Newspapers / The Raleigh Register (Raleigh, … / Feb. 6, 1850, edition 1 / Page 2
Part of The Raleigh Register (Raleigh, N.C.) / About this page
This page has errors
The date, title, or page description is wrong
This page has harmful content
This page contains sensitive or offensive material
co::GnssioNALr TUB SLAVERY qUESTljJIi. . ., . ZI2U CLATS: PROPOSITION TO, coy. " .PKOMISE.- : t'-Mri Claw. vMr." President, I hold In ray hand a series of resolutions -which I desire to submit to the consideration of this body Taken together, in combination, they f ropose amicable arrangement of allquettloasiaooo troTenjbetveeftrlhe (ree tad. thv slave Msa, growing out of the subject of slavery. It it not ray intention, Mr. President, this time, to enter into a full aftd elaborate discus sica of each of these resolutions, taken sepe Hly, or the whole oi them' combined to gether, as composing a system of measures ; but I desire to present a ft w observations up m each resolution, with the purpose, chiefly, f exposing it fairly and folly before the Sen site' and before the country ; and I may add, .with the indulgence of tne Senate, towards the' conclusion, some geoeraT observations upon, the state of the country and the condi tion bfiKe question to which the resolutions relator ' Whether they shall' or shall not meet with the approbation and concurrence of the-Sesateaa I most ardently hope they may ; as I most sincerely believe they ought -1 trust that at least some portion of .the -; longtime which I have devoted, with care and deliberation, to the preparation of these resolutions and to the presentation of t this great national scheme of compromise and bar-. snoBT. will bs emnlovedev each Senator be fore lie pronounces against the proposition embraced in these resolutions. The resolu tions, sir, are all preceded by a short pream ble, to which of course I attach no very great importance. The preamble and first resolu tion are as follows : - It being desirable for the peace, concord, .and harmony of the onion or these States to settle and adjust amicably all existing ques tions of controversy between them : eruing out of the institution of slavery, upon a fair, equitable, and just basis : Therefore," 1st Xuabcd. Tkat CaHleraia. whk sellable boea Jarles, ert. ease ftr applioatioa. U be sdaittad asseeef the States aft hie Ueioa, wkttewt Ike im aesuisn by Caarreas tmmy mutation ia iwpsci U the exelesioa or iatrsdeetioa a slavery withia these beedariea - "Mr. President, it must be acknowledged that there has been some irregularity in the movements which nave terminated in the adoption of a constitutioa by California, and ia the expression of her wish not yet for mally communicated to Congress, it is true, but which may be anticipated in a few days to be admitted into the Union as a State. There has been some irregularity in the man ner in which tbej have framed that consti 'tution. It was not preceded by any act of Congress authorizing the convention and des ignating the boundaries of the proposed State, according to all the early practice of this Government, according to all the cases of the ' admission of new States into this Union,; Which occurred prior, I think, to that of Mich igan. .Michigan, if I am not mistaken, was rthe first State which, unbidden, unauthorized . by any previous act of Congress, undertook , to form for herself -a constitution, and to knock at the door of Congress for admission into the Union. I recollect that at the time wnen Micnigan thus presented Herself, 1 was . opposed, In consequence of that deviation from the early practice of the Government, to the admission. " The majority determined otherwise, and it must be in candor admitted by all men, that California has much more reason to do what s e has done, unsanctioned and authorized by a previous act of Congress, Sir, noth withstanding the irregularity of the admission of Michigan into the Union, it bar been a happy event She forms now - one of the. bright stars of this glorious Con . iedexacy She has sent here .to mingle in OV councils, Senators and Representatives men eminently distinguished, .with: whom we may all associate with pride, with pleas ure, and with satisfaction. And I trust that -if California- irregular -as ner previous ac tion may have been in the adoption of a con-, stitution,' but more justifiable than was the action of Michigan if she also shall be ad mitted, as is proposed by this first resolution, '., with, amable limits, that she too will make t her contribution of wisdom, of patriotism, and of good feeling to this body, in .order to conduct the affairs of this great and boundless 'empire. i The reaolutjon proposes her admission when (he applies for it There is no inten sion on my part to anticipate such an. appli cation, but I thought it right to present this resolution as a part of the general plan which ' I propose for the adjustment of these unhap py difficulties. e v'- The second resolution, sir, is as follows : ' 2d. JTrt7iW, Tat slavery does not axis by law, and Is est Hkely U he mtradaeed lata aaj at tke territory acqalred kv ike Uaited States fro th ' JtepaWie ef Mexico, it U ieaxperfieet tor Cnitw to srevkie by Jaw, sitkar for iu uttraa'oetioa late r ' exdaaiM tnm mj part f tk said tcrritorv ; aad tkat apcwvprlatf Tarrrharial OaaaraaMatt aarkt U asraklisal by Coagraaa ia allatkaaaii tarritav lTi nsirasd as tka boaaaarles of tat proposed Suieof Califormia. wkaoat taa aeoptloa oraayras- - trfetka ar aeaditiao oa tka sabjeet of alarcrv. This resolution, sir, proposes, in .the " first 'instance, a declaration of two truths -one of lm and lh ohr of f-f Thm vntt 1. which it declares is, that there does not exist, at this time, slavery within any portion of the territory acquired by the United States from Mexico. When I say, sir, that it is a truth, - 1 1 , .a ... . s ipeu mj trwn smenm ana oeuoerate con viction. I am aware that some gentlemen have held a-different doctrine : but I ner- www hijmi m'J "ci'wCI, WUCD they come to review the whole ground, will tee sufficient reasons for a change, or at least modification of their opinions; but that, at all events, if they adhere to ' that doctrine. ' thev Will be Sound in rnmnnu r tmall nunmir u inn wnma m . ni in. nsranL WiK. IT-U-J c... The next truth which the resolution as serts is, that slavery is not likely to be intro duced into any portion of that territory. That is a mailer of fact; and all the evidence upon which the tact rests is perhaps as ac cessible to other Senators as it is to me ; but , I must say that from all I have heard or read, from the toitimonv of all th ihMii I h. wim auu uwirncu WILU, irOHl SU1 UnU. DSJ transpire 'I and is tranrDirin?. I do beliere that not within one foot of the territorv ae- - quired by us from Mexico will slavery ever 1 ' 1 a a . pianiea, ana l oeneve it could not be - W . AtW wuue ctcu uj we wree ana power oi puDuc luthoriiy. . .