14 OREGON TERRITORY. AUGUST 10, 1848.-The Oregon bill being before the Senate, Mr. DOUGLAS moved an amendment recognizing the Missouri compromise in the following words: "That inasmuch as the said Territory is north of the parallel of 36° 30' of north latitude, usually known as the Missouri compromise line," &c. The vote on this amendment was as follows: YEAS-Messrs. Atchison, Badger, Bell, Benton, Berrien, Borland, Bright, Butler, Calhoun, Cameron, Davis of Mississippi, Dickinson, Douglas, Dawson, Fitzgerald, Foster, Hannegan, Houston, Hunter, Johnson of Maryland, Johnson of Louisiana, Johnson of Georgia, King, Lewis, Mangum, Mason, Metcalfe, Pearce, Sebastian, Spruance, Sturgeon, Turney, and Underwood-33. NAYS-Messrs. Allen, Atherton, Baldwin, Bradbury, Breese, Clarke, Corwin, Davis of Massachusetts, Dayton, Dix, Dodge, Felch, Greene, Hale, Hamlin, Miller, Niles, Phelps, Upham, Walker, and Webster-21. It will be here seen that every Southern Senator voted for the Missouri compromise line. The bill was then read a third time and passed. The House of Representatives disagreed to the Senate's amendment (above noted) by a vote of 121 to 82, most of the Southern members voting to concur with the Senate in establishing the Missouri compromise line. AUGUST 11, 1848.-In the Senate Mr. DOUGLAS moved a committee of conference. The Senate eventually receded from all its amendments, among them that extending the Missouri compromise line to the Pacific, by a vote of 29 to 25-all the Southern Senators present, except Messrs. Benton and Houston, voting against receding. The bill establishing the Territorial Government of Oregon finally became a law on the 19th of August, 1848, the following clause having been inserted reaffirming the ordinance of 1787, which excludes slavery from all the Northwest Territory: "Sec. 14. That the inhabitants of said Territory shall be entitled to enjoy all and singular the rights, privileges and advantages granted and secured to the people of the territory of the United States northwest of the river Ohio by the articles of compact contained in the ordinance for the government of said Territory on the 13th July, 1787, and shall be subject to all the conditions and restrictions and prohibitions in said articles of compact imposed upon the people of said Territory." This measure was approved by President Polk. The Territory has since been divided, and the Territorial Government of Washington established in 1852. THE COMPROMISES OF 1850. EARLY in February, 1850, Mr. Clay presented to the Senate a series of resolutions, which after premising the desirableness for the peace, concord, and harmony of the Union, and a settlement of all questions relating to slavery, proposed the following compromise. 1st. That California with suitable boundaries, ought, upon her application, to be admitted as one of the States of the Union, without the imposition of any restriction by Congress, in respect to the exclusion or introduction of slavery within those boundaries. 2d. That as slavery does not exist by law, and is not likely to be introduced into any territory acquired by the United States from the Republic of Mexico, it is inexpedient for Congress to provide by law, either for its introduction or exclusion from any part of said territory; and that appropriate territorial governments ought to be established by Congress in all the said territory not assigned as within the boundaries of the proposed State of California, without the adoption of any restriction or condition on the subject of slavery. 