The Madisonian. (Canton, Miss.) 1850-1855, 1850-09-12


er, that | have not offered more mark
ed resistance or further opposition to
this bill. In that temper to which /
have alluded, we have exempli6ed the
fate Of the section Of which am cili,
zen, and with which my fate is denti-
fed, when it becomes permanently
minority IN both houses Of Congress
In that spirit of arrogant and reckless
disregard foI the interests, the feelings
and constitutional rights Of "a minority,
say we may see ,foreshadowed our
fate, and that tendency IN legislation
which must precipitate the conflict Of
sections, and finally lead to the down.
fall of this confederation. We may
we'll call upon every patriot, under
such circumstances, to bring his offering
to the altar, to make whatever sacrifices
may be demanded of him. For myself
sir, actuated by such feelingseand urged
by such dread anticipations, required
nothing to prompt me, nothing TO jus
tify me, nothing to instruct me to the
course | have pursued. But if they
had been wanting, all these were be.
fore me The legislature of my State
instructed me to resist this bill for the
admission of California, under the cir
cumstances attending the proposition,
by all Just and honorable means--
The same legislature made an appro-
priation of money to enable the State
government to offer proper resistance
to the WiImot proviso, if that odious
measure should pass both houses of
Congress and be approved by the Pre-
sident. In this bill which is now before
us the ofensive,di discrimination, the uu-
Just exclusion of the South, is as effec-
tually accomplished as by the Wffmot
Proviso itself; and what matters it to
me whether Congress declares by en>
aclment that within certain limits OF the
} old territory of California slavery shall
be prohibited, or whether Congress
gives force and vitality to an usurpatlon
Of power by the inhabitants within that
territory, and thus indirectly effect our
exclusion. The act is essentially the
same, and the offence is not, to my
!. mind, diminished. If there be any
diffel ence, it is in favor of tho direc
act of Congress. 1t would not be ST
permanent as in the form proposed. tn
} political injury would be less. and ther,
would be better hope Of its repeal
, 1t would be the usurpation OF an agep
to whom some powers v ere intrusted
instead ofbeing a revolutionary seizure
on the property ofthe States, and th'
exercise Of sovereign power over thei
domain, by those to whom no authorlt,
had beon granted. The assertion Of
: such po wers by the inhabitants of Cal
Ifornia as their necessity demande,
e might be, should have heen, jus
: tilted by Congress, because the ne
cessity arose from the failure Of Con
o gress to discharge its duty by provid
+ ing the requisite government for tha
e Territory. But it could not warran
Legislation over the rights Of the States
0 and least of all discrimination agains
L the rights of that portion of peopl
; who had by their representatives en-
J deavored 70 supply a government t
e that Territory.
There is a great difference, Mr. Pre-
u sident. between political communit
e AN organized body, such as the peo
o pie of Territory organized by tn
e United assuming to themselve
s. sovereign power, and proceeding t
j. erect State, and the assumption q
Q persons who may chance to meetupo
, the public domain, to fix limits, declar
le themselves a people, and erect a State
/ Of the former we have had some cases
a but they form no precedent for CalifoI
l. uia. There, not only had there no or
e gauization, but there were no prope
Is means even Of holding an electlon.-
l. The country, it is true, hadIbeen file,
. by transient population, who had gon
81 there for the purpose Of gold hunting
re- and who thence derived such rights a
le those who should find themselves as
rel sembled for fur,tradlng, or for any 9th
10 er ofthe purposes of commerce, ma
IN claim 10 seize upon the territory of tn
le federal government and appropriate
re to their own exclusive benefit, or as j
le this case, instead Of a general prohibi
= ton, to make an insulting discrimina
le ton against one half Of the States, lh,
y, equal owners of the territory. aaf
lr But, sir, The case presented to as j
n even worse than this. The peopl
is thus found as sojourners upon thes'
Is territories were not themselves fth'
e prime movers in this affair. They were
rs prompted toit. It's fact which hai
. come TO my knowledge, and the militia
y Try governor who succeeded after tht
: peace Of Quetetaro sent out messen'
1t gers TO ascertain whether the people
eI of CtaI;F&rn,a Iaasrad ~ hava 4 civil