- "' - . Sir, facts are daily occurrinz to justify me w uu fKiuunn. Tsir. wnt na nmwm And upon that subject, and indeed upon this . .""bole subject I in rite Senatora fmm k. - - - a.a VWMUfcM States especially to consider what has occur red even since the last session even since the -commencement ri h.. left reapectiTe constituences with- outanopportniuty of consulung with them - .-vpon thai great and momentous fact the Act that California herself nf Jft erted and predicted that she never would establish slavery within ber KroiU wHeltahe came to be Admitted as a. State; that Cali fornia herself; embracing, of all other bortions of the country acquired by us from ilexico, that eoMntr int: which U weuld have been most likellbatslsTorf should bate been iu treduced ; that California herself has met io convention and by "a- enaniaaous tote, era braeinz in that body sUfeholders from the Slate o? Missis si ppf at well as from other parts, wio ceecerred ita the resolution thai California by a unanimous vote has declar ed against the introduction of slavery within her limits. I thiok, then, that Jaking , this leading fact in eonaxion' with' all : the evi dence we have from ether sources the sub. jeet, I am warranted 1a iheeaneleaion which constitutes the aeepad tniib which I have stated in this resolution, that slavery ia "not likely to ae introduced .into any of the terri tory acquired by us from Mexico." Sir, the lattter part of that resolution a sens that it is the duty of Congress to estab lish appropriate territorial governments with in all the country acquired from Mexico, exclusive of California, and not embracing in the acta by which these governments shall he constituted either a prohibition or an ad; aaiysien of slavery. . . - Sir, aa much aa I am disposed to defer to high authority, anxious as I am to find myself in a position that would enable me to co-operate heartily with" the other departments ' of the Government in conducting the affairs of this great people, I must say that I cannot witjsout dereliction of duty consent to an abandonment of them without government, leaving them to all those scenes of disorder, confusion and anarchy which I apprehend, in respect to tome of them, there ia too much reason to anticipate will arise. It is the du- ry, tne solemn i was going uj ana m moat sacred duty of Congress to legislate for their government if they can, and at all e-vents-to legislate for them, and to give them the benefit of law and order, of securi ty. Tne next resolutions are tne intra ana fourth, which having an intermediate connec tion with each other, should be read and considered together. They are as follows : 3d. Xtithed, That tka v eat era boaodary of tke SUM at Ttxaa oagkt to bo f sod oa tko Rio dal Notts, aoaamoiaf oao saariao leafoo Treat Hs aaooi a ad raaaiag ap tkt river, to tke aMtkera lias of New Maxkw; tkauoa wfak tko Mao oaotvanll, aad m aoatiNiaf fa tko bmm direetiou to tka liae ao Ubliakad betvaoa tko Vmitr4 Statea aad Spaia, ax el ad lag aay portioa of Now Mesloo, wkotkar layiag oa tko east or vast of tkat river. 4ik. JtutlMi, Tkat it be proposed to tko State of Texas tkat tko Uaitod 8taiaa wilt provide for tko pajaMat of all tkat portioa of tke legiUasale aad aa fid pablio debt of tkat Stale. eoatraeteJ prior to ita aaaexatioa to tko Uaitod Statea, aad for wkkk ike datios oa foreiga i at porta ware pled gad by tke said Statea to Us eroditors aot exeediag tke saat of ia eoaeidoraUoa of tko said datie. aaid pladg- es kaviae boea ao toarer applieablo to tkat object after tke aaid aaaexalioa, bat kaviag keea keaoefoW ward beeoaaa parable to tae Uaited CKataa; aad apoa tko eoadhioa also tkat tko said State of Texaa skalU by acaia aolema aad aataeatie aet of ker Leg blatare, or of a aoaveatioo, retiaqaiak to tko Uaitod States a ay etaiat vatea it aas to any part ar naw Max too. Mr. President, I do not mean now, I do not know that I shall at any time it is a ve ry complex subject,' and one not free from difficulty go into the question of what are the true limits of Texas. My own opin ion is, I must say without intending by the remark to go into ' any argument, that Texas has not a good title to any portion of what is called New Mexico. And yet, sir, I am free to admit that, looking at the grounds which her representatives assumed, first in the irar.with Santa Anna in 1838, then at what transpired between Mr. Trist and the Mexican negotiators when the treaty f peace was negotiated, and then the fact that the United States acouired all the coun try which Texas claimed as constituting a portion of ner territory ; too king at all these facta, but without attaching to them either together or seperately the same degree of force which gentlemen who think that Texaa has a right to New Mexico do, I must say that there is plausibility, to say the least of it, in tne pretensions that she sets up to Mew Mexico. I do not think they constitute or demonstrate the existence of a rood title, but a plausible - one. Well, then sir, what do I propose i Without entering into any inquiry "whether the Neuces or the Rio Grande was the true boundary of Texas, I I'lopoae by the first of these two resolution that its western limits shall be fixed on the Rio del Norte extending west from the Sa bine to the mouth of the Kio del Norte and that it shall follow up the Bravo, or the Rio del Norte, to where it strikes the southern line of New Mexico and then diverging from that Eae, follow on in that direction until it reaches the