The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1850-01-18
CITY OF WASHINGTON FRIDAY MORNING, JANUARY IS. 1850

are made against the administration OF improper ntefe
renee, and OF suppression OF the free expression OF pub
lie opinion ia California. do not know whether tess
charges are true or not have not the conscience Z
Justify belief that they are true For the sake Of
the country, hope that when the discoveries are
made. they will be seen 10 be unfounded. and that will
not then lind any evidence to justify this opposition OF the
organ OF the administration. But, sir, the champion
OF the administration makes, TO my mind curious
hbIton here He tells us in advance that these charges
are foul calumnies against the administration and then
asks the Senate not to adopt the resolution. He goes
urfher lie says that the procamation In which It IL
supposed that improper authority used by Gen Ri
ley. issued under the sanction authority OF the last
administration. Thus, according 10 his own language
against the administration, which we should in justice
have the opportunity to answer, and which, true, he
as an enemy to the late administration. should be the first
70 denounce and expose. them friend OF the last
administration, call upon the Senate TO let us see
whether this "fonl calumny upon that administration s
tr1s, As AZ opponent e the present admnisration
lchaye kcalRp0n the friends of 4hc administration oil
President Polk 70 forward to help 70 redeem bis
character and his administration against the calumny
and call upon the friends Of General Taylor to prove
themselves equally willing show their hands upon the
subject It is due TO the last and present administrations
equally that this information should be had Sir II will
not do hide to up this matter under the presence
OF economyhat going to cost few dollars opay for
copying Or printing few letters and documents. Is not
the vndcaion Of this republican government against the
foul charge Of improper interference to coerce public
opinion and to corrupt the elective franchise worth the
expenditure Of few dollars Of money to pay for extra
COplcS Ol tilcSt we Spenu money 10
copying and printing documents upon other subjects Of
far less importance This is charge that affects the
country affects the character Of republican government.
fixes stigma upon whole system of governments
charge that two administrations under government
which can exist only by the purity Of its elections,
have by military force or improper coercion destroyed
the freedom OF the elective franchise, and coerced a
people to form State government which they did not
wish to provide themselves WITH with view to urging
them, with that constitution into the Union, and thereby
avoid the responsibility OF settling this agatng question
OF slavery. sl4s I h&tt
The charge has now become more serious. Il is now
made directly against the late administration by men,
Der OF the Senate Heretofore It has only been
paper charge against the existing administration hope,
sir, the charge is unfounded against both; but
friend OF the one has made the charge openly against the
other, Il will not do to shun the investigation either
the one side the other know that the democrats
ready to meet this charge against the late administration,
and will see whether there is an objection on this floor
to raising the curtan for the purpose Of avoiding the dis
covey Of the whole truth the part Of the present
Mr. SMITH. All have TO say is, that It has already
been raised once. Whether the honorable senator will
be able to see any more clearly alter another effort
is made 10 raise II, is matter with respect TO
which i is very difficult for me to form an opin-
ion. have moi said, Mr., President, that the proc
er. have not said that anything done by him while
under the authority Of the late administration in the
slightest degree reprehensibe have made no imPuta.
stated broadly fact TO the Senate, which will repeat
that when the honorable senator TO examine these
c H.. a hs o.
by General Riley while acting under the instructions and
by the authority Of the late administration and before he
received any instructions whatever from the present ad-
mnistration did not say-and If said anything which
implied that idea, did mol itfhat the late admin
istTaton gave General Riley any special directions upon
the subject do pretend to say but that he acted
his own responsibility. do not know how the fact is in
relation to that matter, shall stand here upon the
present occasion for the purpose of discussing the pro-
pnety oil his conduct have a most clear and dis.
iinct opinion upon the subject, and | am one Of the
very last members OF this body say that be acted
illegally or improperly in any respect, or that his con,
duct was nsurpaton OF the rights OF the people OF
California What DO say is, that the proclamation
which issued by officer OF this government act
ing, II mistake not not only as the military com.
nander but also as the civil governor OF California, was
issued BY that officer when acting under appointment
conferred upon him by the late administration did not
say that be acted by any special order OF the President
OF the United States. but that he acted under that
thoy, and before he had received any instructions from
the present administration, and that that proclamation
should not therefore, be charged here to the present ad
This is all that say In regard to the subject and all
that am disposed to say. What characterize, and
think justly characterize, as calumny is, the i'm
putation that the present administration has taken
measures TO coerce the people Of California into
the formation Of a government The senator says
be makes no charge. ! am glad he does not But
the United States. and before the American people, the
fact that there such foul calumny going aboua
fact that bad never fallen under my no,ice-hat the
President OF the United States had resorted coercion in
order 10 produce political events in California.
not about 10 enter into the discussion Of this ques.
ton prematurey; and therefore | will not say what
Judgment have formed the Senate TO form, re-
laiion to this entire matter. win leave il until have
that matter before us-l mean the question in regard TO
the admission OF California into the Union, provided the
people OF that country by their representatives should
appear here with constitution, and claim admission Into
the coniederacy When that question comes before us,
we shall have this entire subject open for debate; and
then shall all have full opportunity TO express our
views and opinions TO how far the present adminstra-
ton or The past is responsible for anything which has
happened IN that country and whether there has been
any usurpatiop in this entire matter.
And now, Mr. President, the question is simply, what
should be done in relation TO this resoluton Il Is
matter oil the most perfect indifference with me. II the
honorable chooses TO require that these papers
should all be copied second time; IL he thinks that
that is the best way 10 carry on the business Of the
enlightened by having another copy OF precisely the same
papers II that is the best course in the judgment OF this
body, for one will make complaint u sa matter
OF the most perfect indifference 10 what shall be done
in relation TO the matter But ths resolution ought
tainy TO undergo some modification in some particulars
do not think that even the honorable senator from Ala
bama the OF the resolution, or any other member
OF the body II he were 10 give mature consideration TO
II, would wish 10 pass without certain modihcaons oil
the yerbiage, i may call it. Of the resolution
Mr. DOUGLAS. want to say one word more, il the
has assumed little more tangible shape than Il possessed
we had an explanation, as understood IT,
by autbofty---
Mr. SMITH. No, SIR
Mr. DOUGLAS. Then, il not BY authority, do moi
know wherein how the senator from Connecticut II
say that this administration had given no
order to General Riley until after the date OF that procla