Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1850-01-25
TmInrY-irRsT CoNGREss-IsT SESSION
WEDNESDAY. JANrAEy %, 1850.
SENA ATE


Amer ,he nrsscuaiion oil memorials Mr.. Clay Offered
solution ir the purchase Of the original manuscript cory q
W,shiua,ons farewell address ii il can be obtained al Ta'
.nnable pflrc.
The senate resumed The consideration nf The motion to
print the ami slavery Vermont resolutions
Mr. Phelps commenced hiS remarks by hlud1nG To TIE
source of the present difficulties lie traced them Ia He
Mexican war lie had lorcseen and predicted mem Ihey
had upon ns, ana No one here could ten how my
w,. Ia be settled though all knew that they must be- sell
He'd the honor and percnity oi TIE Union "o'' " en-
!an9ered.
H. would meet the question without passion for it
too grave subject be discussed III anger lie had shown
formerly his disposition adjust this pcous question
Southern Senator's could testify. lie took the hazar d
supporting the Clayton compromise bill As member o Tie
committee and also in TN, and that bill the Se
aor from South Carolina remarked the other dhy, was So
siacory the South lie WAS willing, then, and "''
willing now IL make Hhtla CONCESSIONS l" ' ''" '"' '
Ills purpose was to ynicate the Vermont Resolutions
They had been visited with the greatest OF ytnperaon
Every cuithct rcproach had been exhausted upon them
There was nothing, however, IN those resolutions when
ought To be offensive 10 the South. They expressed Tie
common al mankind against slavery bur they .t'-
nished ,ndcaiun oi the South and the same 'nd'at'n
that the South had always presented for herself lhyf-
nr.cnt,d as h had often done tina, for this evil Of sGy
the south rcsponsblceiihcr for lis origin, is
continuance.
He proceeded 10 show that the Vermont resolutions
pressed the opinions of the civilized world England and
France had abolished it in their domlnons The early states.
men Of the South reprobacd slavery This body expressed
sympathy for France III her late volnon though her nr'i
put To the root ol slavery. lie Nr 81 r.
marked The time the Senate tina, they commend
in. an act in France which here permitted
talk about
The subject upon IL, not by voluntary
cous intrusion bnr il forced upon by inevitable cit
Where, the face Of the globe ihc"
community free from slavery. which willing 10 establish
il. California community, had rcpmdiatcd it. VI ?.
10 alrdc 10 the opinions Of washington Jefferson
and Madison.
When Mr Phelps concluded the subject was passed over
On motion Mr. Butler the bill for the recovery ius
tves taken up and made the order OF the day for To-
morrow The Senate then adjourned.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,
Mr. Boyd asked the unanimous consent Of the House 10
present the Constitution the State Of Deserct also Ia Pc
sent the credentials Of the Representatives from that state
with the view Of their reference 10 the Committee Flee
lions. Mr. Stephens ol Ga objected, and the papers
not presented.
Mr Strong from The committee elections submitted
resolution authorize the parties the contested elections
in the first congressional district Of Iowa. take dispositions
ri Witnesses in the said State.
discussion took place The propricty Of fixing pc.
riod at which the testimony must be returned.
Messrs Strong Ashmun, Root, Van Dyke and Ashc par
tcipated in the debate which entered into the merits of Tie
ease and touched the action in the committee.
After some further debate between Mrssrs. Schcnck Stan
and others, Mr. Thompson of ky moved amendment
limiting The time of taking testimony To 20 days.
AIr. Disney defended the action Of the committee.
condcd ana under lis operation the House agreed To the
amendment limiting the period 10 100 days finally 10 The
solution.
NIr Nenabe called for the order Of tle day
The Chair stated that the first business in order the
motion al the gentleman from North Carolina Mr. vcnab
refer the Pr -idenis messi." California Com
mittec on Territories and have il printed
Mr. Seldom and said that the doctrine and If
policy recommended by this message in regard California
STANCE startling and dangerous that upon
mere motion IL print he would have his protest
against them He advercd 10 The condition OF California
n the time of the treaty OF peace 1t cecd the Uni
led States By the with Mexico bv which the former
compelled pay The large sum of money ol
the common treasury OF The nationand for the
benefit Of all the States The Union he condemned any
0f policy that would deprive either State of :.
Union of such benefit
He maintained that the message showed that it the
dose"t The administration thai the CALIFORNIA; should
ganizc State Government by which the slave Institution
wonld he cyclnleda thu CALIFORNIA; had been fact in
ylied by 'he administration thus To act He then entered
into argument prove that thc administration by
or which in measure deprived Congress of jurisdiction
oyer California territory belonging To the l'non had
committed legislative and judicial usurpntion That tr
sovereignty over the territory had been wrested from the
nted states by The conduct 81 the administration this
too in the face of the fact that Congress had right Of
1yerrsny refused 10 give even territorial government :"
his country which had been purchased by the common
treasure under treaty from Mexico. He maintained that
the Government organized by the people there should not
regarded but that California should be rcinandcd 10 the
oria jurisdiction OF the United States If the action
there was recosnzed w9nd preclude the United States
niza'ion of the illegal conduct of the Executive
If Congress admitted The right the people Of This terri.
tory t" az a. They had done would be- admission Of he
right ol thu people ri nil the territories deprive the federal
government WITHOUT her consent Of all sovereignty and
control over her own Ii the people there had
power 10 form STATE Government without III. assent Of
Congress- and ASK admission into tho Union they had also
the yoion Ia establish there and rauee 10
into the Union and thus the entire domain from
the States Of the Union.
The people of the South he said would insist upon fair
participation in the benefits the territory II the Wmo,
proyso adopted il would only be doing an act of
injustice bu, il would BE- ichn2 the people n halt of
The sovereign States of the Union Of the benefits
which then should derive from their connection with the
I Union.
Hccnsured The Of the administration in aiding ard
abens III. movement in California, which did by indirect
notion, wha, Congress refused do by direct
j., adopt the Ninot Provso. H. did incupac the
I 20 imit, T., The
whole extent Of the Illegal conduct but held his cabnr,
ponsble for it.
Mr. Mcclernand then took the floor and moved that the
message be referred the committee OF the whole OH tie
state OF The Union, and be prntedpendng this,
On motion of Mr. Stanly, the House O'Clock adjourn
/ ed.