The Washington union. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1857-1859, 1859-02-12
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tolerate the admission OF State that permitted ia It's
stitution alien suffrage He should be striking at the
OF American principles whenever he yielded 70 this
He did intend 10 present particular reasons Tor ms
course because they had been decaned upon 50 ably by
Mr. lie proposed 10 refer 20 the opinions
Of of the highest inteects Of the nineteenth cen
turyone OF the nblest statesmen Of the South who
than twenty years ago the danger Of extending
this species OF suffrage he alluded to Mr. Calhoun, upon
the admission Of Michigan when he spoke OF the eWl
consequences of engmfting this policy upon American
Institutions.
Mr. REAGAN, of Texas called the attention OF the
House TO the fact that Mr. Calhoun at that time, had
declared that he hurried into that debate without
time to consider the question: and that accounted for the
inaocuracy Of expression
Mr.. HILL conceived what the gentleman said to be
true, but he had criticism OF that speech
that satisfied hin that he in He could not
for the admission of Oregon unless the same rule
should be applied TO her that applied TO Kansas He
would be contented with nothing short of that
MIR. CLARK b CoCHRANE of New York. opposed
the admission of Oregon under the constitution which
presented The particular politics OF that State pres
ent or prospective had influence upon his mind in
determining his action. His opposition rested upon
three points first her admission would be papable
inaction of the rule established by this very Congress in
the Of Kansas, an unjust and most undeserved
discrimination in favor OF Oregon, and plain and dan
geros violation of the equality of Territories second
that the admission Of Oregon would be unjust TO the
States already in the Union and especially TO the Older
and larger States Of the conlederaey and third the pro
hibon of negroes from residence and the right 10 main
tain suits ia the courts OF the State. He yentured 10
affirm this prohibition without parallel in the his
tory Of civilized nations and in his Judgment plain
infraction of the letter and split of the constitution
admitted foreigners and excluded large class Of
citizens from the temple of liberty.
Mr. CASE OF Indiana, urged the admission of Oregon
upon the ground that its citizens desired to be admitted
under the constitution which presented In proof
of this he caused letter to be read from Owen Wade
of Oregon in which that gentleman states that many OF
che friends of eedom fear that slavery viii be planted
there the State is not admitted under the present
sttution There were perhaps Objectionable fea-
tho constitution but the fact that forever
cuded slavery entitled TO the support of all repubi
cans
Mr.. BONHAM of South Carolina, gave notice that, at
the proper time he should TO add additional
section TO the bill providing that it shall take effect
until by a cesus duly and legally taken under the drec
ton of the Secretary OF the Interior it shall be scerane
that the population equal exceed the ratio of represent
alton required for member OF Congress and should the
taken show population equalling or exceed
ing the ratio oil representation the Ffehldent shall an
r,ounce the same by proclamation and thereafter and
without further proceedings this act shall take effect
and the admission of Oregon be complete.
Mr.. BINGHAM, of Ohio said his opposition to the bill
arose from sectional prejudice nor because the Terri
tory did contain 49, APO of free population lie scout
ed all suc obeetieas that But while he claimed this
for himself IL did not lie in the mouths OF the other side
of the House. who voted for the compromise act OF the
last session. talk about their being the special advo
Gates of the organization and admission OF free states
Let those gentlemen look upon the measure which denied
this privilege to the people OF Kansas Within Kansas
there was larger population than that of Oregon and
he challenged contradiction He denied the assertion Of
Mr. 1IAyRR that he had not to make the people
OF Oregon support the constitution of the United States
and contened that when he to support that cons
tuition lac to prevent others from violating it by his
official action member of Congress He held that the
constitution framed by the people of Oregon was in direct
conraventon of the provisions OF the federal consu
tion which they all bound to support and let him
say that gentlemen knew full well that il they voted for
this BILL they voted for all its provisions, and ii they
jected it, they made Che constitution of effect
HIM the apnr unau Will was Gent
could not escape the issue by saying that they did not
approve of all its provisions but still voted for its pas
sage "
Mr. ENGLISH, of Indiana stated that the gentleman
from Indiana MI DAvIs had announced his intention to
to recommit this bill, with instructions to add an
additional section repeating the restrictive clause in the
bill of the last session with reference to Kansas He
preferred to vote for the bill it stood, but if his col
league should succeed in making his motion he desired
offer substitute for the BILL providing that hereafter
no Territory shall be admitted with population less
than that required for member of Congress to be
tanned by whenever any Territory contained
sufficient population the legislature might call con-
yention for the purpose OF forming constitution and
taking the necessary steps to become State subject TO
such Limitations and instructions to its approval and
ratification as may be prescribed by law.
Mr.. SANDlDGE of louisiana replied to the remark of
Mr. Hill, of Georgia. that he would vote for the admis
sion of State that recognised alien suffrage and in
qued whether not that gentleman held that Congress
had the right to regulate suffrage within the States of the
Union If he and his party not prepared to say
that how could they declare that for opposing
the admission OF State He the more astonished
that southern should take this ground than that his
northern friends should do The doctrine would lead
TO nothing less than that Congress could say that every
negro upon their plantations should go the polls and
themselves Other gentlemen objected to the admission
of the State because negroes prohibited from resi-
dence therein and from maintaining suits in its courts
Were those gentlemen ready to permit good black Af
can occupy seat upon the floor of the House
equal Would they not object 10 of African blood
aying themselves to their sisters for that equali
ty. This equality all noonshne There not
man here who would say So and, if not willing, why
pirate about their equality
Mr.. WILSON, of Indiana, inquired whether the gen.
tlemsn approved of the prohibition placed upon the
gro by the constitution of Oregon.
Mr.. 6ANDIDGE replied that he did, and expressed a
desire have his question answered He believed it
right for the people every State declare who should
be citizens and who should vote at their elections
Mr. WILSON said be would not be willing to an
African sitting beside him equal
Mr. SANDIDGE Then am sure he is not prepared
to against Oregon TO be consistent he must vote
for Oregon.
Mr. HOARD, of New York. agreed with the majority
of the committee who reported against the passage OF
The Oregon bill He could not vote for the admission of
State that refused to admit negroes to the right of resi-
dence and the maintenance of suits in the courts To be
consistent he compelled to oppose the bin under
s,ieration.
Mr.. STEVENSON, of Kentucky said that whatever
might be his of service he should give vote
WHICH fully commended itself to his head and his
heart than that which would stand recorded in favor of the
admission of Oregon He found inconsistency in that
vote rs compared with his vote upon the English
promise II the gentlemen on tho other side of the