The daily national Whig. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1847-1849, 1847-08-18
THE TERRITORIAL ISSUE AGAIN.

THE TERRITORIAL ISSUE AGAIN.
We said yesterday. that there are nsinds Of
the opposition at work, IN the country, devisins
policy, by which this interesting question
shall be settled upon basis, entirely different
from that of the Wilmot Proviso. That policy
is-not to acquire new territory, under any
circumstances. as United States territory, but if
il be acquired at all to acquire it in the form Of
Sovereign and Independent States.
So far as we are apprised, il is the intention
of the opposition majority in the next House
of Representatives to vote all the men and
means to bring the Mexican war TO close, and
leave the responsibility of speedily closing il
with the Executive, by whose act il was begun.
If he should deign TO ask advice of the Senate
in the matter, the opposition will be ready 10
give, but we are informed that the advice which
will be given, in such an event, will be such
as the circumstances of the case, and the best
interests Of the country, shall at the time sug
gest
. As it is now regarded by all righ,-lhinking
minds that peace with Mexico without The
acquisition Of territory is an impossibility, the
opposition will set their face against the &C
quirement Of any pan OF Mexico, as United
States territory. II territory is to be acquired,
the general opposition sentiment according TO
our information, is in favor of its acquisition
in the State form. H..
All the States Of Mexico, even the most
thinly populated, are in condition TO become
States of our Union. They all have sufficient
population, and il only remains for any one Of
them, il il desires TO apply for admission into
the American Union, to erect republican form
of Government and TO knock at the doors of
Congress, and its application will be heard
Our Congress, in such an event, would have
no tight, if il entertained the application, to
dictate what institutions or what laws such
applying State should have. Alllhat Congress
could do, if il resolved to admit the applicant,
would be to guarantee the State republican
form Of Government. Suppose that the State
Of New Leon should come to Congress and
ask to be admitted on the footing of our origi-
nal States into our Union. She would come
as an independent sovereignty with all her laws
and Institutions. Among these institutions is
The Peonic institution quasi system Of slavery,
but voluntary in its inception. Congress could
not say to New Leon, you must first abolish
this system. Negro slavery, as itprevals in
Louisiana, does not exist in New Leon. Con,
gress could not say, you must admit this insli
tuition. And thus, in the debate upon the adj
mission of New Leon, the Wilmot Proviso
would have no application. She is already a
free State, SO far as negro slavery is concerned.
Southern statesmen, being Southern slates.rghl
men, could not ask her 10 alter or modify her
institutions to suit their views. Northern states,
men, who are negro-slave mad, would find
themselves dsarmed by the fact that New Leon
does not tolerate negro-slavery.
The next question is, how shall the Mexican
States by brough, to apply for admission into
our Union? That there is no difficulty upon
this point, we shall cndeavor TO show to NOR
row.