Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1858-05-27
Congressional.
Washington Tuesday Nav |


postponed yesterday, was unanimously adop-
ted.
Mr.. Douglas of Illinois moved that the Ore
gon bill be taken up, upon which motion the
yeas and nays were called for.
The vote being % against %, the Chair (Mr. |
Breckenridge voted atirmatively, and conse-
quently the bill was before the Senate.
The pending motion was Mr.. Trumbull's, |
that the consideration he postponed till Decem-
| Der next
Mr.. Fitzpatrick of Alabama spoke in favor
OF the postponement, in order that an ena-
bling act may be passed, and census taken.
MIR. Gwln of California warmly urged her
immediate admission, and referred to the poll
books to show that Oregon has ample population
and is able to maintain a State government.
Referring to the clause in the Constitution,
prohibiting Cinnamon from voting, Mr.. Gwn
of California defended it on the ground that
the Chinese are a pestiferous, degraded, savish
race of masters in crime. They take away the
gold, while contributing nothing to the indus
try of the country. In California their evil
dence is not received in the courts of law. They
are not citizens of the United States and Oregon
has done rightly in rejecting both Chinese and
negros.
Mr.. Douglas of Illinois replied that every
step in the formation of her Constitution and
application for admission, was legally submitted
and ratified bp majority of the people of Or
,egon. Why, then, should she not be admitted.
Simply because she has not the required popula-
ton. lie believed that Oregon had more popu-
lation than Kansas He might not think she
had more than 90, 900 population now, but he
did not believe she would have it in December.
1t would be better, therefore to test the admiss-
ion by direct vote, for the motion to postpone
to December is merely equivalent to keeping her
out. He was opposed to drawing distinctions
between these two inchoate States of Oregon
and Kansas-opposed to saying that one has a
a right to come in without sufficient population
and an enabling act, and that the other shall
not. Oregon has fulfilled every requirement
specified in the Presidents message. She is
prepared to come in, and has submitted every
step of that preparation fairly to the people,
and has avoided every one of the informalities
which were urged as an insuperable objection
to the admission of Kansas.
Put these two incohate States on an equality
and he Douglas) was ready for the general
rule which he had struggled for years-that in
future all new States must have the requisite
population, and to enforce that rule strictly in
all coming time. 1t is unjust to the people of
Oregon to keep them in suspense, unaware of
their condition, whether they are to be admit
ted or not With reference to the other sub
iects introduced into the debate he cared moth
ing. The sovereignty of State has right to
exclude Cinnamon, if disposed to exclude them,
and SO with free negros, and SO with slavery.
The State has right to admit or exclude them
and Mr.. Douglas denied the right of Congress
to decide on that question of policy. When a
State comes for admission she has right to
come with any constitution that does not vio-
| late the constitution of the United States.
Mr.. Hale of N. II. said few words respect
ing treaty obligations with the Chinese.
Mr.. Trumbull of ILL., argued that Kansas be-
ing admitted to pacify the nation, which was on
the verge of civil war, there was no reason why
the rule should be relaxed in favor of Oregon
Mr.. Douglas replied-If admission on easy
terms was held out as the reward of rebellion,
Oregon could resort to that as well as another,
but the Oregonese are a law-abiding people
and for that very reasan, if for no other,
should have the restrictions relaxed. The i'm
portant interests of the Pacific Slope required
more representatives in Congress.
Mr.. Seward Of N. Y. protested against max
ing the admission of Oregon dependent upon
the analogy between it and another State. lie
was determined on voting for its present admis
sion, apart from the question of its being fret
Stat by the fact that, geographically and polit
ically, Oregon is as indispensable to the compile
ton of the Union, as New York or Louisiana
We have struggled too long to get it and hav
cherished it too much to permit it to pass unde
the influence of Great Britain or Russia. Ever,
man knows it is to be admitted some day, nov
Or sometime hence. What is to prevent it now
} Senators say she has not 100000 population
Well, what of that?
6 The motion to postpone till December mex
implies that she then will have the requisit
population. Is the delay till then to risk tn
, embarrassing circumstances, and probably
| pOstponement for another year, from the multi
plcity of business during the short session
Oregon is ready for admission. She has fulfill
ed all the requirements, and further delay aI
pears to be trding with her people, besides be
ing calculated to convey distrust to the publ
9 mind. Mr.. Seward favored the admission {
territories into the community of States as 500
as they were fitted for it, and said that the soon
er they became States the more healthful an
vigorous they will be-
Mr.. King of New York would vote for tn
bill, although perhaps the population was nc
sufficient Referring to the Oregon Constitu
ton, he said the disabilities imposed on fro
blacks are too stringent, but he himself wa
against too many free blacks in State.
was for the benefit of both races that the bac
and white race should live separate, Mr.. Kin
read letter from colored man on the subje,
of the establishment of colored colony in If
South of Central America. He agreed in tn
view, and he considered that black colony
Central America, receiving aid and protectio
from this government, would meet the interes
of both races.
The blacks have prejudice against Liberi;
He had learned that the colored population ha
been considering the conditions which made
difficult for them to act in the matter.
would not suggest any means by which the
movement could be carried out. 1t was for I'll
States interested to take steps in the matte
He would give what support he could to al
proposition having practical form. Missouri
perhaps, was the locality in which it could
best considered, as sentiment existed there
wards emancipation.
Mr.. Green of Mo. knew that the feeling
emancipation did not exist in Missouri exec
l. to a most limited extent among few individ
Il ais. He knew the object of this movement
the Senator from New York, and desired 70 me
IL 1t on the threshold 1t was intended to stir
b. and fan the flames of discord-to send not pea
IS. but sword The sentiment of Missouri W
no in favor of peace, but not emancipation. Sla
=. labor is profitable there, and the number
t. slaves has increased.
Some further remarks were made after viii
the postponement till December was lost by
We vote of 3S against l6.
81 The bill was then reported without amen
IN ment excepting unimportant verbal ones, and
ro naly passed by vote of IS against II.
I. The following were the Observation-Disclosures
4. Bell, Clay, Crittenden, Davis, Durkee, Fesse
OF den, Fitzpatrick, Hale, Hamlin, Harmon
Henderson, Hunter, Iverson, Kennedy, Masc
Trumbull, Wade.
Ahsant--Messrs Rates Clark Fitch NInllo,