Lynchburg Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1829-185?, 1849-01-22
VOL. XXVII.-NO. As.

called INTO exercise. There is nothing upon which It
operate In the opinion Of the comnitse, then, this bill
ought t., pass because it proposes the exercise, BY
Congress- Of power vested by the constitution in
tile National Legislature namely the creation Of
State.
But there other and. The committee think. vaid
ob-cions this bill 1t proposes to unite all The terri
tories acquired by the treaty with MeXlco and with ~
constitute Stale. This territory, extending over
degrees Of latitude and degrees ot longitude is obvious
" large for of the States of this Unon; and that
such was the of the Trainer Of this bill is manifest
from the provlso by which ''Cungess reserves To itself
the right, any time may choose to exercise the
of forming aud admitting States out OF any portion Ut
said territory which lies east of The summit OF the range
known as the Sierra Nevada, Califurnia mountains"
In he opinion of The committee this proviso would DO
simply void if the purview of the bill would have any
validity and if it would not, the proviso would have NO.
thing which 10 operate.
BY the enacting clause is provided that these terri
tories shall be State, and he is thereby dtcar-
ed 10 be lone Of the United STATES Of America.
quail footing with the original States all respects what
soever by the and title OF the Stale ct california"
If this valid the effect would be, that
Immediately the passage OF this bill, these united ter
roes would become Of the sovereign States OF this
Union on an equal footing with the original States in all
respects Whatsoever Now. it IS the privilege p each OF
the sovereign States Of this Union not to be discovered
without lis corsen for the same section of the consu-
which this bill is founded, provides that "no
State shall be formed OF erected Witl
any other Sale' without thr of the leglss
lure of such Stale. IT, therefore, under the enactment
of this bill these territories admitted o the
sovereign States the Union, the integrity Of this
State in its whole would be guaranteed by the
siltuton; and long that instrument held sacred
might safely defy the utms power Of the government
or of its aes, circumScrbe the limits of IFS jurs
dction. Again: This bill having creaed a new State,
which is spring slence the moment of lis
actmen clothed with all the powers and Invested with
all the rights which belong Ia the original States on an
equal footing all respects whatever with each u, the
sovereign States Of this Union, such State is thereafter
entitled regulate its own internal concerns, according
discretion. and unembarrased by the meTfer
ence Of Congress The power which Congress may
thereafter exercise within this but soverel gu State
precisely such it exercised wihn any other yale
of the Union. To the State itself belongs exclusively
the establishment Of its municipal and domestic reg
uations If the people who compose il desire to originate
constitution, provide new one. the manner
il which this shall be accomplished the State alone must
prescribe. 1t alone determine upon the assembling
of the number Of delegates OF which it shall
be composed, the qualifications of voters. and the time
and place which the convention shall assemble. If
this no; the new State Is moi soveregn-lt Is not
on footing in this respect with the other States Of The
Union: for no will doubt that such rcse VI pow
er BY Congress- within any Of those Saes would be alb
solutely nugaoIy. Ifihis BILL therefore, were effective
to create pruposs do, and sovereign State.
i seems the committee that all the provisions which
relate the convention, the number OF the delegates The
mode of their selection the qualification OF he voters.
and the time and place at which it shall assemble
beyond the jurisdiction Of Congress, and exclusively
within that Of the State.
Ii il be said that Congress has heretofore exercised
similar powers the admission Of States into the Uniun.
The answer is that they have only been exercised over
the territories of the United States preparatory To their
admission as Slaes and To be- and were, carried
into effect before such admission And 1t. again, II be
hat tle nenDe ,t this beInu without
constitution of government will be unable to provide the
means BY which convention may h6 assembled and
constitution NAV be formed obvious to reply that
this difficulty if be nsnrnouniabe only serves more
distinctly prove the ncongruy Of an act Of Legislation
which proposes To sovereign State, whose snv-
ereonty necessarily excludes all foreign interference in
lis internal concerns: and whieh has, at the same tlmeno
agencies of its own BY which lis sovereign powers may
be exercised. f.t
The committee have deemed their duty to submit 10
the Senate further suggestion in relation to the bill
which has been eftrred To them. proposes " admit
as State the whole territory ACQUIRED by the United
States from Mexico including thus in its whole extent
the territory of New Mexico. Ii is knowu that The State
ofTexas claims the Rio Grande its western bonnda-
w. which claim embraces considerable portion of that
territory The effect If The proposed bill would, there
fore. necessarily BE- TO lay the foundation Of litigation
between the new State and the Stale If Texas to be de
lermned by the Supreme Court, with the delay incident
to such an investigation. 50 long 1t retains lis ierr
torjal firm il is subject the jurisdiction Of Congress
far as the rights of the territory concerned and with
out looking to The terms of The resolution for the
tim of Texas inquiring whether it may not be consd
ed wholly subject their juris ic'ion In every event,
with view to the equitable and speedy adjustment
If the boundary between the Stale Of Texas and this
newly acquired territory and wIrhout expressing
pinun Of the validity invadlty OF the claim Of that
State in the opinion Of the commltiee would be desl-
rabe that this boundary should be determined before any
new State is created whose lnls would he affected by
| ii.
The committee are. however. very sensible OF the i'm
porance of providing government r each OF these ter
rirories as well from jus; regard TO the welfare Of the
people who inhab hemas 10 the interests ct me United
States and treaty stipuaIi'ns with MeNlcu and
without entering INFO details this subject which are
familiar all and awaiting the further instructions ct the
Senate the committee asked leave TO submit The foow-
ING resolution
Resolved That it is inexpedeDt to pass the bill emit
tied "A bill for the admission Of California into lie U
Mon as State"
majority Of the cnmmttee also recommend me adoP
ton Of the following resolutions
Resolved That proper 10 organize ierrllrai gov
ernments for that portion OF the territory OF Cah'ornM
which lies west of the Sierra Neveda or Caurnla NOUN
ains and for the territory of New Mexico lying west Ut
the western boundary of the State OF Texas.
SATURDAYS Proceedings
Correspondence Of the American.
Washington, Jan. ID, lS49.
The Senate was not in session to day, having adJourn-
ed over to Monday.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,
r,sa thai he had been directed by