The Arkansas banner., 1848-12-19

I nia, and the other to Oregon, with authority to make thc necessary arrangements for carrying its ] provisions into effect.
 The monthly line of mail steamers from fanama 10 Astoria have bren required to "stop and deliver and take mails at San DiegN, Monterey. and San Francisco" These mail steamers, connected by the Is;hnmms of Panamy with the line of mail steamers on the Atlantic between New York and Chagres, will establish regular mail communication with Callfornia.
 It Is our solemn duty te provide with the least practicable delay. for New Mexico and California, regularly organized territorial governments. The of the failure 10 do this at the last session of Congress are well known. and deeply to be regret ted With the opening prospects ofincreased ros- Perity and national greatness which the acquisition these rich and extensive territorial possessions a fords how irratonalit would be to forego or to lcct these advantages by the agitation of domestic question which is coevsl with the existence of our government isefand to endanger by internal strfes geographical divisions and heated contests, for po iitics power, or for any other cause, the harmony of the glorious Union of our eonfederated States; that un on which binds together as one peep c, and which, for sixty years has been our shield and protection against every danger.
 ! In the eyes Of he world, and of posteTity, how trivial and insignificant will be all intetnal di visions and struggles compared with the preseFva- ton Of this union of the States in all is vaor, and all It's countless blessings No patriot would ioiaent and excite geographical and sectenai divisions No lover oi hts country would delibefaey calculate the value Of the Union. Future gefierafion$ would look in amazement upon the iey Of such course. Other nations of the present day would look upon it with astonishmeni; and sueb oi them as desire to main tain and perpetnate thrones and monarchieal aris tocfatic principles will view it with exutaion and delight. because in fl they will the clements of faction, which they hope must ultimately overturn our system. Ours is the great example of prcs-
 porous and free self governed repabiie, commanding fse admiration and the imitation of a lovers of free- don throughout the world. How solemn therefore, IS the duty, how impressive the call upon us, and upon all parts of OUT conntrY, to cultivate patti oie spirit oi harmony, of good Fellowship, ot com promise and mutual concession Tn tho aimlnTstre- ton of the incompatible system Of government for med by our terefatheEs in the midst of almost insu- perabie difficulties, and transmitted to us with the injunction that should enjoy its blessings, and hand it down impaired 10 those who may come after us.
 In view of the high and responsible duties which we owe to ourselves, and to mankind, trust you may be able, si the present session, to approsebt the adjustment of the only domestic question which se rionsy threatens, probably ever can threaten, to disturb the harmony and operation ot our system
 The immense valuable possession of New Mexi co and California, arc already inhabited by con- siderable population. Attracted by their great fer tiiity, their mineral wealth. their commercial ad- vantages, and the salubrity of the climate, cmi- grants from the older States, in great numbers already preparing to seek new homes in these in- i yiting regions
 Shall the dssimilari'y of domestic installations in the different States, prevent us from proyidi for them suitable goverHmentl These institutions ex- itei at Inc adOption of tae Constitution, but the obstacles winch they interposed were overcome by that spirit Of compromise which is invoked.- In conflict o opinions, of interests real orfima ginary, between different sections of our country, neiher justly demand all which it might desire 10 obtain. Each, in the true spirit of our insitu- lions, should concede something 10 the other. Our gallant forces in the Mexican war, by whose patriotism and uuparalled deeds of arms we obtain ed these possessions as an indemnity for our just demands against Mexico, were composed of ci,izeus who belonged 10 no section of our Union. They were men from siayehoding and nou-slaveEolding States, ffotn the north and from the south from the east and the west. They were all companions in nrins, and fellow citizens of the common try, engaged in the common cause. When Prssssst'"s tia. Was, they were nrethren and friends, and shared ike with each other common toils, dangers and suilerings Now, wien this work is, ended, when peace is re- so!ed, and they return again 10 their homes, put off the hasnents Of war, take their places in society and resume tJcir pursuits in civil life, surely spirit Of harmony and concession, and o equal re- gard for the rights of al and of all sections of the union, ought 10 prevail, in providing governments for the acquired ierTtories-the futs of their com mon service. The whole people of the U States and Of every State, contribute 10 6efray the expen- ses of that war; and it would not be just tor any one section 10 exclude another from all participation in the acquired territory. This would not be in con sonanee with the just system of government which the irainers of our constitution adopted
 The question is believed to be rather abs raet, than practical, whether slavery ever can or would exist in any portion of tl.e acq nred territory even II It were leit to the op'ion Of the slave-hoidiug States themselves. From the nature of the climate aud productions of ihe country, in much the larger P"fioa oi it, Il Is certain il could never exist; and tn The remainder, the probabilities are it would not But, however this may he, the question, involving as tt does, principal of equality of rights of the ssperate and several States, equal co partners in the coniederacy, should not be dsregar6ed In organzing governments over these territories no duties imposed Congress by the Constitution require that they should legislate on the subject of slavery ~he their power to do so is not only seFi- ous'y questioned, but denied by many of the sound est expounders Of that instrument. Whether Con- gress shall legsla,o or not the people of the &C., paired territories, when assembled in Convention to form State constitutions, will posses the sole and exclusive power 10 determine for themselves whether slavery shail, or shall not, exist within their limits If Congress shall abstain from inter- iering with the question, the people of these terri tories will be left free to dust II they may thiak proper, when they apply for admission as States into ihe Union. No enactment of Congress coulj resran the people of any of the soyerelgn States of the Union, old new. North or South, slave holding or non siayehediag. from determining the character of their domestic institutions us they may deem wise and proper Any and all the States possess that right and Congress cannot deprive them oi it The people of Georgia, might if they choose to alter their Consultation to admis slavery with in it's limits Both States would possess the right though, as all know, 1t is not probable that either would exert it.
 IL is fortunate for the peace aud harmony Of ths Uniop that this question is temporary in it's natnre and can only continne for the brief period which will intervene before California and New Mexico may be admitted as States into the Union. From the tide of population now flowing into them it Is highly probable that this will soon occur.
 Considering tine several States and the citizens of the several States equals, and entitled to equal rights under the Constitution, if this were an origi nal question Il might well be insisted upon that lhe principal of non-interference is the true doctrine and that Congress could not in the absence of any expressed gan of power, interfere with their rela- tive rights Upon great eulergeaey, however,