The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1850-04-12

nv of the whole nation and the tranquility, iAteg
rity, and permanency OF the Union.
| Resolved, That the governor be requested to
transmit certified copies of this preamble and these
resolutions to the Vice President of the United
States, and 10 each Of our Senators in Congress
THE ST. LAWRENCE RvER.
Mr.. DOUGLAS presented the memorial of sun
dry citizens of Illinois in favor Of obtaining the free
navigation of the st. Lawrence river. He moved,
and 1t referred to the Committee on Com
merce.
Mr.. SEWARD moved that the petition be printed.
Mr.. DAVIS, of Massachusetts, said II II were de-
signed to refer the subject TO the Committee
Commerce, the motion to print would defeat the
object II the memorial be sent to the printer, the
probability is, that il will never be seen by the
committee.
The motion went TO the Committee on Printing.
REPORTS FROM coMaIrrEE.
| MIR. HALE, from the Committee on Pensions, re-
ported bill for the relief of Mary McCrea, widow
OF Lieut.. Col McCrea; and, his notion the bill
was considered, read three times, and passed.
Mr.. MILLER, from the Committee on Naval At
fairs, reported bill for the relief of Thomas Nj.
Taylor and F. b. Stockton.
| Mr.. MASON, pursuant to notice, asked and OBJ
tanned leave TO introduce bill granting the assent
of the United States to act of the General As
sembly of the State of Maryland, relative to the
Chesapeake and Ohio Canal; which referred to
| the Committee on the District of Columbia.
| THE COMPROMISE COMMITTEE cALFoRNIA.)
/ Mr.. FOOTE moved, and the Senate proceeded
4
| submitted by Mr.. BELL. The motion pending
one by Mr.. FooTE, to refer them to select COM
mttee of thirteen Senators, with instructions to the
committee to consider all the questions growing out
of the subject Of slavery, and to report, by bill
otherwise, some plan OF adjustment and compro-
mise of all the questions growing out OF the subject
| of slavery. To which motion there was an amend
| ment pending, submitted by Mr.. BALDWIN, provid-
ing that the committee shall not take into consider
| alton any thing relating to California.
Mr.. DICKINSON said that, if this subject could
be disposed of by vote he would not object to con-
sidering it But if it were to lead to debate,
which had neither beginning nor end, he must in
| Mr.. BENTON said that on Monday he had stated
that during sixty years of Legislation upon the ad
mission of new States, the admission of no new
State had been coupled in bill with any other sub
ject and that it would be indignity to California
| to make her an exception, and an indignity never
offered to any other State. Some had doubted this
statement of the history of the Legislation for the
past sixty years. He was now prepared to verify
the statement. He had the acts before him. He
was not disposed to interfere with the bill of the
Senator from New York, but he desired to give
tice that, before vote on the present motion, he
desired read the history of the legislation for the
past sixty years, upon the admission of seventeen
MIR. FOOTE said that he hoped the deficiency
bill would not be taken up, but that this subject
would be disposed of to-day.
| MIR. DICKINSON said he hoped the bject would
be disposed Of without debate.
| Mr.. BENTON then proceeded to read the several
acts admitting States into the Union, com
mencng at Vermont, admitted by the act OF Feb
ruary Is, 1871 and the several acts admitting Ken
lucky, Ohio Louisiana, Indiana, Mississippi, Hi
nois, Alabama, Maine, Missouri, Arkansas Iowa,
Florida, and Texas; and Wisconsin in lS47. In
of these acts admitting these States was any
subject embraced but that of admission, OF mat
tiers directly and exclusively pertaining to the State
itself He then urged that California should be adj
mitted; the Constitution, the Mexican treaty, and
the practice of the Government for sixty years. all
lot,at ain har m l xvas N
make her an exception to the practice of the Gov
eminent for sixty years. and to offer her an indg-
nifty and injury, by mixing her admission with q
| subject of which she has washed her hands; and
washed her hands of il because she desired that
admission should not be borne down by the subject
of slavery.
Mr. DICKINSON said that if this debate was to
go on he would move TO lay the subject on the
table.
Mr.. CLAY said he desired to delay the Senate
not more than five minutes. He alluded TO the his
tory of the admission of Missouri, and said the bill
settling that question contained provisions regu-
lating slavery in the Territories of the United
States. The admission of California also post
poned till certain acquisitions were complied with,
and she was 10 be admitted only upon compliance
with those acquisitions, and upon the proclamation
of the President announcing such compliance to the
United States.
The Senator from Missouri intrenched himself
behind precedents Every one knew that the States
had been admitted under peculiar circumstances.
But now there was ground, even II there was no
precedent, to depart from the particular mode
marked out. There was now great measure be-
fore the country, and under which the Union was
now shaking. To defer the admission of Calfor-
mia, il said, would be an indignity TO her. He
asked where the indignity in CALIFORNIA; con-
curing in a measure TO produce harmony to a
distracted country
Mr.. BENTON said, 'California concur in gen
eral plan for restoring harmony to distracted
county," California concurl She is out Of doors.
She is a stranger without your gates. She IL not
able 10 concur in any thing. She is not party
competent 10 contract or 10 concur. She is 10
cur as slave concurs at the post to what Is done
TO her. He then pointed out the particulars where
California would be injured by delaying her ad-
mission, or by coupling her admission with any
other subject.
Mr. DAYTON said ne could not vote for the Sc
lect committee. He considered it unjust TO Cali
fornia 10 place her admission in bill with any
other subject. II unjust TO California 10 make
her admission sugar plum TO enable her friends
to swallow a dose not palatable 10 them. He
thought il unjust 10 Senators 10 force them TO vote
for propositions which Objectionable, TO vote
against her admission.
MIR. KING said that he doubted very much whe-
. Their the Senator from New Jersey would have been
80 Sous 10 hurry the admission Of California II
she had excluded slavery by her constitution. That
Senator and others who would listen 70 delay in
her admission, had refused year ago 10 give Cal
ifornia any government because they could not in
, sert clause prohibiting slavery. They have left
, New Mexico I'LL this day without government for
, that reason. Mr.. X. then alluded 10 the Of
>
and 10 the fact, that after the act Of admission
was passed, her Senators were denied admission
till Missouri had complied with certain acquisitions
He had reasons for opposing the admission Of Cal.
ifornia. No new State was admitted ill she hac
made a compact with the Government about the
domain
Mr.. DICKINSON said that he had yielded in IN,
, morning through courtesy, and would feel com.
PEELED 70 do the same 10 others. The day nov
so far gone, he would forbcar TO call up the def
, cheney bill. He hoped something would be don'
to-day. The Senate had now been four month,
debating and legislating for negroes who not in
California or New Mexico. The business of twenty
millions Of people at home had been neglected. III
, would call up the deficiency bill to. morrow morn
ing.
MIR. DOUGLAS advocated the consideration Of
/, the California BILL which practical measure
He moved TO lay the subject the table, but with
drew IL at the request Of
, Mr.. WEBSTER, who said that when the propo-
sition 10 raise this committee had been made some
six weeks ago. he bad said that II II desired by
any portion Of the Senate particularly by the Sen.
stors from Kentucky (Mr. CAY and TENNESSEE
, (Mr. BELL,) he would vote for H. lie did not sup.
noae that the committee would me with fpucl