The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1850-04-28
CONGRESSIONAL.

oE ILLINOIS,


srEEcH OF MN. RICHARDSON,
OF ILLsos,
On e admission of California deiiusyed in the House
Of Representatives., Apra 3, 1850.
Mr.. RICHARDSON said:
Mi, CHAIRMAN AT this late period cannot hope Ia
bring 10 the discussion OF the questions which
gage the attention OF the committee and agtate the pub
c mind any argument fact that has not been advanced
and enforced by those who have preceded in this de-
baie am sensible that must be content 10 follow, an
humble cleaner in fields which have been reaped BY
abler hands Impressed with this conviction, still hope
to aid In degree in satisfactorily adjusting all TIE
questions that disturb the tranquility and threaten the
destruction Of the government ltshould be the desire
of all the kind and friendly relations and feelings
Of former times restored and peace quiet and happiness
again blessing every member OF oar eoniederacy.
AT this time we could not by our united action here,
destroy this government dissolve this Union The
Of political existence will sink from merd-
ian splsndGr II r. setting wl Ds followed by lingering
to agree TO dissolve this Union, they could do
But, sir while this is true If this excitement shall con-
tinueif this agitation shall be kept up until sectional
parties be formed and united-unnl the South be
arayed against the North and the North against the
South-uni the kindly feeling Of one section can be
changed TO hate against the other seconwe may de-
spair OF the perpetuy of government and prepare
our minds for its certain overthrow Our wise and patriotic
foreathers have warned against the danger OF parties
thus organized we heed their VOICES the warnings
OF history, will remove every nducement every cause
for such organizations.
The Executives recommendation to leave the Territories
acquired from Mexico they are until they peo-
the most dangerous and fearful that can be made or de-
vsed Il his policy prevails and is adopted, put in
peril and expose to danger the most imminent national
existence for no one can be SO blind not that
parties being formed sectionaly We hear daily Of
the North and the South though they did not belong
to the confederacy with common interest and the
same destiny L is duty we owe to ourselves, to our
ellowcitizens in the Territories the memory of the
past and the hopes OF the uture 10 SETTLE and once,
the exciting which now SO iearuy convulse the
public mind we would avoid dangers, must perform
our duty without delay The longer these things de-
ferred the difficult they to adjust for who is
there that does not know that they could been easier
settled year ago than now and who, will ask. that
does not believe that they be easier settled than
they will be year hence! And If So does not every
consideration OF duty and policy require TO do
But sir before proceed to the discussion OF the ques
lion now under consideration, desire 10 make single
remark relation 10 slavery in the States IL II
open question: and Congress had unrestricted power to
dispose OF IL do not know what we could do with it
but leave precisely find it The negro and the white
live upon terms OF equality when their
numbers the Ii the negroes OF the slave
States freed and left with the whites the the
of The past proves this Fortunately, the constitution
eves from this responsibility; aud il It is thai slavery
exists in the States is" curse the people OF the
slaveholdng States not responsible for its sin
II il i" blessing its enjoyment is guaranteed to those
who have it. We moi responsible for it, morally
politically The question of the extension OF slavery is
others which are directly before us for consideration
and action, AT the last session Of Congress, my col
league [Mr. DouGLAsl Of the Senate. brought for
California and New Mexico, and 10 him belongs the
credit or the odum OF the proposition for he rs, popos
ed State governments II was then thought this measure
os ba waa 1I ba o.
The measure, however, never passed the Senate Sub
sequent TO the introduction OF The proposition in the Sem
ale by my eosague and al The ast session q Congress
the present Secretary Of the Navy Introduced similar
proposition in this House proposed and failed
by eight or ten votes IN COMMITTEES and was not again
presented twas sustained and supported by the follow
ing gentlemen from the slaveholdng States Messrs
Letter, OF Iowa; Fckln, McCiemand, and Richardson,
Of illinois; Wick, OF IDdiana Miller, Sawyer, and Tay
lor, OF Ohs Charles j. lngerso, Brown, Broadhead,
Mann and Butler OF Pennsylvania; Murphy; and Bird
SAIL OF New York and Williams OF Maine; the other
voters in its favor representatives from the slave
holding States All the representatives from the
saveholdng States Tor the admission OF Cafor
nia and many very many, from the savehodng States,
understood 10 be against It's admission and there
some gentlemen here from the North who denounce
all who not ready and willing 10 admit California at
once without discussion aud without deliberaon,
recreants TO duty and eacherous to the will OF their
constituents These year ago denounced all from
the North who were for her admission as doughlaces,
as trucking 10 the South, and all that sort of thing
They believed, said they believed, that IL State bills
sono,rv and basei ,her opDos,;oa upon b
and no other thought differently; and, acting upon the
principle that the right OF the people who endure
the ana narusnips OIL selling 10
determine themselves what their institutions shall be.
and regarding this as the principle upon which our gov
eminent based supported and voted 10 admit Calfor
mia State; am Tor her admission now as she II.
am not willing however, that these new converts shall
dragoon me as to how and when shall vote W admit
California They must excuse me II decline 10 follow
their lead in what they may deem the proper
New converts. il is said, always Jealous, and their
zeal after while may abae, and after all they may 90
agains, the admission OF California as State into this
Union IL is my purpose TO vote for her admission sep
araely or one o series OF 10 settle all the
questions that divide There is not, TO my mind.
any serious obstacle her admission State into the
Union
Bat SIR is said that California should no, be admit
ted because the wishes OF the people there stuffed
upon the subject OF slavery and il il gravely SAID that
The people told that they could not be admitted unless
that constitution excluded slavery. The lime sir, has
gone by when slavery be carried and established IN
new countries. The spirit OF the age is against its Is
tabishment and might say 10 those who urge this OBJ
lection, is true, as they suppose, that large ard de-
caed majority OF The people California, OF those
who may hereafter 20 there, anxious for slavery,
constitution after she is admitted State in tue Uaon
and this is triumphant reply 10 this objection But sr,
II is not true that majority OF the people 10 California
in favor Of having slavery among them The people
who now in California from the slave and non
ssychoding States the proportion from the nonslave.
holding States are as two TO from the slaveholdng
States All who 60 from the non- -slaveholdng States
where il does not exist, while large portion Of those
who 20 from slavehoding States aiso Opposed 10 IT,
And now, slr, ask II any one could reasonably have
expected any other different result than the one which
has occurred But again, the saveholder il not,
general thing the pioneer to settlements and II all the