Daily Richmond times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1849-1850, 1850-05-27
MR. CLAY'S REMARKS AGAINST THE
PLAN OF THE PRESIDENT.
CONCLUSION OF HIS SPEECH

CONCLUSION OF HIS SPEECH.
In SENATE, Tuesday, May d. 1850.
I'VE find in the New York Express the following re-
port of the concluding remarks made by Mr.. CLAY, on
Tuesday last, in reply to the speech of Mr. Soule-
We believe the report is copied from the New York
Courier and Enquirer We shall give the whole speech
tomorrow from the revised report in the National In
telligencer of Saturday
Allow TO call the attention OF the Senate to
very painful duty which am constrained to perform,
but which shall perform nevertheless let subject me
to what Interpretation it may, here or esewhere;-l
mean that of contrasting the plan proposed oy tne Exc
cutye OF the United States with the plan presented by
the Committee of Thirteen and if that Executive has
single friend here do not mean exactly tnat because
feel myself TO be friend of the Executive, and most
anxious to CO. Operate with altogethe out here De
friend here who prefers the measure OF the Executive 10
that of the Committee let nm stand up mere ana meet
ma face to face upon the argument which am about TO
offer | challenge the contrast ana comparison whch
I am about to make here.
What is the plan Of the Presidents In the flrs place,
Mr. President, let me say, that 1t is most apparent,
that every friend OF his country must be ANXIOUS that all
our difficulties should be settled that we may once more
restore concord and harmony to this country NOW
what is the plan of the President will describe 1t
by smile in way which will not De easily mlsunder-
stood Here are five mountaineering; and threaten
inc destruction 10 the country What is the plan OF the
Presidents To heal all those wounds! No, sir;-no
such thing lit is to heal one only of the FIVE and leave
the other four bleeding if it produces death itself?
say five wounds bleedng there is California. the
first there are the Territories the second there is the
question of the Boundary of Texas the third there is the
Fugitive Slave bill, the fourth; there is the question OF
Slavery in the District of Columbia, fifth.
The President proposes-instead of plan compre-
hendng all the diseases OF the country-a plan which
looks only at one, and recommends, Is true but the
recommendation does not embrace the fugitive slave
bill or the district b--but he recommends the two
others to remain untouched to cure themselves by some
law OF nature, some operation which he does not
Geign to disclose.
/ have seen, with regret-persistance-fo SO am
compelled painfully to regard t-rom the Chief Magis-
trate of the country his peculiar plan think
spirit of compromise the President ought to have
to u.s. and not to him. What was his panl The adj
mission of California. We willing to admit Cator-
MA and it comprzes part OF the general scheme which
we have offered 10 the country 10 the spirit OF com
animate both ends OF Pennsylvania Avenue, we had
right to suppose the Executive would be satisfied We
far as he went, but thought ne did not go tar
enough heal all the wounds OF the country and there
fore offered him measures to close up the four
naming wounds. think, in that spirit OF peace and
concord which ought TO animate the different depart
mepts of the Government the President should have
hailed with pleasure the plan which offered, embra
ing as did, the very plan which he proposed as part
OF itself and that there should have been dissatsac
ton expressed in his or his authority.
Let us look little further into this comparison,
which make most painfully. When l addressed the
Senate time SINCE wasin hopes that there would
have been reciprocaton from the other END OF the
avenue of approval of the entire scheme, rather than
of this part OF it only, which OF itself would exaspe
rate and aggravate, instead OF harmonizng the coun-
try. | did hope that we should have had some sign in
some form or otfer OF the Executive satisfaction with
the entire scheme.
Letn look at the condition of these territories and of
the country. | endeavor to dlscr1mnate-and, by the
bye it is discrimination essential to the public mind in
lust consideration of the subject-between action
in regard to slavery and -aclon as 1t respects
the government of people, who, by the ordinance OF Pro-
whence and the course OF events, have come to our
hands to be taken care OF.
Here, sir let me pause moment to recall topic to
which ought to have advered before; mean the ques
ton of there being nothing done tor the South in these
territorial governments. What sir is there nothing done
for the South when the Statu quo is e the South 3
What has she been complaining OF all along? The
Wilmot Proviso; the Provso which, it it be fastened
upon this measure, trust it may not fear, will lead
TO evil results, and increase the difficulty OF satisfying
Southern men Their great effort their sole aim,
almost, to escape from the Provso. The Proyiso
is not in the bill The bill is silent that point. The
bill is active upon the subject OF slavery The bill
admits slavery is there, that it remains; it admits,
slavery not there, that there it is not. The bill is nei-
Their Southern or Northern; it is equal Hi Compro-
mise which will not dishonor or disgrace any man who
isdesirous of healing the wounds OF his country. Yes,
sir the bill provides that this vast territory shall be left
open to the condition in which it is If sa
very there, remains fnot, does not go there. The
South has not trinmphed; she maintains Congress has
no right to legislate tor its introduction or inhibition
Neither party trumphs. Each has an open field before
it. The Proviso on the hand, is repudiated by the
Committee, and the other hand attempt made
favor Southern interests by the introduction of clause
expressly defending slavery admitting it into the
rtories beg pardon for this DEPRESSION from the sub
ec Immediately in view, which was to contrast the
commentator of the President with that of the
mittee OF IL.
The recommendation of the President stops as have
already said with the simple introduction OF Califor-
MIA as State into the Union-a measure with which
standing by itself, there have been the strongest mani
festaons of dissatisfaction in the Southern portion of
the country. The measure proposes to leave all else
untouched and unprovided for. Let what will be
the condition of all else thus left untouched
The first proximate territory to California is Utah
In what condition is that left by the Presidents Mes
sage? Without any government at all. Without
(ca it blessing or curse, as you may view it)
a Military Government There is to be no govern
ment. There is to be no government except such
seprotective COVER as the Mormous shall
for themselves. Until the common parent shall ex-
tend its power and authority over it, Utah will have no
government at all.
Then we come to New Mexico; and in what condi-
ton do you leave her? You leave New Mexico with
military government, which is no government.
Let call your attention upon this point OF the sub
ect what has been said by the delegate from that terri
tory, address which has recently been made to the
people there Will my colleague read Tor me2
Mr. Underwood read the extract.
Mr. Clay resumed. With regard to Utah, you leave
no government whatever, except such as the Mormons
have been driven by their necessities to create; and
when you come to New Mexico, hers is military gov
eminent under Colonel-a Lieutenant Colonel of the
army of the United States the governing power of
New Mexico, in time of profound peace. We had
doubt about the authority of the late President of the
United States, even in the time OF war, and it cause
of reproach against him. to establish military govern
ment But here in the time of profound peace, it pro-
posed that such government be continued, by what
authority has been established or sustained since the
peace ensued know not but that such a government
should be continued indefinitely, until New Mexico
should We prepared to come in as a State. And when
will thatbe2 She has now about 10000 people, Mexi-
cans, Spanish and Americans, and about 50 or 10000
Indians civilized half civilized and uncvilized barba-
rous and wild And say here in my place, under the
responsibilities OF my official position, that if she were
to here morrow with such population as that
make or one, would vote for her admission as
State into the Union She has no sort Of preparation,
moral or political She has shown herself to be ca
pabe of self government nor has she done anything
filling her to admission nor will she in my opnion for
many years to come, be entitled to admission State
in this Union.
How does this military Governor, acting as it is said
under the authority OF the Secretary OF War, behave
upon the first approach of an nvasion2 Commission