Daily Richmond times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1849-1850, 1850-02-26

meet i'll Convention, and to determine whether
| they would or would not become member of the
| Union! Would it not have been Congress that
| gave her the power to come here and ask for adj
mission? And would it not have been Congress
that hnaliy received her? And might not, upon
sucl supposton, the honorable Senator as read
| ~ charge congress with indirectly excluding sla-
very from California as he can do it now?
Slr understand that, no matter how her consti-
! "ton may be formed, whether with without the
consent OF Congress, when that constitution is pre-
sened to us our consideration is limited to the en-
curry whether it is republican? 1t is true, that
Whefe constitution has been formed with
| ueSree or lrreguarty, as i'll the case of Califor-
ma, you nave to consider of that rregularity and
| determine whether, as statesmen looking TO great
| oDJecs looking to the accomplishment of a great
purpose affecting the harmony of this JJniongvou
| are to be led off by technicaities as to the
| admission of a State under these circumstances
wen, SIR 1t Is Just as much the right of CaliIor.
MIA to decide the question of slavery for herself as
| 1t would have been if a previous act of Congress
| mad passed here authorizing her to form herself
INTO State, and we had admitted her afterwards
And Congress Is 10 more responsible for the inter
| dlctlon OF slavery which exists in the constitution
| of California now than Congress would be re.
| sponslbe for it if there had been prior act of
Congress authorizing the people of California to
consider for themselves, and to determine whether
| they would or would not come into the Union as
| a member of it.
nothing yet that in the slightest degree contravenes
the force of this argument | said that, in regard
to California, she had an excuse which did not exist
IN the case of other States that have been admitted
INTO this Union without previous authority of Con-
| gress. In the of the other States they were
not abandoned by Congress. Congress performed
Its parental duty of providing for them suitable ter
| rtoral governments They had got governments
they had got good governments; they had got free
governments. But what is the in regard to
ftolII
the last session. Congress failed to discharge its
parental duty towards California at the last session
She was III state OF profound and perfect anarchy,
| unless she could obtain make some laws suited
to her abandoned condition. And, when thus
abandoned by Congress, what does California do ?
| Why, she calls Convention, and that Convention
forms constitutional very excellent constitution,
as believe, so far as have looked into it. She
| chooses herself of her free will to refuse to
| admit slavery within her lmls--and she comes
| here. How? Debating to Congress? No, sir;
| she comes to the very parent who has treated her
in this heartless manner, respectfully asking the
parent who has thus turned her loose, cast her off
from all law, without government emanatng
from the only authority which could institute real
and legitimate and proper government-she comes
| to her, how? Threatening to make herself inde
Notwithstanding secession, threatening dis
unlon2 No, sir, no: she comes here, and, in a
most respectful II not in most humble manner
asks you to admit her to the enjoyment of the
blessings of self-goyernment, which you denied to
her III any form at the last session of Congress-
And you are bound not only by the constitution of
the United States, but by the treaty by which she
was acquired and by the higher law Of God him.
self, to give to those who are thrown into your
power or possession, by conquest or by purchase,
the benefits of government You have refused
sir--you have denied her a government. You
abandoned your child and now, when that child
comes to you having shifted for itself as well as it
could IN the absence of your parental authority,
you reproach it with usurpation with impudence
and ready-at least some portions of Congress
seem ready-to repel her from your doors and
send her back without any suitable government to
SHIFT as she during the residue of this contest
which may last for years.
The difference, therefore, between the case of
Michigan and that of California is the difference
between government and no government; between
government and anarchy; between the exercise of
parental authority on the part of Congress towards
Michigan and the abandonment of all duty consti-
tutonal, natural, and parental the part of Con-
gress towards California. And yet gentlemen can
see III apologies for the conduct of Michi-
gan, and can none in the of poor Califor-
MIA.
Michigan had, we told, been patiently knock
ing at our doors for years. and yet rejected her
Why, sir there were difficulties, not altoae-
Their nsuperable to be sure, about the extent about
the limits, the boundary of that State, and some |
difficulty resulting from the contest between her |
and her neighbor Ohio. These We're some of the
difficulties which existed but all this time she had
her own Legislature, her own representations her
own laws; she had the power to govern herself as
she pleased in her territorial condition.
Sir 1t does seem to me that, if we will look at
things as they are, and not be misled by FORMS
by technlcalltles not worthy of consideration for
moment, that we will not only draw a distinction
favorable to California between her and that |
of Michigan, but that we will draw from the facts |
In the case conclusion of duty, which, for one |
am ready and anxious to perform
heard sentiment uttered to-day which | have !
again and again heard uttered and which | have
never heard uttered but with shuddering and ap~
prehenslon. We are told that upon certain contin-
gences, upon the occurrence of certain events the
South must take particular a specified course
regardless of consequences. Regardless of conse-
4uehceS! why, sir, can we acqult ourselves can
we acqu ourselves to civilization, can we acquit
ourselves to that reg ion which we all profess to
respect and adhere to, can we acquit ourselves to
the great God of Heaven himself if, upon mea- |
sure OF this magnitude, of this transcendant import
ance, we are to take it, regardless of consequences?
SIR, know of no condition of man, individually |
or associated, wherever he may be, whether solitary
and alone III the midst of the wide prares of the |
West. or upon the oceans pillows when tossed by |
storms, or acting i'll delberatve assembly | know
OF no condition where a religious moral, rational |
responsible being, take a STEP regardless of |
consequences. Sir, it is precisely because do re-
gard consequences, and | apprehend them, not to |
this or that side of the Union alone but all parts
to the entire country--consequences not only at
tecng us, but affecting all mankind, in greater
or less degree; consequences which affect the ex-
isence of self government, which affect the preser
walton of liberty itself; it is because l do look to
these consequences, because regard them, be-
cause have deliberated upon them, that am led
to the conclusion of making every effort the power
TO make which is yet reserved to me, to avert the
greatest of ali human calarnes not only that could
beall this country, but that could beall the whole
race of civilized man.
ITO BE CoNCLUDED)