ern boundaries 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 ter ritorial governments for Utah and New-Mex ico;

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, who escape into another State; and,

7. Abstaining from abolishing Slavery; but, under a heavy penalty, prohibiting the slave-trade

in the District of Columbia.

If such of these several measures as require legislation should be carried out by suitable acts of Congress, all controversies to which our late territorial acquisitions have given rise, and all existing questions connected with the institution of Slavery, whether resulting from those acquisitions, or from its existence in the States and the District of Columbia, will be amicably settled and adjusted, in a manner, it is confidently be lieved, to give general satisfaction to an over whelming majority of the people of the United States. Congress will have fulfilled its whole duty in regard to the vast country which, hav ing been ceded by Mexico to the United States, has fallen under their dominion. It will have extended to it protection, provided for its several parts the inestimable blessing of free and regular government, adapted to their various wants, and placed the whole under the banner and the flag of the United States. Meeting courageously its clear and entire duty, Congress will escape the unmerited reproach of having, from considerations of doubtful policy, abandoned to an undeserved fate territories of boundless extent, with a sparse, incongruous, and alien, if not unfriendly population, speaking different languages, and accustomed to different laws, whilst that population is making irresistible appeals to the new Sovereignty to which they have been transferred for protection, for government, for law, and for order.

"shall, when ready, able, and willing to become a State, and deserving to be such, be admitted with or without Slavery, as the people thereof shall desire, and make known through their Constitution."

This was rejected: Yeas 19 (all Southern); Nays 36.

July 10th.-The discussion was interrupted by the death of President Taylor. Millard Fillmore succeeded to the Presidency, and William R. King of Alabama was chosen President of the Senate, pro tempore.

July 15th.-The bill was reported to the Senate and amended so as to substitute "that Congress shall make no law establishing or prohibiting" Slavery in the new territories, instead of "in respect to" it. Yeas 27; Nays 25.

Mr. Seward moved to add at the end of the 37th section:

"But neither Slavery nor involuntary servitude shall be allowed in either of the Territories of New-Mexico or Utah, except on legal conviction for crime."

Which was negatived; Yeas and Nays not taken.

July 17th.--The Senate resumed the consideration of the "Omnibus bill."

Mr. Benton moved a change in the proposed boundary between Texas and NewMexico. Rejected: Yeas 18; Nays 36.

Mr. Foote moved that the 34th parallel of north latitude be the northern boundary of Texas throughout. Lost Yeas 20; Nays 34.

July 19th.-Mr. King moved that the parallel of 35° 30' be the southern boundary of the State of California. Rejected: Yeas

Mr. Davis of Mississippi moved 36° 30'. Rejected: Yeas 23; Nays 32.

July 23d.—Mr. Turney of Tenn. moved that the people of California be enabled to form a new State Constitution. Lost: Yeas 19; Nays 33.

Mr. Jeff. Davis of

The Committee have endeavored to present to the Senate a comprehensive plan of adjustment, which, removing all causes of existing excite-20; Nays 37. ment and agitation, leaves none open to divide the country and disturb the general harmony. The nation has been greatly convulsed, not by measures of general policy, but by questions of a sectional character, and, therefore, more dangerous, and more to be deprecated. It wants repose. It loves and cherishes the Union. And it is most cheering and gratifying to witness the outbursts of deep and abiding attachment to it, which have been exhibited in all parts of it, amidst all the trials through which we have passed, and are passing. A people so patriotic as those of the United States, will rejoice in an accommodation of all troubles and difficulties by which the safety of that Union might have been brought into the least danger. And, under the blessing of that Providence who, amidst all vicissitudes, has never ceased to extend to them His protecting care, His smiles, His blessings, they will continue to advance in population, power, and prosperity, and work out triumphantly the glorious problem of man's capacity for self-gov.

add :

Mississippi moved to

"And that all laws and usages existing in said Territory, at the date of its acquisition by the United States, which deny or obstruct the right of any citizen of the United States to remove to, and reside in, said Territory, with any species of property legally held in any of the States of this Union, be, and are hereby declared to be,

null and void."

This was rejected: Yeas 22; Nays 33.
YEAS-For Davis's amendment:

Messrs. Atchison, Mo.

Barnwell, S. C.
Bell, Tenn.

Berrien, Ga.
Butler, S. C.
Clemens, Ala.
Davis, Miss.
Dawson, Ga.
Downs, La.

Houston, Texas,

Hunter, Va.

King, Ala.
Mangum, N. C.
Mason, Va.
Morton, Fla.
Pratt, Md.
Rusk, Texas,
Sebastian, Ark.
Soulé, La.
Turney, Tenn.
Underwood, Ky.

