Glasgow weekly times. (Glasgow, Mo.) 1848-1861, 1850-12-05
States, there was less ground for the
course which they took, because they


were living under the blessings of law
and order. and territorial governments,
established for them by Congress, and
that in the case of California, owing to
the division in Congress upon the sub.
iect of The Wilmot Proviso, that body
had been not only unable to give its as
sent TO the formation of a State in
California. but had totally failed to per-
form the high and imperative duty of
establishing a government for Califor.
mia: it had left California without law,
without order, in state of almost per.
feet anarchy; in such an abandoned
condition, the people of California had
right, as any rational community upon
earth would have had, 10 institute 60.
vernment for themselves, and establish
law and order. As 10 the extent of the
territorial limits of California, we all
felt that they were quite large, and if
they could have been reformed without
rejecting the State, and remanding il
back TO territorial condition, perhaps
some modi fcaton would have been
made in the limits.
But large as they are il is not believed
that they embrace anything like as
much arabic land as is contained in
several of the States of the Union, and
comprehensive as those limits are, not
as exclusive as those of Texas, which
, would have been still larger if they
could have accomplished it, by some of
the very members who objected TO the
size of California prior to the last ses-
sion of the preceding Congress, and
even no longer than twenty months ago
the great effort of the South was to
avoid the Wilmot Proviso being en-.
grated on territorial bills; it was that
odious restriction which created the
greatest complaint and occasioned most
excitement and agitation at the South.
Well, the committee reported terrific
rial bills for New Mexico and Utah, ,and
without the proviso. The South tri.
umphed; by the liberal, magnanimous
and patriotic aid of Northern members.
1t is true, that whilst the honor Of the
South in that respect is preserved, she
may never enjoy The privilege of trans
porting slaves TO California, New Mex.
leo or Utah; but if she ever can, whose
fault is ii? Not that of Congress,
which has cautiously abstained from all
prohibition, and has adopted the prin-
cipe of non.in.ervention; it has left
New Mexico and Utah perfectly free,
when they come respectively to form
for themselves State governments, TO
admit or exclude slavery, as they shall
deem best for their own happiness; and
whether admitted or excluded by their
constitutions, upon there being presen-
ted for admission into the Union, they
are 10 be received as members of the
, confederacy. In regard to California
, she, by her constitution, and not Con.
r gress, has excluded slavery. The vote
of her constitution excluding i, was
q unanimous, nearly one. third of the del
q egates themselves being from slave. hold
ing States. In so deciding for them
1 selves, they acted in perfect conformity
J. with every sound principle of theory
!. and practice which has ever prevailed
c in this country ,and in entire accordance
|. with the highest southern authority
c l ask, then, if there is blame who is re
@ preached for the exclusion of SLAYER,
!. in California, New Mexico and Utah
70 Not Congress, most assuredly. Th
!, reproaches must be directed against tn
d people Of California for the exercise 0
il an incontes,ible right; against natur
II and natures God for irrevocable de
D. crees, against the introduction of sla
very into the mountainous, barren an
D. most Improbable regions of New Mex
q. leo and Utah. If these insurmounts
Ut Bile obstacles can be overcome, the pee
D. pie of those territories are left free I
i. introduce slavery if they think proper
If. bu, candor obliges me to say that
n think il never will be introduced there
I'd The most difficult, complicated an
te embarrassing question which engage
ie our deliberations, was that of the bour
Of Diary of Texas; three different opinion
es il. regard TO il prevailed and were Ell
i, tertained by respectable members
Id According To one. The limit of Tex