line as fixed by the United States and Spain by their treaty in 1819 ; and thus embracing a vast country abundantly com petent to form two or three States a coun try which I think the highest ambition of her greatest men ought to be satisfied with as a State and member of the Union. . But sir the second of these resolutions makes a proposition to the State of Texas upon which I desire to say a few words. It propose thai the Government of the United Statea will provide for the payment of all that portion of the debt of Texas for whichthe duties re ceived upon imports from foreign countries was pledged hy Texas at a time when ahe had authority to make pledges. How much it will amount to I have endeavored to as certain, but all the means requisite to the ascertainment of the sum have not been re ceived, and it is not very essential at this time, because k ia the principle and not the amount that a moat worthy of eosanaeratioa Tow, air, we aroma upon watca t ease tuahatahty en the part of the Uaitod States to pay a specified portion of the debt of Texas is. not new to me. Itiaooe which I bare acaia aad agei announced to bo an opinion eatertaioed by me. I think u is founded upon principles of truth aad of eternal justice. Teraa bems; an independent Power, recognised as such by ail the great Powers of the earth, invi ted loans to be made to her Id enahU ir t eute the then existing war between her and Meii- vo. oneioKitaose wkom sue tavhed to make these loams that - ifyou make them, the duties on foreign imports shall be sacredly pledged for the re imbursements of the loans.' The loam were made. The money was rewired, and expended in the ea tabliahmeet of her. liberty and her mdependenee. After all tkw aba annexed herself to the United 8uuea, who beneefonrard acquired the right to the identical pledge which she had aaado tothe Cblie cntoc to satisfy the loan of money which advanced to her. The Uaited 8 tatea became the owners of that pledge aad the recipient of ail the duties payable io the porta of Texas. ' Now, sir. I do tar . thai, in nv hnmhla judgment, if there be honor, or justice, or truu amongst men, we no owe to the credi tors who thus advanced their money upon that pledge, the reimbursement of tne mon ey," at all eventa to the extent that the pledg ed fund would have reimbursed it, ifit had never been appropriated by ua to our use. Yft must- recollect, sir, that in relation to that pledge, and tothe loan made in virtue and on the faith of it, there were three par ties boonoWI' mean after annpTstjon the Unite States, " Texas, and the creditor of faith of a aoIempIedge made byTexaX f Texas and the United States"; tnight d wnat tnejr- inougut proper; oui wijuw they could do nothing to deprive the credi tor of a full reliance upon the pledge upon the faith of which he bad advanced his mon ey. Sir, if is impossible now " to ascertain how much would have been received from that source of revenue by the State of Tex as if ahe had remained independent. It would be most unjust to go there new" and examine at Galveston and her othen ports to ascertain how much she now receives by her foreign imports ; because, by being incorpo rated into this Union, all her supplies which formerly were received from foreign coun tries, and subject many of them at least to import duties, are now received' bv the coasting trade, instead of. being received from other countries, as they would hate been if sbe had remained independent Considering the extent of her territory, and the rapid manner in which her population is increasing, and is likely to increase, it . is probable that in the course of a few years there might have been such an amount re ceived at the various ports of Texas she remaining independent as would have been adequate to the extinction of the debt to which I have referred. But, sir,' it is not merely in the discharge of what I conceive to be a valid and legiti mate obligation resting upon the United States to discharge the . specified duty, it is not upon that condition alone that this pay meat is proposed to be made ; it ia also up on, the further condition mat Texas shall re linquish to the United States any claim that she has to any portion of New Mexico. Now, sir, although;" as I believe, she has not a valid title to any portion of New Mexico, she has a claim ; and for the aake of that eeneral auiet and harmony, for the aake of that accommodation which ought , to be as much the object of legislation as it is of in dividuals in their transactions in private life, we may do now what an individual in ana logous circumstances might do, give some thing for the relinquishment of a claim, al though it should not be well founded, for the sake of peace. It is therefore proposed! and this resolution does propose that we shall pay the amount of the debt contracted by Texas prior to its annexation to the United States, in consideration of our reception of the duties applicable to the extinction of that debt ; and that Texaa shall also, in con sideration of a sum . to be advanced, relin quish any claim which she has to any por tion of New Mexico. The fifth resolution, sir, and the sixth, like the third and fourth, are somewhat connec ted together. They are as follows : 6th lUttictd, Tkat it la inespedieat to aboltak slavery in tko District of Colombia, wkilst tkat iastitatioa eoatiaaro to exist ia tke State of Mary taad, witkoat tke eoaseat of tkat Slate, whkoot tke consent of tko people of tko District, sad witkoat jest ooBpeaaatioa to tko owners of slaves withla tke District. 