Glasgow weekly times. (Glasgow, Mo.) 1848-1861, 1848-12-21


ded-when peace is restored, and they re-
turn again to their homes--put off the ha.
biIimenis Of war, take their places in So
cey and resume their pursuits in civil life,
surely a spirit of harmony and concession, |
and of equal regard for the rights of all,
and of all sections Of the Union, ought to
prevail in providing Governments for the !
acquired Territories-the fruits of their
common service. The whole people of the
United States, and of every State, contrib.
uted to pay the expenses of that war; and
i, would not be just for any one section TO
exclude another from all participation in
the acquired territory. This would not be
in accordance with the just system of Gov
eminent which the trainers of our Consl-
tuition adopted.
The question is believed 10 be rather alb
stract than practical, whether slavery ever
can or would exist in any portion of the
acquired territory, even if it were left to
the option of the slavehoding States them
selves. From the nature of the climate
and productions of the country, in much
the larger portion of it, il is certain il could
never exists and, in the remainder, would
not.
But, however this may be, the question
involving as it does principle of equality
Of rights of the separate and several States,
as equal copartners in the confederacy,
should not be disregarded.
In organizing Governments over their
territories, no duties imposed on Congress
by the Constitution require that they should
legislate on the subject of slavery, while
their power TO do SO is not only seriously
questioned, but denied, by many of the
soundest expounders of that instrument
Whether Congress shall legisla,e or not, the
people of the acquired territories, when
assembled in convention, will possess the
whole and exclusive power to determine
whether slavery shall, or shall not, exist
within their limits. If Congress shall alb
stain from interfering in the question, the
people of these territories will be left free
TO adjust it as they may think proper, when
they may apply for admission as States into
the Union. No enactment of Congress as
could restrain the people of any of the
sovereign States of the Union. old or new,
slavehoding or non-saveholding. from de.
tel mining the apprehensions which were
entertained by some Of our statesmen in the
earlier period of our government--that
our system was inca pable of operating with
sufficient energy and success over largely
extended territorial limits. Those who
maintained that if this system was adopted
it would fall TO pieces by its own weak
ness, have been disappointed by our expe-
perience. BY the division Of power be-
tween the States and the Federal Govern
ment, the latter is found to operate with as
much energy at the extremes as in the cen
tire. 1t is as sufficient in the remoiest of
the thirty States which now compose the
Union, as it was in the thirteen States which
formed our confederacy. Indeed, il may
he doubted, whether if our present popu.
lation had been confined within the limits
of the original thirteen States, the tenden-
cy TO concentration would not have been
such as TO have encroached upon the es-
sen,ial reserved rights of the States, and
thus make the Federal Government wide
ly different one, practically, from what il
is in theory, and was intended to be by its
trainers. So far from entertaining appre-
tensions of the safety of our system by the
extension of our territory, the belief is
confidently entertained, that each new
State give sstrenglh and additional guaran-
tee for the preservation Of the Union it.
self.
In pursuance OF the provisions OF the 18Th Ar
HSio VI 'ho uedly VI pehCe' IIeHuSniD, inHlIs ana
settlement with the republic Of Mexico, and OF
the Act OF July 29lh, 1913, claims of our cl
zsns which has been already liquidated, and de.
cided against the Mexican Republic. amounting
with the interest thereon, to Two millions twenty
three thousand eight bundled and thirty two dol.
lars flty>one cents have been qudated and paid.
There remains TO be paid OF these claims, &74,
1872 76.
Congress, at its last session, having made no
provision for executing the 18th Article Of the
treaty, by which the United States assumed TO
make satisfaction for The "uuliquidaled claims"
Of our citizens against Mexico, an amount excee.
ding S3,250, 900, the subject is again recommen.
ded 10 your favorable consideration.
The exchange OF ratification in the treaty with
Mexico took place en- the 30Ih Of May, 1915
Within one year after the time, the Commissioner
and Surveyor, which each government spuI aled
TO appoint, are required 10 meet a. ,he Port OF
San Diego and proceed TO run and mark the said
boundary in its whole course, TO the mouth OF the
r o Bravo del Norte.' II will be seen from this
provision that the period within which these sur>
vsyors OF the respective governments are 10 meet
at San Diego, will expire on the 10Th Of May,
1919. Congress, al the close OF its last session,
made an appropriation for The expenses Of run.
ming and marking the boundary line between the
Two countries, but did not fix the amount OF saa
ry which should be paid TO the commissioner and
surveyor TO be appointed on the part OF the Uni
ted States. II is desirable that The amount Of COM
pensaton they shall receive should be prescribed
by law, and not left, as al present, 10 executive
discretion.