The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1850-05-13
THE UBLIC.
WASHINGTON:
MONDAY MORNING. MAY 10, 1850.
The BE Ginning OF the End.


the magnitude of the consequences that
are to flow from it, in any parliamentary
struggle that has yet been witnessed in
that body. The history of the Senate is
replete with examples of brilliant conflict;
but at no past period have the representa-
tives of the States and Of the people been
summoned to higher or more dangerous
duties. The country stands on tiptoe,
awaiting in breathless anxiety the tidings
which every breeze shall watt from the
centre to the circumference of the Con-
federacy. The question is, shall there be
harmony, and fraternity, and Union or
shall there be discord, arrangement, and
convulsion! The crisis is near at hand.
The coming time is full of fate. Destiny
seems inpatient of the approaching strug-
gle, as though issues were close at hand Of
graver magnitude than any hitherto con-
fded TO mortal decision.
We shall be pardoned, upon this occasion,
if we disdain the factious and partisan spirit
in which the Union has thought fit to APP
proach this subject. The issue is in the
hand of no party. Neither the Wing nor
the Democratic party can alone shape the
policy which leads to peace. Neither the
North nor the South can alone extinguish
the fire which is consuming the vitals Of
the Republic. The danger is common to
all parties, and we invoke all to the res
cue. The confagration threatens each
section, and we invoke both to its sup
preston. We would hold ourselves I'M
worthy Of participating in the glorious
work of securing the peace, the prosperity
Of the people, and the perpetuity of the
Union, if we could hazard hope by
grasping larger share Of the gratitude Of
the country for this or that man. When
the work is completed, each will be as
signed his due of reward by people
snatched from the brand of civil strife, and
countryrescued from sectional dismem-
berment and destruction.
In the beginning of the session of the
present Congress the PRESIDENT, in his an
nual message, announced to both Houses
of the Legislature that he shortly ex-
pected to inform them of the adoption of
State constitutions by California and New
Mexico, and recommended in advance of
their application their admission into the
Union, upon the condition alone that their
forms of government should be republican
as required by the Constitution.
AT subsequent period, in answer to
call of the House of Representatives, he
communicated to Congress the reasons for
this opinion, and the documents in the pos
session Of the Government showing what
had been done, by the preceding and past
administrations, to encourage the people
of those Territories to hold conventions
and form State governments, in anticipa-
ton Of their adoption into the family of
States. In that document, commonly
called the California message, the PREsI-
DENT informed Congress that, in advising
the people Of the Territories to take early
measures for the formation of State gov
ernments, with a view to admission into
the Union, he was Calculated principally
by an earnest desire TO afford to the wis
dom and patriotism of Congress the oppor-
tunity Of Avoiding occasions Of bitter and
angry discussions among the people Of the
United States"
The PRESIDENT further informed Con.
gress that the officers of the General Gov
eminent were expressly instructed to for
bear any attempt TO influence the people
of the Territories, one way or another, in
respect to the manner in which they
should arrange their "domestic institu-
TONS" or to control them in regard to any
other tenets Of their organic law.
II was in this message that the PREsI-
DENT informed Congress, also, that il was
understood that the western portion of
California had formed State government,
and asked in advance for her admission,
if her constitution proved TO be republican
in form. He moreover repeated the opin
ion that New Mexico would shortly form
State government, and added that no
material inconvenience would result from
the want '.for short period" Of terrific
rial government over that part of our treaty
acquisitions which was not embraced by
the boundaries adopted by the California
convention for the State of that name.
He likewise suggested as reason why
territorial government should not, for
the present, be given to New Mexico,
that Texas claimed large portion Of that
Territory as herrightful property, and that
the formation of such government by
Congress would be, in effect, to PREJUDICE
that claim, either for or against Texas, as
the disputed district might be included in,
or excluded from, the jurisdiction Of the