The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1850-05-24

compromse scheme was defeated and California admitted
separately Sir. il that should come about, might go
home 10 my constituents. and tell them that the
from Mississippi satisfied me that the admission OF Cali
forna was no wrong, separately or any other way be-
ior@ their consuton and Therefore 4 was no wrong to
admit California. will say 10 the senator from Missls
sppi that if California be admitted, either separately
conformity, he. more than any other man in this Con
gress. has succeeded in bringing il about He, sir
connection with northern men, has established the doe
trnc that the people Of that country that handful Of
squatters on the public lands had the Aheont right to
establish State for themselves How does
the senator know that we intend 70 home to
ted separaiey II were advocate for the admiss0n
Of California, should ask for no batter doctrine 10 aus
tain than that advanced by the senator In the speeches
| he has made in the last few days
/ The honorable senator charges with attempting to
~, Sir. said nothing disrsspsctiul u MI Adams.
man 10 follow Isay so still
Mr.. President have merely risen for the purpose Of
correcting msapprehensons into which the senator from
Mississippi had fallen Having accomplished that par,
Ipose, ishaif say nothing more. n e
Mr.. FOOTE / am perfectly satisfied with whist
points the senator from Alabama has made except one
wish upon simply 70 refer him 10 the doctrine contain
ed in the resolution offered BY MT Calhoun. an which
quoted on Thursday last. II is this:
Rssolued, That its Fundamental principe in our pot
cal creed that people, IN forming constitutions have the
rgest e form and adopt ,os
iy and happiness and that IN conformity thereto. no
State, order be admitted into this Union. except
s constitution shall be republican and that the inpos
ton Of the constitutions but in direct conhict with the
principle on which our political system rests. N
Now. this precisely the general doctrine contained
in MI. Adams's letter The senator from Alabama i
mistaken in asserting that Iapped this doctrine espe
cially 10 California only designed 70 assert general
doctrine, belonging, as believe, to the tme-honoted
except 10 the inhabitants Of the Territories generally
The vital question in the case s whether California shall
come in az separate measure or as part OF general
scheme of compromise prefer the latter and am OPP
posed to the former yes, sir utterly opposed to
action, il is called, and leaving territorial pos
waoa, any s
the precise point OF disagreement between the senator
from Alabama and myself. 1sa
NJ kHG FER W. fss Ss .ssys, allow ] ..y v.
or six sentences only upon MI. Cslhoun's positoni
Mr. KING, For what purpose
Mr. Blu TIER Mr.. President this is not the rst time
have heard that Mr.. Calhoun advocated the broad
proposition that people have right 70 appropriate
territory 10 themselves and BY species Of spontaneous
they think proper He never laid down such propo
sion and my word for II, it is contrary to his repeated
public and private he maintained that Nc
take upon themselves the functions of soyeregny until
Congress- as the representative OF tbe sovereign urslc
ton of the different States has withdrawn its sovereign
ty and given their leave TO territorial people 70 form
constitution for themselves After having obained.
such leave, by the previous withdrawal of federal urs
vested in them to make their own constitution and their
own laws, with but qualicationhat the constiiu-
9n es republican IN s io,m these were ns vI%s shs;
ever the general doctrine conended Tor, that the
people. Of their own accord, hare such right
/ Mr. fOOTE. did not intend. as the honorable sena.
tor to suppose TO charge that Mr. Calhoun ever
asserted that the people Of Territory had right TO ap
e thew pleased merely intended. by pro
ducing Mr. Cahouns opinions TO show that the people.
forming government for themselves. might form such
welfare them might best, confidently with
the constitution Of the United States
Now, as TO the particular question 10 regard 70 the
in which California has brought about her pres
thing have always considered that the Of pro-
y s,s IA
(Mr Calhoun) did hold the opinion that If Congress-
thought proper to sanction those proceedings. II might
give unquestonable validity to what has been done
That opinion has been frequently asserted BY MIR. Cal
MI BUTLER resumed. do not intend 70 60 into
discussion of this matter merely wished TO lay down
the general proposition that the meaning OF that resou-
ton was that people had right primarily to take any
territory for themselves, and then TO take upon them
selves the sovereignty until the peexisng sovereignty
hat is, the sovereignty of the government Of the United
Staes) Withdrawn, permitting them to form con-
gress to waive irregularities and 70 adopt wrong. am
not prepared to discuss IT, Mr.. Calhoun's opinion
was. that people once having the faculty or conshiu-
ional right to form constitution, was perfect right
That his doctrine, 90 far as know his opinions;
and he would hear to no other, believe, for he was
OF mental pride. and had too much Of the law OF IN
elec to yield to proposition 80 monsrous as that as
i Mr FOOTE. A single remark
i Mr.. KING. am entitled to the foor..
i Mr.. fuOTE. Am not entitled to say word upon
i this delicate point
Mr. TURNEY. will appeal to the senator from Ala
bama to allow me to say five words $780,
Il Mr. FOOTE. Will the honorable senator allow me 10
Mr. KING will yield to the senator from Missis.
spp for that purpose. ~
/ Mr. FOOTE. Ihave only undertaken To- assert what
know to have been the views OF Mr. Calhoun; and
certainly would delight much any man IN avoiding
any miss,atement of them. understand nim IN the
i resolution quoted ito declare il to be fundamental
principle In our political creed that peoples in forming
adopt the government which they may think best to Sc
cure their liberty, prosperity, and happiness and that
provided this constitution be in conformity TO the const-
Tuition OF the United Slaesthat is to say republican, in
It's character--Do justfably complain OF It, This
is the same doctrine precisely in somewhat more di-
gested form, which is set forth in Mr. Adamss leuer
II is the principle OF the inherent right OF the people TO
! form their government, which Mr.. Adams has 90
strongly asserted and which has been subjected 10 30
much undeserved rdicule upon the present occasion.
agree with the senator from South Carolina, (Mr Bur
LrR that Mr. Calhoun always contended that Congress
would have to withdraw its Jurisdiction before the people
would be free act for the formation Of State govern
ment That his opinion but he Of the opinion.
Notwithstanding that, il Congress thought proper TO
waive irregularities nformalities, committed in such
case that under consideration. or the senator
from South Carolina and myself have had the honor Of