6ik- Jtoaforf, Tkat It is iaaxpedieat to prokibit witkia the District tke slave-trade, ia aiavea broae-kt iato it frees States or places bejoad tko liatite of tke District, either to be told tkoreia aa seerckaadiae, or to bo tnaoaonod to other markets witkoat the District of Coiaaakia. The first of these resolutions, Mr. Presi dent, in somewhat different language, asserts suostaniiaiiy no otner tnan that wnicn was asserted by the Senate of the United States twelve years ago, upon resolutions which I then ofierred, and which passed at least a particular resolution passed by a majority of four fifths of the Senate. I allude to the resolution presented by me in 1836 I shall not enlarge on that resolution ; it speaks for itself ; it declares that the institution of slave should not be abolished in the District of Col umbia without the concurrence of three con ditions; first, the assent of Maryland ; second the assent of the people within the District ; and third, compensation to the owners of the slaves within the District for their pro perty. The next resolution proposed deserves passing remark. It is that the slave trade ought to be abolished, prohibited. I do not mean by that the alienation, transfer of slaves from the inhabitants within this Di trict the sale by one neighbor to another of a slave wnicn the one owns and the- other wants, that a husband mav nerhaoa be nut a long with his wife, or a wife with ber hus band. I do net mean to touch at all the question of the right of property in slaves mongst persons living within the District; but the slave trade to which f refer was, I think, pronounced an abomination more than forty years ago, by one of the roost gif ted and distinguished sons of Virginia, the late Mr. Randolph. And who is there that is not shocked at ita enormity ? Sir. it is great mistake at the North, if they suppose that gentlemen living in the slave States took upon one who is a regular trader in slaves with any particular favorer kindness. They are often sometimes unjustly, perhaps excluded from social inteicoirse. I have known some memorable instances of thia sort. - But then, what is this trade It is a good deal limited since the retrocession of the portion of the District formerly belonging to Virginia. There are Alexandria, Rich mond, Petersburg, and Norfolk south of the Potomac, Baltimore, Annapolis, and perhaps other ports, north of the Potomac.- Let the slave dealer, who choses to collect his slaves ia Virginia and Maryland, go to these places ; let him not come here and establish his jails and put on his chains, and sometimes shock the sensibility of our nature by a long train of slaves passing through the avenueleading from the Capitol tothe- house of the Chief Magistrate of owe of the moat yoeioua repub lics that ever existed. Why should he not do it? Sir I am sure thai I apeak the sen timents of every Southern man, 1 and every man corning from the slave States, when I say let it terminate, and that it is an abomi nation i that there ia no occasion for it ; it ought no longer to be tolerated. The seventh resolution relates, to the" sub ject embraced in a bill now under considera tion by the Senate. , It is as follows s : t ' y 7tk lUflwU, Tkat snore effectual ptwrlaioa oagkt toko aaado by taw, aascrdiag to tko'ro. Oairaaaeat of ako : aaaothatioa, for the raatitav Uoa aad delivery of poeaena aouad to eorrioa or" labor Ia ear state wko bmt escape lata aa etker State or torriiorj fas tke Usftoa. Sir, that is so evident, and has been so clearly shown by the debate which has al ready taken place on the subject, that I have not now occasion to add another word. , .. v Tko last raeoiaUoa of tko series, of eight, ia as followa; . - . , . ad 8th. Jfcaacd, That Ceagreas has ao power to prokibit or abstract the trade ia. slaves letwoea the slavakoldiat States ; hut that tkoadaihsJoa or tko aaolajaiaa of Staves kroagkt frees eae to another of thaw, dapoads ezelaaivei apoa their ewe faruea lar lawa v" ' . ; - It is obvious that ee legislation is I'ecessa ry, or intended to follow that resclation. It merely asserts a truth, established by. the highest authority ef law in this coon ry, and in conformity with that decision I truu (hers will be una uairersal acquiescence, I should pot have thought it eeeas'ary to embrace iq that resolution the declaration which Is embraced, in it, but al thought U might be useful in treating pf the whole ' . i ' S- 1 lj.l-. tif tim nrati an Meet, anu ia accurjim- " t r: at our British nd Africa ncstora occa- si. nslly to great fundamental principles a t..t.. th.m friable and manifest If before our arts, from timte time, te alBC1,ntL TiOllieo spvn uj; wvhih , Mr. Preaident, you nave oeioru yo whole reties of resolutions, the wno'e scheme of arrangement and aceommoaation oi inrae a . I (iisusctim? quesiioss wu t ;r ""r eOrr bsvini; bestowtdt k4 uVjecs tbt moat anxious, intenselr snxious, considers. t ion ever since I have 'been m this- bodyH How far it may prove accebtahle . to both or rilherof the parlies on tbcae great quest ions, it te net for me to say. I think it oughrto be acceptable te bath.? There Je nccs tenfice of any i-riueipi, proposed WJiny of tberri, by eitln r party, i ne plan is louooeu upwaj -mw iual forhearaecei rtarinattnr m stunt OI conciliation snd concession; not of principles. but of mattera of feeling. At the North, sir, know that from feeling, by many St least a a cherished as being dictated by consiuerawons of humanity snd philsnthiopy, there;! exists . -a -r aT sentimet sd verse to tne institution oi alsv. ry. ... J .. Sir. I mieht. I think altboueh I be neve mis nroiect contains about an equal arooaat of conees- sion ana loroearance on win nuw-u , fnwn the free Btates . of the norm a .more iura and extensive concession than should be asked from the slave States. And why, air 1 With you. gentlemen Senators of the free States, wnat is it? An abstracttoa, senument a senument, if von please, of humanity and philanthropy -a noble sentiment, when directed rightly, with no sinister or party purposes ; sn atrocious sentimewt a detestable sentiment or rainer tne eouse w it when directed to the accomplishment of un worthy purposes. I said that I might ask from ;ou larger and more expansive concessions than fom the slave States. And why t You are nu merically more powerful than the slave States.