The daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1848-1851, 1848-09-01
Much Ado About Nothing

Mr. Calhoun has been talking very loudly OF late in Con
gress of the dissolution of the Union the inevitable con
sequ of the prohibition Of slavery in the new Territory
OF Oregon Colonel Benton also SOutherner and slave.
holder, has properly designated such declarations as
tHstGn Let us look at the question dipasSonatey and
if | may the EXPRESSION geographically. The Oregon
Territory acquired by the United States from Great Britain
by treaty extends from 420 49, North Latitude The
whole of the said Territory Therefore, far to the North of
the Missouri Compromise line 1850 go, n Lat) But the
provinces of California and New Mexico lately acquired by
the United States from Mexico by conquest and by treaty.
extend to the Southern side of the line of the Missouri Com
prOmise-her Southern limit being go Latand here
said to be the danger.
Now, to New Mexico that province Is divided into two
nearly equal portions by the River Del NOre, which ayee
New Mexico in its whole length from North to South All
that half of New Mexico which lies East of the River Del
NOe. (and which the only part all settled is claimed
by Texas And By the of the resolution admitting
Texas into the Union the nited States have admitted the
caim Of Texas to the said Eastern half Of New Mexico
Congress will therefore be spared the trouble of forming Ter
tOHal Government for that portion of New Mexico As to
the half of New Mexico which lies the West side OF the
River Del NOre, it mmhabited wilderness is il at
all likely settlers from the United States for long
time come therefore assume that Congress will not be
troubled in the formation of Territorial Government for
Western New Mexico during the next three Presiden
ual terms at least With California the is different
That province extends through ten degrees of latitude the
Pacific from 80 to 4lo N Lat The fine Seapos
fOna, will render place of uneXamped attraction for the
enerpTsng inhabitants of all parts of country. Il will
doubt be settled by Ourpeope quickly its immense
distance from the United States will allow The question of
a Territorial Government for California will be agitaed in
Congress very few years. But will that agitation
danger the Union! Far from it. The representatives of the
Northern and of the Southern States will be found equally
wilngha Is to say large majority Of hem-O stand by
the line of the Missouri Compromise in relation to California
The line of $50 go cuts California into nearly equal portions
five and half degrees of its tertOny being TO the North of
that line and four and half degrees being to the South
The Northern portion contains the fine harbOr of San Fran
and Monterey; the Southern that of San Diego The
Northern half may be made TO produce in abundance all
the products of Europe the Southern all those of the West
Indies CSee Forbess California y The adaptation of the
line of the Missouri Compromise to California thus so re-
markabe that need ap! ehend difficulty in having it
adopted at Away, then, with the destinations no
less pnee than mschevOus about armed resistance by
the South the supposed plots of the North against our
property and lives With Mr. CalhOun believe such decIa
nations to be sincere. Wi'h him. is a mononaH;a But
probably, With many others who follow in his train
For my part, entertain fear of this question of Wee
Soil in future Territories. 1t win regulate itself as 50
many menacng questions councils nave reaIy done
and, il spite Of is eupnca glorious Union " in he Der
petUaL