CONGRESS. |
THE ANNUAL MESSAGE, CALIFORNIA.
Mr, Bayly moved that the ruled be suspended
mid that the House rosolvo itself into u Committee
of tho Wnote on the state of the Union;
with a view to dispose of the President's Mespagq.
It was important (Mr. B. said) that tliat
metsage should no acted upon.
V'lie motion having been taken and decided
in the affirmative?
The V/ouse resolved itself into Committee of
ths Whole on the State of tho Union, (Mr.
Hoy'd in tho oliair.) and resumed the consideration
of the resolution referring to tho appropriate
committees tho various subjsofcs 0111 braced
in tho Annual Message of the President of the i
United States.
U. ?:?;
-in. uiun u vi mi>sioM|lJJl ViUIVIltlHCU IU II1W
floor.
lie snid ho would occupy n very few rain- 1
utos, in presenting some views which he should ;
have presented the other day, but lor the expi- J
ration of liis hour.
Having idreudy taken his position against
tho President's recommendation of the California
constitution, and having expressed bis abhorrence
of the whole, series of movements,
which led to its adoption by the people in that
country, he shouM not further nllude to the
President or Cabinet in that connection.
A new character ha 1 presented himself, as
one of the champions of this new and extraordinary
political movement. He alluded to
General Cass, the lato democratic candidate
for tho Presidency. That distinguished gentleman
had redeemed his pleilge, and tho
pledge of his friends, on tho subjoct of tho Wilmot
Proviso. lie had spoke against it. He,
had expressed bis determination not to vote I
for it With this he was satisfied, Ha would I
go further, and nay, that the speech, so fnr as it I
related to the proviso, challenged his admiration
and excited his gratitude. It was replete
with sound views, eloquently and happily expressed.
And no one could rend it attentively
withont conceding to its author great ability.
If the distinguished gentleman had closed his
speech with hij argument against the proviso,
there would not have been a man in the country j
more willing than himself to award him the I
highe't honors. But the speech was marred'
hy the expression of opinions, in itsclosiug par- I
agraphs, to which he, (Mr. B.) and the buuthern j
people generally would dissent. General Cass
had (if Mr. B. correctly understood him) avow- >
? d his opinion to l>e, that the people of the tcr- 1
ritories had the right to exclude slavery; and |
he was understood to sustain the action of the ;
people in California in forming a State irovern
meat. Against all these parts of the speech '
of General Cass, he (Mr. B.) entered his solemn
protest, He felt bound to do this, bccause in i
the Into Presidential canvass he had, as the ,
friend of Gen. Cass, given a different interpre- i
t at ion to iiis views, as foreshadowed in the !
Nicholson letter. True, he had not done this j
without some misgivings, el first, of its correct- j
ness. But gentlemen nearer the person of Gen.
Cass than himself had interpreted thcNichol- !
son letter to mean, that when the people of a
territory to form a State constitution, they i
could then admit or exclude slavery at will,
and whether they did the one tiling or the oth- |
er was not a matter to bo questioned by Con- j
gress.
He now conceded, as he had done in the |
Presidential canvass, that whenever a people
duly authorised to form a <S'tate constitution,
have exercised this authority and asked nd- ,
mission into the Union, it is not properly a sub- j
ject of inquiry whether their constitution ad- j
niits or excludes slaveiy from the proposed
State. But he understood Gen. Cass as going j
further tliis?to the extent of giving to the
jiuujjiu ui wiu i urriiunes uit; n^ni 10 cxciikiu
slavery (luring (heir territorial existence, and
indeed before government of any sort had been
established by Congress, lie understood I lie
doctrine asauvanced by Gen. Cass to be, that
(lie occupants of the soil where, no government
existed?as in New Mexico, California, Deseret,
<fce.?had the right to exclude slavery, and
against this doctrine he raised his humble voice;
and though he might stand alone, without one
other southern representative to sustain
him, he would protest against it to the last.
In the late Presidential canvass, men of all
parties had assailed this doctrine. The Whigs
charged Gen. Cass with entertaining these
views, and the Democrats had vindicated him
against the charge. The doctrine was universally
denounced by men of all parties in the
South; and now we were startled with the intelligence
that (Jen. Cass and Gen. Taylor both
approve it. For himself, no earthly consideration
should keep him silent on such a question.