--Nnt that there- is affv difference Tor UDon that subject I cannot go along with the ardent expres sion of feeling by some of my friends coming from the same class oi Stales I rota wnicn l come not that there is any difference in valor, in prowess, in noble and patriotic daring, whenever it is re quired for the safety and salvation of the country, between the people of one class of States and those of the other. You are in point of numbers, bow ever, greater, and 'greatness . snd magnanimity should ever be alfied together." ' " ' But there are other rrasons why concession, up on such a subject as this should be more liberal, more expansive, coming from the free than from the slave States. It is, as I remarked, a sentiment, s sentiment of humanity and philanthropy on Tour aide. Ave, sir, and when a- sentiment of that kind is honestly and earnestly cherished, wkh a disposition to make sacrifices to enforce it, it is a nome and beautiful sentiment j but, sir, when the sacrifice is not to he made by those who cher ish that sentiment and inculcate it, but by another people, in whose situation it is impossible, from their position, to sympathise and to share all and every thing that belongs to them, I must say to you Senators from the free Stales, it is a totally different question. ' On your side it is a sentiment without sacrifice, a sentiment without danger, a sentiment without hazard, without peril, without loss. But how i it on the other side, to which, as I have said, a greater amount of concession ought to be made in any scheme of compromise? In the first place, sir, there is a vast and incal culable amount of property to be sacrificed, and to be sacrificed, not by your sharing in the com mon burdens, but exclusive of ou. And this is not all. The social intercourse, habit, safety, pro rty. life, every thing, is at hazard in a greater or s degree, in the slave States. Sir, look at that storm which is now raging be fore you, beating in all ita rage piulesslv upon yoorumuy. They are in the South. But where are your families, where are your people, Sena tors from the free Stales? They are safely housed, enjoying' all the blessings of domestic comfort, peace, and quiet iu the bosom of their bwa fam ilies. BehoU, Mr. President, that d weUIog-booae nova wrapped in Dames, listen, air, to the rafters sad beams which fall in succession, amid the crash ; andjthe flames ascending higher and . higher as l her tumble down. Behold those women and children who are flying from the calamitous scene, sau wita t new sn nets and lamentations imploring the aid of high Heaven. Whose house is that ? Whose wives and children are they ? , Yours in the free Ststes ? No. You are looking on in safety and security, whilst the conflagration which I have described is raging ia the slave States, and produced, not intentionally by you, put produced from the inevitable tendency of the measures which you have adopted, and which others hare earned far beyond what you have Wished. in tne one scale, men, we behold sentiment, senument, senument alone; tn the other proper ty, the social fabric, life, aad all that makes life desirable and happy. But, sir, I find myself engaged much beyond what I intended, when I came this morning from my looVinis, in the exposition with which I in tended these resolutions should go forth to the a aW . k aa eonsaieraiion oi me wona. i cannot omit, how ever, before I conclude, relating aa incident, a thrilling incident, which occurredprior to my lea vine; nv lodrraea this monuW. A man came to my room the same at whose instance s few days ago I presented a memorial calling upon .Co Agrees for. the purchase ef Mount Vernon for the use of the public - and, without oeing at an aware oi wnat purpose 1 entertained in the discharge of my public duty to day, lie aaid n me : Mr. Ctay, I beard you max a remark the other day which induces me to suppose that a precious relic in tny possession would be accep table to Tna." He thm Artum hnt nf hi. and presented to me. the object which I bow hold in my hand. And what, Mr. President, do you suppose k jsTj It is a fragment of the coffin of yvaanington a fragment ot that cofiut m which now repose in sueoee. m sleep, udsrwechiess. all the earthly remains of the veoeraled Father of hia Country.. WaT it portentous that k' should have been thus presented to tne? Was It a sad sre sagaof whet might happen" to tlietfahrie which Washington's virtue, patriot arm, and valor estab fashed? No, sir, no. It was a warning voim coming- from the grave to the Congress now in session so oeware, so pause, te reflect before tney lead lhaansetves to aay purposes avaieb abaQ de stroy that Union which was cemented by hia-ex ertions and exampla. Sir, I bene an impression mav be made oa your mind such as that which was mads on mine by the reception of this pre And, in ecnehisioB, I now ask every 8enator,I entreat you, gentlemen. In fairness and candor, to examine the phm of accommodation which , this aeries of resolutions proposes nd not to pronounce agaiast mem unut conrmeeu alter a tnorougn ex amination. I more that, the resolatiuns be read and received. . i tn- . . RAIL EO AD MEETINGS. - We Mve been requested io give notice. that meetings for the purpose of i spreading uciusw uv iMBuuto uaiMnani uuunauioa in relation to Sail Roads, will be held at ' the following places, via : " - . 1 i , . AtPnsStore,pnThuriday the 7th ' At Hillsborougn, on Friday theth. : At Cedar Grovei on Saturday the 9thi ..The HonVR, M. Saunders will be present and address the people'; and it is hoped that .a war W a At-m ak . ine uoa. tvuvm uravea wuiaiae be DreienL A general attendance of the citizens is earn. esUy requested.:' ? y -; ; :y-y r A Friends of the Bailroad are earnestly ' re quested to give all possible circulation to this notice-fl6sn' Ifcc. . . f . , -!- .. Nxw Orixxm , January. 