3d. That the western boundary of the State of Texas ought to be fixed on the Rio del Norte. Commencing one marine league from its mouth, and running up that river to the southern line of New Mexico; thence with that line eastwardly, and so continuing in the same direction to the line as established between the United States and Spain, excluding any portion of New Mexico, whether lying on the east or west of that river. 4th. That it be proposed to the State of Texas, that the United States will provide for the payment of that portion of the legitimate and bonafide public debt of that State, contracted prior to its annexation to the United States, and for which the duties on foreign imports were pledged by the said State to its creditors, not exceeding the sum of $ —, in considertion of the said duties so pledged having been no longer applicable to that object after the said annexation, but having thenceforward become payable to the United States; and upon the condition also, that the said State of Texas shall by some solemn and authentic act of her Legislature or of a Convention, relinquish to the United States any claim which it has to any part of New Mexico. 5th. That it is inexpedient to abolish slavery in the District of Columbia, whilst that institution continues to exist in the State of Maryland, without the consent of that State, without the consent of the people of the District, and without just compensation to the owners within the District. 6th. That it is expedient to prohibit within the District, the slave trade, in slaves brought into it from states or places beyond the District, either to be sold therein as merchandise, or to be transported to other markets without the District of Columbia. 7th. That some effectual provision ought to be made by law, according to the requirements of the constitution, for the restitution and delivery of persons bound to service or labor in any state who may escape into any other state or territory in the Union. 8th. That Congress has no power to obstruct, or prohibit the trade of slaves between the slaveholding states; but that the admission or exclusion of slaves, brought from one into. another of them, depends exclusively upon their own particular laws. On the 5th of February, the debate on these resolutions commenced with a powerful speech from Mr. Clay, and was continued by Messrs. Webster, Cass, Seward, Walker, Douglas, Baldwin, Berrian, Butler, Calhoun, Badger, Mason, Hunter, and others. On the 13th of February, Gen. Taylor, President, transmitted to Congress a message, apprising that body of the organization of the State of California, with an application through her Senators and Representatives, for admission into the Union. It was under a motion to refer this message to the Committee on Territories, that Mr. Calhoun, at that time prostrate with his last illness, prepared a speech which was read to the Senate on the 4th of March, by Mr. Mason, of Va. Some days after, viz., the 7th of March, while the same motion was pending, Mr. Webster addressed the Senate, at great length. Mr. Webster was followed by Mr. Seward, on the 11th, in a speech of remarkable power and eloquence. See page 19. On the 12th of March, Mr. Foote, of Miss., moved that a series of resolutions presented by Mr. Bell, of Tenn., be referred to a committee of thirteen, six from the north, six from the south, and one to be by them chosen. Gen. Cass spoke at great length upon this motion, reviewing the whole series of subjects in controversy. On the 8th of April, Col. Benton took part in the debate, strenuously opposing the plan of co-mingling so many important and various matters in one bill. Mr. Clay replied to Mr. Benton with great earnestness. Mr. Foote's resolution was amended so as to embrace Mr. Clay's resolutions, and passed on the 18th of April. AYES-Atchison. Badger, Bell, Borland, Bright, Butler, Cass, Clay, Clemens, Davis of Miss., Dickinson, Dodge