No consideration personal to himself?no party
ties nor political obligations, should seal his
lips, when his country W,%? nbout to be betrayed
and sacrificed. lie had denounced this doctrine
before his constituents,he now denounced
it before the //otiso. He would not consume
time, and prevent other gentlemen from speaking,
by going into an argument oil the subject.
Ho had felt it due to his own position?to the
cause of truth and justico, to make known at
the first convenient moment, that what he
condemned in Gen. Taylor ho equally condemned
in Gen. Cass; and having done this, he
was satisfied.
TIIE RESULTS OF AI10LITI0NI3M.
The following is the conclusion of the article
in the Southern Quarterly for January 011 the
"British West India Islands." We commend
the whole, essay to the cnreful and attentive
perusal of all:
"7'ho additions that foreign immigration
makes to the population of the Western territories,
and the rapid increase to the States of the
Union, from that cause and in that quarter,
place before us, at no distant day, the prospect
of two-thirds of the States of the Union as nonSlavelioldindg
States. What will then prevent
amendments to the Constitution, for the rem >
val of all the guarantees to the institution of
hlavery, and the destruction of tljeins^ution
"The party at the North, originated
and wluch conducts this mojihneiit, declare
that they will not tftop short, except at that result.
lliey my, Sv<: Jiavo disenchanted the
minds of the people in a good measure, as to
1 he divinity of their parchment idol. Wc have
tttuglit men to calculate the value of tlie Union.
It is beginning to be looked upon an a matter of
business, a partnership in trade; and multitudes
who walk not with us ncro,have been tauk lit by
their own experience to curse the Constitution
ns a delnaiou and a snare. We hate no qurrel
with the constitution, because it is a basis of a
confederated Union of Statca; but only because
wc see in it an alliance, offensive and defensive,
between those States, for the perpetuattou of
flavery, and consequently, the greatest of ob?taclo?
to its abolition, aslong as its obligations
are in force,'
"Does any one suppose that the clause of flie
constitution which allows ft representation for
the slAve popu'Mirtn would withstand six
Kuouths !?gitflliou in the Northern Btfttesf What
iii'j- !' i u ?f?
is the practical operation of (hat ch.use of the
constitution that provides the restlti tion of fugitive
slaves!
"Can thp Southern normlo docol 'ed to tho
conclusion that the constitution U the basis of
nn Union of equal .States, after the exclusion of
their property from the common territories of
! the Union?
i ".Should a servile insurrection arise, think you
that Northern representative in Congress wouhl
vote you men and money for its suppression?
"The abolitionists tell us truly that theterms
loyalty and allegiance have ceased to have any
meaning wit h reference to this constitution; it is
looked oji as the articles of a trading partnership.
" Wc have traced the picture of a community,
whoso domestic institutions have been overturned
by an agitation, which commenced
abroad, and which finally roached their liresides.
" ll^e have traced it, that our people might
| see in advance the end, ol which wo now sec
j the beginning."
KEOWEE COURIER
Saturday, Karcli 9, I N.IO.
With a view of neenmmeda i;c our Sub
1 ecribors who livo at a distance, the following '
gentlemen are authorized and requested to
1 act as agents in receiving and forwarding Sub
' 3criptio]is to the Keowke Couiiiek, viz:
j Maj. W. S. Grisiiau, at West Union.
Kdward Hughe-;, Esq., " HorsoShoe.
i E. P. Verxek, Esq., " Bachelor's Retreat
M. P. Mitoiikll, Esq.. " Pickensvillc
J. E. Hauo?d, " Twelve Mile.
T. J. Wkbd, for Anderson District
Wo. are requested to state that there will be j
preaching at this placc on the 6th Sunday o*
this month. Rev Kennedy, Humphreys, and
Gaillard arc expected. The Elders of tho
Presbyterian Church at Bachelors Retreat
Richland, and Bethel arc csneriallv invited to
attend for the purpose of devising ways and
means whereby those Churches may bo sup
plied with a Preacher. For severid years they
have been only partially supplied, which we
hope will not be the case any longer-Elders and <
members should interest themselves more than j
usual in this behalf?they should remember !
that Sabbath after <S'abbath is dcsccratcd, chief- j
ly because there is no Preaching to go to, and
that much of this crying sin rest s upon those
whose duty it is 10 endeavor to have preaching |
in every neighborhood.
