10 were either native Californians or old settlers in that country. This prohibition against slavery, it is said, was inserted with entire unanimity. Mr. Hale. Will the Senator give way until order is restored ? The Vice-President. The Sergeant-at-Arms will see that order is restored, and no more persons admitted to the floor. Mr. Cass. I trust the scene of the other day will not be repeated. The Sergeant-at-Arms must display more energy in suppressing this disorder. ■ Mr. Hale. The noise is outside of the door. Mr. Webster. And it is this circumstance, sir, the prohibition of slavery by that Convention, which has contributed to raise, I do not say it has wholly raised, the dispute as to the propriety of the admission of California into the Union under this constitution. It is not to be denied, Mr. President, nobody thinks of denying, that, whatever reasons were assigned at the commencement of the late war with Mexico, it was prosecuted for the purpose of the acquisition of territory, and under the alleged argument that the cession of territory was the only form in which proper compensation could be made to the United States by Mexico, for the various claims and demands which the people of this country had against that government. At any rate, it will be found that President Polk’s message, at the commencement of the session of December, 1847, avowed that the war was to be prosecuted until some acquisition of territory should be made. And, as the acquisition was to be south of
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