The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1850-05-22
CONGRESSIONAL.
DE sERRED oERATE.
MONDAY, MAY 90, 1850.
I'm coSrIEuATIoS.l


day to. wit the bill to admit California State into
the Unon TO establish territorial governments for Utah
and New Mexico and making proposals to Texas for hs
establishment OF her western and northern boundaries
Mr. CLEMENS said: sir President, when the Senate
last Adjourned, was examining the course pursued By
the senator from Mississippi Mr. FoorE,l and attempt
Ing 10 show that the oppossrs OF this bill Justly
chageable with utrdism, we could al least plead his
ample in exteDuation. The TASK was ungratefu one
10 me on many accounts. The senator from Mississippi
and myself represent adjoining and kindred States Our
own personal relations have been Of the kndes charac
ter. hope and believe they will continue to be so
There were other reasons, also, which impelled me
strongly TO avoid. any controversy with him. however
courteous IN its character Even after il begun,
the interval which followed the adjournment of the
Senate, had determined say nothing upon the
subject But the which has bsen since pursued
by The advocates Of this bill renders il impossible ior
now 10 close. The extraordinary efforts which have
been made 10 manufacture public sentiment in its favor
and the denuhcations hurled against those who from
deep sense OF duty, have expressed their opposition 10
scheme OF compromise 50 deusive and 50 dangerous, de-
mand exposure OF lis deformtes. Certain letter
writer's from This city have been ndustriousy engaged in
misrepreseniing the acts and assaing the motives Of
those who, in common with myself, believe this to be
shameless surrender-no compromise. One in par
tcuar has admonshed me that the senator from Mis-
sissppi holds proud position in great national party.
and therefore he cannot afford to be ultra | have no
doubt that the has national position and hope
he may always retain it. hope also, that the people Of
the South may take the view OF the question suggested
ana while repudatng his doctrines that they may sill,
cherish the kndest feelings for the 1t may not be
amss however TO say few words OF this thing called
I Il
w. We apt to prize objects in proportion TO the diff
culties which attend the pursuit. and estimated by this
rule, national reputation is OF quite too easy attainment
to be sought with any great avldity. We all know
process by which any OF us may secure IT, Il is not
beyond my grasp should only have to turn traitor to
my convictions Of duty. and abandon the interests OF the
South TO change entirely the notes OF that whole pack
OF ours who are now yelpng at my heels. Sir | want
no national reputation purchased at such price |
spun il | would any other foul and loalhsome
When the senator from Mississippi addressed u.s. the
other day. he took occasion TO inform us that he did not
rgari consistency as any great virtue, alter all Per-
haps he right In degree, | certainly agree
with him. "A mere mortal, whose judgment can never
be clear and perfect not TO adhere with blind and
dogged obstnacy 10 all his opinions II may be my fault
10 cling TO mine with too much tenacity Su think Of
the extremes II is the best must think better to
hold 10 opinions deliberately uttered than 10
acquire the habit OF changing them with every change OF
the How far the senator is justly liable to the
last charge will appear in the progress OF my remarks
He has constituted himself the advance guard of the
grand compromise army He has assumed to deliver lee
lures here upon the dangerous tendencies of ItydiSm
propose 10 show that II be ain, 1t is one OF which
he mas himself so lately repenled that ne has hardly had
lme 10 obtain forgiveness lie bas not only endorsed
the strongest language used by me, but he has
gone very far beyond me. On Thursday read 10. the
Senate an extract from my own remarks, and said that
taste Of the senator from Mississippi a, that time shall
read his endorsement In reply to the senator from
Kentucky, be said:
Sir, had the honorable confined himself TO the
oppressive the Souin had he been contented 10 advo
the resolutions II compromse which no has intro.
have been disposed to complain OF him IN the least
Though certainly with my esteemed friend from
Alabama who has spoken to-day with sIeaglh and
brisncy seldom surpassed this body, in all that
be has said ouchng the true character and eeci OF the
resolutions from kentucky; though GER
tny agree with the senator from Alabama, that these
onou yield the whole ground Of controversy TO in
adserares though the speech of the honorable
ato from kentucky in support OF these resolutions Of his
was. IN some respects highly objectionabie, both 10
nh. and nhztau vetI hava all
hls patiently and did do could have remained SILENT
Sonesa @ mye M %n ,osa Pro,e M n.
thought proper TO play the censor upon this occasion Ne
has deemed himself authorized % dsapProve, in strong
sd pointed language OF what mas been said by southern
senators relative the dangers which ae now 80 hercey
mtnaeing ,e Union ana aoss are ,es.s wu,cn AZ mus.
policy which the south has bsen 50 long and 90
jealousy contending.
Now, Mr. President, wish il TO be remembered that
my remarks applied exclusively 10 the admission OF Cali
ofnia had spoken upon other subject-alluded 10
no other matter. The senator from Msslssppi avowed
his full in all that had SAID, and thus d.
cllg asserted that the admission OF California worse
than the Wimot Proyiso itself Let me ask him il he
would be willing to-day TO vote for the Wilmot PIovso,
as part of geaerdl scheme CT oompromisel and, II he
would not how he reconcile II TO himself 10 vote Tor
measure which he has formally declared be worse
Sn, this dilemma IRON which there can be no escape
Whether sngy spar OF agenera scheme, that when
swofse than the Wmo Provso can never be sanctioned
BY the South, without total abandonment OF all claim TO
equal rights under the constitution. On the same occa-
the sought an opportunity TO denounce, with
great Bitterness the resolutions offered IN the early part OF
the session by the senator from Kentucky have assert
ed, and sui MAINTAIN, that those resolutions and tins
scheme are substantially the The senator from Ken
lucky himsel when called point out the difference,
could think OF but one-and that the omission in
he report OF two truths he called Them. contained IN
The resoutons-the OF law, the other OF TACT: the
one, that slavery was excluded from the Territories by
The law oil Mexieo-ihe other, that u was excluded BY
the law OF God. Well, sir, II these two truths were
omitted IN the report they were not omitted m the speech
winch accompanied and explained H. In that speech the
senator ilom Kentucky reafmed his Two truths IN the
mosi emphatic manner. He did more lie avowed that
hs object 10 leave the laws OF Mexico in fofce and
eSclude slavery forever do not to leave this
matter in doubt read from the speech OF the senator
hom Mississippi who sits behind me, lMf DAvis]
But the senator from Kentucky has avowed his purpose
Nat the x loci shall remain that the right 70 hold thi
opefv shall be determined by the Ter loci Now, this
srEes strange, coming from one who, two day
ance in language decided, eloquent even erven ar
ghe the policy of the administration, whicn
would leave Ioca law s in iorce To us, where Is the
differences The senator's view, equally with the policy ne
condemns, would prevent southern citizens from going
mere WIN this species Of property and though 90 agree
win MIN as TO the Mexican laws, hts post
on shows The extent which rights are 70 be respect
ed and maintained This i'm portant 10 though IN
common with inoet southern hold that the law o
exico was repeated Except within the narrow limits o.
e relations o. pefsoo and property pre- existing anu re-
That Is opinion; and hold that political laws exist
IN the country 10 which this bill those result
ing from the legislation OF Texas The senator Ken
lucky holds different opinon and therefore AZ mis-
laws Of Mexico in iorce. Ii misunde stand the senator,
viii listen 10 his correction.
Ms. Clay. The understands me perfectly.
And yet, after all this, the senator from Mississippi