Yulee, Fla.-22.

Whitcomb, Ind.-33.

July 24th.-Mr. Rusk moved that the Rio Grande del Norte be the western boundary of Texas throughout, as defined in her statute of limits. Rejected: Yeas 18 (all Southern); Nays 34 (Douglas not voting).

July 25th.-Mr. Hale moved that the true boundary of Texas be ascertained and conformed to, without prejudice on account of anything contained in this bill. Rejected: Yeas 23; Nays 30.

Mr. Benton moved an amendment intended to exclude from Texas every portion of NewMexico. Rejected: Yeas 16; Nays 38.

July 26th.-Mr. Seward moved that New-Mexico be admitted as a State into the Union. Rejected: Yeas 1 (Seward); Nays 42.

July 29th. Mr. Dayton of N. J. moved that the true northern boundary of Texas be ascertained and settled by an amicable suit before the Supreme Court. Rejected: Yeas 18; Nays 34.

Mr. Mason of Virginia moved that the proposed commissioners to settle the boundary of Texas be authorized, in case the true legal boundary be found impracticable, to agree on and fix a convenient compromise boundary. Lost, by a tie: Yeas 29; Nays 29.

Mr. Turney moved that no pecuniary consideration be given for any change from the rightful boundary of Texas. Rejected: Yeas 20; Nays 31.

NAYS-Against Dawson's amendment :

Messrs. Baldwin,

Chase,

Davis, Mass.
Dayton,

Dodge of Wisc.
Douglas,
Ewing,
Felch,
Greene,
Hale,

Mr. Bradbury's amendment, thus amended, prevailed by a similar vote: Yeas 30; Nays 28.

[It provided for the appointment of commissioners to determine, in connection with commissioners to be chosen by Texas, the Northern boundary of that State.]

July 31st.-Mr. Norris of N. H. moved to strike from the bill the words," nor establishing nor prohibiting African Slavery" (which words deny to the Territorial Legislatures the power to establish or prohibit Slavery); Carried: Yeas 32; Nays 20. (Nays all Southern, but Ewing of Ohio and Whitcomb of Ind.-Cass, Clay, Dayton, Dickinson, Douglas, Seward, etc., in the affirmative.)

Mr. Pearce of Md. now moved to strike from the bill so much thereof as provides a Territorial Government for New-Mexico, and for settling the boundary between her and Texas. Carried Yeas 33 (including all the opponents of a compromise, whether from the North or the South, and all those Mr. Dawson of Ga. now moved the fol- averse to paying Texas ten millions of dollowing additional section :

July 30th.-Mr. Walker of Miss. moved that this bill do lie on the table. Lost: Yeas 25; Nays 32.

"And be it further enacted, That, until such time as the boundary line between the State of Texas and the territory of the United States be agreed to by the Legislature of the State of Texas and the government of the United States, the Territorial government authorized by this act shall not go into operation east of the Rio Grande, nor shall any State be established for New Mexico, embracing any territory east of the Rio Grande."

This prevailed by the following vote-30 to 28-and gave the death-blow to the "Omnibus Bill."

lars for relinquishing her pretensions to ab-
sorb New-Mexico, with some who would
not vote in this conjunction for the portions
of "the Omnibus" severally disapproved of ;)
Nays 22 :

YEAS-For breaking up "the Omnibus" :
Messrs. Baldwin,

Barnwell,
Benton,

Hunter,

Mason,

Miller,

Berrien,

Morton,

Mr. Clemens of Alabama moved that the bill be postponed to the next session : Lost; Yeas 25; Nays 30.

Mr. Atchison's reconsidered motion, to strike California out of the bill, now prevailed Yeas 34; Nays 25.

The bill being now reduced so as to proOm-vide merely for the organization of the Tertory of Utah, Mr. Douglas proposed to amend so as to make its southern boundary the parallel of 36° 30' instead of 38° north latitude Lost; Yeas 26; (all Southern but Dickinson of N. Y. and Douglas of Ill.) Nays 27; (all Northern but Spruance and Wales of Delaware-Mr. Clay not present).

Aug. 6th.-President Fillmore sent a Message announcing that Gov. Bell of Texas had notified the Government of his determination to extend the authority and jurisMr. Atchison of Mo. moved to strike diction of Texas over all New-Mexico east out so much of the bill as relates to Califor- of the Rio Grande. The President considnia Lost by a tie; Yeas 29; Nays 29. ers himself bound to resist this pretension Mr. Winthrop of Mass. moved a recon--if necessary, by force-does not believe sideration of this vote: Carried; Yeas 33; Nays 26.

