The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1851-12-13

ever. To any section of the Union ia all coming
time | shall not 1T present 60 into minute
examination Of these pleasures; II Is not neces-
sary. But the Senate, know, Will bear with
me whilst offer brief and running commen-
tary upon them, in order to show how little they
deserve the harsh elimination which they have
this day received at the hands of the honorable
senator from South Carolina--in the progress of
u speech which, 1 must say, has been declama
tory frsm beginning to end, and in which | can
not now recoIect single sentence that approx
mated 10 the dignity Of argument.
To begin with the California question. Sir,
it 10 perfectly well known here that | did not
vote for the admission of California. 1t was not
in my power 10 do so without violating public
sentiment among my own particular constiiu-
ents, unless indeed that act should be made TO
form part of general scheme of settlement ;
and decidedly preferred, at any rate, voting for
the retention Of California in the territorial con
dition for year or two more. My reasons for
desiring that this should be the condition Of
California for short period, were stated very
frankly aud fully at the time, in hearing Of this
body, and shall not now recitc them. But
wish it to be understood, sir, that | never re-
garded such act of admission Mt all violative
of the Constitution. On the contrary, have
constantly been of opinion that there was no
ground for doubt upon this point ard am
happy to recollect that my own honored con-
stituents have. at all times, with singular una
nmity, ay0wed the same opinion. Indeed, Mr.
President, think myself justified in believing
that there was never, even in this body, amy con-
siderable number Of gentlemen who were willing
to risk their character public men before the
country by the assertion that the act of Califor-
Man admission was unconstitutional in its char
acter well recollect that the honorable gen.
a ubn off fha
Mr. HuSrER,l in his celebrated protest, eau
tiously declined the assumption of any such po-
sition; and if ] do not in memory, that
gentleman minated, at the time of its presen-
taton here, an impression that the measure of
admission was not fairly subject to objection
upon mere constitutional grounds
III the honorable senator from South Carolina,
to whom am ut present responding, entertained
the opinion upon this question which he now ex-
presses, he certainly made nothing like regular
argument in support Of this Wow of the subject
or if he did so. it was not of nature sufficiently
striking TO fix itself distinctly in my memory.
Sir, California was admitted just in the moce
adopted for the admission Of every new State
that has heretofore entered into the confeder cy
If she was unconstitutionaly admitted. none of
the new States heretofore admitted have ever
vet found their way into the confederacy in such
manner as to entitle them to recognition as
legitimately appertaining to our confederacy of
SOVEREIGN States. j will not argue the question
at length; it would be wholly proitess to do
So But let me ask the honorable senator if it
be in his power to show in what manner the ad-
mission of California has been at all detrimental
to any of the older States of the confederacy I?
In what respect is it possible that any such de-
triment could have been experienced Have the
people of California not been good citizens
since their admission as one Of the sovereign
States of this Union as they were antecedent
thereto iIave not the governmental proceedings
Of that State been such IS should command
the respect of the nation? Is it not an asccr
tanned fact, and does not the gentleman from
South Carolina know, that the people of Cali
fornia have shown themselves as free from all
sentiments Of hostility TO our peculiar institu-
lions of the South as the citizens of any South
ern State in the Union! If he is not aware of
the fact BEG leave to Inform him that the sen
timent of fanalical opposition TO the system of
domestic slavery existing in the South has never
vet made itself manifest in the Legislative coun
ellis of this new State. ] say this in hearing of
those altogether competent to correct me if |
am in error upon the subject. Besides the sem
ator from South Carolina should reeoilect that
California, from the moment of her admission,
has been represented in this chamber by gent
casions has shown himself, in reference to the
delicate and distraetng questions which have
placed the republic in much jeopardy, n true
patriot, Jealous supporter of the constitutional
| rights of the South, and an unswerving friend
| of the Union The admission of California,
| then | contend has done us no injury, and the
particular section of which the honorable sena
tor from South Carolina is the faithful and eff
Gent representative here has had no reason, thus
far, 10 complain of such admission.
| Now, sir, let US turn our attention for mo-
ment TO what is called the territorial acts. These
bills provide territorial bills for Utah and New
! Mexico ,oilhout The Wilnot ProUiso. Again, each
of these acts provides, in the most emphatic and
distinct manner, for the extension of the Consti-
tuition and laws of the Union 10 said territories
thus securing rs suppose all jurists worthy
| of the name would decide, the ellectual abroga-
ton of the Mexican laws abolishng slavery.
| These acts pi OXIDE. as the senator well knows,
in addition that the territories TO which they APP
ply when they shall become States, shall come
| into the Union with or without slavery, rs the
people thereof may, in their institution, de-
eide and this provision IL equally eilectual in
regard 10 all the States into which these terri
tories may be hereafter subdivided. Surely the
senator from South Carolina will rejoice with
Inc that snch are the terms on which territorial
governments have been established IN Utah and
New Mexico, instead of extending 10 them what
is known as the Missouri Compromise line, as
some ultrasts in the South have contended
should have been done. We all know that the
Missouri Compromise provides, in express
terms, for the prohibition of slavery in oil the
territories of the Union north of SO deg. 30 min
north latitude Now, the principle of this boast
ed compromise, applied TO Utah would have at
orre driven all the Shareholders and their slaves
now resident there, and enjoying the protection
of law therein, beyond the confines of that terri
tory, and have closed the same forever TO the re-
ception of slave property; since all of Utah is
known TO be situated north of the line of 80 deg
30 min How this could Mt all benefit the South
remains yet for the learned doctors of the seccs
sion school to show. To my simple apprehen
sion il would be nothing more nor ess than APP
plying the hated Wimot Proviso to Utah. Sir
let me remind the senator from South Carolina
OF the fact that every Southern senator save two
Al. Il E.,oo,aIl,, do, 4 u,,vb