Southport telegraph. [volume] (Southport, W.T. [i.e. Kenosha, Wis.]) 1840-1850, 1848-08-11


bill IN relation to the many twelve thousand
citizens IN New Mexico and California;
Why? Because shareholders fear that, in
the exercise of the right of suffrage and
/ legislation, these citizens, like their breth.
( eren In Oregon, may attempt to exempt
! themselves from the evils of slave labor.
/ 3. The bill is despotic. The legisla-
/ tlte power is vested in a Governor, Srcre-
tary, and Judges of the Supreme Court,
who number three in California and two in
[ New Mexico. A majority, that is, three
persons, will possess the sole law making
power over enough people TO constitute a
State. This is not all; the wise policy
necessary in all good government, of sepa-
rating the Legislative, Executive, and Judi
cial powers, is utterly disregarded. and all
these powers are concentrated in a small
body of four or five persons, To be appoin-
ted by the President and Senate of the Uni
ted Slates-so that every element OF popn-
lar control over the laws and adminSlra-
ton oIlnsice in these immense Territories
is totally excluded. And why! TO Sc
cure 10 shareholders the privilege of forcing
slavery into them.
4. The bill throughout involves the Ut
ter reputation of the Wilmot Provso, and
of the uniform policy ofthe Government Of
this Union, up TO the present time. The
Wilmot Proviso, which is nothing more
than the application of this policy TO the
Territories of Oregon, California. and New
Mexico, claims that the power of the Fed
eral Government shall be used to prohibit
IL, ,Gs I.,,,or,-
The till refuses to sustain this claim, in the
case of Oregon, leaves to its inhabitants
themselves, the entire question, whether
slavery shall exist among them, or not, and
denies to the people of the other Territories
even this right, leaving them without the
protection of either Territorial or Congress
sonal legislation against slavery. So, the
beneiicent policy originated in 1884 hv
Thomas Jefferson, etiectuated in 1877 by
the Congress OF the Confederation, adopted
by the first Congress of the Union, and sus-
tanned by an uninterrupted series Of prcce-
dents ever since, is 10 be totally reversed in
the year of our Lord lS4S by u Democratic
Senate and Wing House!
5. The bill is in direct antagonism 10 the
doctrine of General Casa doctrine which
was endorsed by the Democratic Conven-
ton at Baltimore, and has been supported
by the Democratic party in sustaining his
nomination. His doctrine is this, in his
own language, indicating the right mode, in
his judgment, of adjusting the question Of
slavery i'll these Territories
"Briefly, then, | am opposed to the excr-
else of any jurisdiction by Congress over
this matter; and lam IN taror Of iearing
10 the people Of any Territory whicA nloy
be hereafter ocquTed, the right 10 reguiafc
il for McmsclCeS. mnder The general prin-
pies Of the Constitutions"
The bill takes away from the people of
the Territories of \. Mexico and Califor-
MIA the right TO Regulate this question: for
Themselves. by deprivng them of all I.egis-
latve power, and prohibiting even the four
or five agents Of the President and Senate,
invested with such power, from passing any
law prospecting Si0rcry"
6. The bill makes ample provision for
the indefinite extension of slavery. 1t pro-
hblts in the Territories acquired from Mex
lco all Territorial action against it. 1t eX.
cludcs all Congressional legislation. Ii laws
them open TO the introduction of slaves
But, says Mr.. Clayton, il extends over them
the Constitution of the United States. insti-
mtes judicial tribunals, before which the
question of slavery may be tested, and pros
vides further for appeals TO the Supreme
COu.t of the United States. Let us see
the worth of this substitute for the popular
will. A system may be very fair in theory,
but foul in operation.
Who appoints the Judges of the Courts
before which the question NAV be brought
The President, by and with the advice and
consent Of the Senate. How long do thew
hold office! -Four years. Pass the bill
this session, as is proposed, and by whom
will those Judges be appointed! Mr.. Polk,
a STAKEHOLDER, of undoubted fidelity to the
slave interest: by and with the advice and
consent of a Senate, whose unsurpassed dos
cil,ty to slavehOlding dlctatOn is notorious.
What sort Of Judges would he imposed on
the Territories Think you that Mr.. Gals
houn and Judge Berren, even if the PRESS
dent might bunder, would permit the ap-
Dointment of man not orthodox on the
slavery question Have they ever been
know 10 slumber when their idol was in
danger!
Besidcs-How is case for testing the
question to be made! The slave knows
nothing of the law or It's tcchncairics.-
Who will interfere Who take the res
possibility, who care the risk. who incur
the expense, TO be encountered in such a
work ! Suppose slave, brought hv writ
Of hGbeas corpus before the District Court.
and the writ he dismissed. where is Tie rem
edy! Lawyers cannot easily pointout how
a case can be got before the Courts in such
4 shape as TO secure its revision bv the Su-
prcmc Court of the United States. What.
then, can be hoped for the poor. ignorant
slave. in new country, where individual
will is often more than match for the law
three months distance from the tribunal
which NAV finally be called upon 10 pro
nounce on his rights,
LETTER OF LANARTINE
/ We translate from the CONSTITUTIONS, of
/ the 1ih, the following letter Of Lamartine,
! addressed to the editor -
Sir:-Through respect for the crisis ol
nv country, as wcllas regard for the good
sense of the public. have suffered that
food Of malevolence, of calumnv and alb.