He urges Congress not to adjourn without settling this boundary question, and says:

"I think no event would be hailed with more gratification by the people of the United States than the amicable adjustment of questions of difficulty which have now for a long time agi tated the country, and occupied, to the exclusion of other subjects, the time and attention of Congress."

The Texas boundary bill being now put ahead of the bill admitting California, Mr. Dayton moved (Aug. 8th), that Texas be required to cede her public lands to the United States in consideration of the payment to her of $10,000,000 herein given her for the relinquishment of her claim to NewMexico. After the United States shall have been repaid the $10,000,000 out of the proceeds of these lands, the residue to revert to Texas: Rejected; Yeas 17 (all Northern); Nays 32.

Aug. 9th.—Mr. Underwood moved that the Northern boundary of Texas run due east from a point on the Rio Grande, twenty miles above El Paso, to the Red River of Louisiana Rejected; Yeas 24; (all Northern, but Wales, Spruance, and Underwood;) Nays 25.

Mr. Mason of Va. moved the giving up to Texas of all New-Mexico east of the Rio Grande Lost: Yeas 14; Nays 37.

Mr. Sebastian moved that the (NewMexican) Territory, surrendered by Texas in pursuance of the provisions of this bill, shall be admitted in due time as a State, with or without Slavery, as its people may determine: Rejected: Yeas 19; (all Southern but Dodge of Iowa;) Nays 29-(including Badger of N. C., Cass and Dickinson-Clay absent-Douglas, who voted just before and just after, did not vote on this.)

The bill was now engrossed: Yeas 27; Nays 24; and finally passed: Yeas 30; Nays 20.

Aug. 10th.-The California bill was now taken up. Mr. Yulee of Fla. moved a substitute, remanding California to a territorial condition, and limiting her southern boundary: Rejected; Yeas 12 (all Southern); Nays 35.

Mr. Foote moved a like project, cutting off so much of California as lies south of 36 deg. 30 min., and erecting it into the territory of Colorado: Rejected; Yeas 13 (ultra Southern); Nays 29.

Aug. 12th.-Still another proposition to limit California southwardly, by the line of 36 deg. 30 min., was made by Mr. Turney, and rejected: Yeas 20 (all Southorn); Nays 30. After defeating Southern motions to

adjourn, postpone, and lay on the table, the bill was engrossed for a third reading: Yeas 33; (all the Senators from Free States, with Bell, Benton, Houston, Spruance, Wales and Underwood;) Nays 19; (all from Slave States. Mr. Clay still absentendeavoring to restore his failing health.)

Aug. 13th.-The California bill passed its third reading: Yeas 34; Nays 18; (all Southern.)

Aug. 14th.-The Senate now took up the bill organizing the Territories of NewMexico and Utah, (as it was originally reported, prior to its inclusion in Mr. Clay's "Omnibus.")

Mr. Chase of Ohio moved to amend the bill by inserting :

"Nor shall there be in said Territory either Slavery or involuntary servitude, otherwise than in the punishment of crimes whereof the party shall have been duly convicted to have been personally guilty."

Which was rejected: Yeas 20; Nays 25.
YEAS-For Prohibiting Slavery:
Messrs. Baldwin,
Hamlin,
Bradbury,
Bright,
Chase,

Davis, of Mass.

Miller,

Norris,

Phelps,

Cooper,

Shields,

Smith,

Dodge, of Wisc.

Upham,

Felch,

Walker,

Greene,

Hale,

NAYS-Against Prohibiting Slavery:

Messrs. Atchison,
Badger,
Bell,
Benton,

Berrien,
Cass,

Davis of Miss.

Mangum,

Mason,

Yates-25.

Dawson,
Dodge of Iowa,
Downs,
Foote,
Houston,

The bill was then reported complete, and passed to be engrossed.

Aug. 15th.-Said bill had its third reading, and was finally passed: Yeas 27 ; Nays 10.

[The Senate proceeded to take up, consider, mature, and pass the Fugitive Slave bill, and the bill excluding the Slave-Trade from the District of Columbia; but the history of these is but remotely connected with our theme.] We return to the House.

Aug. 19th—The several bills which we have been watching on their tedious and dubious course through the Senate, having reached the House, Mr. William J. Brown of Ind. moved that they be taken off the Speaker's table, and made the special order for to-morrow: Defeated; Yeas 87; Nays 98.

Mr. Boyd of Ky. moved to amend it so as to create and define thereby the territories of New-Mexico and Utah, to be slave- The question was now taken on the enholding or not as their people shall deter-grossment of the bill, and it was defeated: mine when they shall come to form State Yeas 99; Nays 107.

governments. [In other words, to append Mr. Howard of Texas moved a reconthe bill organizing the territory of New-sideration. Mexico to the Texas bill.]