Wheeling times and advertiser. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1839-1849, 1848-12-07

So IS not only seriously questioned. bot DE-
uial hv fr1Ht ot tae spIals-t eSpugulcfS ol
tnt instrument WhethrI Congress shall
.eg, Bite otH1j. the people . Tie acquired
territories. when a. tmbrl iH convention %
form STATE Constitutions. viii posses. the so.e
aud exclusive power 20 determine tur them
.el,e. whether saverg shsll or shall not exist
wiihin uc,r limits. II Congress shall abstain
interfering "a iih lht question the people OF
these territories will De irit tree To adjust IT
as they may ttiaA proper " hen theyspp.y ior
admission as States. into the Union. No
enactment OF Congress toull restrain lie poo
pie Of euy Of ,he sovereign States Of the Union
Old or new. North OF South, s.lvehuliing or
a0n.slaycholling, from determining tht chpr-
acler OF their own domestic institutions, as
they may deem wise OF proper. ANY and oil
The States possess this right. aud Congress
cannot deprive than Of it. The people Of
Georgia might, ii they choose, 50 alter their
Constitution as Ca abolish slavery within lis
limits; and the people Of Vermont might - al
ter their Constitution as 10 admit slavery
within It's limits. Both Stsics would possess
. the right; though, as oil know, it Is not pro-
babe that either would exert il.
II is fortunate for The peace and harmony
Of the Union that this question is ID STATURE
temporary ahd can only continue for the brief
pcuad which will intervene before Caliomia
and New Mexico may be admitted as States
into the UHion. From the ttle oil population
now flowing into them, it is highly probable
thai thus will soon occur
Considering the several States and the cii-
gems OF the several States as equal aud EMIT
led to equal rights under the Constitution. if
this were an original question, it might well
/ be- insisted on that the principle cf non inter
ference is the true doctrine. and shat Congress
could not Ia the absence OF any express grant
Of power. interfere with then relative rights.
/ Upon great emergency, however, aud under
nenacing dangers TO the Union, The Missouri
ComPromise Line IN respect To Slavery was
adopted. The same line was extended farther
West In the acquisition OF Texas. After an
lacquiescence oi nearly thirty wears in The
| principle oi Compounds recognized and cs-
tabhshed by these Acts, and 10 avoid the dan
ger to the Union which might fellow. il un-
wisely now disregaried, ! have heretofore ex-
pressed the opinion that that line oil Compro-
| mise should be extended on the parallel OF So
deg. 80 min. from he Western boundary Of
| Texas. where IL now terminates, to the Paci
| fic Ocean. This Is The middle ground eff Com
promise, upon which The different sections OF
| the Union may meet, as they have heretofore
met. II this be done, il is confidently be-
| lie,ed large majority OF the prople OF every
section o! the country, however widely their
abstract opinions on the subject Of Slavery
may differ. would cheeTuily and patrioicslly
acqniesce in IL, and peace aad harmony would
! again I'LL eus borders.
The restriction north of the line was only
Yielded TO in. the case oil Missouri and Texas,
/ upon principle OF compromise made neces-
sary Tor the sake OF preserving the harmony,
and possibly the existence OF the Union.
Il ,tas upon these considerations, that at
/ the close ui your last session, gave my sane
tan to The principle OF The Missouri Cp,npro-
mise line, by approving and signing The bill
- 10 establish the Territorial Government Of
! Oregon" From sincere desire to preserve
! The harmony oil the Union, and in Difference
! lor the acts Of my predecessors, felt con-
strained to Yield my acquiescence TO the ex.
lent TO which they had gone in compromising
this delicate aud dangerous question. But il
Congress shall now reverse the decision by
~ hieh the Missouri Compromise was effected
aud shall propose to extend the restriction
over the whole territory, South as well as
North, of the pag9ll.l OF So deg 81 min. it
will cease 10 be conpromise aud must be re-
gdrded as on origHa question.
II Congress. Instead OF observing the course
Of non-interierenee. leaving The adoption of
their domestic institutions 10 the people who
may inhabit these territories; at if, nsleed Of
extending The Missouri Compromise liue 10
the Pacific, shall prefer to submit the legal and
constitutional qurs,iun which may arise TO
the decision ol the Ju.liesl Tribunals. as Was
proposed ia bill whieh pass d the Senate at
your lat ssicn an adj lslIneut may be effect
Cd IN this mode. II the " hor subject BE- re-
IerIt,l 10 The Judiciary, all paris Of The Union
shonld cheerlutly acqniesce III the final decis-
ION OF the tribunal created by the Constitu.
lion ur the ~ element OF all questions which
may arl,e under the Cunsliunon, treaties and
laws vi The United States,
Congress IS earnestly invoked, for the sake
OF The Uutun, us harmony, and our continued
prosperity nation, 10 Just a us present
session, this, the only dangerous question
which lies IA our path II not IA some one of
The nodes suggested la some otler which
may be satisfactory.
In anticipation OF the establishment, of reg
uiar governments over the acquired territor-
ties, the Iplel commission OF officers OF The
Army aud Navy, has been ordered 10 proceed
10. the tot Catioruii and Oregon. Tor the pur-
pose OF making reconnaissance and report as
10 the proper sites Tor the erection OF foftif-
cations or other defensive works on land and
OF suitable situations Tor naval stations The
information Which MAY be ex ecled from
scientific ana snliul examination OF the coast,
will be very useful 10 Congress WHEN they
come 10 consider the prupriety ot making APP
propositions Tor these great ma ional objects.
Proper deiences on land will be necessary Tor
the security and protection OF our possessions;
and the establishment OF Navy Yards, and a
Dock Tor the repair aud construction oil YES
sells will be important alike to our Navy and
commercial marine. Without such estab-
lishnenls every vessel, whether OF the Navy
Or the Merchant service requiring repair,
must, al great expense, come round Cape
Nom, TO one OF our Atlantic yards Tor that
purpose. With such establish neiia. vessels,
it is believed, may be built or repaired, as
eheaply ia California as upon the Atlantic
coast. They would give employment TO many
at our enlerprizing ship builders and mer-
chants, aad greatly facilitate and enlarge our
commerce. in the Pacific.
As ii is ascerlaineA chat mines OF gold. s;i
yer, COPPER and quick SILVER exist in New
Mexico aud California, aad thst nearly all
The lHuds whege they are found belong to The
United States, II Is deemed important 10 the
public interests that provision 10 b. made for
a geological aud nlineralogical examination of
these regions. Measule> shoulc BE- adopted
10 preserve the Mineral Lands, especially such
as contain the preoions metals, Tor the use
III the United States; or, II brought into mur-
Aet, 10 separate them from the farming lands,
aud dispose OF them IN such manner as to
secure ID large return OF money to the treas
airy, and at the same time lead 10 the devel-
ppment OF their wealth by Individual proprie.
Tors AID purchasers. To do this il viii b.
necessary 10 provide for an immediate survey
md loca ton oil The lots. Il Congress should
ieem 1t proper TO dispose OF the mineral lands,
hey should be sold Ia small quantities andat