Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1850-05-24

open and unsettled, to festerin the pub
lie miud, and TO proloug, if not aggra.
yate the existing agitation. 1t has been
their object, therefore, in this report, to
make such proposals and recommends
tions as would accomplish a general nd
justment of all those questions.
Amongst the subjects referred to the
@ Committee, which command their frstat-
tention, are the resolutions offered TO the
Senate by the Senator from Tennessee,
MIR. Bell. BY a provision in the resolu-
tion of Congress annexing Iexa8to the
United States, it is declared that new
States of convenient size, not exceeding
four in number, in addition to said State
ofTexas, and having sufficient popula-
ion, may. hereafter, by the consent of
said State, be formed out of the territory
thereof, which shall be entitled to admis-
sion under the provisions of the Federal
Constitution; and such States as may be
formed out of that portion of said terri
tory lying south Of 36 deg. so min. north
latitude, commonly known as the Mis-
souri, compromise line, shall be admitted
into the Union, with or without slavery,
rs the people of each State asking admis-
sion may desire.
The committee are unanimously of
opinion, that whenever one or more States
formed out Of the territory of Texas, not
exceeding four, having sufficient popula.
ton, with the consent of Texas, may APP
ply to be eadmitted into the Union, they
are entitled to such admission, beyond all
doubt, uponthe clear, unambiguous, and
absolute terms of the solemn compact
contained in the resolution of annexation
adopted by Congress and assented to by
Texas. But, whilst the committee con-
ceiye that the right Of admission into the
Union of any new States carved out of
the territory Oh Texas, not exceeding the
number specified, and under the condi-
tions stated, cannot be justly controverted
the committee do not think that the for
lonatinn of any snnh napr- Statas- -sl,anli
now originate with Congress. The initi-
tiative; in conformity with the usage
which has heretofore prevailed, should
be taken by portion of the people them
seloes, desirous of constituting a new
State, with the consent of Texas. And
in the formation ofsuch new State, it
will be for the'people composing it to de-
eide for themselves whether they will adj
nit or will exclude slavery. And howq
ever they may decide that purely muni-
scipal question, Congress is boundsto ac-
| quiesce, and to fulfil in good faith the
| stipulations of the compact with Texas.
The committee are aware that it has been
contcndcd that the resolution Of Congress
anneXing Texas was unconstitutional. AT
a former epoch of onr country's history,
there were those land Mr. Jefferson, un-
der whose auspices the treaty of Louisi-
ana was Concluded, was among them)
who believed that the States OF Louisiana
| could not be received into the Union
without an amendment of the ,Constitu-
tion. But the States of Louisiana, Mis-.
! souri,. Arkansas and Iowa, have been al,
nevertheless, admitted 4nd who would
now think ofopposing the admission OF
Minnesota, Oregon, or other new States
formed out of the ancient province OF
Louisiana, Upon the ground of an alleged
original defect of constitutional power?
In grave, national transactions, while yet
in their earlier orincipient stages, differ
ences may we'll exist; but when once they
have been decided By a constitutional ma
joIity, and are consummatcd, or are in
a process of consnmmation, there can be
no othersafe and prudent alternative than
to respect the decision already rendered,
and to acquiesce in it. Entertaining
these views, q majority of the committee
do not think Unnecessary or proper torec.
ommend at this time, or prospectiyely,
any new State or States to be formed out
of the territory of Texas, Should any
such State be hereafter formed, and pre-.
sent itself for admission into the Union,
whether with or without the establish
ment Of slavery, it cannot be doubted that
Congress will, underia full sense of L5n-
or, Of good faith, and of all the high obli-
cations arising out Of the compact with
Texas, decide, iustas It will decide under
| the influence Of similar considerations in
regard to rev Statesformed ofor out Of
New Mexico OF Utah, with or without
tho institution Of slavery, according 10 the
constitutions ans Judgment Of the people
who compose thems as to what may be
best to promote their happiness.
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