The southern press. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1851-12-13
rcontin.sa from first fdge.'

majority, not to secede from the Union on ac-
count of grievances imagined at present to
exist, nor until some other Southern State shall
testify willingness to unite with them in this
perilous experiment, which confidently believe
is state Of things that will never be realized.
Sir, | must be allowed to express the high gra
LITIGATION which have derived from the final de-
cision of the people of South Carolina in oppo..
sition to the mischievous counsels OF that band
of demagogues who have sought to involve
them in schemes of rank disunion and foul
treason. have rejoiced particularly over this
happy result, Mr. President, because had more
than wear since predicted it both here and
elsewhere. | always believed that the people of
South Carolina, when allowed to think calmly,
and to act maturely upon this vital and mo.
mentous question of Union and disunion, would
30 demean themselves as to prove to the world
their utter unwillingness deliberately to sur
render their own repose and happiness in order
to crafty the INSCRIPTIONS aspirations OF am
bilious factionists. ! rejoice, sir, that the ma
terials have been thus supplied for that which
cannot but be recognized by posterity as the
brightest page in the history of this ancient
commonwealth; and trust that the day is yet
far distant, when deuded by evil counsels, her
people shall deliberately prefer scenes OF bloody
anarchy and lawless confusion to the multiplied
and unappreciabe blessings which result from
the sound and honest administration of wise
and benfcient government. ..... .
Mr.. BUTLER ! wish, sir, to make some
explanation. There are some remarks made by
the senator which may advert to hereafter, but
which | will reserve for another occasion. One
portion of his remarks, however, applied, as ]
suppose, to me az chairman of the Judiciary
Committee, and alluded to me as not desiring
TO bring in the Fugitive-slave bill at as early a
time as practicable, that it might not be acted
upon by its friends and advocates. Now, sir,
that Fugitive. slave bill was introduced by my
self as chairman of the Judiciary Committee,
one session before it was taken mp and acted
upon at all was the very first person to in
troduce it ; and | believe that while | am the
chairman and organ of any committee, shall
never use my incidental position for any party
purposes whatsoever. bring in the measures
ordered by the committee as early as practicable,
and that particular measure | brought in two
sessions before it was finally adopted. When
my friend, Mr.. MASON, of Virginia. offered a
Gubsttute for it, felt it to be then in his hands
And now let me explain what is the truth with
regard to this bill. 1t was called up in the early
part Of the session for consideration, and as
chairman of the committee made some remarks
upOU IL. j WIS lUlOWtu luc boiIatoI Iioul
Virginia, Mr.. Mason when, at the instance of
the honorable senator from Kentucky, not now
in his seat, Mr. CLAY, these compromise
measures were introduced, with request that
the consideration of the Fugitive slave bill
should be suspended, that it might make part
of those measures. What my friend from Vir-
ginia Mr.. MAsoNl may have said to the gentle
man in private, know not am not very much
in the habit Of repeating private conversations,
and will not undertake to say what remarks he
may have made. lie may very possibly have
said, why take up this measure separately aud
alone, and thus weaken ourselves in the great
contest in which We are engaged IA contest in
which believe may say that no one on this
floor acted so many different parts as did the
gentlemen from Mississippi. III recolect Alright,
his name was signed to the paper sent to the
governor OF Mississippi by the representatives,
of that State warning the governor aud people
of that State against the dangers which were
impending over US, under one Of the measures
that is praised so much al this day-the admis
sion of California.
Mr.. FOOTE, Gin his seat) All Of which are
obvated by this scheme OF adjustment.
Mr.. BUTLER. Separately, he would nave re-
jected il. Combined with allies who were willing
to act with him, he was perfectly willing to acqu
esce.
Mr.. FOOTE. Will the gentleman allow me tc
explain | did join IN writing the letter which the
gentleman evid,ntly has not read, in WHICH dlt
stste-on the 2lst Of January, think, of that very
session-that California would be admitted into
the Union, and calling for instructions to whs
my State would deem right and proper under thu
circumstances, in case California should be ad
mltted. There not one word upon the un
constitutionality Of admitting California. hsC
introduced resolution early in the session, as Il
the expediency Of establishing a territorial gov
eminent in California, and made the only speech
that was made in support Of It. | then took thu
ground of xpediency, and considered that the bes
form which Congress could give TO the govern
ment. Thereafter, sir, drafted bill, Of more
body and made speech in support Of 1t, and
the only speech that made Ia support Of II,
proposing TO provide governments for all the nc
quired territory. Thereafter, sir, there being q
proposition pending IN both houses of Congress
TO admit California az a separate measure-con
ceiving, as ! did, and as ] should now concely,
under the ~ circumstances, that the admission
OF California, as a separate measure, would be u
self objectionable and that instead Of settling tho
questions growing out Of slavery, u would ser
ously impede their settlement-l did write a letter
and in that letter-yery hastily drawn up by my
fore stand to ibid ] say that the application oil
California for admission into the Union, under al
the circumstances OF the case, was the Wilmo
Proviso' No, sir; did not say that, but that i
would afford such advantages to the North ove
the South as would lead to the legis' ation whIct
the Wmot Pr 20 contemplated. But never die
/ undertake y that ! believed the admission
OF California; be in any sense Unconstitutional
or that its admission would in my judgment jus
tify any resistance upon the part Of the South, oil
IN itself furnish cause for any serious complaint
ofany kind whatsoever. And when admitted as
a part Of general scheme Of adjustment, the OBJ
jections which had before existed 10 its admission
ceased.
With regard 10 the conversation, ! did moi
charge the gentleman from South Carolina with
being party to the conversation mentioned.
did, however, say, that went to him repeated
and urged, when the bill was ia his hands, that i
should be brought forward, as the gentleman from
Indiana Mr.. WHTconB and my friend fou
Michigan tMr. CAssl will recolect. And when
afterwards went TO the honorable senator from
Virginia, he replied in the manner already STATED
TO the Senate. And | confess thati did conceive
lat the honorable gentlemen were acting upor
.nethIngslike concertedi PLAN doubt not
Jweyer, with the best motives in the world, anC
18th the innnreasion thai n uas ineypsdier, al q.