The Sumter banner. [volume] (Sumterville, S.C.) 1846-1855, 1850-02-27
The gaIlfernla gDebate.
IN THE SENATE.
Friday. l5,h Eehr,

a. nav .t u,.,ies ~ US s0fi---and it was but
tsut .'ia. ~ fsHould someet every question
& =, =. ea,idar and calnness, that the
ssssssSiiato andth country might know that they
We're disposed 10 discharge their duties. He
was in favor of lull consideration Of this
subject, and opposed to any reference OF il to
!, n committee till every Senator has had full
opportunity of expressing his convictions OH
tho question; and, when such an interchange
of fopinions had taken place, the committee
would be better advised the sentiments oil
the Senate, and such report rs could be ac-
;ceptnblc as all adjustment OF the difficulties
There was, rs the Senate we'll knew, Il
storm ahead; indeed, they had already felt its
first agitations. 5Js.s .s.a
lIc would soomnly say TO the mnjority.-to
+ those who now had the power in Congress
that it was unwisc for them to sepcratc this
question of the admission Of California from
the other questions involving the subject of
slavery. When it was once acted upon, all
control over it would be gone, and the con-
troll once parted with cannot be rcgaincd.-
\ When California shall be once admitted,
there was no mode OF getting her out again,
and thenthere was 10 mode oil having control
of the matter.
He was surprised yesterday when such
disposition was manifested to hurry Cali:or-
mia into the Union; coming, as that mani!cs-
tation did,fr such an imposing source
TO those who are thus anxious he would say,
that il California was thus admitted, the ma
ny subjects involved in her case arc placed
entirely beyond the control of Congress-
This subject should be treatcd-and as he
was disposed to treat it in calm and dispae-
sonate manner-in good temper, and with an
ardent desire to what is right. lie was rs
,lesirous MS any one to save the Union, il that
can be. done with justice to the rights OF his
constituents.
Tho Senator from Kentucky had said, OH
yesterday, that he owed no allegiance to the
South, East, North, or West, and would re-
Gognizc no allegiance TO any Southern con-
fedcracy; that his allegiance was due, first, TO
the Union, aud next TO Kentucky.
AIR. Clay said that he did not remember
haring used the words north, south, cast and
west, but they expressed what he did say
thathe knew neither North nor South, but
tho whole Union.
Mr.. Bntlcr said that he differed from the
SENATOR from Keninck y in the order o. his
allegiance. He (Mr. B.) owed all his allegi
ance to South Carolina, and through South
Carolina to the Union. He owed no allcgi-
auce to the Union, save what he owed through
South Carolina.
4, He did not think of dsunion; there were
none at the South who dreamed Of disunion
as a thing to their. advantage; Oh the, contra
ry, he know that the people there would re-
tomorrow, if their representatives. could
sgs an honorable adjustment Of this 'lif-
ybject--not a compromise, for they
ss AIipg to cunpromise-but an adjust
II majority, then, should weigl, this sub
SfRpromse '''es ~. South a had had i "athins M
siiore syelG--ucthng -~y.t,inpTum;s:; and
~ ing IN The majority, and powerless, they
va s9okcd IN Tito majority to propose some terms
ipt,s'ctslclpent. If be had his way, he would
willingly refer this whole subjcctto Northern
ss 'nc'y Ss andisee what sort a measure they
3 a,,ai&a t,,ar-e-p
8 asFSS4s not he admitted MS d State. but she
E55nuil not !ls admitted under present circnm-
& atances.9 4'he peopie of California had tram-
= cd a government for themselves. They had,
in so doing committed an act Of usurpaton.
He meant nothing offensive by applying h. I
term; but he used it in its ss1Sft States dc.
Iheu tRat "new States may be admitted by |
the Congress into The Union; but no new
Stnte shall be formed or erected within the
jurisdiction OF any other State; nor any State
be formed by the junction OF two or more
Stltes, or parts of States, without the consent |
of the Legislatures Of the States concerned |
as ,rcu as Of The Congress-
II Georga-thc largest Southern State
th,nght proper to divide her territory into
two States, aud present herself here. without |
first haAing obtained the consent g '-ess
with iour Senators instead oftw ot |
the act be called, and justly too =
ton on her part! Something might
about the inherent right of the people to self
government, but the act would nnqucstona-
bly, bean usurpation. Congress might adopt |
the usurpaton by conceding to the act, as ii !
had in the case of the negotiation OF treaty
[ by an agent whose powers had been revoked. |
but the act Of uSurpation would not the less |
he The fact.
The people Of California had no power to !
form n Stale government without having first |
obtained the consent OF Congress, either ca
pressiys or implicitly.
California has formed a State government
not only in violation Of al prcceden,s, but Of
all usage They not only called Il convcn-
iion and formed a constitution, but have ac-
tniily defined the boundary Of their State,
and that without consulting Congress. THIS !
act wns without parcllel in the history OF
the admission OF all the States. II might be !
said that the question OF boundary was an
unimportant measure, but in his opinion it |
was one Of tho highest Importance. The set
Element of boundaries was one OF the highest
privileges OF the nation and can only belong
TO Congress-; but the people of California
have arroga,ed to themselves a power at war
with the rights and interest Of all the other |
States. This was one objection which he
entesiaine1to the admission OF California
There were others
#ss Have tho people Of California compiled |
with ihc acquisitions of the treaty in regard
TO the persons entitled to vote Who were
tho voters on the adoption OF that constitution
and for the inembers of the convention -
Were they whites, blacks, or Indians From
what class of voters did this constitution
enlanae? There was no instance before in |
the history of the States, where Congress did |
not establish and define who should be vo-
tiers in the territories on the adoption Of |
Stale government. No State had ever been
admitted to the Union, or had been allowed
TO form q Statc GoYcrnmcnt. without first |