Daily Richmond times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1849-1850, 1850-04-27

considered the certain precursor OF still alarming
encroachments The admission of a State refers the
question oil slavery in public Territory to the people Of
that Territory at the very moment when they ready
to come into the Union, Congress being the constitu-
tonal arbter to say when that moment has arrived the
Wlmot Provso assigns to Congress the power OF per-
hitting prohibiting slavery in the Territories, and the
exercise OF that power submitted to by the South would
lead the way to direct assaults upon slavery in the
States. For these reasons, adhere to the opinion
that the admission of California, with her proposed
boundaries would be less Objectionable than the Will
mot Provso Nevertheless, we must not be understood
| by any means, advocating the Independent admis-
sion of California. We think her application attend
ed with Irregularities which should her admission
be opposed by every Southern Senator and Represen
tatve, unless it be connected with full and final settle
Of the sectional difficulties. For the attainment
of an end desirable, many grave objections might be
periodically waived; but without it, they should be in
sisted upon in all the forms known to parliamentary
proceedings.
We must confess that until we read Mr.. Newton's
letter. and essay in the Enquirer to which he refers
U.S. were apprsed of certain facts which material
ly affect the question of the admission of California
with the boundaries assumed in her constitution We
refer to the statement, that the delegates of the four
Southern Districts ofhe Territory in the Monterey Con-
government and were in favour of the establishment of
Territorial government in those Districts if the North
hern Districts should insist the State government
All the evidence we have in support OF this very I'M
portant statement, is presented in OF the numbers
Randolph of Roanoke, published in the Richmond
Enquirer the 10th OF the present month. The writer
is evidently much of partisan that decline
to republish his essays in columns Mr.. Newton
suggests but shall not hesitate make use of such
of his facts and arguments we may deem particular
y pertinent to the eucidaton of the general sub
lect under discussion And we insert an extract
embodyng the proofs which he adduces to sustain his
proposition that "The People of California South of
Sc deg 30 min unanimously opposed being ncorpora-
ted into California as a State" The information is
obtained from full report ofthe Debates in the Cafor
mia Convention which has been published by order ofone
of the Houses of Congress:
The four districts representing the country lying South
of 36 deg 30 min San Diego, PuebLa de los An
gel0s Santa Barbara, and San Luis Obispo, and they
were allowed together l6 delegates to the Convention
All OF them who were present at the time, voted unan
n0uSy against the formation OF State Constitution for
California; and they declared that they were instruct
edso to vote, of course their colleagues, if present
would have united with them. The terms OF the reso-
luton were these:
Resolued, That it is expedient that this Convention
now proceed to form State Constitution tor Caior-
MIA"
From "the Debates in the Convention of California;
l make few extracts from OF the speeches OF
members representing those Districts
MIR. S. G. Foster, from the district Of Los Angelos
suggested thathe resolution to appoint committee be
put in such shape as to give the opinion OF the House
directly on the subject OF the form OF government
Some members were in favor OF Territorial Govern
ment For he ocds opposed at present to entering
into q State Government
Mr.. H. Teft, from the district of San Luis Obispo,
said there was another reason why the two questions
should be separated Ii gentlemen honest in stat
ing that the Two resolutions would have the effect
IT was yielding nothing, to comply with the wishes OF
those who desired to record their vote in favor of
plance Nth the aoishes of his constituents to vote for
Territorial Government"
shall introduce but extract more from the de-
bates. 1t derives an additional importance from the
fact that the Speaker native Mexican of conside
rabe note in that section OF California and actual
y elected delegate from each of the districts Los An
gelos and Santa Barbara, and thus spoke:
Mr. J A. Garlic said, The first question ought to
be whether California ought to remain Territory or be
formed into State. Whatever determination there
might be on shst subject, he thought committee ought
to be appointed to report upon it, that members might
record their votes that question alone if they desired
it," He represented one of the respectable
communities in Caornia, and he did not belieue it to
be TO the interests OF has constituents that State Go
Uernment should be formed. AT the time, as a
majority ofthis Convention appeared obe in favor
OF State Government, he proposed that COUNTRY
SHOULD BE DIVIDED BY RUNNING A LINE EAST FROM SAN
LUIS OBSPo, SO THAT ALL NORTH OF THAT LINE MIGHT
HAVE STATE GOVERNMENT, AND ALL SOUTH THEREOF
A TERRITORIAL GOVERNMENT. He and his colleagues
a1ere aider instructions to Uote for Territorial
gangati0n He took this DieaD because he believed it
10 be for the interest Of his oaon constituents"
He had nothing farther to say, except that he
conceived tito be the interest OF his constituents, if
Territorial Government could not be formed for the
1hOle country, THAT THE COUNTRY so DIvID
ED AS TO ALLOW THEM THAT FORM, WHILE THE NORTH
ERN POPULATION MIGHT ADOPT A STATE GOVERNMENT
THEY PREFERRED IT.
These are striking and most important developments,
and demonstrate to every mind, that if these people
South OF Sc deg 30 min had been left to themselves,
or could have had their 0Dn choice, they would not
have been Incorporated into the State of Calor-
na-but would have been severed thereirom and been
now seeking at the hands of Congress Territorial
Government.
Judging OF the popular numbers by the number of
delegates allotted them in the Convention, the district
of country South of 36 deg 80 min must have contain
ed at least OF the whole population represent
ed in the Convention, and according to Preus' map
tprepared for the President of the United States under
the direction OF the Commissioner of the General Land
OF the whole State limits OF California as her Convention
has defined them, and containing about 10000 square
miles! Here, them in territorial dimensions, is
than halt of the ,ohole State OF California, and
tanning an area larger by six thousand square miles,
than Vermont, New Hampthire Massachusetts, Rhode
Island, Connecticut New Ygk, New Jersey and Del
aware c01l6lnea and containing within those limits ful
y one-thrd OF Calitorna's whole population, who are
shown to have been unanimously averse to the lorna
ton OF State Government while hope OF defeating
thatmeasue OF OF surrendering the territory remained.
Another important position Of the writer u.s. that
California is not comp etent to the support of State
government, because of her inability to assess land
tax and the uncertain character of her population and
"clams to be supported a State out of the ma
tional exchequer" To sustain this assertion the fol-
lowing extract from speech delivered by DR.. Gwn,
of the Senators elect, in the Convention is cited
1t absolutely essential that the House should as
certain how the means of supporting this government
after ats adoption, is to be Obtained Other means
uepeople Of Caltornia. The GOVERNMENT OF THE
UNITED STATES SHOULD BEAR THE EXPENSES OF THE
STATE GOVERNMENT FOR NUMBER oE YEARS AFTER
ITS ADOPTION. Fourteen Of the thirty States of the
union-all the new States, except Texas-have had the
benefit OF territorial government, The expenditure of
public money in sustaining territorial governments has
been immense. There never was territory except |
California that had not large appropriations to sustain
it," &c. FLORIDA had the benefit OFF, years territorial