The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1849-01-21
CITY OF WASHINGTON.
SUNDAY MORNING, JAN. 81, Is4s.
Adm,s.,on OF California .s a state.

ted that body by Mr. Senator Douglas, providing for
the organization of the territory and the settlement
of the exciting questions connected with it, by the ad
mission of California into the Union State. In so
far the objections made in that report against the
bill depend upon the alleged ncompeency of Congress-
under the constitution TO admit into the Union State
to be formed out OF territory not politically organ
lied, and antecedent to the adoption of a State
stituton by its people, those objections to be- in
very great measure, if not altogether, obviated by
the substitute for the bill proposed in the form of
amendment by Senator Douglas, on Tuesday last
The BILL in the shape now proposed, simply gives the
of Congress that California of the Sierra
Nevada shall be State of the Union from and after the
4th of July next and further provides that the acting
governor OF said Territory shall call convention of the
people, to the end that they may form for themselves
constitution and State government before the 18th OF July
Its language is as follows
"rhnt Congress doth consent that from and after the
h day Of July next all that portion of the territory of the
| United States which is included within the following lin
is TO witi beginning in the Pacific ocean, three leagues
from shore the parallel Of Al deg 80 min of north la
init Of the Sierra Nevada California mountans thence
parallel of 81 deg and 30 min OF north attude thence
along said parallel TO the ocean; thence north the
place of beginning, including the islands adjacent the
Shore shall constitute State and with the of the
people thereof the same hereby declared to be OF
equal footing with the original States in all respects what
.oever, with the unconditional reservation to the United
other opr aas by s Of
peace concluded with the republic of Mexico I'd Febru
said State and also the power of dsposng Of the same
including tue right of adjusting all claims and titles
as Congress shall prescribe o
"SEc And be it further enacted That the acting gov
ernor ot California, as he shall be provided with
copy OF this act to the end that the people may have OPP
portunity OF establishing for themselves constitution
of
the an day OF July next shall immediately proceed to lay
State, into convenient districts for the
TO convention for the purpose Of forming State consti,u
election in each district, appoint the officers conduct
same and prescribe the mode of making the there
the several districts as may be- according the
number legal voters in each and he shalt also designate
the time and place for the assembling OF said convention
Every white male citizen OF the United States including
those who shall have become such under the provisions ofh
said treaty with Mexico, being actual residents of the pro
posed State and having attained the of Il years. shall
sasa 70 n S3's Iaa Tina, the law, Of the
United States, far they locally napplicabe
hereby extended and declared be said
State and until the general census, the said State
shat be entitled to one representative in the Congress OF
the United States"
1t is probable indeed almost certain that the hope OF
providing any civil government for the territories al
the present session OF Congress, depends mainly on the
success of this, or of some similar measure, Qke Mr.
Senator Downss) In this view of the case, and also to
quiet the great and harassng question of slavery in the
territories by referring it TO those whom all admit to
be most interested in it, and to have under the consttu
ton the supreme control of 1.-THE people, namely, OF
that region organized and admitted State s that
Senator Douglas has introduced this
We have hesitation in respectfully expressing our
opinion that this measure meets the pressing wants
and necessities of the rapidly augmenting population
of California at this time. If successful, it will give
them promptly government of their choice. 1t will
thus, in the only way apparently practicable, res
them from their present formidable danger OF dis
order and anarchy, if they are to remain year lon
ger without some regular civil government 1t will
also remove all apprehension of the organization OF
a government in California in such form, and under
such auspices influences, to weaken the bonds OF
sympathy and interest which now bind the people OF
that land to the federal Union And most of ALL while
thus meeting the state OF things there, the bill, if
cessful will less contribute to lay the fell spirit OF
sectional agitation upon the question of slavery among
ourselves
Beyond all doubt the necessity for some action is
urgent We understand that in many quarters where
grave doubts and difficulties felt upon the
as first presented the bill in its proposed shape is
much favorably regarded The question seems
to be between State government for California, and foI
the tens of thousands who rushing into her borders
and no civil government at all.
Since writing the above, informed that the
gency OF the greater than expected For
several days past have taken the liberty of most
specfully pressing Congress the necessity of Civ
ing an efficient organization TO that distant coun
try We have taken California under our wing
| The United States have made themselves respons
BILE Tor the good government of her people. We
not abandon her to herself without violating du
ties in the face OF the world We have seen an ex
cited population crowdng into that country animated by
the strongest passions contending with each other TO
the strongest interests; and if restrained by an eff
cient government, likely TO run to excuses These ef
ects were naturally to be expected but they coming
upon us even faster than we had anticipated We under
stand that the last accounts from California depict
OF lalvlessncss violence, and excitement which alread,
battles description The duty must be met. unless We
mean bring down upon ourselves the contempt and tn
ebuke of the civilized world When these facts are wei
understood, doubt that others will see, a, wei
as we do the imperative duty Of acting without mo
ments delay.
We cannot agree with those gentlemen who wish to
keep the question open for the purpose Of embarrassing
the next administration. Much the wings have erred
in their mode OF electoneerng for Gen. Taylor in pre-
South-yet cannot consent 10 throw the question
with all its embarrassmens, upon him, when our coun
Try is threatened to be torn to pieces the struggle and