2$. ' The steamer St Joseph, in going to St. Louis yesterday burst her boiler, Snd I re gret to inform you that twenty pefsons were killed. ' Their names are not gjvenrapst of them belonged to the boat The steamer subsequently tqqk fir?, and burnt to the wa, terg edge, thus render ng- her WW loss, 1 CxAiOS wiUielU.f Aim WrDitssDAT January SO, 1850. Several petitions were presented. ! "Mr.'Houston" introduced an'amendatory nroDOsitioa in relation to the distribution of the1 PublW Lands. A debate arose in which MesVi. Houston, Mangum, Hunter, lxu glasseward, Badger, Dawson Cass, jsA others took part. We gjvettavsi remarita, oi our two. na- tors. Mr.Maneum. . I hope from the notice l am about to give,-! my not be considered as a bidder.'' or one in competition with those I eminent gentlemen to whom reference nas - . ' - i At . been made. But,-looking at " tMf venous ptoposiflons which" have successively ap- pearea in imsnpuy--one irvm ibuuuui Senator from the Empire State of New York; one from the distinguished Senator from the Bay State ; and now this from our young sister Texas ! Mr. Douzlas. Illinois preceded them all. Mr. Manifumw Yea, sir: one from Illinois, always in advance of the rest it seems to me we have obtained a position like that of a ship's crew when the vessel is about to go .a a down in a storm wnen iney resotye xq break up the stores and cargo and distribute them amoflg themselves. , It seems to me that some imasrine that those newspaper re presentations must be relied on which pre dict that we are about to Drear up; ana, in advance of that event, a spuit of universal spoliation seems to be rife in the land. If the public domain is to be given away and I hope I may not be considered in the light of a "bidder;" I have not yet entered the arena I give notice that I may, by possi bility, when these measures come up for consideration, move as an amendment the granting of three hundred and twenty acres of land to actual settlers; and I would add, that, as, in consequence of the agitation of the times, the tenture by which a certain species' of property in the Union is held is supposed to be gradually weakened, I will throw in a negro apiece to each of the set tlers. JTaughterJ Mr. Badger. I have a very sincere ad miration for the enlightenment, benevolence, and humanity of the present age, and I as sure gentlemen that I do not rise with the intention of saying one word to abate the ardor with which the claims of humanity and hospitality are urged upon us ; but, being a somewhat plain matter of fact man, I wish to call the attention of those gentlemen who move these resolutions to give all the public domain belonging to this country, to this in- 3uiry : whether, when we contracted the ebts which were contracted during the late war with Mexico, and in connection with it, we did not' pledge the public lands of the country, or rather the proceeds of the sales of the public lands, as security for the reim bursement of those loans ? And if we did, I would ask how far it is consistent with old fashioned honesty however agreable it may be with the higher claims of hospitality and humanity to emigrants, or with the generous disposition to rid our own citizens of the dreadful calamity so eloquently urged and dwelt upon by the honorable Senator from Texas (Mr. Houston) of being obliged to work for their daily bread, and to obtain it, as it is declared man, shall obtain it, by the M sweat of his brow" I would ask how far it is consistent with the claims of old-fashioned honesty, that, after having obtained a loan, after having pledged the public lands a security for the repayment of that loan, we should then turn round and give those lands away without receiving any compen sation ; in other words, that we should dis pose of the funds which we have pledged te the public creditor, without obtaining any thing as a substitute for it that shall be appli ed to the satisfaction of the debt thus created ? I hope, sir, that at least this is not a part of the spirit of. progress to which allusion has been made that we are first to pledge our public domain to reimburse a debt, and then to give away by our action, without the con sent of the creditor, the. very lands which we have already pledged. I merely throw out these suggestions, for the consideration of gentlemen who have made these proposition, and the committee who take charge of this subject I shall be perfectly ready to do any thing that is prop er upon the score of humanity and hospitali ty, and Jo be very generous in the disposition of those lands ; but, according to the notions which I have always been in the habit of entertaining, we ought to attend to the clafma of justice and honesty first, and I do think we have no right to give away the public lands until we nave paid the debt for which they are pledged HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. , The subject of the report of the Commit tee do Mileage was taken up and ijdiscussed by Messrs. Swxrrzra and Bnow of .Mis sissippi. - The subject was laid on the fable. The House, err motion of Mr.: Barty, went into Committee of the Whole on the state of the Union, (Mr. Porrxn.in the Chair.) , The bill from the-Senate, to provide: for the Collection of the Revenue was taken up. . Mr. Bativ spoke at length and showed thUllae vexpenses .o coUeion were too great; much ..greater, .in proportion, than those of England. ' ' In the Senate,- to-day, Mr. Cass' resolu tions suspending diplomatic intercourse with Austria, were taken up when ' ' " Mr. Huater,''os W, addressed the Senate, and made one of the greatest speeches of the sesrion syanpathizing with the Hungari ans, but contending that Congress should con Kbf&to)oaoApmcz. Hejtrongiy opposed tue, resolutions. . ' w J He was' replied to by Mri Foote, who is always on the floor. ;0Tbe Senate then adjourned. " HOUSE OF . REPRESENTATIVES. "Mr.' Wood of Oi'io, to-day announced the death' of Mr Randolphus Dickerson. ' , After the passage of the customary resolu tions, thej House adjourned. t , . . ' : -FitraAy FxaTant 1, 1850. 5 4 The Senate did not tit to day. an ' ".HOUSE OFREPRESENTATINES. 1 Mr. Hamcoim, from the Committee on Engravings, reported a resolution', for con tracting for certain engravings.' and appropri atiug $18,000 therefore. 7 ..'.