Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1850-05-14
s:.sasS-ssesn .c,oNoaEss-.sr SESSION.
WEDNESDAY,, MAY 8.
SENATE.

;,h aaan sense of their great importance, ah ,b,
w, w., ~, I cufc 10 arrive at such conciusio.,
ana ANXIOUS SONY h Senate and the country Most oil c
~ 800 have been not only subjected " ca I, =,
nd serious nublc discussion throughout te
'iu Sop,,, itself, singular Tor us eiaooiu'eh's'
asoale 10 'ic m .hat a full exposition Of all those mo-
ti~ss and yiews which, The severai suocc'S h;S
the committee have determined .lle @ The viii
,hev hay arrived seems quite unnecessary
,s nav ,r;c, themselves few general observations
and 10 some reflections which grow OUT OF mos su'9
CO., -, ,r recent Territorial acquisitions, ara III eo'
~ H. ;re,i,uon Of slavery, questions Iios e'aNe
have snrnu which, greatly dividing ana aSl,ans .i h
nle of the Cned States, nave threatened ~ ~ The
onu e M, ~ endanger The saicty OF the lnoh i"o
,' ;,,aa ;cv, II 10 be highly desirable ana necesS"
soeedil, ~ adjust all those questions IN spirit oi coie
oc, "a, producc, if practicable, general sal'o
; " Thu mink il would be unwise 10 leave any OF thei
ion -" y,,rd 10 tester the public mind and TO pro-
long if aggTyae te eSs.ng naI .nch proposas
md Recommendations would accomplish general oj
meat OF all those questions. -, ;.,ao ,,b;cb
the subjects referred TO the committee which
their frs attention, the resolutions oeFen 10
tho Senate by the Senator FROM Tennessee Az pen; -.
provision in tie resolution OF Congress anneAins n
,ho I.ncd States is declared that new States Oh cow
NON, ,c mn, exceeding four in number, In ADDITION ~ sa
safe Of Texas aud having sufficient population may hec
~ hv ,h consent of said State be formed out OF me ie
orv thereof which shall be entitled 10 admission unuef e
provisions OF the Federal constitution; ana sucn
nav be formed OF that portion Vi saia '.ii! ~
s1th of 50 deg. 50 north LATITUDE, commonly hio"i 70 ~;
Missouri COMPROMISE line, shalt be admitted INTO inc .noh
with or without slavery us the people Oh ZACH '
admission may desire !, x. ;; ,h,, rhs,
eyer one or more States formed out of the territory OF
as not exceeding four, having su1icient popuiao WI" NV
consent of Texas may apply be admitted into the lho
nov arc entitled TO such admission beyond all doubt upon
,hs clear uambguous and absolute terms OF INC so"h'
compact contained in the resolution OF annexation
by Congress and assened 10 by Texas but "niIsi nc
committee conceive that the right OF admission mo ht
Union Of any new State carved out OF the territory OF ieAu
moi exceeding the number speclhcd, ana uhucr 'c cou'
ons stated cannot be Justly controversial the committee
do not think that the formation of any such ne" states
should originate with Congress ne niliaNc, III
I ttrh IL,
should be taken by portion of The people oi Texas he-
SELL IS DESTROYS OF constituting new State, win the con-
nj OF Texas. And in the formation OF snch new STATE II
will be for people composing II to decide Tor tnehsec
whether they will admit will exclude slavery Ana now
ever they may decide that purely municipal question: IN
nress bound TO Gcquiesce, and 10 ulh IN Sooa la w.
