The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1850-11-09

treaty had rights eAeofed eHa VIC seen u stated,
numbered three thousand. Such was the oondi-
ton and character Of the people of this sparsely
settled region, with no law butthe Constitution of
the United States, aud such Of the Mexican laws
as were consistent herewith, with military COM
mander, made Governor by the order of the Presl-
dent. In this unofganized condition, and ffom
this chaos OF disjointed and discordant material,
the like of which the country furnishes no exam
pie, sprung, If touched by magic, the notable
State of California. Who the people were, IN
what numbers, or their claim 10 the name and
consideration of American citZenss there IS more
liable data, so far as my information extends
Under such circumstances, a military governor,
by his proclamation, directs the people, on q
given day, TO select delegates 10 meet in conven-
rion and frame State constitution, defining the
districts and the number of delegates; for all of
which proceeding there is neither the authority of
law, nor precedent in the history of the Govern
ment. The delegates, thus selected and chosen
under the proclamation of b. Riley, with the title
OF - Brewer Brig. Gen. u. 5. A., and Governor of
California;" meet in the town Of Monterey, on LIST
September, 1919, consisting of forty -eght dele
gates; of whom fifteen We're natives of the slave
States twenty-one of non-slaveholding States, and
twelve of California and Europe; and this conven-
ton, though limited by the proclamation of the
Governor 10 the number of thiry-seven, and
which is the sole authority under which il assem-
bled, was increased TO fory-eght, without the
pretence of authority from any power save its own
sovereign will: and being thus organized, adopted
constitution containing the Wmot Proyiso. 1t
is transmitted 10 Congress Senators and repre-
sentarives demanding their seats the floor of
the Two houses, claim the right of speaking and
voting upon the great questions OF national con-
cernment, affecting your rights and others, ard
Congress receives them. Here was a proceeding
admitted on all hand 10 lie irregular, but in iact
much worse, wholly and absolutely void, binding
upon none, not even the delegates who formed il,
and incapable of acting upon persons properly
but which, by the act of Congress, is given lie,
efficiency and power 10 exclude your property
ON ever entering California; yet are told that
principle and that portion Of the California consi-
tuition containing the Wllmor Prnviso, is not the
act Of Congress, because TO concede thai, would
he to admit that Congress had passed The Wmot
Proviso. One thing we can all comprehend tn /
but for admitting California into tie Union, we
could now carry our slaves there, and as Congress
is alone competent 10 admit. States, il is alone
answered. lie 10 the South for this Of injustice.
Let the candid man tell me, when the constitution
of California presented, aud the claim of its
people 10 admission into The Union was made, Why
1t was that Congress did not respond that the Sd
section Of the 4th article Of the Constitution of the
United States declares: The Congress shall have
power to dispose of and make all needful rules and
regulations respecting the territory or other pro-
perty belonging to the United States" and until
this duty was performed in respect to California,
it could not be recognized as State. Did Con-
gress remind the people of this distant region that
the territory they had taken possession of was, O.
right, the property Of the people of all the States
of the Union, and upon Congress alone devolved
the duty so to regulate the that this equality
of right and equality inthe enjoyment of the same,
should be secured to all the people, and that there
was paramount obligation that ought not to be
delayed, and could not be avoided Oh, no. far
from it.
Congress, in violation OF q plain obligation, en-
inipei under thn ropstitu,io, cd 10
Its duties, in this respect, and in this act Of wilfu
omission, seeks to find justification for abandon
ing the Territory to the will Of accidental occu-
pants for the time, q large portion of whom had
neither wife, kindred nor home, in the country for
which they provide q government excluding the
citizens and property of fifteen States in this
Union. The history of no age or country furn-l
ishes more deplorable instance of wrong, or I'M
blushing fraud, than the legislation of Congress
in regard to California. 1t refused TO exercise ac-
knowedged powers to pass all needful rules and
regulations in respect to this Territory. And for
what reason? That California might make con
sttution containing the Wi!mot Proviso, and
that Congress mi ght say in admitting her as
State, this hateful provlso was not its act, but the
act of the people of California: and that you, gen
tiemen, and the people Of the South are estopped
your lips sealed, because it is the first fruits of
the great republican principle of no,-interpcntoa
Yes, Congress refused to pass laws, as it was
bound to do, for this Territory, and for such of
the people OF the States as might choose to go
there, protecting alike whatever was regarded as
property in the States from whence they came,
that State constitution might be formed no mat
ter by hat sort Of people, Whaf color, lohat right
they had 10 The Sou hop they there, ,ehether for
temporary on permanent purposes, with the express
object of detraudng you and the whole South OF
the light and privilege of settling in California.
No man, it does seem to me, can mistake the
fraudulent and niqutous object and effect OF this
la and t,l1 iS Of tha
compromise measures with which we should be
well pleased; and that we are happy and free
people, floating upon the spring tide of prosperity,
with all the visible means spread before us of ac-
curing wealth and transmitting 1t to our children.
If no,U prosperous, it flows from no act OF
the Government. but is the result of causes, that
have, up to this time, triumphed over the hostile
policy of the Government. How long this pros
perty is TO continue; this peace and contentment,
such as it is, to prevail, may readily infer,
from facts already noticed. But there is another
view of the subject, will present: Have the conces-
sions made by Congress to this Northern sentiment
appeased the Free-soil partyi Have they broken
up their org ,nizaton or diminished their numbers;
Are they not embroidered by their success, and
are they not now openly demanding repeal of
the Fugitive Slave bill the only measure Of all the
series that is entitled to the least favor from the
Southern people? What have said in a former
part of this letter. in regard this Northern senii-
insnt, is about to be verified in much less time
than could have been supposed; and it now
mains but to show its future progress, if not
promptly checked.
BY the 81 Sec. Of 4th Art. Of the Constitution
it is provided " New Srn'es may be admitted by
the Congress into this Union; but no new States
shall be formed erected within the iurs lotion
Of any Their States, nor any other State be formed
by the junction Of two or more States or parts Of
States, without the consent Of the Legislatures of
the States concerned as well as Congress-" This
is the entire section, and desire to direct yourat-
tenton to the fact that the powers of Congress
precisely the same in admitting new States IN
to the Union, " formed by the junction Of two or
more States, or parts of States" by the "consent
OF the Legislature o. the States concerned, /" that
they are TO admit new States from the territories.
New York, Pennsy lvania, Vermont, Maine, New
Jersey, and Connecticut Ohio, Illinois, Indiana,
Michigan, Iowa and Wisconsin,, may carve out
ten, twenty, or any number Of States they please.
by the consent Of Congress, and thus acquire the
strength in the Senate of the United States so TO
amend the Constitution, as to give majority in
Congress the power to abolish slavery in the
States. Will any man pretend to say with a full
knowledge OF all the facts connected with the adj
mission of California, the measures resorted to by
the Government to induce the people of that dis