- , t . Mr WnriBKor stated his views in oppo sition to. the contract system for printing, declaring that the. public , documents, were executed in a disgraceful -manner. "t The resbljrllon of .llr. Hammoito passed. Tbe House proceeded tQ the electioa of a Chaplain, v - v i aWa-jK 1 M ii- sSslardaTV. lb. The Senate was not in session to-day. HOIR OF j( REPRESENTATIVES. After the rot rning hour had expired, the House proceeded to the election of a Chap- Three ballots were taken, when, on the last the Re v. Mr. Gurley was re-elected by a large majority. i The House then s!jbunMd n tiyUonday. OUR MINISTER IN'SpilN." JWehavje..been favoured by . an-Americaa gentleman now abroad, with a Madrid Ga zette containing an account of the reception of the Hon.' D. Bauungxk. Minister of the United States to Spain on his presentation to the QirEKir, on the 24th of October last ; on which occasion 'he delivered an address to the Queen, to which Her Majesty replied. The following: are copies of tne Address and the Reply, (translated from the original.) THE MINISTER'S ADDRESS TO HER . MAJESTY. '' Madam : The President of the United States has been pleased to confer on me the distinguished appointment of Envoy Extraor dinary and Minister Plenipotentiary near the Court of your Majesty. In performing the duty of presenting my letter ot credence, T am directed bv him. to ffive to VOUr maies- ty every assurance of the sincere and ardent desire of the Government of the United States to continue and confirm the amicable relations which now so happily exist between the two countries. To preserve the public peace and keep in violate the faith of treaties, are among the highest duties of the supreme authority at all times. They are especially so, in an age full of progress in art and science, and mar ked by every improvement that can add to the prosperity and happiness of nations. Allow me to express in the most cordial manner, the great personal gratification I an ticipate from a residence at the Court of your Majesty. And having been made the me dium of official communication between the Government of your Majesty and that of the United States, I trust I may be pardoned for adding my own personal wishes to those of the Government I represent, that there may always exist the warmest friendship and peace between two nations so strongly bound by reciprocal interests, and so endeared to each other by historical association. HER MAJESTY'S REPLY. With much pleasure I receive, sir, the let ter which accredits you to my Court in the character of Envoy, extraordinary and Minis ter Plenipotentiary of the United States. It is also' exceedingly grateful to roe to be assur ed by you, in the the name of the President of the Republic, of the lively desire which animates him as well as his government to continue the amicable relations which hap pily exist between the two countries a desire of the sincerity of which I have re ceived, with the highest appreciation, proofs recent and unequivocal. Equally satisfied that, in the age of progress, the first duty of Government is to preserve the public peace and keep inviolate the faith of treaties, it gives me pleasure to assure you that to this sacred end shall be directed my anxious and ceaseless aim. ' I flatter myself, sir, that the reception which you will meet with in my Court will make your residence near it agreeable ; and you may be confident that my Government' will facilitate to you all the means of performing satisfactorily the importantmission with which you have been charged. ' I acknowledge gratefully the personal good wishes which you I have expressed towards me: and I hope that, seconded by those of my Uo vera men t, they will contribute effec tually to draw closer the ties of friendship which bind together Spain and the United btates. i i THE GREAT ENTERPRISE. Thb Nokth Cakalina Rail Road. Our aim has ever been in relation to this important work to keep the public fully and truly advised as to the amount of the sub scription list and to its prospect of success. We hsve given nothing in connection with the subject but what has been derived from the surest sources: but in spite of us, very erroneous impressions have from time tot i rue gone abroad, which bad an effect to retard if not to jeopardise its successful result. One of these statements is now current, and we think injuriously so. It is, that the whole tloek haa been taken. We are satisfied, how. ever, that this is not true: we know of eicrtt.ciobt shabcs of the hundred that have been taken, and we are pretty certain (bat this is all. Twelve more shsres must therefore be taken before .he last move can be made to consummate the organization of the company. That these twelve ahares will be taken, we are morally certain. But where and by whom? is the question. Will the Eastern section of the Slate, which is so vitally interested in the work, still hang back aad wait for the West still . jo. strain and struggle with the burden t We tell them once more that not much more., can be done in this region. We now commit the residue of the work to Raleigh and the . East-;i We do not say that we . mean to give up if tiiey shall fail to do their part, but we say for the present, they cannot expect us to go further; and if they are ungenerously resolved to throw more of the burden upon our shoulders, it will .occasion s i delay which may ' prove unpropitioua to the (final issue.' We bear thai the Commissioner to v whom the reports are ordered to bemade haa been adtised from a kigh quarter id call a 'meeting of the Stockholders el once and leave the ccntple. lion of the subscriptions to the ' assemblage that may take place on that occasion. We protest decidedly ' againat such a course. Tkat will either devolve the . remainder of the task upon the 88 , who have gone into the work, or at least upon the West ; .and we have already said enough to make known our opinion, that the . Eastern counties on the route ought to take the remainder of the stock. There ought at least an opportunity be girea to put the alternative to them dis. tinetly, aad when Ihey'bave jiiglorieusly refused to participate -equitably, (if; such should unfortunately be the case,) we will again appeal to the West to conae to the rescue. Wa therefore advise aad adjure the citizens of Raleigh and Wilmington and the East to make one determined -ifiurf, aba) all will be well.; Petersburg sad Norfolk ahou Id also understand that there is' a crisis in the matter, snd tbatfc Irttle help from them might put tne undertaking out oi peril. Surety auch an appeal ' will not be fruitless 11 .Can they contemplate the action of the small connty of Cabarrus snd witness the spirit expressed in their Resolution published iu this paper, without feeling the keen edge of rebuke for their tardiness indifference 1 Can they" view the magnanimous action of the people of Rowan, fUridson ' and Guilford, ' without experiencing a.' sensation,; of shame ; at the contrast with