Semi-weekly North-Carolina standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1852-1853, 1852-01-10

er would vote for it, under the pressure of in
structions The Wimot proviso being thus dispos-
cd of forever. and California and New Mexico hav-
inc been acquired without any condition stipua-
ton in respect to slavery, the question arose as TO
what kind of territorial governments should be es-
tabliShed for those countries. domestic at1Icton
suddeuly called me from the capital, and detained
several weeks. On my return L found pending be-
fore the Senate the measure known the Clayton
bill Its provisions were not such as l would have
proposed as chairman of the Territorial Committee
had been present. Yet it had the high merit of hav
ing been reported wi III great unanimity by special
committee of the most eminent and distinguished
members of the Senate, fairly representing all the
different sections and interests of the Unien This
fact afforded for the hope that the bill might
receive the sanction Of both houses of Congress,
and thus put end to the controversy. Under the
influence of these considerations. the bill received
my cordial support, and passed the Senate by an ov-
erwheming majority. but was promptly rejected in
the House of Representatives The controversy be-
ing reopened with increased Violence and my posi-
ton at the head of the Territorial Committee requir
ing me to take the initiative in some plan of fair and
lust settlement, brought forward my original proPo-
siton to extend the Missouri Compromise to the Pa
ciic in the and with the same understand
ing with which it was originally adopted. This pro-
position met with the appreciation of the Senate, and
passed this body by large majority, but was instant
y rejected in the House of Representatives by still
larger majority. The day OF adjournment having ar
rived, further effort made to adjust the diff
Guilty during that session. Al the opening of the next
session, upon consultation with the friends of the
here and there individual eXception-that there
was no hope left for the Missouri Compromise, and
consequently other plan of ad ustment must be
devised. | was reluctant to i've up the Missouri
Compromise, having been the first to bring it for
wrrd, and having struggled for it in both houses of
Congress for above five years. But public duty de-
manded that all considf ations of pride o. character
opinion should be made subssrvlent to the public
peace and tranquility gave it up reluctantly, to be
sure-and conceived the idea of bill to admit Cali
forna State, leaving the people to form consti-
suit themselves. l submitted this bill to the then
President of the United States, Mr.. Polk. and have
the satisfaction of stating that it received his sane
tion and was introduced by with his appreciation.
The great argument in favor of this bill was, that it
recognised the right of the people to determine all
questions relating their domestic concerns in their
way, and authorZe ed them TO do so unlnhuenced
by executive dictaton, by the apprehension that
unless they decided the slavery question in particu
lar way, their application for admission would be re-
iected by Congress. do not endorse, and never did
SANCTION the charge against the late administration OF
having used improper means, any means to in1u-
the decision of the people of California upon this
question: but do say, that had this bill become the
law of the land such charge would ever have been
made suspicion entertained. The great misfortune
is, that large portion of the South really believe that
improper influences were used to produce the result
in California. They do not deny the RICH OF the peo-
pie of California TO make that decision but they in
sis that the right should have been exercised freely,
and unnhuenced by any act of the agents Of the adj
minisraon, of the apprehension of an adverse de-
cison by Congress in the event that they had decided
the slavery question otherwise. But, Mr.. President,
the Judiciary Committee reported against and the
Senate refused to pass my bill to admit California
State, leaving the question OF Slavery open TO be
decided afterwards by the people, and thus cut off all
hope of ad justmeut in that mode. According to my
recollection, the next important measure which prom
sed the slightest hope of giving peace to the country
was the proposition of the senator from Wisconsin,
which is usually known the IS Walker amend
ment.'' All other plans having failed, last hope
| fho fnF hat
and struggled for its adoption through that terrible
night session, many senators will recoect.
This brief history brings US down to the COM
mencement of that memorable long session when the
late compromise measures were adopted. Mr.. Pres
dent, may be permitted here to pause and remark
that during the period of five years that was labor
ing for the adoption of the Missouri Compromise,
my votes the Oregon question: and upon all Incl
dental questions touching slavery, given with
reference to a settlement on that basis, and
sisent with it. Ii, therefore, any gentleman has the
curiosity wish to understand the meaning of any
all the votes had occasion to give during that
period on this question, he has only to bear in mind
the Missouri Compromise, and then observe the
perfect harmony between each vote and that measure.
Now, sir approach the history of the compro-
mise measures My account will be brief and easily
understood. Having again been placed by the Sen
ate at the head of the Territorial Committee, it be-
came my duty prepare and submit plan of
adjustment. Early in December. within the first
two three weeks of the session, wrote, and laid
before my committee for their examination and APP
prevail two 0lllS-One Tor the ADMISSION OF CalfOrnd
into the Union, and the other containing three dis
tnct first, for the establishment of
ritoral government for Utah second, for the estab
shment Of a territorial government for New Next
co; and, third, for the settlement of the Texas boun
Diary. These bills remained before the Committee
Territories from the month of December until the
25;h of March before could obtain the consent of
the committee to report Them On that day report
ed those bills, each member of the committee reserv
ing the right to oppose any portion of them his judg
ment should disapprove of, and l being the only
member who responsible for all the provis-
ions of those two bills. Those bills were my
motion ordered to be printed, and laid the table
Of each member of both houses of Congress-. These
printed bills having laid your table about four
weeks the Senate, motion of Mr.. Foote, appoint
ed committee of thirteen, with the distinguished
senator from Kentucky MIR. Clay at its head. That
committee took my printed bills, Joined them to-
gether with wafer, and reported them to the Sem
ate as one bill-which is we'll known to the country
as the " omnibus bN'' If any gentleman has the
curiosity to investigate this matter, he walk to
bus bill He will find that it consists of two print
drawn through the words " Mr.. Douglas, from the
Committee on Territories and in lieu of them are
inserted these other words: :. Mr.. Clay, from the
Committee of Thirteen,' reported the following bill.
The committe had also made slight and COM
paratvely unimportant amendments, nearly all of
which were disagreed to by the Senate. The Com
mittee Thirteen therefore, did originate write
any one measure contained in the omnibus. They
awaited themselves of the labors of the Committee
of Territories, and their distinguished chairman did
tho iuStio tn state he he