Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1850-02-02
THE ANTI-SLAVERY BUGLE.
The Prrsidsn, on the Territorial question.

On Monday Of last week Gen. Taylor sent to
the House Of Representatives Message, accom-
panied by voluminous documents, explaining
his position on tho Territorial Question, which
has so long absorbed the attention of the public.
The message was called forth by resolution
offered by Mr.. vcnable, of North Carolina,
whose object doubtless was to prove that the
President, in his dealings with California, had
not been true to the South. 1t appears that the
military commandant in California, in cxcrci-
sing the functions of civil governor Of the Terri
tory, acted under instructions from President
Polk, which arrangement Gen. Taylor says hc
did not think it best to disturb. The Demo-
Gratis, therefore, who have denounced the Cen
oral f1T his course in this particular, have been
barking up the wrong tree. 1t was their own
dear Polk who committed the act which they
have so sternly condemned
The President says he advised an carly appi-
cation on the part of the people of California
and Now Mexico for admission into the Union
as States, and that in so doing he "was octu-
atcd principally by an earnest desire to al
ford to the wisdom ard patriotism Of Con-
gross the opportunity of avoiding occasions OF
bitter and angry discussions" lie declares, how
ever, that he "did not anticipate, suggest, or
authorize the establishment Of any government
without tho assent OF Congress, nor authorize
any government agent or officer to interfere
with, or exercise any influence or control over
tho election of delegates, or over any oonyen-
ton, in making or modifying their domestic in
stitutions or any of the provisions of their pro-
posed constitution" Ills purpose was, ito re-
move all occasion for the unnecessary agitation
of the public mind" by putting it in tho power
of Congress to admit California and New Mexi-
co into the Union as States. lie therefore re-
commcnds that " if the Constitution of Calfjr-
MIA shall be found to be in accordance with tho
Constitution of the United States, it may re-
coive the sanction of Congress" On this point
his language is emphatic. lie maintains that
California, in excluding slavery, has only oxer-
ciscd the powers lcgitimately belonging to her,
and that any attempt to compel her to change
her position will be an invasion Of her rights
So far so good.
But what says the President about New Mex
ico and the part of California not included in
the new State of that name; Why, he comes
out Aat-footed for Nom Intervention, thus:
No material inconvenience will result from
the want, for a short period, of a government
established by Congress, over that part OF the
territory which lies eastward of the new State
of California; and the reasons for my opinion
that Mexico will, at no very distant period, ask
for admission into the Union, arc founded on
unofficial information, which suppose is COM
mon to all who have cared to make inquiries on
that subject.
Seeing. then, that the question which now
exctcs such painful sensations in tho country
will, in the end, certainly be settled by ~ ST.
lent effect of causes, independent of thtfaction
of Congress, again submit to your wisdom the
policy recommended in my annual message of
awaiting the salutary operation of those causes,
believing that we shall thus avoid the creation
of geographical parties, and secure the harmony
of feeling so necessary to the beneficial action of
our political system. Connected Us the Union
is with the remembrance of past happiness, the
sense of present blessings, ard the hope OF fu-
turc peace and prosperity, every dictate OF wis
dom, every feeling of duty, and every emotion
of patriotism, tend to inspire fidelity and devo-
ton 10 it, and Gdmonish US cautiously to avoid
any unnecessary controversy which can either
cndangcr it, or impair its strength, the chief cc-
mcnt of which is to be found in the regard and
affection Of the people for each other.
Thus the Wing President, when compelled
to speak his mind, plants himself on the plat
form of Gen. Cass The Washington cores
pondcnt of the New York Tribune naively says
cit [thc mcssagcl nettles Gen. Cass a good
deal, as it deprived him Of a large fund of thun-
der that he had been carefully outstanding for
his own consumption in the very speech he is
now inAicting upon the country as well as the
Senate" We certainly think tho great Michi-
gandcr is entitled to damages for this unccre-
monious poaching of Old Zach upon territory
where the former had acquired, through great
political tribulation, the solemn rights of a
'squattcr.'
On the subject of the boundary between Tex
as and New Mexico the President is neither
here nor there. lie thinks it would not be
fair toward the former to organize Territorial
government for the latter which would include
the disputed territory, and that it would be in
cxpcdicnt to organize one in which it should
not be included. In other words, he don't
want New Mexico to have n Territorial gov
ernmcnt at all, but to remain under their mu-
nieipal laws and the U. S. military force un-
til she is ready to form herself into State
If his advice is followed, the chances arc that
by some juggle the vulture Texas will succeed
in grasping the spoil on which she has fixed
her longing eyes.
We are glad to sec that one influential Wing
journal, tho New York Tribune, disapprovos of
the Presidents course on this question, and de-
mands for New Mexico Territorial organiza-
ton, recognizing her ancient and natural boun-
Diary, ain the name of Humanity, of Justice
and of Freedom" We presume, however, that
the President will have his way.
~ A rim 10 ho(oro tho Ioo;sIo,,,.o' of