The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1850-06-28

reserved and that Congress has right 10 pass any
law regulating the public lands, and such is bind
ing law; and the citizens OF the new States are
bound equally by this law the citizens OF The
other States, whether they give their consent or
not.
lie said that by the of this decision of the
Supreme Court the compact which the Senator from
Louisiana proposed 10 be made with California was
wholly unnec essary, and the third section of this
bill, which was put in 10 avoid dihculties. was
matter entirely unnecessary, as the right OF the
United States would not be in any more danger of
beipg impaired without il than they would with IT,
He asked what there was in the history Of the
times TO justify the belief that California is going To
claim the public lands! In the ninth article OF her
constitution she makes provisions for the legislature
a. 10 what is 10 be done with the public lands to be
granted To her by Congress. This was an admis'
son. on the part Of California herself of the right
of the United States to the public lands within her
limits.
He appealed to the Senator from louisiana who
said that he willing TO do every thing he posi-
bly, could towards settling the agitations Of the
country, TO remember that this was an important
event in the history Of the country. This objec-
ton " the admission of California was obviated
and disposed Of by all the precedents in the legis
latvc history Of the government by the decisions of
the Supreme Court, and by the provisions OF the
cons tuition of California herself He thought the
Senator should, at least in this particular withhold
his objection to this portion OF the bill,
The next objection to the immediate admission
OF California the extent Of her boundaries The
Senator says that California, il admitted with her
larger than any other State Of the Union. What
does that amount to, Suppose she has three times
more square miles in her boundaries than any
| other State, has she not more than three times
much desert land, and more than three times as
many rocky and inaccessible mountains! lie then
described the condition of her soil and surface and
contended that California would not have greater
| extent Of good soil than the State Of Illinois
! He asked, with what could South California be
if she was cut off by the line OF 800 30 and
Of what value il would be when so cut Off After
deducting the sandy deserts, and the mountain re,
| gions, there would not be more than five thousand
square miles OF soil adapted to cultivation; and it
was well known that for eight months in the year
rain fell in portion Of that country, and that
there no soil there that did not require irriga
| ton
Mr. w. then proceeded to show that the country
was adapted to slave labor. Where then, was the
practical good to result from cutting of the terrific
| ry south OF 500 80! Was il at all practicable? Was
not the territory south Of that line part of Cafor
| MIA, defined by her ancient boundaries! There
| part Of California desired separate government.
Ii was part OF California which had long been set
tied. perhaps for hundred and fifty to two hun
bred years, and the determination and desire to ex-
| clude slavery in the country was as strongly ex-
pressed by the delegates from that part of the coun
Try in the convention Us by any others There was,
then, possibility of introducing slavery there,
and where was the practical good to be attained by
| running this line through,her limits?
| He asked again, was 1t not better to admit Cali
/ fornia with her boundaries and give territorial
| governments TO those who have no governments,
| Than longer delay the subjecE He urged action
| upon the matter and that California be admitted
speedily; and he thought that by the vote on this
| amendment, the Senator from Louisiana and his
friends would become satisfied that the admission
of California was desired by the country and by
| Congress.
| Mr.. FOOTE said that he would vote for the
amendment but, before doing So desired to state
some going to show that his present course
was more consistent than that of some others. He
then gave the history of the Missouri compromise
and his favorable impressions oft When the Ore
gon bill was before the Senate he had proposed in
his intercourse with his southern friends, that the
| Missouri compromise line should be moved to the
| BILL His southern friends said no; that the pro-
posal should come from the North; that it would be
dishonorable in the South to make any proposition
Now, however, things are changed, and the Mis-
souri, line lie not only proposed by the South, but is
moot zealousy supported by some from that quar-
| ter.
| He had thought then that some northern Demo
crat could be found who would move that compro-
mise. lie called upon the President, and then met
| the Senator from Indiana, (Mr. BRIGHT,) and the
conversation turning upon this point, II was at
length concluded that the Missouri line should be
proposed by that Senator.
The line was proposed by the Senator from In
diana amendment to the Oregon bill. twas
| then denounced by the Senator from South Caro-
lima, (Mr. CALBoUN,) and by the Senator from
| Florida, (Mr. fuLEE,) the latter OF whom Is now
| active supporter OF IL, and who thinks there s
| nothing that the art of man can conceive half so
| desirable as the line of the Missouri compromise
He then read, at length, from the speeches of Mr.
Calhoun and Others show that the Missouri line
| was then denounced, and that the ground of non
intervention taken then by the South as the
true constitutional ground. This bill was based
on the ground OF non intervention, and why should
he be denounced Tor supporting that principle laid
down by Mr.. Calhoun as the true constitutional
position Of the South!
After advcrting to and repelling various charges
of Inconsistencies preferred against him al home
and elsewhere, because Of his support of this bill
he alluded to the recent movements in New Mexi-
CO He said that whoever counselled the formation
OF the State government there was iactonlst; a
man accursed; and, whether he was in high public
station not traitor TO the best interests OF
his country, and he hoped that the man guilty OF
the gh-hsnded measure would be branded on his
forehead with the stamp OF infamy. lie studied
this subject for time and declared that every
southern State would yield her thousands of sons
ready and armed TO defend the soil of Texas from
/ cncroachmcnts.
| Mr. BARNwELL addressed the Senate in some
general remarks upon the nature Of the institution
OF slavery at the south, and defended il from the
| reproaches thrown upon 1t. lie repealed the i'm
plicstion that there any thing IN II deserving
OF unconstitutional discrimination against il. lie
insisted that, property, IL was entitled 10 every
constitu protection and guaranty. The south
States were entitled 10 equality with all other
| ststs.
He maintained that the South had right to de-
| psnd and receive clear, unmistakabe guaranty
Of projection by law otherwise for its property.
| But this could not be obtained Congress
constituted. AZ in the Of Missouri, the North
and the South had determined to divide the terri
| tory in order 20 live together nation, he
willing to divide the territory, and for the
| line Of division TO adopt the Missouri compromise
| line Of 26o 30
He opposed the bill under confederation, because
| By IL every thing was granted 10 the North
| running debate ensucd, in which Mcssrs.
| Eoers, BUTLER, UNDERWOOD, and DAVIS Of Mis-
sissppi took part, upon their opinions OF Mr.. CAL.
Hous, respecting the Missouri compromise; and
| then between Mcssrs. DAVIS and FooTE, respect
ing their particular upon this BILL and upon
| the supposed sentiments Of the people Of Missis
| sippi.
| Mr.. DAVIS had not concluded when he gave
| wsy 10
| Mr.. HALE, who moved an adjournment.
| Mr.. CASS demanded the yeas and nays, which
were ordered; and being taken, the motion was
| carried follows:
| YEAs.-Messrs. Atchison, Badger, Baldwin,
| Bsrnwell, Bell, Benton. Berrien, Butler, Chase,
| Clarke, Clemens, Corwin, Davis Of Mas, Davis
| OF Mississippi, Dayton, Dodge Of Iowa, Downs,
Greene, Hale, Hamlin, Hunter, King, Mason, Mil
Ter, Morton, Pcarce, Sebastian, Seward, Shields,
| Smith, Soule. Turney, Upham, and Yulee-34.
| NAYS.-Messrs. Bright, Cas-, Clay, Cooper,
Dawson, Dickinson, Dodge Of Wisconsin, Dou
gIas, Fclch, Foote, Houston, Jones, Norris. Pratt,