THE CALIFORNIA AMBASSADOR.
The Hot). T. Butler King publishes a card in
the National Irnclligencer, setting himself right
hefore the public, on the subject of his Culifor- j
nin mission, lie complains of bitter porsocu- ;
'ions ami misrepresentations, and wholly de ;
nies tliut the President, or any of his Cal iuct j
ever gave him'any instructions on the subject :
of slavery, or any other subject'?that he did
not attempt to influence the people to decide '
one wa\y or the other on that subject
Innocent man, that,?what did he go for! j
Why did the administration pay him $8 per,
diem, besides all his travelling expenses, if ho '
luitl lift hnqiiiPUR Wlmt fit/hi hfia *)?n ,
President to pay an individual out of tho pub- j
lie treasury, to go upou a pleasure excursion
> to California? But, aside from secret instructions,
Mr. Oiayton says to him in his letter of
instructions, "vou are fully possessed of the
President's views, and can with propriety sug '
gest to the people of California the adoption of
measures to give them effect." Was he to do :
nothing, was he a mere passive agent!?He
knew tho views of the President, and California
formed a constitution in accordance tlierc;
with, which must indeed have been a strange
coincidence?and Mr. King contributed to carrying
out those views, or he was untrue to his
charge. In either he occupies no enviable position
before the community.
MR. CALHOUN.
It was intimated through the letter
i writers that Mr. Calhoun's speech would
be read in the S'. nate this week, by his
.1.. J-i:?
uunt-ii^uc, pruvmuu uiy ufJiwiiA? ?w?iv ?ji
his health forbid the delivery of it himself.
His speech is looked to with the
most intense Ir.ierestfrom all parts of the
United States, and considering his splendid
talents and devotion to his country
that expectation will not he disappointed.
TH E LEO ISLATURE OF GEOROI A.
This body adjourned on 23rd ult, in
good order, (and we rejrret that the same
spirit of good order did not prevail
throughout the Session) a vote of unanimous
thanks was given to the Speaker,
Jno. W Anderson, for the ability with
which he presided over their deliberations.
During the session 468 bills and 50 joint
resolutions were passed. Of these, 401
have been sanctioned by the Executive
and 7 are still under consideration.
THE WHAT HER.
IPith the exception of two or three (lays, this
week litis been more like April thnn March
weather. 71?c forepart of (lie flays has been
calm and mild, the wind rising in the evening to
an unpleasant height. Wc have pcarcoly any
icu this week, and vegetation begirt to asnumc
a growing appearance.
Attention is being drawn to the raising
of the Palma Christi, or cnater-oij bean
in vllabama. A consignment of the oil
made in jVarengo county, in that State
has recently been received in Mobile, and
i fiold readily at ^2.00 per gallon.
Correspondence of tlic Baltimore AmericanCONGRESSIONAL.
Washington, Feb. 25, 1850.
SENATE.
The resolutions of Mr. Footc, in relation
to the establishment of the Territories
of California, New Mexico and Deseret,
were taken up. IIo moved to re
ter the same to a select oommittee ot
thirteen?six from slavo St**os end six
from free States, and one more to be
chosen by them.
Mr. Turney rose to make f correction
as to the acU of the Tennessee Legislature.
ITo referred to an article in the Intelligencer,
on the sulyeot of the resolutions
passed by the House in opposition
to the Southern Convention.
jVr. Turney said the statement was
untrue. The extract was erroneously
attributed to the Nashville Union. T'Jie
Uunion was strongly in favor of the I
(Southern Convention, ./lgain, the reso- j
lutions were misreportcd nnd tended to
give nn erroneous impression. The only
important part of the l-csolutions was
omitted.?7'he statement assumed that
the legislature condemned the object of
the convention. This was untrue. Tho
democrats had a majority in the House
and tho whigs in the ?Vuatc. The
House took ground against the admission
of California, and appointed delegates to
the convention. T\\c whig Senate took
the groun.l that the people should select
i i- ii-- '
nit; uvivguivs i<> tpti convention 11 mey
choso to be represented in it. Wrhy
does the Intelligencer select one side of
these statements? That is not the way
to preserve the Union. The Union is
not to be preserved by the carrying out
of tlio views of Northern fanatics, and
the submission of tho South.
