The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1850-08-29

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,
May Ia, 1850,
In COMMITTEE Of the Whole sn the Of the Uaion
on Mr.. McCieraa~d's bii! relating TO Cdijoraia.
Mr.. MEACHAM said, -s......--e
Mr. CHAIRMAN: The bill before us proposes Il
admit California to erect Territorial Govern
ments for Utah and New Mexico, and, by the
| purchase of the claims Of Texas, to settle tho
boundaries between that State and New Mexico
| propose to discuss that bill . IL is practical
subject Whoever consents to take part in the
present discussion, and scorns to repeat the argu
ments of others, must be content with the critics
reputation, Of having been at feast Of learning
and stolen the scraps.
IL 10 surprising to see the efforts on the other
side of the House to make political capital out OF
the pending controversy The gentleman who
has just closed Mr. Savage is the most jealous OF
the number. They seize the floor, and rush for
ward as il to announce new discovery. With
all the earnestness of the philosopher rushing from
the bath, they cry "Eureksi Eureka NJ haze
found a. Ihaoe found Il! Found what, sir2 Why,
have found, that in the last Presidential canvass
the friends Of General Taylor used different mo-
tives in different sections of the Union to aid his
election. IL granted, is there anything new in
that7 Has not the same been true in every cleo
ton since the time Of President Monroe Was
not that true Of the friends Of Adams and Clay,
Crawford and Jackson, and the successor Of Jack
SOM Take any subject that had been prominent
before the country, turn 1t any side up, or either
end up-turn ii inside out, or outside in, and on
every face you would find either vote or speech
Of Mr. Van Buren,. Sectional motives we're piled
in the election of Gen. Harrison. The friends Of
MIR. Polk had more than two-they had Texas,
the tariff, and the northwestern boundary. They
had a motive for the torrd the temperate, and
the frigid zone, up to $40 40'. We can come
nearer home to those who are waging this war for
political gain. Go up to the gallery Of the Patent
Office, and in case hard by the oamp-ohest Of
Washington you will see form having two
heads-one looking North and the other South. |
will not vouch for the chronology which asserts
that it came into life on the night Of the last Bal
timore Convention showing that nature, even in
her lowest works, sympathzed with the sublime
production Of the day. that came forth upon the
stage with life written for the face that looked
| Northward, and another for the face that looked
Southwark do not bring forward these things
as charges against the distinguished men to whom
they refer Such motives may be used by the
| friends of candidate without any just accusation
Of duplicity against the candidate himself But I
do bring them for purpose they serve, to show
the gentleman, that IL he courts q contest Of this
kind, there may be blows to take, as well as blows
to give.
have regretted TO see men showering down upon
this House the relics Of old partisan sectional
stump speeches only that they might trickle back
| to the great Ocean, and be taken up and poured
out on some after Congress In more furious del
ugc IL Is for our shame that we have wasted 80
| much time in squabbling over party politics and
hurting provoking sectional taunts while the subs
FINEST spectacle in the history Of the world is pass.
| ing before us.
This discussion has often recalled description
given by Livy Of q Roman battlefield where the
combatants, shrouded In q temporary mist were
80 holly engaged In the contest, that they needed
not violent earthquake which was shaking their
cities changing the course Of their rivers, and up
| hea wing the foundation Of the mountains. The
Spaniard was on the shores Of the Pacific an hun
dred wears before Smith landed ut jamestown, or
the Pilgrim trod the rock Of Plymouth. Since
that time the Saxon race has crossed and conquer.
ed a continent They have reached the shore,
and In three years done more for mankind than
the Spaniard had done in three centuries, They
have not like Cortes and Pizarro, seized the gQld-
en- stores, and fed from the country, leaving the
marks Of their desolation In smouldering villages
and a slaughtered people. They have settled
down In that country as theirhome. They have
shovn their purpose and their wisdom, In framing
and sdopting as their own Of the noblest State
Consultations ever formed by human hands With
that Constitution they appear before us, and ask
for admission. Relying on the practice Of this
Governmept, on the plighted faith Of treaty,
and on promises made before the conquest, they
demand 8 place In this Union. Why are they not
admitted Their proceedings are charged - irreg.
ulsr Congress has given them no power 10 form
a State Goverument--they have had no census
Grant Il; but lit lei shown that they are In the line
Of safe presidents, by acting as majority OF the
seventeen new States have acted IL vas proved
beyopd coatrvvsrsy, In the Senate, yesterday, by
M. CLAy, that they have population emitting
them TO two Representatives II 10 charged that
foreigners voted In their elections Grant that
| - LIZ VIA. II In Michi1sn1 Eoreignara Hsrs