The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1850-03-16


MR. BELLS REsoLUTIoEs-sELEcr COMMITTEE.
The Senate having resumed the consideration Of the
motion prefer the resolutions proposed by Mr. BELL to
1 select committee Of thirteen
Mr.. CASS resumed and concluded as follows:
Mr. PREsIDEsT Before resume my remark at the point
where left OF yesterday, have question TO put to the
senators from Mississippi, who (said Mr. CAss looking
round am sorry to see is not in his seat regret he is
not but viii postpone the reference designed making
TO him until the close OF my remarks when perhaps ne
may be here, spoke to him this morning on the sub
jec and therefore he is perfectly aware Of the question
was remarkng yesterday. when resigned the floor,
that there were certain things we could not accom-
psh, and others that with equal certainty we might
bill providing for the recapture Of fugitive slaves and
another object which trust will be accomplished IS the
providing OF a government for the new Territories.
think essential TO calm this agitaon and so long as
these Territories are left without government so long
will the present state OF things continue. and this aga
lion be kept up. which so harassng to The tranquility
and dangerous TO the peace Of the Union
That law may be passed authorizing the people OF
the Territories to govern themselves without any Wmo
Proviso being attached 10 it is my wish and my hope
mission Of California for the remarks that have fallen
from my friend from Illinois Mr. DoUeLAsl are 50 well
expressed and so pertnent that they preclude the ne
cessity OF entering into that topic al any length.
understood the distinguished senator from South Caro-
lima to admit yesterday that he did make il expressly
test question As remarked before il was this demand
of the honorable senator that excited in mind serious
apprehensons to the result for knew, and every
member OF this Senate knew that ii this was made test
question upon which the fate OF this republic depended,
that fate sealed trust may be permitted TO say,
with regard to this issue that appears 70 me not only I'M
wise but useless for the well expressed by the
senator from illinois in his speech to-day.
No gentleman on this floor, from the North or the
South, the East or West will rise in his seat and say he
believes that slavery will 30 into the Territory Of
Cafornia--no one can believe this for moment, What,
niaafter she has come here with constitution in her
handsback again. 10 undergo the process OF territorial
and then to return here year hence, every
year perhaps for ten years, and revive the question
anew What would be gained by il for any. portion
of the country! Is it battle worth lighting Is
the object to be accomplished really worth the con-
by such Of procedure Under existing circum
Stances what kind OF territorial government can be es
sbshed there Can any territorial government be es
abshed And is this unsettled state Of things to 60
from year to year, perpetuatng the bitter feelings that
have already sprung up between one section Of the Union
and the other! But have said also that such course IS
unwse; and trust my southern friends will pardon me
for saying that they are making very unwise issue
Sir siand before the country and before the
world and object to the admission OF California on the
ground that has been urged The objection Is not to her
BOUNDARIES though that topic has been much debated
The honorable senator from Illinois, whom we have all
just heard with much pleasure has discussed the sub
erogation In me to renew it. myself first star
tied at the boundary claimed stretching does along
the coast of the Pacific one thousand miles-a much
greater extent than any one State IN the Union ought
possess As the senator from Illinois and myself are
together in the same house, have conversed repeated
upon this subject, and with earnest desire to re-
duce these boundaries il the nature oil the country would
permit With this view he examined various lines pro-
posedthe parallel Of SO deg 80 min, and the southern
range of mounainsto ascertain what proper limitation
could be imposed upon the State. But he ultimately
became satisfied that no change could be made. The
country between the and the sea is narrow
and of the mountains is DESERT and in proportion
to its extent the quantity of arabic land is small Be the
boundaries they may is probable that its popula
ton will be as great as that OF some OF the other
States Of this Union And il its southern boundary were
them and the Mexican possessions small district Of
eennrp .hi-h ,--aA has. "a re@ain for an indehnite
period, perhaps forever, in colonial condition.
The senator from South Carolina, Mr. CALHOUN who
regret to is not in his seat To- day. does not
this ground objection to the admission OF California
That objection rests upon her present position and mode Of
her without passing through territorial process
and comes here OF her accord and asks admission
into this Union: This ground Of objection cannot be
this country. and. may add the people Of Chnsiendom
One hundred thousand American citizens on the shores
OF the Pacific are, or might be, 30 far as depends upon
our action IN perfect stale o. anarchy Inrse sessions
under the jurisdiction of the United States and you
have not legsated for them in single instance, except
10 make provision for the collection OF at their
ports ALI other duties devolving upon you as legis
laors for the entire Union have been totally neg
lected. You have used them only for the purpose
OF collecting taxes from them. Are we TO be told in
the middle OF the nineteenth century, that these people,
under such circumstances, have right to form gov
ernment' No man stand up here and assert this
doctrine and expect to receive the support OF the people
OF this country. My friend from Illinois MIR. Dove
LAST correctly SAID that the right OF government OF
kind OF government, right inherent in all people
upon the face OF the earth, and that the establishment
OF civil and social order among the first necessities
OF men entering into civil society Without government
they cannot exist and you have provided no govern
ment for the people OF California, and il is contend
ed that they have right 10 provide for themselves
You have neglected your duty towards them orth
last three sessions and now, when they here
knowledgng your jurisdiction, and with constitution
their hands, you about send them back 10 the
shores OF the Pacific 10 into territorial condition,
your favor. They love the Union. They have felt lis
blessings, and desire 10 secure them 10 themselves and
posterity They will have other standard 10 in
the breezes OF the Pacific their coast but the standard
OF their fahers-the stars and stripes OF country.
Would 10 God that this feeling prevailed with equal in
ensity the centre OF the republic IL prevails al It's
distant extremity While they wish 10 come in, there are
those who wish 10 20 out II is consoling TO ind the
patriotic ardor OF countrymen does not diminish
they recede from the older portions OF the republic.
repeat they come here not as revouionsts but an
integral part OF great community asking admiitance
into the confederacy.
Mr.. KING. lin his sest) Who is II that prevents
them
Mr. CASS. The senator from Alabama inquiries who
II is that has prevented them from having government.
and answer il il the Congress OF the United States !;
Mr.. DOWNS The Wilmot Provso prevents them
Mr. CASS. am speaking Of the cause OF our neg
ect The Wilmot Proviso s another thing ! am not
examining what differences OF opinion may have pre-
vented action. am speaking OF our neglect and Of