The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1850-08-17
DEFERRED DEBATE.
MONDAY, AUGUST IL, 1850.
ADMISSION OF CALIFORNIA.

ADMiosoN OF CALifOhNlA.
The Senate having under consideration the bin for the
admission OF the State OF California into the Union after
debate, Heretofore publisbed)
Mr. BERRIEN said: MIR. President before this bill is
ordered 2 ee enErosssed, desire e avail myself Of The
which feel TO be due TO that State one OF whose repre-
sentayes ana duty not less.necessary resulting from
ny position as senator Of the United States, My
acknowledgements are DUE sir and they cheerfuy
dered to the chairman OF The Committee Territories,
and the Senate, Tor their assent 10 the postponement
Of this bill from Saturday last, which has given in
eval Of one day ofrss am not disposed 70 occupy the
lime Of the Senate By remarks calculated 10 delay their
action upon this measure My purpose is merely to state
grounds q o wns , the whom a
which, an American senator, shall feel bound
cord my vote against IT, II s unwelcome task there
s Ws,sa sy s y q ass to
For although the particular question which Is now
awaiting decision has been but very briefly consid-
sd yet n sonnsxon WIN ~ oas, saosc N ! has for
am aware that ! must consume portion OF time which
gentlemen would willingly employ in ths exerton OF
that numerical otce which they possess IN this cham
ber-that speak 10 reluctant ears-t0 gentlemen who
have already formed their determination, and without the
hope of altering it, But is due 10 of the States OF
this Union. TO ms cwn solemn conviction oi duty as an
American senator, TO state those views, however reuc
any they may be received and TO whatever censure he
who utteTs them may be exposed
And, sir, that remark leads naturally 10 the sugges
ton looking TO the excited feelings which manifested
this discussion, they truly represent the American
Senate how utterly unit are we At this moment finally
70 decide upon this great and important question: Sir, in
the statement OF the opinions which entertain mus,
speak frankly and speaking frankly, must speak freely
II, in stating my opinion upon this bill and what believe
DC the feelings oi the people of the State represent
shall exhibit case in which submission would be de.
grading 10 freeman, desire TO say in advance that do
not recognise among my associates any censor morum,
who Is authorized 70 pronounce his Individual Judgment
upon the sentiments which may feel my duty 70
express Each member OF this body decides for himself
what course be will pursue He decides thai question
according 70 the convictions Of his own Judgment and
ha, conviction and those feelings shall be expressed it
belongs 70 him also 70 determine, under his responsibility
10 the Senate Il is therefore, an act of supereroga.
ion-something more Than the duty OF any senator re-
qnEes or authorzes-to assume TO himself the right OF
Judging and repioyng senaor for the language which
he shall address 70 hs bod, upon his own personal re-,
sponsibty make these remarks in advance, because
desire to protect myself from this censure am not
willing to engage in the war OF words which may rise ap
this chambers and lido not wish TO be diverted from my
purpose by commentaries OF this sort
The bill on your table, SIR suggests TO me, IN the rst
place. remark ,as 70 the mode oil proceeding Here 10
bill which proposes TO admit State into thus Union, EN-.
bracng an extent OF eItory greater than mat OF any
other State unless u be that Of Texas. with an extended
line OF seacoasl, open 10 The commerce OF the East and
which you propose to place under the sole direction Of
body Of people who, even by the advocates OF the
measure, admitted 10 have been utterly without
authority for doing what they have done Yet, almost at
the instant that the Ill calltd lhe Compromise hull was
terminated, the chairman OF The COMMITTEE on Territories
rises in his place. and with perfect nonnandne, moves
tha, his bill be made he order OF the day Tor the earliest
succeeding day. and Tor each successive day till lis dis
posed oil. Having done This, he contents himself with
submitting the decision oil this question 10 the action OF
the SeDae without remark, explanation, or argument IN
support OF the great principles which involves The
advocates OF this bill sit with folded arms Ii word is
said 10 discussion proceeds from those VINO cannot rec
oncie themselves 10 lis support among the advocates
OF The bill The only word when Is uttered he repeat-
ed and impatient cry oil Question! Question heyng upon
The pumerca force which snstans them IN ths cnambeI
this bill is 10 be driven through without degning 10 an
gumenis BY which il s opposed Sir. know The answer
that TO be given TO this We shall be told thai we
months been engaged IN discussing measure III winch
the admission OF Califofna formed principal question:
But senators will recoect that this question entered
very fpangy into the discussions oil the Compromise
b il was all along assumed as ioftgone CONCLUSION
the settled determination oil majority IN Ids Chamber
nay, cir, much beyond The reach oil contingency was
Considered that il held up 10 a menace while
the Compromise bill was pending We were told, Unes:
YOU adopt this BILL you know well that California, as
separate measure, will be admitted into the Union, and
you will lose the equivalents las they were styled which
would be secured BY the Compromise bill You, sir will
bear me wiiness-senalors who hear will unite in es
iypgthat in the discussions upon that bill 10 te even
OF its falling the separate admission oi California was
assumed az an inevitable result With some occasional
observations upon the population OF that Territory, and
attempt 10 put this act under the sanction OF pece
dent the great subject discussed IN The progress OF tha
bill was that which sgliaes and dvices ms onlon!hs
question of slavery, and oil the healing influence which
thai measure was calculated to exert upon H.
California, considered as STATE entitled 10 ad
mission upon The iact of her CLAIM IL was scarcely
deemed necessary 10 enter INTO any 70 sustain "
II asserted, indeed, that the multiplied uffgmGrh
las they wee caed) which bad characterized her proceed
Ings aneceden admission were covered by precedent
al. h. uifaf