tbsirown coarse! aj Ours are the plans of fair delightful sea. Tin-warn' 1 h nartv ram to Hv 1!W. , fCt, w T" c "TOtOen RIXEIGII. NTcT" Wednesday, February 6, 1850, jrXR CLA-TS COMPROMISE. X We publish in this paper, the Resolutions rf fered by Mr. Clay, in the Senate, together with hit remarks on their presentation, relative to the Sir very question. They fall far short of what deem a fair compromise between the North and the South. It strikes' us as pretty much like Hot. 1 ace Walpole'a reciprocity " all on one aide." The Resolutions themselves are certainly rery milk and waterish, in a case that requires strong drink. Their distinguished author, howerer don m .'a - a . not seem .10 consKier mem as 01 any Higher impof, tance, than to foraish a basis for Bills hereafter to be framed, that may perhaps furnish us soinegrei. ter securitr. We look with anxiety for these con. promising and protecting acts, and devoutly hop that they may be such as the South may rely m hereafter, and such as may relieve us from the ne cessity of holding the Convention at Nashville to consider the mode and measure of redress ofgritr. ances felt or apprehended. We are yet agahw that Convention, and against taking any authori tative steps towards being represented therein We think the time is not yet. But unless son fair arrangement can be made by which we may be relieved from fanatical zeal embodied in acts; ua-' ess the South can be furnished with some effects al means of re taking their fugitive slaves; unlesi our citizens can be protected against oppression and imprisonment, for attempting to re-capture and bring back their lost property why, then, after the trial shall hare been made, and shall hare fail ed, if fail it must, we shall not be far behind the foremost in taking care of ourselves. But we hart great confidence in the wise heads and sound hearts of the Senate. We have strong reliance ia the true Southern feeling, and broad patriotism of our stout hearted President. We have an abiding lore for the American Union for its stars and stripes and cannot see the Flag of our Country, our whole Country, under whose ample folds we hare achier ed so many glorious deeds, torn and trailed in the dust. We must, therefore, was? until the necessi ty presses more heavily upon us, until the last hope of redress by constitutional means shall hare failed, before we resort to the tittiosa ratio. That time may come. ' We have borne much of insult and outrage. We may nerve ourselves tn bear some more. But the spirit of our people will not suffer itself to be utterly crushed, before it turns upon in mad oppressor. Let him remember the dark day that preceded out National Declaration of Inde pendence. The South wiK never submit to state of vassalage. We pray God to avert the day tf doom! Death of the Presidents Mexico. The decase of Ptna y Pena, President of the Mexican Republic, is announced in the last New Orleans Papers. He was one of the most eminent lawyers hia country ever produced ; was aa en. lightened statesman, and, possessed, withal, toe firmness and moral courage to withstand popular clamor, or defy the intrigues of faction, whenerer they were brought to bear against measures he held conducive to the public safety, or the general welfare of the republic. It has been the misfor tune of Mexico, that in her history, as a nation, few such men appear in place or power, and those few, at brief periods only. Pena y Pena became President of the Republic at the close of the war with the United States. It was under his auspices the treaty of peace vu made, and it was by him it was ratified, afier Herrera, the President elect, fearing popular in dignation and the cabals of the Santanists, shun ned the responsibility of advocating or signing , and obtained the election of Pena y Pena as Pre sident, ad interim, by Congress. Bliot bj a' Female. The Newbern Republican states that a thri named Lewis, belonging to Mrs. Vail, was shot dead by Mrs. Aliph Biggs, of Newbern, a fev days since. Lewis was discovered in Mrs. Riggr yard, near her smoke house, and on being ordered off refused to go, when Mrs. Riggs sent for her pistol and shot htm." It is asserted that be ap proached her iu a threatening manner. Seaboard and Roanoke Rail Road The Weldoa Herald of Thursday, says : The Seaboard and Roanoke Rail Road, is, we lean, under contract withie twenty miles of Marp rettsville the difficulty .. between the people of Norfolk and Portsmouth, it is expected, will hi amkacly adjusted and the Norfolk branch will up the main' stem r at or near the Southern end of. Purtsnwtb0;;j:-' - Mr. Ward, the President of the Company, present on avfeit at that end of the Road. pip!otnatio ;2ntcSooutae with Austria, In the Uaited dttSeaate, on Tuesday, Mr. Uancawoon subuutled the following resolution, which he desired might ! be read and laid oa h uble, giving notice that he meant to more H ' substitute for that ouered by the Seoatoriroo Michigan, Mr. Cass,' wuea the subject came up: AeesiW, That while the people of the United States sympathize wiuV popular movements" reform pouuCal" institutwos inconsistent with i enlightened opinion of the present sge, snd ww rejoice to see ail the nations of the earth adopt us jimcricUn jmncipte of representauve seif-gorenv ment under written coosuiutional limiutions, twi disclaim any right to intermeddle with thedoffl ue policy ot otuer nations, and repudiate stt tetupts 10 control the acUoo of foreiga menu in respect to their internal allairs or disaenuoos and wars just as they would ref uysinterlerence from abroad with their own- The Ooveznor of Alabama on the j.i, marittBrr. -H 3oColfier, of AIabsms,ra bis IoM'JJ address, thus expteases his vkws ia Kg8 slavery ia the Mexican terrisories; But if Jhe nepp of the States which tJJJ J formed of ;th7l&ritory (MX.arSf exclude alavery.weshallmost rfu"L,SJ and extend to themjlhe right hand ofVZ .AU we ask of Coneress is not to interierv v ! attempt to decide, for them in advance.
The Raleigh Register (Raleigh, N.C.)
Standardized title groups preceding, succeeding, and alternate titles together.
Feb. 6, 1850, edition 1
2
Click "Submit" to request a review of this page. NCDHC staff will check .
0 / 75