The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1854-06-15
CONGRESS OF THE u. STATES
WEDNESDAY, JUNE IA, 1854.


Mr. CLAYTON. ask the indulgence Of the Senate for
the purpose of brief personal explanation, and the
first time, believe that desired similar favor.
perceive in morning paper the Union,) to which my
attention has been directed since entered the Capitol this
morning that the distinguished and muehhonored states
man Of South Carolina, mr. Calhoun, with myself Is
charged with the crime or muab in having voted Tor
the compromise bill Of July s4s That il while il ex
Of what is called squatter sovereignty and gave
right aliens in those Territories did confer that
right such had declared their intention become cit
zens in the then proposed Territory of Oregon At the
same time, that compromise which proposed TO organize
three vast territorial than were ever
country the principle Of submitting the whole slavery
question in the Territories to the Judicial tribunals and for
the first time excluded the Wnot proyiso, and adopted
for Oregon the boasted principle Of non-intervention,
which was afterwards copied into the compromise meas
ures of 1850.
For this great measure of paccation both John c. Cal
houn and myself voted although known to every one who
had thought opinions worthy of consideration to be
utterly opposed to the clause in that part OF the bill organ
zing the government of Oregon which allowed the
Of aliens in any form under any pretext We enter
tanned then the opinions which had both expressed
in the debate the Michigan bill in 1896, that claim al
lowing aliens to vote utterly and absolutely unconsti
tutionalan opinion which shared with us by many
Of the most distinguished gentlemen IN both houses Of
Congress at that day. But TO obtain the great blessings
which firmly believed the country would receive from
the final settlement of the slavery question the princ-
pies of that ba which the distinguished
tor from Virginia. Mr. HUNTER in the late debate the
Nebraska BILL characterized as the very best compromise
yet proposedwe both agreed after full consultation
Oregon portion Of the bill the passage Of that
great measure OF peace. - gs
While this measure before the committee which
ported that BILL Mr. Calhoun called at my lodgings
slider with the should adopt on this very
question We both stood fully committed to the country
the constitutional principle that any act Of Congress al
ted States pro tanto act of naturalization and
constitutional, because it partial and not uniform
promise bill would inevitably fail in the House Of Repre-
senatyes If the government Of Oregon were organized
without the fifth section of the BILL which was SO obnox-
The correctness of that opinion fully dem
onstrated short time afterwards and after the failure OF
our compromise in the other house by small majority, by
the passage Of separate Oregon BILL containing that very
section allowing the of Aliens which bill originated in
that same House of Representatives and became law
the l4h of August ls4s But for that bill neither Mr..
Calhoun myself voted Had we voted for that
for my provision allowing the suffrage of aliens in any
separate and distinct form might indeed have sub
ced ourselves to the censure Of those who would rejoice
in opportunity of charging with inconsistency Du-
ring the interview to which have referred resolved to
make the sacrifice in Oregon to the principle In Cali
ona and New Mexico which not only avoided the alien
vote in those Territories but the Wmot proviso and the
whole principle ofsquat,er sovereignty We thought that
in difficult compromise he who won the two best in three
had bu little to complain We thought too there
but little danger Of alien suffrage in Territory
from the usual landing gpaces of immigrants on the
Atlantic, and so inaccessible, Oregon
Sir has been said that when the trainers Of the great
OF all compromises 1.-THE constitution OF the United
Staes) out of the convention Of l7s7 there not
who not dissatisfied with some provision
Of that instrument The Missouri Compromise of 1890
voted for by who held the sixth section Of II to be alb
souely unconstitutional The tariff compromise of 1888
contained the principle OF the home valuation which, in
the debates of that day. pronounced unconstitutional
by nearly every southern SENATOR who afterwards voted
only for the passage Of that compromise but for the
home-valuaon amendment itsef-and that too call
of the yeas and These concessions made by
great and patriotic statesmen to secure the blessings Of
peace and the safety Of this Union. And If whose opin
ions against alien suffrage have varedf who
ported the provision excluding aliens from voting in the
first act TO organize the vast Territory of Wisconsin, then
l;put nf
half of Michigan, which Territory organized by my
efforts and those Of the Judiciary Committee, of which
was the time the chairman, who also reported and
voted against the clause allowing alien suffrage in the
of Michigan, be charged with inconsistency for
sacrificing something Of my fixed opinions to secure the
peace OF country and the safety Of this Union In 16ss
let those who delight to censure make the most Of it
MEMORIALS PETITIONS ETC.
Mr. HAMLIN presented the petition Of the bers-ataw
of Benjamin Grover, revolutionary soldier praying to be
allowed pension; which referred to the Committee
on Pensions
The PRESIDENT pro tenn laid before the Senate copies
Of the laws Of the Territory OF New Mexico passed by
the third legislative assembly the city Of Santa Fc at hs
session commencing on the fifth of December 1883 which
were referred 10 the Committee on the Judiciary.
Mr.. DAWSON presented the petition OF inhabitants OF
Macon Georgia praying reduction Of the rates OF ocean
postage which referred 10 the Committee the Post
Office and Post Roads.
Mr. BELL submitted additional document in support
Of the claim of Sarepa Cleveland daughter OF Jonathan
Skinner deceased which referred TO the Committee
Revolutionary Claims.
Mr. DODGE Of Iowa. presented the petition Of Eli T.
Tappan praying the patronage OF the government either
by subscription otherwise TO compilation OF the gem
ea laws Of the United States in force which he pro-
poses make and publish which referred 70 the Conn
mittee the Library.
Mr. JOHNSON presented several petitions of citizens Of
Arkansas praying the establishment OF certain maroutes
that State which referred to the COMMITTEES on the
Post Office and Post Roads
REPORTS COMMITTEES
Mr. COOPER from the Committee Revolutionary
Claims reported bin for the relief of the heirs Of Captain
Joshua Chamberlain deceased and bill for the relief OF
the legal representatives Of James Bell deceased which
we're severay read and passed to a second reading
Mr.. PEARCE from the Committee Finance, reported
bill respecting the executive departments and 10 dis
accounting officers Of the treasury; which read and
passed TO second reading
Mr.. SUMNER from the Committee on Pensions, TO whom
referred the bill from the House Of Representatives for
the relief of James Walsh reported back the without
amendnent and recommended it's passage
Mr. GWIN from the COMMITTEES Naval Affairs,
ported Joint resolution giving the consent Of Congress 10
the acceptance by Lieut. NJ H. Maury, of the navy, of
gold medal from his Majesty the King Of Sweden which
read the first and second times by unanimous consent
and considered in committee of the whole
Mr. PEARCE expressed desire examine the subject,
further consideration Of the joint resolution
postponed until tomorrow
JOINT RESOLUTION mTRopucrp.
Mr.. DAWSON asked and obtained the unanimous con-
sent Of the Senate 10 introduce joint resolution author
ling the secretary of the Territory Of New Mexico 70 adj
Just and pay to Juan G. Armo jose l. Perea, and James
L. Collins tho amount by them loaned TO the Legislative
assembly Of the Territory Of New Mexico under authority
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