The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1859-03-03
Vol. XIII.

ate, he (Gwin) would not have voted for ,..5
believed those around him would not. NJ
the Senator proposed to speak for the Den.
racy of the free States, he had no right t,e,.t
for California, which thought otherwise. -'N
Mr. Broderick contradicted Mr.. Owns So.
ment Of the views of California He cous-l,-.5
the views of his State were those exDres.eS
Mr.. Douglas.
Mr.. Gwin replied that he was sent here p, D.
his duty in representing the Democracy ofcT
ifornia, and he knew they endorse the acti., g.,
the Administration, and do not at all crl
the Interpretation given by the Senator T,,
Illinois. ~
Mr.. Douglas Ito Mr. Gwin.l / do SAVED.
records show very general concurrence
the views | then expressed
Dir. IVerson raised the question Of order. H..
MIR. Douglas had spoken many time. He.
Mr.. Davis had occupied the floor four o. ~,
hours. The point of Order was sustained
Mr.. Hunter said il was with reluetapr. g..
he occupied the time at the late period ~.
evening, but the turn the debeatc had ,,l
rendered an explanation necessary. I'm -....
to himself. He differed with the Senator r...
Illinois, both in the history Of the kaus...y ~.
braska act, and what was intended by il. W.,
the proposition was made TO pas that D.
maintained, as be has alwavs done .,rr,
has had place on that floor. that tho S,.I
had right 10 protection for their sIs., rr-. -.
in the Territories.
MIR. Hunter read from his speech OF that 5.,.
showing the views be- then expressed r
case stood thus: Southern men on the ... ~.
maintained they had right, under ,u, C.r.,.
tIon, TO protection TO thcir slave property. N...
ern men thought the contrary. and there, yss,.
chance Of agreement between them. g. ,l..a..
was very carefully framed, neither ail.rrI.n, man
dlsalhrming the power Of the TcrritorytyaL,n-l
Slavery, but reserying the question of right
and agreeing TO refer to the Judiciary any pu.r..
arising out OF 1t. 1t was in itself cOmpr.misr.
IN which neither party conceded their or.gi...
or their rights. They were but placed ia al...
ance until case affecting them might ar,.
No Southern man with whom he acted ever
considered he was conlerring on the Terri.or.s'
Legislature the absolute right to deal with ,l.,
subject. They agreed TO this settomcu, asa
consequence, acting together upon points WHERE.
IN they agreed, and expressing no opinion Upon
points where the differences were irrcconciaUle.
BY this they secured the repeal of the Miss9ur.
Compromise, upon which the Democrats wer.
agreed, by conhning the act 10 the genera. mF
pose to be accomplished. Justice 10 him,clraug
the distinguished Senator from South Carolina
now no more, with whom he had acted and con.
suited on the matter, required the explanation
MIR. Hunter then drew the attention OF the Sci.
ate to the time consumed in the debate. and
urged a vote upon the amendment
Mr.. Stuart, after some genera! remarks on
the subject under discussion. asked, why should
the Democratic party be rackel and torn fr
the thought of the contingencies which mavr5.
happen If the Democratic party in a bulv.E
its able and efficient members throughout t..
country, stand faithfully together, their flag will
remain in the ascendant, and the barty will us,
out of all the difficulties which now iese, il.
Mr.. Bigler was opposed to Congress extend
ing Slavery in the Territories, aud against Con
gressiOnal Intervention with Slavery, and would
stand by the Baltimore and Cincinnati plat
forms Of the Democratic party. He believed
the best interests of the country were ia th.
hope of the Democracy.
Mr.. Clingman. The Senate is now In De-
batting society, and might ms well discuss OBJ.
question of was Caesar or Hannibal the great.
est warrior? They had better 90 to business"
Mr.. Fessenden said the Senators on the other
side of the House had consumed seven mortal
hours in their own family quarrcs. The Sen.
ate had better adjourn, and he so moved.
Rejected-l5 against -.
Mr.. Hale had listened TO the tale of tie
slaughter of the innOcents in the States from
the members on the other side with pleasure.
lie reviewed the decision in the bred Scott
case, and said that the only thing IN II wa,
could bred Scott maintain an action iu court?
In the rest Of the decision the court went out
of Its way for political purpose. lie denounced
it as contrary to the enlightened judicial op.u.
ion of the country. He CHARGED this debate
upon the harmonious Democracy" The Re.
publicanS had said scarcely anything I'm d.. He
denied that the Constitution recognised property
in slaves, and argued the question at .rra'
length.
Mr.. Doolittle thought that if Rip Van WmaIe
had slept ten years, and was called upon to point
out the Democratic party on this floor Judging
from its actions, he would find il difficult H.
defended the Republican party, and said Their.
was not platform in the party but what had
been incorporated from the true principle o..
Jefferson.
Mr.. Clark followed On the Republican side.
and was followed by NJ. Smith Oregon ON
the other
Mr.. Trumbull replied to the points made by
several Senators, and eontended that the Con
stitutiOn did not create. Slavery anywhere II.
denied that slaves are property. except when
made so by the local law. He showed that thr
difficulty in which the country now is. arise
from the error made in 1854. and tia, jhr
Democratic party now has no trait Of the Jack
son Democracy. In his opinion. the power oEo
the Territories is vested in Congress. to be de.
egated or not, in its discretion.
Mr. Crttenden said he was no Democrat AMI
no Republican, and both parties know It:
he would ask, what good have all the struggles
done, with which this country has been afflicted
After twenty years contention, what ha, either
party gained? His earnest wish was that gen.
tlemen would come together in more national
spirit. The nation and the Constitution wer.
in danger of being superseded by party plat
forms. He wanted to sec the people regain their
rights-to see the Constitution regain its Sd.
premacy. BE wanted to see no conventions,
no party platforms. lie would vote against The
amendment. as he did not wish to send the
bill to the House with sting in it, to awaken
there.
Mr. Hale's amendment was then put, and LOST
by yeas -. nays u.
Ieds-Messrs. Broderick, Cameron. Chan
der, Clark, Collamer Dixon, Doolittle. Douglas
Durkee, Fessenden, Foot Foster, Hale, Harlan,
King, Seward, Trumbnll, Wade, and VIII
sOn--l9.
Ndys-Messrs Bigler, Chestnut. Clay Cling
man, Crittenden, Davis. Fitch. Fitzpatrick,
Green, Gwin, Houston, Hunter, Iverson, John
son of Tennessee, Johnson Of Arkansas, hen
nedy, Lane, Polk Pugh, Reid Rice, Sebastian
Sliden, Smith, Toombs, Ward, and fulee-2''
Mr.. Mason paired off with Mr.. Stuart.
On motion of Mr. Reid, the vote striking ont
the Charlotte and Dahlonega Branch MINIS was
but the appropriations we're not
restored.
The bill was then passed, Mr.. Chandler call
ing for the yeas and NAYS, which resulted-y'a'
q, nays l6.
The Senate then adjourned, exactly at mld'
night.
There was n considerable audience prcsen;
to the close.
HOUSE
The House went into Committee on the POSI-