Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1849-11-22
NOVEMBER 22, IS49.
California.


The wishes of many friends of the Union, and
the prophecies OF many of those who have
watched the course of events, IRE satisfied and
made good by the latest news from California.-
The action of the convention upon the Slavery
question while 1t is what was expected by quiet
people here, Is exactly what must put an extin-
gulsher upon our agiiators. All If those who
have attempted TO make capital out Of pretence
that California was to be admitted into The Union
as Slave territory, can now leave off making the
faces with which they haze hitherto amused the
public. Those who have set up theory that
Ge"eral Taylor, by personal influence, or by
government agents. was attempting TO introduce
the southern institution in California, must con-
Tess themselves mistaken. Those who have
agreed, from fist TO last, IN the positions which
VIC have always maintained, that California had
light to Judge for itself upon this subject, and
tCouM Judge rightly, will be gratifed by the in
telligencc now received The following letter
from Washington, in the New York Journal Of
Commerce, gives some speculdlons on this sub.
ject- Boston .4du.
WAsnISGroN, Nov. l4lh
understand that Mr. Calhoun will resist the
admission OF California as a State into the Union
with restriction Of slavery, ms part Ct its or
ganic law. | do not think he will obtain the
vote OF all the Southern Senators in the course
which he has marked out. He takes the ground
that California has no right 10 exclude slaves
and thereby exclude Shareholders from her soil
The sovereignty over which belonged to every
citizen of the United States, and must be exer-
clsed by their representatives IN Congress. lie
contends that the people in California have no
more rIght to exclude slavery than Congress
has
RNcr California has become State, then she
may regulate her domestic policy MS she plcascs !;
ia hf,un Afr -
houn, to resist her admission a State, and her
assumption of the right in her present position
to form State Government. Thee is no OBJ
Jec!ton, as he thinks, 10 her forming Provision
al Government, Tor the security of her inhabll
anis but she has no right TO form State Gov
crnnent, without the assent of Congress, nor to
enforce any law which may be il consistent with
The rights and interests of the sluvehodin por
ton Of the Union. These, it is believed, are
The opinions not only Of Mr.. Calhoun, bet OF
many Southern Senators, both Wing aud Dem
ocraic.
You will, ere long, if am not mistaken, see
an assault from a combined Southern force, upon
the present Administration, on account of an al
legged Improper interference, by It's order through
It's agents, with the affairs Of California. To
Gen. Riley, as | informed you, the Adminislra
Ton gave such Instructions as wotc calculated To
secure the carly formation of a Safe Govern
ment, end with ii Constitution prohibning Slave
Y. ms was, III my opinion, a wise and pa'r-
otto measure, on the part Of iDe Administrator,
and 1t was completely successful.
But am informed, and have good reason To
believe, that porion.ot the Southern members
OF Congress, and otIier Southern politicians, iu-
tend to BRING some railing accusations against
the Administration, on account OF what they al
Iege to be The extraordinary and unwarrantable
Instructions TO Gen. Riley. 1t is intended To al
lege that these instructions exceed any power
that belongs to tie Federal Executive, III the
premises.
have much more apprehension from an agi
tltlon Of this aud biHdred questions in Congress
at Tins session, 'han from any question relating
to foreign nations that may arise IN u century
tear that Mir. Ca huun Is TO make final and
potent elliott, under some fatal impulse, to throw
portion Of the Southern States out of the
Union. Vine her he may succeed or not, this
viii probably be his last session here. | still
trust, that MIR. Calhoun will be deferred from
pursuing the course which he has marked out for
himself, Tor 1t Is quite certain that The people OF
'he South VIII not sustain him in ii.
am aware that Mr.. Calhoun thinks, that a
bold aud united stand by the South, in resisting
the admission OF California, or any interference
with slavery in the District of Columbia, will
save the Union; and that nothing short OF sucil
course will do it, But think that Mr. c, is
under a fatal error. II the Mississippi resou.
tons, which Mr. Calhoun sanctioned, or perhaps
drew up himself should be acted on by any one
State, or by all the Southern States, It would
destroy the harmony and integrity OF the Union.