The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1850-08-08
I'm sEAArE, a.ospAr. August 5.
ADMISSION OF CALIFORNIA.

further amendment being offered, it was re-
ported to the Senate with the amendment made
in Committee of the Whole, and the amend
ment was copcuned In,
The PRESIDENT stated the question upon
ordering the bill to be engrossed and read a
third time
Mr.. BUTLER. hope the vote win not be
taken at this time. it was not expected that
we should take a vote at this time. But will
not interpose any objection, so far as l am con-
cerned, but will let things take their course.
Mr. MASON. is it the intention of the sem
ator who brought that bill in that the final vote
shall be taken upon it ] presume there will
be no further debate, and certainly none from
the opponents of the bill, so far as am con-
cerned. When the act is passed, it will be for
those States whose rights and interests are
affected by it to determine what they will do.
will interpose no further obstacle. Amend
ments which would be satisfactory to the
Southern States have been voted down. But
submit to the Senate, in accordance with the
suggestion of the senator from South Carolina
before me, Mr. BUTLER whether it would not
be better to allow the vote to be taken to-
morrow. feel the greater interest in this
because my colleague is absent and know he
would be glad to be here to vote upon the bill !;
and he is absent under circumstances which
entitle him to some consideration. We had
expected him certaily last night, and have no
doubt he will be here tonight lpresume that
tomorrow no obstacle will be thrown in the
way.
Mr. DOUGLAS With the understanding
that the vote is to be taken tomorrow, move
to postpone the further consideration OF this
question until one o'clock tomorrow
Mr.. FOOTE. | rise for the purpose of ascer-
tanning whether it is clear and distinct under
standing that the vote is to be taken tomorrow
upon this bill
Mr.. YULEE. / rise for the purpose of disa-
Mr. MASON If the senator will allow me.
! do not wish to be understood as making any
arrangements whatever, either for myself or
any body else. / have said only that have no
further disposition to debate the bill. Whether
there is any disposition upon the part of any
other senator to do so, ! am uniformed am
authorized to make no arrangement, and make
none. What meant to say was only this in
the absence of my colleague, to submit to him
that if the vote was to be taken, it should be
taken tomorrow.
Mr. YULEE. desire to say that if the ar
rangement is understood to be confined to the
question upon engrossment alone, ] do not know
that, for one, should be disposed to interfere
with that. What / may desire to say upon the
BILL and what further action, so far as am con-
cerned, propose in reference to it, may be done
afterwards as well as before But if l am to
understand that the final vote upon the passage
of the bill is to be taken Tomorrow, ], for one
must say that l can enter into no such under
standing "a"a
MroFOOTE. The senator from Virginia
says that he desires to offer no further amend
ment to the bill, and he may well say so for all
must know, after what has occurred, that no
amendment to this bill, favorable to Southern
interests, is likely to be made. The test vote
has been taken upon the bill, and the result is
unfavorable to the South. rise for the purpose
merely Of calling the attention of the country to
the fact that ], at least, an, not responsible for
this state of affairs for the line of 35 deg 80 min
could have been secured to the South, if the
spirit of conciiation-the true spirit of conclia-
tion-had been entertained by all who represent
the South on this floor. Yes, sir, il 35 deg
80 min. is not the Southern boundary Of Cali
forBia after what have stated in debate, after
what know, and other senators know to have
occurred, wish it to be understood distinctly
that at least am not responsible. feel au-
thorized to go before my constituents, and the
South generally, and say that 35 deg. 80 min.
could have been obtained, if Southern men had
not opposed obstacles to it. After saying this,
Iconclude by remarking that shall offer no
amendment to the bill at ALL but leave it to those
who are in favor of it to offer them if they
choose, and to those who are resolved to defeat
1t by every legitimate means known to the rules
Of parliamentary proceeding '".
The PRESIDENT. The question is on the
postponement of the bill.
Mr.. FOOTE. So / supposed and merely
intended to say further that my opposition to
the bill was at an end here except so far as
voting was concerned, and to say, also, that |
shall vote now, as / always intended to vote,
according to the instructions of my legislature;
and that shall be compelled therefore, how
ever, reluctantly, to vote against the admission
of California, for which / should be glad to vote
upon any fair and honorable adjustment of all
the questions growing out of the institution of
slavery.
Mr. BUTLER. Mr. President, the senator
has before this stated that $3.50 would have GER
tainly been the line involved in the so-called
Compromise bill | have never been satisfied
by anything yet stated that such would have
been the fact. OF course it may or may not be
30; but as the subject is now before the Senate
would be very glad to have that statement of
facts, that for one could see they We're such as
to authorize the declaration. Now, sir, with re-
gard to shaping out what would be proper ter
ritorial limits for California originally, do not
know that would have gone for $3.50 or So
80. The subject was once before the committee
of which | am the chairman. 1t was taken from
that committee, as you well know, and referred
to committee more favorable to the manufac-
ture of new States. States can be formed more
readily at the suggestion Of some committees
than Of others. This entire subject was taken
from the Committee on the Judiciary, and re-
ferrred to the Committee on Territories. Now
sir, what would have been the line the Judiciary
Committee would have laid down--whether So
80, $500, or "a or 38, or any other-I do not
know. They would have been the proper limits
for territorial governments for California and
the whole of the territory acquired from Mexico
That would have been the course in which the
Judiciary Committee would have proceeded.
The PRESIDENT. The Chair is very un-
willing to interrupt the senator, but this is
wholly out of order. . ." .
MIR. DOUGLAS. withdraw the motion to
postpone, in order to allow him to go on.
The PRESIDENT. The senator from South