The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1850-05-27

California as State into the Union," and
it proposes to leave all else untouched
and unprovided for.'
In this contrast, which the Senator pro-
ceeds to carry out at considerable length,
it appears to us, and we doubt not il will
so appear TO the public, that he has done
the PRESIDENT very great injustice. With
all proper respect for the distinguished
Senator, we think he has not fairly pre-
scented the PRESIDENTS plan. To point
out that injustice and unfairness, and to
set the policy recommended by the PRES
IDENT fairly and truly before our readers,
is the object of these remarks; it is their
only object, and we hope that the perform
ance of this simple act of justice to the
PRESIDENT on our part may not subject
us to ''misinterpretation" in any quarter.
The injustice Of the contrast in part
lies here-that while the course of policy
recommended by the PRESIDENT had refe-
renee only to the government of the peo-
pie Of the territory acquired from Mexico;
whilst he expressed no opinion, and was
called upon to express no opinion on the
subject of the fugitive slave bill and the
question of the slave trade in the District of
Columbia, that policy is held up by the Sen
ator as antagpnistic to these two last-men-
toned measures. These two "wounds" the
Senator represents the PRESIDENT as propo-
sing to leave open. Now, where is the in
compatibility between the PRESIDENTS re-
Communications, referring, as they do, ex-
pressly and solely to the territory acquired
from Mexico, and the fugitive slave bill
and the question of the slave trade in the
District of Columbia' Who has the shadow
Of right to assume, from any thing the
PRESIDENT has anywhere said, that he is OPP
posed or indifferent to the adoption of either
of those measures9 We are not aware that
he has expressed an opinion favorable or ad-
verse to those measures, or either of them.
How can either be in anywise affected by
the adherence of the PRESIDENT to his
plan in respectto California and New Mex
icoi Could they not both as well go hand
in hand with the policy recommended
by him, in reference to our newly acquired
Mexican territory, as with the policy re-
commended in "the Compromise" in re-
ference to the same territory These two
"wounds," it may be sufficient here to
say, the President did not open: he has
not recommended that they should be left
open; nor has he offered the slightest i'm
pedimsnt to their being healed up.
The subjects of the government of the
Territories, and the question of the boun-
Diary of. Texas-the second and third
"wounds'' in the order enumerated-we
will consider together. These two subjects,
or ''wounds," the Senator says, the Pres
ident recommends should "reman and be
left untouched, to cure themselves by
some law Of nature, by the MS medicatrir
nature, or some self remedy, in the sue
cess of which he cannot perceive any
ground of the least confidence" Else
where the Senator says: "The PREsI-
DENTS plan proposes the admission OF
California. He proposes non-interven-
ton as to slavery. But he proposes fur
ther non-intervention in the establish
ment of territorial government; that is
to say, that we shall neglect to execute
the obligation of The treaty of Hidalgo-
fail to govern those whom we are bound
to govern-leave them without the pro-
lection Of the civil authority of any gen.
eral government-leave Utah without
any government at all, but that which
the Mormons may institute-and leave
New Mexico under the military govern
ment of Lieutenant Colonel. His plan
fails to establish the limits of New Mex
leo east Of the Rio Grande, and would
expose the people who inhabit it TO civil
war, already threatened, with Texas"
A formidable array of alleged defects
and omissions in the Presidents plan !
Let us turn for few moments to the plan
itself, and see whether it is Justly liable to
the grave objections urged by the Senator.
That plan contemplated the immediate for
nation of State constitutions by the people
of California and New Mexico, and their
early admission into the Union as States
With this view, the President states in
his message, Of the 2lst Of January, that
he had not hesitated "to express to the
people of those Territories California
and New Mexico] my This desire that
each Territory should, if prepared to
comply with the acquisitions of the Con-
stitution of the United States, form a
plan Of State constitution and submit
the same to Congress, with prayer for
admission into the Union as State. :"
California, accordingly, proceeded 10 form
State constitution, and is now applying
to Congress for admission into the Union
as State. Nothing has existed, or now