The North-Carolina standard., 1848-08-23
From the Washington Union. Aug. l s.
An1nIIRNMENT OF CONGRESS.

tO
Stewardship. We wish the wings safe deiverance
from the fearful responsibility which they have en-
countered. The session has been long and protracted
but long the second session OF tre Slh on-
ress which did adjourn before the 3lst of August
The work which has been executed is far from cores
ponding to the time consumed. The opposition have
wasted large portion Of the session In collecting ma
terals and making capital tor the ensuing presidential
electon They have scattered speeches. and provoked
replies from the republican members. They attacked
the war for weeks and months, instead OF making
orous efforts to terminate It. 1t was this very mis-
chieyouS cIamor the part OF the whlgs ana thelr
want of energy in raising the supplies, which cheer
ed the enemy and delayed the termination OF hoStll-
ties When peace finally came, sthe wings turned
their batteries against the origa ana prosecution cl
the war; and then the question OF the dlspos-
ton of the territories have acquired. Speech al
ter speech, and day after day, was exhausted upon
the attempt to compromise the question
Much credit as we are willing to give MIR. Clayton
and some of his colleagues in this matter, yet we
hold the wings particularly responsible for the defeat
of the compromise. Four southern Whig senators
first broke the line of the South, instead OF present.
ing ali her force together Then the eight southern
who's in the House defeated the first compromise,
and parayzed the spirit of the northern democrats IN
regard to the adjustment Stephens OF Georgia made
the motion lay the bill the table, which the Sen
ate had been for time discussing and preparing
He was followed by seven other southern wings In
the attempt smother the bill. and prevent II from
assuming any other form of compromise. The hrst
failure shed its disastrous eclipse over the second
compromise bill from the Senate. The southern
wings attempted to backwater too late. They had
killed the first bill, and encouraged the northern demo-
Gratis to desert the second until every attempt 10 COM
promise the question unavalllng.
One bill only has passed in relation to western ter
ritory 1t is the bill which went from the House for
orpanizing a government for Oregon. 1t recognised
the provision of the ordinance of 1857. The Senate
made an attempt amend it, and settle the question
upon the basis of the Missouri compromise, but the
amendment was rejected by the House and on Sun
day morning, after laborious session through the
preyous night the Senate receded from their amend
ment, and the bill passed IN the shape In whch
it had gone up from the House.
The question was then anxiously made, which
course would the President pursue Would he veto
the bill or would he sign it? The answer was at
hand.
Yesterday 0orning, the bill sent up to him,
and he returned it to the House of Representatives,
about IL O'Clock, with his signature But the Presl-
dent went further. He was not content to sign the
bill but he determined to assign his reasons Tor
the act and at the time to lay down the Pr1nci-
pies which should guide his course during the rest
of his administration. He has met the duty as be-
came him. There is no case in the whole course OF
his most memorable administration-full as 1t is of
great trials, and illustrated by great triumphs OF NOR
al force and enlightened pocy-which can compare
with the present one in point of importance, both in
its origin in its character, and In its consequences
There is act of his administration which supe-
ror to it In the wisdom with which he has selected
his course, and In the hrmneSS with which he has
pursued it. Many of the citizens of the south wish
ed him to veto the BILL Most of the northern citizens
hoped that he would consent extend the restriction
of this bill to the whole extent of our newly acquired
territories of California and New Mexico The Presi
dent has done neither but he has marked out course,
which is recommended by the hg hest wisdom and the
deepest regard the best interests of our
try. He has signed this bill reluctantly from stern
sense of duty towards Oregon and from respect to
the principle of the Missouri Compromise; but he
has stopped here Knowing and feeling that this
question of slavery by far the most important which
has engaged the attention of his countrymeR-that
it stands ahead of the rest in difficulty, in decacy,
and in mportance-that it is the onl which can
seriously distract the people and shake the Union IT.
self. he has felt it to be his duty boldly to take
course, and to send in message along with the bill. |
In this maserly paper, firm 1t IS concatory, and
dictated by the highest of public duty, he comes
forward with all ankness to state that he with
hold his constitutional sanction from every bill in
lation to New Mexico and Upper California which |
is not framed in the spirit of compromise in |
which the constitution was founded, and which does
not provide for the rights of every section of
try. Had the present bill extended this Wifmot !
Provso to New Mexico and California, he would ,
clearly have vetoed the bill. We have no hesitation
in expressing firm belief that in like manner, he
will veto any bill which indscriminately extends the
Wilmot ProViSo to these acquisitions. In fact,
such ls the express meaning and intention of the inn
Portant message now before US. We lay copy of
this memorable message before readers, and we
earnestly recommend 1t to the calmest and most
full consideration of countrymen. Every man is
concerned in it. Every ought to read and weigh
1t; and we hope every patriot will in it the de-
clocu course OF d Wise statesman. ne freSldent
tells the people frankly that thus far he willing
to go, and no further Faction and fanaticism must
here be stayed. 1T to be hoped that Congress will
reassemble in better spirit of Cancellation and
promise, and with irmer disposition extend to
all portions of our common country liberal partic-
patton In the benefits of acquisitions. Ger
tain it is that the President of the United States will
never sanction different disposition of that territory
To the House Of Representatives. Of the United States
When the President has g ven his official sanction
to bill which has passed Congress, usage requires
that he shall notify the House in which originated
of that fact. The mode of giving this notification
has been by oral message delivered by his private
secretary.
Having this day approved and signed an act enti-
tied An act to establish the territorial government
OF Oregon, deem it proper under the existing cir
cumstances, to communicate the facts in more SOL
emn form.
The deeply-interesting and proracted discussions
which have taken place in both houses of Congress-
and the absorbing interest which the subject has
cited throughout the country, justify in my judg-
ment, this departure from the form of notice observ
ed in other cases.
In this communication with coordinate branch c
OF the government made proper by tho considerations
referred to, shall frankly, and without reserve,
press the reasons which have constrained me not to
withhold my signature from the bill to establish
government over Oregon, though the two terri
tories OF New Mexico and California are to be left
for the present, without governments. None doubt
that 1t IS proper to establish government Oregon
Indeed, it has been too long delayed. have made
repeated recommendations to Congress this effect
The petitions of the people of that distant region have
been presented to the government and ought not to
be dsregarded 70 give to them regularly oroaniz-
ed government and the protection of laws which
as citizens of the United States they clam high
/