The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1848-12-06

instrument. Whether Congress shall legislae or not,
the peope of the acquired Territories, when assembled in
convention to form State constitutions will possess the
sole and exclusive power TO determine Tor themselves
whether slavery shall shall not exist within their linn
its Ii Congress shall abstain from interfering with the
question: the people OF these Territories will be LETT free
to adjust it they may think proper when they apply
for admission States into the Union No enactment OF
Congress could restrain the people OF any OF the sovereign
States OF the Union old new, north south, slave
holding slaveh oldng from determining the char
acte of their own domestic institutions as they may deem
wise and proper Any and all the States possess this
right and Congress cannot deprive them of IT, The PEG
Pile of Georgia might if they chose alter their cons
tuition abolish slavery within its limits and the peo
pie of Vermont might alter their constitution to adj
NIT slavery within It's limits. Both States would possess
the right; though as all know, II is not probable that
either would exert It,
is fortunate for the pc and harmony of the Union
that this question is its nature temporary and only
continue 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 flow
ing into them, it is highly probable that this will
occur.
Considering the several States and the citizens of the
several States equals, and entitled TO equal rights
der the constitution, If this original question: it
might we'll be insisted on that the principle Of non-n-
reference is the true doctrine, and that Congress could
not IN the absence of any express grant of power inter-
fere with their relative rights Upon great emergency,
however, and under menacng dangers to the Union, the
Missouri compromise line in respect to slavery adopt
ed. The same line was extended further west in the
acquisition of Texas After acquescence of nearly
thirty years in the principle OF compromise recognised
and established by these ACTS and to avoid the danger
the Union which might follow if it dsregarded,
have heretofore expressed the opinion that that line OF
compromise should be extended the parallel of thirty
six degrees thirty minutes from the western boundary of
Texas, where it now terminates, to the Pacific
This is the middle ground Uf compromise upon which
tho different sections of the Union may meet they
have heretofore met If this be done, it is confidently
believed large majority of the people of every section
of the country, however widely their abstract opinions
the subectSof slavery may differ. would cheerfully
and Patriocay acquiesce in it, and peace and harmony
would again fl! our borders
49, III linz lad
in the of Missouri and Texas upon principle of
compromise made necessary for the sake of preserving
the harmony, and possibly the existence of the Union
II upon these considerations that at the close OF your
last session. gave my sanction to the principle of the
Missouri compromise line, by approving and signing the
bill to establish the Territorial government of Oregon"
From a sincere desire to preserve the harmony of
the Union, and in Difference for the acts OF my prede-
cessors, felt constrained to yield my acquiescence TO
delicate and dangerous question: But If Congress shall
now reverse the decision by which the Missouri COM
promise effected, and shall propose to extend the
restriction the hole territory south well north
of the parallel of thirty six degrees thirty minutes, it
will to be compromise, and must be regarded as
an original question
If Congress- instead of observing the course OF non-in
reference leaving the adoption OF their domestic in
stutions TO the people who may nhabit these Territories
or if, instead of extending the Missouri comp line
the Pacific, shall prefer to submit the legal and con-
stiutional questions which may arise to the decision OF
the judicial tribunals, as was proposed In bill which
passed the Senate at your last session. an adjustment
erIed to the judiciary, all parts of the Union should
cheefuy acquesce in the final decision of the tribunal
created by the constitution for the settlement of all ques
tons which may under the constitution, treaties, and
laws of the United States.
Congress is earnestly invoked for the sake of the
Union, its harmony, and our continued prosperity as
nation, to ADJUST at its present session this, the only
dangerous question which lies in our path not In some
of the modes suggested in other which may be
satisfactory.
In anticipation of the establishment of regular gov
the ACQUIRED territories, a
mission of officers of the army and navy has been ordered
proceed to the coast of California and Oregon, for the
proper sites for the erection OF Notifications other
defensive works land, and of suitable situations
for naval stations The information which may be
expected from scientific and skIlful eXamina
ton of the whole face of the coast will be emnently
useful 10 Congress, when they to consider the pro-
pety of making appropriations for these great national
objects Proper defences on land will be necessary for
the security and protection OF our possessions and the
establishment of navyyards, and dock for the repair
and construction of vessels will be important alike TO our
navy and commercial marine Without such establish
mens, every vessel whether OF the navy or OF the mer-
chant service requiring repair must, at great expense,
come round Cape Horn to one OF our Atlantic yards
for that purpose With such establishments, vessels, it
is believed, may be built repaired cheapy in Cali
forna upon the Atlantic coast They would give
employment to many OF our enerprlslng ship builders
and mechanics, and greatly facilitate and enlarge our
commerce i'll the Pacific.
AS it is ascertaned that mines of gold, silver,
copper, and quicksilver exl list IN New Mexico and
California, and that nearly all the lands where
they are found belong the United States, ii is deem
ed important to the public interests that provision
be made for geolog zeal and neurological examination
of these regions Measures should be adopted to preserve
the mineral lands especially such as contain the precious
metals, for the of the United States; II broug into
market, to separate them from the farming lands, and
dispose of them such manner to large re-
of money to the treasury, and at the same time lead
the development of their wealth by individual prope-
tors and purchasers To do hs it will be necessary to
provide for immediate survey and location of the lots
If Congress should deem proper TO dispose OF the NINE
raj lands, they should be sold small quantities, and at
fixed minimum pTce
recommend that surveyor generals Offices be author
lied 10 be established in New Mexico and California, and
provision made for surveying and bringing the public
disposng of these lands recommend that the right OF
pre- empton be secured and liberal grants made to the
early emigants who have settled or may settle upon
them.
1t will be important to extend laws
these Territories and especially over California at an
early period There is already considerable commerce
with California; and until ports of entry shall be esab
shed and collectors appointed no revenue can be re-
ceived.
If these and other necessary and proper meas
ures be adopted for the development of the wealth and
resources OF New Mexico and California, and regular
will probably be the rapid enlargement of
and navigation, and such the addition TO the national
wealth. that the present generation may live to witness
the controlling commercial and monetary power OF the
world transferred from London and other European EN-
poriums to the city of New York
The apprehensons which were entertained by some OF
our statesmen in the earlier periods of the government,
that system incapable OF operating with suifi
energy and largely extended territorial
limits and that If this were attempted, 1t would TALL to
pieces BY its have been dsspated by
perence By the division of between the States and
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