of Iowa, Downs, Foote. Hunter, King, Jones, Mangum, Mason, Morton, Pearce, Rusk, Sebastian, Soule, Spruance, Sturgeon, Turney, Underwood. Whitcomb, Yulee-30. NAYS Baldwin, Benton, Bradbury, Chase, Clarke, Corwin, Davis of Mass., Dayton, Dodge of Wis., Douglas, Felch, Greene, Hale, Hamlin, Miller, Norris, Phelps, Seward, Shields, Smith, Walker, Webster-22. On the following day, the compromise committee of thirteen was elected by ballot, viz. Clay, Cass, Dickinson, Bright, Webster, Phelps, Cooper, King, Mason, Downs, Mangum, Bell and Berrien; seven from slave States-six from free States. On the 8th of May, 1850, Mr. Clay presented a report from the committee, which embraced substantially the following provisions. 1. The admission of any new State or States, formed out of Texas, to be postponed until they shall hereafter present themselves to be received into the Union when it will be the duty of Congress fairly and faithfully to execute the compact with Texas by admitting such new State or States. 2. The admission forthwith of California into the Union, with the boundaries which she has proposed. 3. The establishment of territorial governments, without the Wilmot proviso, for New Mexico and Utah, embracing all the territory recently acquired by the United States from Mexico, not contained in the boundaries of California. 4. The combination of these last two mentioned measures in the same bill. 5. The establishment of the western and northern boundary of Texas, and the exclusion from her jurisdiction of all New Mexico, with the grant to Texas of a pecuniary equivalent. And the section for that purpose to be incorporated in the bill admitting California, and establishing territorial governments for Utah and New Mexico. 6. More effectual enactments of law, to secure the prompt delivery of persons bound to service or labor in one State, under the laws thereof, escaping into another State. 7. Abstaining from abolishing slavery: but, under a heavy penalty, prohibiting the slave trade in the District of Columbia. Mr. Mason, Mr. Berrien, Mr. Clemens, Mr. Yulee, and others opposed the report, at first, while Messrs. Bright, Downs, Cass, Dickinson, and others sustained it. During the debate which followed, it was vigorously opposed by Messrs. Benton, Seward, Davis, Smith, Dayton, Hale, and others, and powerfully supported by Clay, Cass, Dickinson, Webster, Mangum, Foote, Douglas, and others. On the last day of July, it had become, by a series of amendments, divested of all its original features, except the portion relating to Utah, so that Mr. Benton created considerable merriment by comparing the Senate to the woman described by Homer, who every night unravelled what she had wove during the day. Separate bills, however, were subsequently passed, in a disconnected shape, embodying all the main features of the compromise. Eight months having thus been passed, principally in the discussion of these bills, the two Houses were at last brought to a vote on each bill by itself. The Texas boundary bill passed the Senate, August 10th, 1850, by a vote of 30 to 20, as ⚫follows: AYES Badger, Bell, Berrien, Bradbury, Bright, Cass, Clark, Clemens, Cooper, Davis of Mass., Dickinson, Dawson, Dodge of Iowa, Douglas, Felch, Foote, Green, Houston, King, Norris, Pearce, Phelps, Rusk, Shields, Smith, Spruance, Sturgeon, Wales, Whitcomb, and Winthrop-30. NAYS-Atchison, Baldwin, Barnwell, Benton, Butler, Chase, Davis of Mi., Dodge of Wis., Ewing, Hale, Hunter, Mason, Morton, Seward, Soule, Turney, Underwood, Upham, Walker, and Yulee-20. In the House, it passed Sept. 6th, by a vote of 107 to 