The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1851-12-21

carried through lis various stages lay in repose after the
Sh of January, Tor reasons which am about 10 assign
The senator from Mississippi says, according to his
recollection or bis construction that there policy
ON the part OF the gentlemen who had charge OF the bill
IN thus keeping il back ! think have shown that up
to January 2sth whether there policy not, the
bill was not kept back, but urged and pressed upon
the consideration OF the Senate have shown that the
Kentucky were introduced and that the debate continued
upon them, together with the motion to REFER up to the
period to which | am about to advert On the 18th of
March the resolutions OF the senator from Kentucky
and OF the senator from Tennessee in connexon with
the motion 10 refer 10 special committee being still
der debate, senator from Connecticut, longer
Der of tins body, Mr.. BALDWIN, moved that all matter
IN the resolutions relating TO the State of California be
excluded from that reference have doubt that many
SENATOR'S who were present them will ecolect that there
was strong and prevailing inclination on the part OF
gentlemen opposed TO the References to except certain ia
yoe measures OF theirs from il. This California bill
was one OF them: Upon the proposition TO exclude it.
senator from Massachusetts, no longer member OF
this body but at the head OF the Department of Saie
pressed himself strongly in favor Of keeping 1t scpa-
rate The senator from Michigan MI. CAss] expressed
himself favorable to the plan OF reference, but said
/" My hopes are not strong as 10 any favorable re-
suits to grow out OF this committee The chances have
been much diminished by the vote taken yesterday, if
that vote contained any indication OF the feeling in this
Chamber with regard 10 the committee ITSELF and the ben
eft to result from it," The vote to which the senator
before the proposition OF the from Mississippi
to take up the resolution, and his motion to refer which
proposition 10 take up was carried by majority of two
% votes only NE vote being "a Ssss to a nays From this
fit to result from the committee proposed TO be raised by
the senator from Mississippi. The senator from Mchi-
anticipate very little good from the proposition Of the
senator from Mississippi For myself am not prepared
to say what my views will be upon this whole matter
they are not formed say merely that this course holds
out some hope and is. therefore, well worthy of adop
ton." And he goes on TO say We have been three
months here. and what have we dons' Nothing. We
have not passed single law of the least material impor
tance We have occupied the whole time by the discus
sion Of this question: and practical result has been
attained and present appearances do not indicate that
that nss s
referring to the fact that in his belief the Wmot provso
and Missouri line could not pass.
aWe then, Mr. President. if these things are mpossi-
beif they cannot be doneit remains to inquire what
i is in our power TO do My own opinion is.s that we
slaves reported BY the Judiciary Commliiee am dis
posed to suspend all discussion, and to lay aside all
other business, with a view TO act upon that bill" &c.
time, when the honorable senator from Michigan ex.
pressed his apprehension. because OF the vote taken the
previous day, and for other reasons that good result
was likely to follow from this committee that it would
be better to lay aside all the pending business OF the
Senate, and take up the ugtve-save bill and act upon
that aone- was TO this stage OF the proceedings that
the senator from Mississippi had reference presume,
when he said that he had had conversation with the
senator from Michigan, and other senator's who had
pressed desire to have this law taken up and that he
consulted with the chairman OF the Judiciary Committee
and myse and we differed from him in opinion. shall
not discuss the question to who was right and who
wrong in decisions to the expedency of
ryng out the suggestion OF the senator from Michigan
know considered in my best judgment that was right
and that he was wrong; and acted accordingly What
the of things! The resolutions of the senator
from Kentucky, Mr.. CLAY.l think some eight in
ted before this body The seventh resolution had mme.
date reference this fugitive slave bill in these
words:
"7 R.,olpd That more eectual provision ought TO be
made by law. according the requirements OF the cons
ution for the restitution and delivery of persons bound to
service labor in State who may escape into any
other State or Territory OF the Union
The proposition of the senator from Mississippi was to
refer the resolutions OF the senator from Kentucky and
everything contained in Them to this special committee
which committee, by its deliberations on all the subjects
thus connected might be enabled 10 present such sere,
Of would iranquillze and quie, the public
mind upon this entire subject
The resolution TO refer was in these words;
"Rssoiced That the Presidents message and accompany
ing documents, the subec, of admitting California, be
referred a special committee of hhesn, taferwards
TO thirteen TO be chosen by ballot whose duty
shall be TO consider the same aud also take con.d
GRAFTON the various propositions before the Senate
If they find practicable TO do so, plan Tor the dentve
from impending pcris the sacred Union itseli'
The resolution, then, was TO refer the whole subject
embracing the resolutions of the senator from Kentucky
and OF the senator from Tennessee. TO this committee
for great practical. and wise end requiring OF the COM
mee TO report such series Of measures, embracing the
whole subject committed, would tranquilze the public
mind, and make final disposition OF the subject CON-
med | went Tor II earnestly and zealousy. There
were senator's from southern Sta,es-one OF whom
especially recollect was the very lustrous sena
who then part represented the State o South Caro-
lima, and who is more, (Mr Calhoun who
though, it would be better 10 defer raising that committee
until the debate had ended. differed from that disn.
gushed senator with great ddence and great distus o
my own Judgment but differed, and believed that II was
our duty-a duty we owed TO the subject and the
try-io take the chance. as expressed by the senator
from Michigan, OF good resulting from the dellber.
atoms of such committee As the best evidence OF the
opinions OF senator's representing slave States on the ex
pedency OF raising this committee, advert to The faci
ihat on the vote which startled the apprehension OF the
senator from Michigan-he vote oil "a TO "a on taking
up these resoutons-of the ~ yeas II were from the
southern States, and only from the southern States
were the minority OF ~ advert TO this for the pur.
pose OF showing that those senators who represented
slave States including, OF course, those senators who
more Immediately represented the fugiuve-siave bill
for the committee, and IN every instance voted o
the reference. There were senators who were against u
altogether A very distinguished senator IRON Missouri
no longer member OF this body, Mr.. Benion,] was
against IL Certain il is that he made strenuous efforts 10
except from its action the admission OF California as
State into the Union. II was first moved by the senator
from Connecticut. The senator from Missouri after
wards attempted it in the form OF instructions TO the com
mtee that they should not deliberate upon It, Further
the senator from Wisconsin tMr. WALKkR1 moved tc
eYcept from the reference the committee this very u
gve- slave question. have memorandum OF it in my
notes. showing that, the 18th OF April, he moved tc
except from the reference such parts OF The resolutions
service or labor" The taken by yeas and nays
and the proposition rejected by IL yeas to ~ nays
Amongst the ~ nays WAS one senator alone representing
Al NJ