The people of Tenness* m are devoted
to the Union, but the Legislature says it
win only be preserved by the preservation
of the constitution, and tho Legisla
ture pledged themselves to resist encroachments
on them to the last extremity
and at every hazard. The Intelligencer
must appeal to tho Northern people
as well as the South, if they woidd preserve
the Union.
Mr. Downings said it "liad been stated
that the municipal authorities had disproved
the assemblage of the convention,
and that Gen. vlrmstrong would resist it.
Mr. Turney said both statements were
untrue; for ho had conversed with Gen.
vlrmstrong on the subject.
Afr. Foote's resolution in relation to
the organization of territories was taken
up.
Mr. Foote urged the appointment of
a committee as the only means of adjustment.
Air. Butler had little hope of any good
result irom a protracted discussion. He
would consent to no compromise which
did not recognizo the equality of the
South.
Mr. Foot*? was certain that no plan of
an adjustment could be agreed on by the
committee which waa not fair and just.
Ifitwasnot approved, the gentleman
would vote against it. If we would do |
anything here of a practical character, he
had assurances that the House would
i sustain it by r largo majority. The general
feeling was in favor of compromise,
and there wns prevailing a full belief that
the Union is in danger.
Let us give the committee a week to
i act in; and next Saturday a plan can, I
1 am certain, be matured, which the whole
Senate would ratify. Each member of
the committee would be sustaiued by the
other twelve, and their opinions and acts
wmil/l liA i-oonnrtKul K*r <1?A
111 wMivt wv vu|/v?bvu jj VIIU u HUIU
ate, the House, and the whole people,
i The experiment was worth trying.
Mr. Walker made some remarks as to
j the views of the $outh; and declared
that no committee could ever agree to
i them. He referred particti'.arly to the
alternative presented by the Senator
from A/tRsissippi (?)avis)
Mr. Davis explained; he ha^ great
hope from a committee.
Mr. Butlei said that if the committee
failed to agree, it would aggravate the
difficulty; it would become a source of
contention. He was opposed to precipita^
action; let us move cautiously, step
by step. An imprudent measure might
produce embarrassment, //e (Butler,)
naa nxert upon an ultimatum. ile had
no spirit of dfcSance. Ue .would impose
guards on himself, and would not, unless
assailed, on any point recede. He believed
that a report of a committee would
only serve to entangle us the more.
| Mr. Walker not did wish to throw down
I the guantlet or any other deli ance.
Mr. Badger was decidedly in favor of
the proposition of tho gentleman from
Mississippi.
M. Clemens suggested that the difficulty
would be 'o get a committee that
would stjsfy the country, lie would
not vote for the committee unless the
CIV unitt l?n?-n mfin ?1a?*/v/1 I... 11- ?
>i>? uuutliuau llliill IIOID V1UUWU Uy IIIU
southern Senators.
Mr. Badger could see no difficulty as
likely to nnse from the appointment of a
I committee.
Mr. Dayton thought a committee
would do more harm than good. Let
us discuss the matter firnt.
Mr. Clemens urged the expediency of
arresting agitation. If the discussion
! went on Jiree weeks longer there would
I be no hopo for tho Union.
Mr. Ber.iien made some remarks in opposition
to tluj immediate adoption of the
resolution,
Tho subject was passed over, and the
Senate adjourned.
Wasiiiwoton, Feb. 27, 1850,
SENATE.
A message was received from the
IVnd/lnnf nti KvAnnhvn onKinpfu
* .-V.v v,.. . v,
Mr. Clay s compromise resolutions
were taken up. Mr. Benton wished, before
Mr. //imtertook the floor, toexpluin
a legal point which the resolutions involved.
The resolutions asserted that slavery
did not bv law exist in California, lie I
was ot > of (hose -who believed that slavery
was abolished by the Republic of
Mexico. JIo wished to produce documentary
testimony of this fiiet?the decrees,
executive and legislative, on tho
subject, <fcc.
After Mv Benton concluded, Mr Rusk
took the floor and made his expected
speech upon the subject of tho ^exas
boundary.