97. AYES-Albertson, Alston, Anderson, Andrews, Bay, Bayly, Beale, Bokee, Bowie, Bowlin, Boyd, Beck, Briggs, Brooks, W. J. Brown, Buel, C. Butler, E. C. Cabell, G. A. Caldwell, J. P. Caldwell, Carey, Chandler, W. R. W. Cobb, Debeny, Dimmick, Disney, Duer, Duncan, Denham, Edmundson, Eliot, Ewing, Fitch, Fuller, Gentry, Gerry, Gilmore, Gorman, Green, Grinnell, Hall, Hammond, Isham. G. Harris, J. L. Harris, Haymond, Hilliard, Hoagland, Houston, Howard, A. Johnson, J. L. Johnson, Jones, Kauffman, Kerr, G. G. King, Leffler, Levin, Little field, Job, Mann, Marshall, Mason, McClelland, McDonald, McDowell, McKissack, McLanahan, McLane, McLean, McMullen, Morehead, Morton, Nelson, Outlaw, Owen, Parker, Peaslee, Phoenix, Pitman, Potter, Richards, Robbins, Robinson, Rose, Ross, Savage, Schermerhorn, Shepard, Scanley, F. P. Stanton, R. H. Stanton, Strong, Taylor, Thomas, J. Thompson, J. B. Thompson, Thurman, Toombs, Underhill, Walden, Watkins, Wellborn, White, Whittlesey, Wildrick, Williams, Wilson, Young-107. NAYS--Alexander, Allen, Averett, Baker, Bennett, Bingham, Booth. Bowden, A. G. Brown, Burrows, Burt, T. B. Butler, Cable, Calvin, Campbell, Carter. Clark, Clingman, Colcock, Cole, Conger, Corwin, Crowell, Daniel, Dickey, Dixon, Doty, Durkee, N. Evans, Featherston, Fowler, Giddings, Gott, Halloway, Haralson, Harlan, S. W. Harris, Hibard, Henry, Holladay, Holmes, Home, Hubbard, Hunter, Inge, J. W. Jackson, W. T. Jackson, R. W. Johnson, Julian, J. G. King, John A. King, P. King, La Sere, Horace Mann, Mattison. McGaughey McQueen, McWillie, Meacham, Meade, Millson, Moore, Morris, Morse, Newell, Ogle, Olds, Orr, Otis, Peck, Phelps, Powell, Putnam, Reed, Reynolds, Rockwell, Root, Rumsey, Sackett, Sawtelle, Schenck, Schoolcraft, Siddon. Silvester, Sprague, Thad. Stevens, Stetson, Sweetser, Jacob Thompson, Tuck, Van Dyke, Venable, Vinton, Waldo, Wallace, Wentworth, Woodward-97. The bill for the admission of California, passed in the Senate, Aug. 13th, by a vote of 34 to 18, viz.: AYES-Messrs. Baldwin, Bell, Benton, Bradbury, Bright, Cass, Chase, Cooper, Davis of Mass., Dickinson, Dodge of Wis., Dodge of Iowa, Douglas, Ewing, Felch, Greene, Hale, Hamlin, Houston, Jones, Miller, Norris, Phelps, Seward Shields, Smith, Spruance, Sturgeon, Underwood, Upham, Wales, Walker, Winthrop, Whitcomb.-34. NAYS-Messrs. Atchison, Barnwell, Berrien, Butler, Clemens, Davis of Miss., Dawson, Foote, Hunter, King, Mason, Morton, Pratt, Rusk, Sebastian, Soule, Turney, and Yulee.-18. It passed the House, Sept. 17th, by a vote of 150 to 56. Those whe voted Nay, were, Messrs. Alston, Ash, Averett, Bayly, Beale, Bowdon, Boyd, A. G. Brown, Burt, Cabell, G. A. Caldwell, Clingman, W. R. W. Cobb, Colcock, Daniel, Deberry, Edmunson, Green, Featherston, Haralson, S. W. Harris, J. G. Harris, Hilliard, Holladay, Howard, Hubbard, Inge, J. W. Jackson, R. W. Johnson, Kaufman, La Sere, McDowell, McMullen, McQueen, McWillie, Meade, Millson, Morse, Morton, Orr, Outlaw, Owen, Parker, Powell, Savage, Seddon, Sheppard, F. P. Stanton, R. H. Stanton, Thomas, J. Thompson, Toombs, Venable, Wallace, Wellborn, Woodward. On the 14th of August, the Senate passed the bill organizing the Territory of New Mexico, by a vote of 27 to 10, as follows, YEAS-Messrs. Atchison, Badger, Berrien, Benton, Bradbury, Bright, Cass, Cooper, Dawson, Dodge of Iowa, Douglas, Downs, Felch, Houston, Hunter, King, Mangum, Mason, Norris, Pratt, Rusk, Sebastian, Shields, Sturgeon, Underwood, Wales, Whitcomb.-27. NAYS-Messrs. Chase, Davis of Mass., Dodge of Wis., Greene, Hamlin, Miller, Phelps, Upham, Walker, and Winthrop.-10. In the House, it was united, and passed with the Texas boundary bill, by a vote as before stated. When this bill was before the Senate, Mr. Chase moved to add the Wilmot Proviso, which was lost by a vote of 20 to 25, as follows: AYES-Messrs. Baldwin, Bradbury, Bright, Chase, Cooper, Davis of Mass., Dodge of Wis., Felch, Greene, Hale, Hamlin, Miller, Norris, Phelps, Shields, Smith, Upham, Walker, Whitcomb, Winthrop.