Glasgow weekly times. (Glasgow, Mo.) 1848-1861, 1850-02-14
bed the arrangements which found haC
existed under my predecessor.

bed the arrangements which | found had
existed under my predecessor.
In advising an early application by
the people of these Territories for ad.
mission as States, | was actuated prin.
cipally by an earnest desire to afford to
the wisdom and patriotism Of Congress
the opportunity of avoiding occasions
of bitter and angry dissensions among
the people of the United States.
Under the Constitution every State
has the right of establishing, and from
time TO time altering, its municipal laws
and domestic institutions, independent.
ly Of every other State and of the Gen.
eral Government, subject only to the
prohibitions and guarantees expressly
set forth in the Constitution of the
United States. The subjects thus left
exclusively y TO the respective States
were not designed or expected to be.
come topics Of national agitation. Still,
as under the Constitution Congress has
power 10 make all needful rules and reg
uIations respecting the Territories of
the United States, every new acquisi-
ton of Territory has led TO discussions
on the question whether the system OF
involuntary Servitude which prevails in
many of the States should or should moi
be prohibited in that Territory. The
periods of excitement from this cause
which have heretofore occurred have
been safely passed, but during the in
,erval of whatever length which may
elapse before the admission of the Ter
ritories ceded by Mexico as States, i,
appears probable that similar excitement
will prevail to an undue extent.
Under these circumstances l thought,
and still think, tha, it was my duty to
endeavor to put it in the power of Con.
gress, by the admission of California
and New Mexico as States. to remove
all occasion for the unnecessary agita.
ton Of the public mind.
Ii is understood that the people of
tho western part of California have
formed plan of State constitution
and will soon submit the same TO the
Judgement of Congress, and apply fol-
admission as State. This course or
their part, though in accordance with
was not adopted exclusively in conse,
quence of, any expression of my wish
es, inasmuch as measures tending lc
this end had been promoted by the OF
fcers sent there by my predecessor
and were already in active progress o
execution before any communication
! from me reached California. If tn
proposed constitution shall, when sub
mitted TO Congress, be found TO be il
compliance with the acquisitions o
, the Constitution of the United States,
earnestly y recommend that it may re
: ceive the sanction Of Congress.
The part in California not include,
in The proposed State of that name i
> believed to be uninhabiled, except in
E settlement of our countrymen in tn
! vicinity Of the Salt Lake.
. A claim has been advanced by tn
0 State of Texas TO very large portion
: of the most populous district of tn
Territory commonly designated by tn
a name of New Mexico. If the peopl
!, of New Mexico had formed a plan of
Y State government for that Territory q
f ceded by the treaty of Guadalupe H
: dalgo, and had been admitted by Cor
E gress as a State, our Constitution woul
: have afforded the means of obtainin
r an adjustment Of the question of bour
: dary with Texas by judicial decision
y AT present, however, no judicial tribl
: nal has the power of deciding that que'
: ton, and i. remains for Congress to d'
Il wise some mode for its adjustment
Meanwhile | submit TO Congress Il
e question, whether it would be expediei
e before such adjustment to establish
= territorial government, which, by incl
n ding the district SO claimed, would pra
Is tically decide the question adversely
}. the State of Texas, or, by excluding
s. would decide it in her favor. In N
h opinion such course would not be e
'e pedient, especially as the people Of III
,e Territory still enjoy the benefit and pr
1t lection of their municipal laws, origi
ally derived from Mexico, and have
N military force stationed there to pr