The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1849-03-09

insure its stability and perpetuate the principles
which It's foundations were lad had even an earlier date
than the era OF the federal constitution. Ii is shown IN
the ordinance OF the Congress Of the confederation pro-
vdlng for the territory northwest of the Ohio The
ordinance prescribed rules for the OF that ter
rtory In ITS moral as well its political relations; and
imposed upon the admission of the States be formed
out OF IT, IN respect to representation, conditions
onerous than those Which were annexed by the federal
convention to the representation of the thirteen original
States These exactons and conditions all had for their
object to maintain the purity of the system the homoge
of its parts, and the harmony of its
They looked to training and discipline in the school OF
representative government before the communities which
were to be incorporated into the Union raised TO the
dignity and equality OF sovereign States.
Sir, hold TO this prudence and caution in the founders
OF the republic believe 1t to be due to ourselves the
institutions they framed and to the future millions whose
destiny for good for evil degree to be wrough
out in our political action
deduce, them from the organization OF the government,
this practical principle, which hold TO be fundamental
that State ought to be admitted into the Union which
has not been prepared by familiar knowledge OF the
theory and practice of political system, and by such
training in the discipline to free Institutions to render
Its participation IN the administration OF the general
Germs an and and an advantage, not embarrassment
and an obstacle, to the steady action Of the system.
Mhs rec h whfG consider absolute is not
by the select committee admits that territory into the
Union al once as sovereign State That, too was the
purport of the amendment of the senator from Tennessee
though tembraced New Mexico also This proposition
is directly opposed TO all the practical rules and usases
of the republic, from its foundation TO the present day
1t in papable violation of the principle have stated
inherent in the organization of the federal government
1t dscards all the prudential considerations which
ed into the reasonngs OF the trainers OF the constitution
concerning the extension OF our political system.
Let state of the leading objections to it, they
relate to the condition OF California: Its present nhabt
ants toa considerable extent Indians Mexicans of
mixed blood q They for the most part, uneducated
g. They not sufficiently familiar with the business of
sef-government a. They do not even speak Ian
guagc. 5. They would not come into the Union with an
,lIhtan mn arsfn acnfn nclif
cal system, with the general cultivation and nte
gence essential such ulilment OF the duties and re-
sponsbllles OF the American citizen as to render them
safe participants in the administration OF the government
need not enlarge upon these propositions Those who
are familiar with the condition of California and the char
acler of the people will assent to their truth. hold
these objections to the immediate admission of California
into the Union Stae-o0jections drawn from the
character and condition of the peopeto be nsuperabe.
know very well that territory rapidly filling up, and
that il is receiving from thousands of citizens active,
enteprisng, and of unexceptonable character. But we
know also that is receiving muudes OF adventurers
from almost every quarter OF the elobeirom both hen
spheres-from Oceanca to the European continent and
islands-some for permanent abode but more for
temporary purposes, l wish TO this heterogeneous
pass through the process OF fermentation to which
il is destined, and settle down into something like
slstence, before undertake to endow it with all the
attributes OF SELF government.
This viaw OF the subject is sustained by the uniform
practice of the government. L. Our alien laws have al
ways prescribed period OF probation for individuals
who come among US for abode and to unite
their fortunes to This period has always been of
several years in duration The most liberal (and of
these | have always been one) have proposed to
dispense altogether with this probationary term The
only question to it's proper extent II proceeds upon
the principle admitted by all, that no man shall become
member of political association until he has been
taught by experience to appreciate Its advantages and to
take part in its deliberations with some knowledge OF its
requirements 9. The same principle which has gov
erned in Of individual immigration has been APP
piled to territories acquired by treaty. and to large masses
of persons When Louisiana was coded to us by France
we stipulated that the inhabitants should be incorporated
into the Union, and admitted possible, accord
ing the principles of the federal constitution, 10 the
enjoyment of the rights, advantages, and lmmunes OF
citizens OF the United States and IN the mean time that
they should be maintained and protected in the enjoy
ment of their liberty, their property, and in the exercise
of the religion they protested
Louisiana was acquired in 1903 The inhabitants made
repeated applications for admission into the Unlon they
protested against the ardy action of Congress; they APP
peaIed the treaty in vndicaon OF their right to such
admission Yet Congress refused to admit Louisiana into
the Union as State until 1872 Nine years deemed
necessary to prepare the inhabitants for the exercise of
the highest political rights, though there strong
infusion OF our own citizens among them.
Florida vas acquired in 1920; and in the treaty with
Spain there was stipulation nearly dentica! in Ian.
guage with that which contained in The treaty with
France for the cesson OF louisiana respect to the ad
mission of the inhabitants into the Union. Yet Florida
was not admitted a State until lSi5-a quarter of
century after its acquisition know that numbers had
something to do with this delays but other considerations
doubtless had their influence also These territories
both foreign and, when acquired their inhabitants were
presumed to have but little knowledge of the theory or
practice OF our political institutions
But. with our own territories anj our own peo
ple we have dealt with the canton and the same
prudent regard to the privileges which admission into
The Union confers. Instead of curtang the period of
probation, where Congress had discretion, have
rather been disposed insist rigid fulflment of
the prescribed conditions, both in respect 10 numbers and
time.
The ordinance of 1857, by which the division of the
territory northwest of the OHIO river into States and the
ultimate incorporation OF those States into the Union,
were provided for, fixed sixty thousand free inhab
ants the number necessary TO Their admlsson but It
was provided also, that far it should consist with
the general interest of the conederacy, such admission
might be allowed at an earlier period, and with less
number of inhabitants. Yet, Ohio not admitted into
the Union unit, 1902 1t must have had sixty thousand
inhabitants and admitted with single member of
Congress AT the time the ratio Misrepresentation
in Congress was one member for thirty three thousand
inhabitants.
Indiana was admitted in 1916, Illinois in 1sls Mchi-
gan in 1897, and Wisconsin year ago. These terrific
Ties settled chiefly by people The settlers
came from the old States. They nurtured in the
love OF liberty, and trained to the exercise of political
rights All their associations OF character to
render them safe deposes Of the priceless treasure of
freedom Yet they subjected to protracted pro-
baton They held in political subsection, not only
respect to the appointment of their chief executive Of
feers, but in the delicate relation OF supervising
gsation.
Such Mr. President has been practice not only in
respect to territories acquired by treaties with foreign
20 vers but respect to people occupying 'er-
tories held by tenure coeval with our political lndePeh-
dence The bill reported by the select committee propo-
ses to overthrow and the uniform pracce OF the
country in this essential particular This practice as
sumss that some familiarity with the duties and prvile
,es of citzenshp is necessary for the inhabitants OF
,erriorv "a preparation for the independent manage