stpuations Of the compact with Texas The committee
are aware that has been contended that tie resolution VI
Congress anuexing Texas was unconstitutional. ~ 'oi
mer epoch Of countrys history, there were 'hos
and Mr. Jefferson, under whose auspices the treaty VI
Louisiana concluded, was among thcnD VINO oeieN,"
that the States formed ont OF LOUISIANA couc ho' W
received into the Union without an aihena'ch u M
s;ituon But the State of Louisiana, Missouri aAahsds'
and Iowa have been all nevertheless, admitted h'u VIZ
would now think opposing the admission OF Minnesota,
Oreron or other States formed out Of the ancient pro-
vince of Louisiana upon the ground OF an alleged os
defect of constitutional powerl In grave haionai Ha;
lions while vet in their earlier or ncplent STAGES aieei
ces NAV well exist but when once they nave oee 0ceoeu
v constitutional majority, and are conshnlHaleu VI are VI
n nrocess of consummaton there can be no oher SAFE ana
prudent alternative than respect the decision h!eauy rem
t,red and acquicsce in il. Entertaining these views
nj
per TO recommend al this time, or prospecuNevi IN! ne"
tate or b. formed out OF The territory ol leAas
Shnd anv such be hereafter formed ana present IL
self for admission into the Unon whether win or without
os,ohshment of slavery il cannot be doubted that Con-
nress will under full sense OF honor, OF good laih anu
- all the hah obligations arising out OF the compact Win
Twas decide Just will decide under the influence ei
similar considerations in regard 10 new states iortu :" -
ont Of New Mexico and Utah. with or without the nsu-
ton Of slavery, according 10 the constitutions ana luieehs
OF the people who compose he as 10 "hai HAY " oes' "
promote their happiness
In considering the question Of The admission OF California
rs State into the Union majority oil The COMMITTEE con,
a, any ireguar,y By which thar STATE was organize
without the previous authority Of an act OF congress oeh
he in 81 hs ns 5 the e eo
raic,r. consequent necessity which they were
under Govcrnnen, for themselves best adapted q
their There various instances lIi"r 10 The
of California oil the admission oi States bio the
Union without any previous authorization by Congress. The
sole condition required by the Constitution OF the nec
States in respect the admission Of State s that lis
constitution shall be Republican in form. California presents
such constitution; and there Is doubt OF her having
greater population than that which according TO the practice
VI Government has been heretofore deemed sufficient Ia
. receive State into the Union.
In regard the proposed boundaries of California the
committee would have been glad if there existed more full
and accurate geographical knowledge OF the territory which
boundaries include. There is reason TO believe hu
large they are, they embrace no very disproporonate
quantity OF land adapted cultivation And known that
they contain extensive mountains deserts of sand
and much unp.oductve soil Ii might have been perhaps
better 10 have assigned 10 California limited
the Pacc there had been reserved on the shore
II that ocean, portion of the boundary which presents fol
any other State States ii is certain that
s!e interior Of sufficient could have been given "a
them render approach to the ocean through their own
limits OF very great Importance.
"A majority OF the committee think that there are many
urgent concuring considerations in favor of admitting
California with the proposed boundaries and OF securing "a
hpr this time the benefits Of State Government Ii
hereafter upon an increase Of her popuaon tho
rouch exploration OF her territory and ascertanmen
the relations which may arise between the people occupying
various parts il should be found conducive 10 their
ham tfrf( n
have every believe from past experience that
question Of its admission will be fairly considered and
Justly decided.
e" majority OF The committee therefore, recommended TO
the Senate the passage of the bill reported y the Committee
Oh Territories for the admission OF California State in TO
the Union. To prevent uisconcepion, the Committee also
recommend thai the amendment, reported BY the
the bil be adopted 10 leave ncones'ablc the
right OF the United States 10 the public domain and other
public property in California.
'Whilst naJory OF The committee believe ii TO be
and proper, under actual circumstances to admit
Caoinia they think quite necessary and proper 10
ghsh for tho residue Of the territory derived
from Mexico and 10 bring within the pale Of the Federal
auh9r nc romoieness oil mat territory rom the seat OF
TIC General Governments tho dispersed state OF its popui-
tom the variety of racespuro and mxedof which
st: the Ignorance of Of the Of laws Ian
guaee, and ha5 their inroads and
age r and the solemn s,ipulatons Of the treaty by
which acquired dominion them-imposc upon the
United States the imperative obligation OF extending 10 them
protection and OF providing for them and laws
suited their condition Congress will fail in the perform
o high duty if it docs give, attempt give
telG the suCn
they now, and for long time be-
prepared ir State Government The territorial form fo
the present. is best suited their condition bill has been
reported by the Committee Territories dividing ali The
territory acquired from Mexico compehended within
limits of California into Territories under the o.
New Mexico, and Utah. and proposing for each Territorial
Government,
"Tho committee recommend TO the Senate the establish
Of those Territorial Governments and in order more
.nly that desirable object trey also recon-
mend that the bill for their establishment be incorporated in
the bill for the admission of California and that united
gethcr. they both he passed.
TITS combination of the in the same bill is
objected various grounds II is said that they in
congruous and have conncxicn with each
majority Of the committee think otherwise The
object of both The establishment OF Government
suited the conditions respectively of proposed new
State and of the Territories Prior their transfer to
the United States they both formed part of Mexico where
they stood in equal relations to the Government
public. They both ceded TO the United States by the
treaty And in the article of that treaty the L
States sccny engaged 10 protect and govern both Com
in their origin, in their alienation from
foreign government another in their of
good and conermnous in of their houn-
darcs and alike in many particulars OF physical condition.
they have nery every thing in in the relations in
which they stnd the of this Union There is them
general fitness and proprcy in extending the parental
of governmen both in common. Ii California, by sud-