Mr. Rusk fortified his statements with
documentary evidence. Being unwell
and somewhat exhausted, he gave way
to motion to adjourn, without concluding,
and the Senate adjourned.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.
Mr Johnson, of Tenn , by unanimous
consent, introduced a bill to provide a
homestead of 100 acres of the public
domain for every man, the head of a family,
a citizen of the United States, and
every widow, the mother of a minor
child or children, who may become the
occupants and cultivators of the soil?
-?. .i nn,i <1...
V illon V <19 l?n IUt ItUVl emu IV'H/IIUU IU IIIU
Committee on Public Lands.
Mr. Moore, of Pennsylvania, submitted
a bill of a similar character, which was
similarly disposed of.
Mr. Ashinun introduced a bill to reduce
the irtes of postage and to abolish
the franking privilege, which was read
twice and r jferred to the Committee on
the y-'ost Ofticoand Post Roads.
Mr. Briggs, of New York, introduced
a bill to establish a branch mint of the
United States in the city of New York,
which was read twice and referred to the
Committee of Ways and Means.
On motion of Mr. Thompson, of Mississippi,
the rules were suspended, and
the IIouso resolved itself into Committee
of the "Wholu on the State of the Union,
to take up the resolutions to refer the
President's annual message.
Mr. Toombs, who was entitled to the
floor moved to take up the President's
special message upon the subjcct of California.
Ii was taken up, when
Mr Dotty submitted the following:
Aw act to admit the State of California
into the Union,
Whereas, the peoplo of California have
formed for thems* es a constitution and !
State government, nd applied for admission
into the Union as a State;
And whereas, the said constitution has
j been officially communicated to Congress,
I and is renublican. Therefore.
Section 1. 13e it enacted, <fec., That
tho Suite of California, with the boundaries
described in the said constitution,
he one, and is hereby declared to be one
of the United States of v4meiicn, and
admitted into the Union on an equal footing
with the original States, in all respects
whatever.
Sec. 2. The State of California shall
never interfere with the primary disposal
of tho toil within the same by the United
States, nor with any regulations Con
giuss may niiiKc ior securing tne title in
such soil to bona fide purchasers thereof;
and no tax shall be imposed on lands the
property of the United States; which
said provisions aro hereby declared to bo
fundamental conditions upon which the
said &tate is admitted into tho Union.
Mr. Green, of Mo., gave notice of an
amendment, to adopt as a compromise
the Missouri line of 36 30.
Mr Toombs took the floor, and spoke
an hour upon the slave question. lie alluded
to the history of tho origin of the
government, and pointed out tho extreme
jealousy which then existed on the part
of the slave ^tafes, in regard to their
I property in slaves. That these ?tatos
i did not consent to come into the Union
until protection was given by the Constitution
to this species of property. This
protection was given by that clause allowing
t]?s proporty to bo represented hi
the federal legislature ; and ola^by the
clause providing for the reclamation of
fugit ive slaves. The Union, he maintained,
would never have been formed except
for this protection; and the provisions of
the Constitution had in wery sense
stamped this government as a pro-slavery
government. The nholitiomst.s who mat
at Faoeuil Hall and said that this was a
pro-slavery government were consistent;
and hcnce they ask that we may relieve
them from the constitutional obligation
to support slavery. These men are at
least consistent In their purposes, and
hono6t in their means to accomplish thoir !
end. IIo warned gentlemen that in this
question was involved $1,600,000,000 of
property, so recognised by the Constitution,
and that any government that came
in hostility with the property of the people,
could not, ought not, and would not
stand. He maintained that what was
property was to be determined by cach
/S'tatc of the Union, anil it wi-'j the duty
of the Federal Government to protcct
that property; and-further whatever was
determined &y the States in their Fcgre gate
capacity to be proporty, the possessors
of it could carry it with them into
any of the territories belonging to the
United States; and that it was the duty
of the Federal Government to protect
this property there to the extent that
other property was protected, uhtil 8\tch
territory be admitted as States into tho
Union; when the property would become
subject to the action of domestic lecrisla
tion. Ho declared his opposition to tho
admission of California as a sta'o under
its present organization.
The House was also addressed by Mr.
Baker and Mr. Lane, after which Mr.