-20. NAYS-Messrs. Atchison, Badger, Bell, Benton, Berrien, Cass, Davis of Miss., Dawson, Dodge of Iowa, Downs, Foote, Houston, Hunter, Jones, King, Mangum, Mason, Morton, Pratt, Rusk, Sebastian, Soule, Sturgeon, Underwood, Wales.-25. Messrs. Dickinson and Seward on this, and several other votes paired off, owing to the necessary absence of one or the other. On the 23d of August, the Fugitive Slave Bill was passed in the Senate, by a vote of 27 to 12, as follows: AYES-Messrs. Atchison, Badger, Barnwell, Bell, Berrien, Butler, Davis of Miss., Dodge of Iowa, Downs, Foote, Senators Douglas and Dickinson, both subsequently declared that they approved the bill, and would have voted for it if they had not been prevented, the former by absence, and the latter by having paired off with Mr. Seward. On the 12th of September, the House passed the bill, without debate, under the action of the previous question moved by Mr. Thompson, of Pa. The vote stood, ayes 109; nays 75, as follows: YEAS-Messrs. Albertson, Alston, Ash, Averett, Bay, Bayly, Beale, Bissell, Bowdon, Bowie, Bowlin, Boyd, Breck, A. G. Brown, W. J. Brown, Buel, Burt, J. A. Caldwell, J. P. Caldwell, Clingman, W. R. W. Cobb, Colcock, Daniel, Deberry, Dimmick, Dunham, Edmundson, Eliot, Ewing, Featherston, Fuller, Gentry, Gerry, Gilbert, Gorman, Green, Hall, Hamilton, Haralson, J. G. Harris. S. W. Harris, T. L. Harris, Haymond, Hibbard, Hilliard, Hoagland, Holladay, Holmes, Houston, Howard, Hubbard, Inge, J. W. Jackson, A. Johnson, J. L. Johnson, R. W. Johnson, Jones, Kaufman, Kerr, La Sere, Leffler, Littlefield, Job, Mann, Marshall, Mason, McClernand, McDonald, McGaughey, McLanahan, F. S. McLean, McMullen, McQueen, McWillie, Meade, Miller, Millson, Morton, Orr, Outlaw, Owen, Parker, Peaslee, Phelps, Powell, Richardson, Robbins, Jr., Ross, Savage, Seddon, Shepperd, Stanley, F. P. Stanton, R. H. Stanton, Taylor, Thomas, Jacob Thompson, John Thompson, James Thompson, Toombs, Venable, Walden, Wallace, Watkins, Wellborn, Wildrick, Williams, Woodward, Young.-109. NAYS-Messrs. Alexander, Allen, Baker, Bennett, Bingham, Booth, Briggs, Burrows, T. B. Butler, J Cable, Calvin, Campbell, Carter, Chandler, Cole, Corwin, Cowell, Dickey, Disney, Dixon, Doty, Duncan, Durkee, N. Evans, Fitch, Fowler, Freedly, Giddings, Gott, Gould. Halloway, Hampton, Harlan, Hay, Hebard, Henry, Howe, Hunter, W. T. Jackson, Julien, G. G. King, J. G. King, J. A. King, Preston King, Horace Mann, Matterson, McKissock, Meacham, Moore, Morris, Nelson, Otis, Pitman, Putnam, Reed, Robinson, Root, Rumsey, Sackett, Sawtelle, Schumaker, Schoolcraft, Silvester, Sprague, Thad. Stevens, Stetson, Thurmen, Tuck, Underhill, Vinton, Waldo, Wentworth, Whittlesey, Wood, Wright.-75. The next bill considered in the Senate was that for abolishing the slave trade in the District of Columbia. Mr. Seward proposed a substitute abolishing slavery itself in the District, and advocated its passage in a speech of remarkable boldness and eloquence.* His substitute was rejected. Ayes 5-Nays 46. AYES-Chase, Dodge of Wis., Hale, Seward, and Upham-5. NAYS-Atchison, Badger, Baldwin, Barnwell. Bell, Benton, Berrien, Bright, Butler, Clay, Davis of Mass., Davis of Miss., Dayton, Dickinson, Dodge of Iowa, Douglas, Downs, Ewing, Felch, Fremont, Greene, Gwin, Hamlin, Houston, Hunter, Jones, King, Mangum, Mason, Morton, Norris, Pearce, Pratt, Rusk. Sebastian, Shields, Smith, Soule, Spruance, Sturgeon, Turney, Underwood, Wales, Whitcomb, Winthrop, Yulee-46. The original bill passed on the 14th of September, by a vote of 33 to 19, as follows: AYES