. He CON
trasted the plan of settling this question with the
one which came TO Congress with recommends
tons from high quarter. The plan submitted in
the annual message of the President was, that Cal
ifornia be admitted into the Union, and that the
Territories of Utah and New Mexico should be left
TO settle this question themselves. He had come to
Washington with sincere desire to operate in
all things with the Executive branch of the Govern
| ment, but he also had come here TO carry out, in
all cases. the convictions of his deliberate udg
| ment. How far did the plan reported by the COM
mitee differ from that submitted by the President?
The two plans agreed SO far the President
mendatons for action extended. The admission OF
California was recommended, and il is now recon-
mended by the committee. The President did not
recommend any Legislation for the Territories.
But he Mr. Co. thought that, if Congress failed to
give the Territories government, IT would fail IN
| sacred duty to people placed under the sover.
eighty of the United States and who were entitled
TO the consideration and care of the government.
IL was said that the people OF the territories would
still have government; but II would not be gov
eminent TO which they were entitled. They have
been bereft OF that supreme government which they
| had when under the sovereignty Of Mexico. BY
| the treaty the United States solemnly guaranteed
the people of those Territories protection 10 their
persons and security to their property, and the right
| of religious liberty. How can this be done without
proper governmental Is it right for us to say 70
the people of Utah and New Mexico that they must
take care Of themselves, and when they are ripe
| for State government we will receive them as a
State into the UnionS When will they be ripe for
a State government? Will Congress be doing it's
duty TO leave them in this abandoned State?
When the Presidents annual message was sent
TO Congress, there was cause to suppose that any
| attempt to form territorial governments for the
Territories would, in consequence of the odious
proyiso, lead to scenes Of excitement, and result in
danger and alarm to the country. Since that time
| great change has taken place; the proviso has
been thrown out The glorious North has shown
herself willing TO rescue the country, and has abated
| her demands The South--the glorious South
equal in all things 10 the North, has come forward
and shown disposition TO meet on a common plat
| form Of Cancellation and harmony. They have both
| come 10 the rescue. Mems minds have changed
and become moderate, and majority can now
meet with feelings and desires TO settle difficulties
| amicably and peaceably.
| He believed that the President would, under tn,
| circumstances, were he at this time to commune
| cate 10 Congress, recommend that territorial gov
ernnents be established by Congress.
| He then urged the strong and immediate neces
sity on the part Of Congress for speedy and salts
factory settlement of the question of the boundary
| between Texas and New Mexico. On all thes,
subjects there had been great diversity Of opin
ion in the committee all seemed anxious that there
| should be an attempt made TO settle them. Tn,
| blank IN the sum proposed 10 be given 70 Texai
was left blank and when the bill came up for fina
| action he would move 10 insert the thought o
| by the committed.
/ The next subject before the committee was tn,
Question Of inserting these measures in one bill.
| He then referred TO the parliamentary law, anc
the objections that account urged by the Senator
| from Missouri Mr.. BESToS) 10 the union Of tbos'
bills. He said that all the Senator had read upof
the subject Of "tacking' not applicable TO the
parliamentary law Of this country. In the Unitec
ststes' parliamentary law there was such thing
| known AZ lacking in the English sense Of th'
| term. lacking, understood in the British parlia
ment, was a very different thing from the union o
such bills az was now proposed. lie explained
lacking, az understood in England, to be as fol
lows
All money blls-bills Of supply, &c.-originat
IN the House Of Commons, and when they car
ried up 70 the Lords, they must be taken as thcJ
came from the Commons, rejected. The Lord
have no power 20 change amend such bills, bu
must pass or reject them az they come up from th
Commons. The Commons, knowing that certain
measures which they desire cannot pass the Lords
sometimes tack one Of them TO money bill, AM
thus force the aristocracy and the Lords to gran
concessions TO the Commons not receive the sup
plies. The Crown must also take the bills "a the,
| come from the Commons. Hence, when the Com