Conrad took the floor, but gave way to a
motion that the committee rise. The
committee then rose, and tho 7/ousc adjourned.
Washington, Fob. 28, 1850.
A challenge passed yesterday botweon
Col. Bissell, a Representative from Illinois,
and the Hon. Jefferson Davis, Senatorn
from 3/ississippi, in consequence of
the derogatory remarks of the former respecting
the conduct of tho _A/"ississi- pi
troops at the battle of Bucua Vista. 7'ho
weapons selected were muskets, at fifteen
paces. Through the personal intervention
of President Taylor the matter
has been amicably adjusted.? Charleston
Mercury.
The cose of jl/rs. Gaines, which has
been in thf courts so lon^, has been r.t
last decided in the U. S. Circuit Court at
New Orleans, and against her claim.
t\ic testimony in the case showed not
only a curiobs state of affairs in the domestic
history of some of the parties concerned,
but also some singular facts respecting
social ?nd moral life in New Orleans
previous to its admission into the
Union. It was proved during the trial
that the mother of Mrs. Gnines was
married to three different persons, each
living at the snme timo. Mrs. G. was
the child of the second husband, and
claimed all his large estates, but tho decision
of the Court leaves its possession in
the hands o. the present owners.
Till? Wnf>v HnMVfK'wnrn T i oflrA?*/1o
^ .... ?? v.?.? IU (Ilivivin
us sinccrc pleasure to be enabled to announce
the gratifying intclligenco, that
the work of grading oui Railroad has
been commenced; and we trust, now, that
the good work has been entered upon,
that it will be vigorously prosecuted and
speedily completed. The first earth was
turned by the hands of our fellow townsman,
Dr John W Simpson, who com
*1 A! iV - Ami i
iuuu<;i-u ujjuiitbiuus un uic* zom lllSC.
Tho exceedingly unfavorable weather
we have experienced for the past two
months, has greatly retarded the efforts
of the Engineer, who anticipated having
the? survey completed ere this. Spite of
the rain, however, the Road is now locato
the Laurens line, and n& exertions will
be spared on the part of tho Engincor to
finish ,t tho earliest possible period.?
LaureaviUe Herald.
Defaulter Absconded.-Wo were shown
yesterday, a despatch from the President.
of the Central Railroad Bank of Savannah,
in which it was stated, that Geo.
J. Bulloch, Cashiei of that institution had
absconded with a large amount of its
funds. Tho amount is not mentioned, but
a reward of Five Thousand Dollars is offered
for his apprehension.?Constitu/I'/im/I
/ o /
Ikdian Hkvknok.?^The Springfield
(Illinois) Journal has the following paragraph,
copied from the Lacon Gazette:
"vtmong the overland emigrants for
California, last spring, was Mr. Green,
of "Green's Woollen Factory," Fox sivor,
and two of his sons, the youngest a
youth. It is reported that while passing
through a tribe of Indians, this youth,
who was naturally full of mischief, killed
a squaw. The tribe having been well advised
of the fact, hastened after and overtook
the company, and demanded the
murderer. Ai first the demand was resisted;
but after the Indians had informed
VU&U1 VUUI) VHOjr 1TUU1U UUOl/KUjf Lilt? Willpany
if their request was not granted,
the youth was surrendered Into their
hands. They then stripped hlni, and in
the presence of his father and the wholo
company, they skinned him from his head
to his feet! Ho lived four hours after h?
was thus flayed. This should bo ft warning
to all interested, not to triflo with tho
unfortunate sons of tbo forest."
DANK NOTES.
flODtn CAROLINA.
Oommerrital Bank of Cblumbia ...... par
Bank of Hani!
M. Bank of Oherlw V "
Bank of Georgetown
Hank or CtMrtWf * "
South Western R R Bank, Knox.
North Carolina i to 2 l-2jJbcouitt,
Virginia " " " '
Alabama 8 to 8 "
oKoaoiA. \F
Savannah City Bank
State Branch Bank? ^ .BgK '
Athens O R R Co. t to 1 t-j/Jm
Augusta Branch Bank
Bank of St. Mary's 1 to 1 I-2JU&
MtUedgovillo " "
Georgia bills, payable ?<S'avaoii?li ?o4 ASgiw
ta arc at par.