Baton-Rouge gazette. [volume] (Baton-Rouge, La.) 1819-1856, 1850-11-30
Speech Of Senator Downs,

Fellow CITIZENS i am rejbiced. t,9
;, after 81 long ali absence fros your plea,
: ant titn | nm permitted again to visit il
aud J cheerfully comply with the requea
which Ss been made d me ty many
lts citizens, to address them relative TO Il,
gFeat questions, which SO lately absorbe
the undivided nttcn'ictooSC Congress-
the more chrerluy comply with that re
quest, a. It is not only q source Of uratif
tation TO a representative, on his return
to his constituents, to communicate witt
them, with them tc interchange though
and feeling. but ae huinllv conceive, it i
dutY, the discharge Of which. III,
constituents have n r4ht to demand a
d the hands of their delegate Aner9tht
long, aud deeply interesting and in,pnr
taht session through wS ch Congress ha'
lot late passed, how could [ return home
and not feel gratifed, in speaking freely
fully and earnestly with the citizens o
| La, ct the course which my itld ympn,
dictated, my regard for your interests and
SIc prosperity of our common country
| Prompted me to follow shall noN
fellow citizens call vour attention to the
questions embraced in the compromise
measure, aud having explained the rea.
I sons by which was actuated. will sub
mt to your Judgment IN the Premises.
1t ia not surprising, that Upon matter
Of such vast importance az the late adjust
ment. III which questions new and difficult
suddenly arose, no time being pivcn for
mature examination, it Is not surprising,
| say that there should be a difference OF
opinion, between members OF the same
body. the circumstances were trying,
though untrictl before. aud hence the
difference OF opinion honestly entertained
10y aN 1t is Tor others to take care of
themselves, and | will now etnte the
views hy which ! was Influenced
II In tho adjustment or compromise
achotne, several measures Were embraced
|. The admission Of California a. a state.
into thls Union. 9 The creation of ter
rltorlal governments for the newly ar-
lulted territories of Utah and New Mex.
lco. 3. The boundary question lptwepn
Texas and the territories last mentioned
1, The fugitive slave bill 8 The bin
iur the abolition Of the slave tradn in the
District of Columbia
There are two of the measures. to
which have referred which were sub
lcct To eon,e 0,pctlons on the r,rt of the
~outh--the admission nf California and
the abolition Of the slave trade ~ the
nstrict Of Columbia Although to the
admission OF California, my mitd had
raised several objections. aud although TO
that measure, separated aud by Itself,
had always urged those objections, yet
was wiling to sustain 1t IA a part of the
Coupro$8.se J was satisfied to support il.
when was receiving at the hands of the
North, a stringent bill for the recovery Of
slaves escaping from tho South and re-
lectou of the oipus doctrlIa of the pro-
viso, III the territorial hti' ! coud0lot
see enough III the objections, made to the
bills above referred to. modified hy the
gam which Thought the South rcccr, ed.
10 justify resistance. or a loud rIamur for
dleuulon, What are the objections : Lot
us first refer to the California bill The |
first objection is. that this territory wa
admitted "a a State with the prohibition
of slavery. This YOU will recolIect is not
the offspring of Congress it comes not
from that body, but from the people Of
she territory, when being admitted rs |
State into the Uui'rr Other States have
been admitted with the same prohibitions,
why then SO much opposition to tho ad- |
mission OF California But it is said. that |
her manner Of coming into the Union is |
0reguar, her votes were informally re-
cclved, her constitution illegally adopted |
These fellow citizens strike me as invalid
objections. No uniform rule. for the adj
mission OF new States into this great con-
tederacy. has ever existed in some cases
states have been RECEIVED without even
the adoption of n Constitution, that act
being permitted to be done, subsequent
to the admission. Congress can only re.
lnlre. that the form of government, for
the new State, should he republican III its
nature, this requisite compiled with, and
the rest remains with the people them
selves. 1t is clear then. that the oblcc-
and when we recolIect that the
people of the territories have the rieht to
regulate the question of slavery, why
should VIC find fault at the manner in
which they have acted? 10 strengthen
The position which | have advanced rela-
1--we to the right of the people, of any
errItory, when about to assume the man
lie OF sovereignty, [ can refer you, to the
oplnlonseof many of the lead
nr men ct the nation, and it would be
well ior those who Insist upon the ex-
remc rights OF the South to remember,
he doctrine maintained by one who is
now sleeping IN the sepuIcre of his fathers,
/ mean Cahoun) while they are so vio-
emily opposing the prohibition of slavery,
which is engralted upon the constitution
IT California. Another objection made
~ the oppoSers of California is that her
'oundagcs were entirely too large ] ;
hougS SO too, and desired and attemp- s
ed to have them reduced; | opposed the
ill, but | consider there is great differ
nee between the objection to a measure, {
While on its passage, and after it has been t
inaliy Sad constltutionaIIy adopted | t
annot now oppose the State of Ca.ifor- ;
ia, on account of her extended limits, $
'or would feel it my duty to cry disun-
Oh, or 10 labor for secession on that ac- {
cunt. Texas was admitted with bound q
rles TWICE as large, as those of California i
IN her admission, a portion of the North +
bJected; excitement grew upon excite a
lent, and dissolution was freely, openly +
poken Of; but beneath the omnipotent 7
lhuence OF public opinion, that excite Il
gent passed away like the sudden storm: Y