Baldwin, Benton, Bright, Cass, Chase, Clarke, Clay, Cooper, Davis of Mass., Dayton, Dickinson, Dodge of Wis., Dodge of Iowa, Douglas, Ewing, Felch, Fremont, Green, Gwin, Hale, Hamlin, Norris, Jones, Seward, Shields, Smith, Spruance, Sturgeon, Underwood, Wales, Walker, Whitcomb, Winthrop--33. NAYS-Atchison, Badger, Barnwell, Bell, Berrien. Butler, Davis of Miss., Dawson, Downs, Hunter, King, Manguin, Mason, Morton, Pratt, Sebastian, Soule, Turney, Yulee-19. The bill passed the House, Sep. 17th, by a vote of 124 to 59. The Nays, were : Messrs. Alston, Anderson, Ash, Averett, Bayly, Bowdon, Bowie, A. G. Brown, Burt, E. C. Cabell, G. A. Caldwell, J. P Caldwell, Clingman, W. R. W. Cobb, Colcock, Deberry, Edmundson, A. Evans, Ewing, Featherston, Green, Hamilton, Haralson, J. G. Harris, S. W. Harris, Holladay, Howard, Hubbard, Inge, J. W. Jackson, A. Johnson, Jones, Kaufman, Kerr, La Sere, Marshall, McDowell, R. McLane, McMullen, McQueen, Millson, Morse, Orr. Outlaw, Parker, Phelps, Powell, Savage, Seddon, F. P. Stanton, R. H. Stanton, A. H. Stephens, Thomas, J. Thompson, Venable, Wallace, Watkins, Williams, Woodward.-59. The several acts of Congress embraced in this series of measures were five in number. 1. An act proposing to the State of Texas the establishment of her northern and western boundaries, the relinquishment by the said State of all territory claimed by her exterior to said boundaries, and of all her claim upon the United States, and to establish a Territorial Government for New Mexico.-[September 9, 1850.] In the fifth clause of the first section of said act is the following proviso, introduced on the motion of Mr. MASON, of Virginia, viz. "Provided, That nothing herein contained shall be construed to impair or qualify any thing contained in the third article of the second section of the 'joint resolution for annexing Texas to the United States,' approved March 1, 1845, either as regards the number of States that may hereafter be formed out of the State of Texas or otherwise." In the second section, establishing the Territory of New Mexico, is the following proviso: "And provided, further, That when admitted as a State, the said Territory, or any portion of the same, shall be received into the Union, with or without slavery, as their Constitution may prescribe." 2. An act to establish a Territorial Government for Utah.-[September 9, 1850.] This act contains the same provision in regard to slavery as the preceding. 3. An act for the admission of the State of California. This has no reference whatever to slavery; the Constitution of the State, however, prohibited it. 4. An act to amend and supplementary to the act entitled "An act respecting fugitives from justice and persons escaping from the service of their masters," approved February 12, 1793.-[September 16, 1850.] 5. An act to suppress the slave trade in the District of Columbia.-[September 20, 1850.] These five acts constitute what are called the compromise measures of 1850. They renew the Missouri compromise in regard to the territory north of 36° 30'; agree to admit New Mexico and Utah as States when prepared, with or without slavery, as the people thereof may determine in their respective State Constitutions; admit California with her Constitution as presented, prohibiting slavery within the State; abolish the slave trade within the District of Columbia; and enact more stringent measures for the recovery of fugitive slaves. Mr. DOUGLAS, in his amendment to the Nebraska bill now pending, declares that this legislation is "inconsistent with the Missouri compromise of 1820," and therefore "inoperative and void." And upon this issue the debate is proceeding in the Senate. * See Works of W. H. Seward, Vol. I. J. S. Redfield, Publisher. |