Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1850-06-29
[FRoa OUR DAILY PAPER OF LAST MosDAr.l

In complying with the particular request of an
old subscriber transfer to our columns (see the
first page) from the Republic" an article vim
dicating the PRESIDENT from the bitter and wanton
assaults of the Union" newspaper in reference
to the California question, we had no intention Of
interposing in controversy in which our Wing
neighbor is SO well able to take and maintain his
own part The Introductory remark which ,De
threw in, that President Folks last Annual Mes
sage contained the whole Platform of Gen. TAYLOR,
though apt to the purpose, certainly contained
nothing ne,c, and was only made because the OPP
position of the /" Union" to the Presidents views
has been based upon contrary hypothesis. The
Union" of Sunday last quotes from Mr.. PoLK's
Message volume of extracts, which have almost
application to the principle at issue in this con-
troversy viz. the expediency of leaving to the State
Governments, when formed out of the acquired
territories, as that Of California now u.s. and that of
New Mexico soon will be,) the right to establish
their own municipal law, uncontrolled by Con-
gress. The quotations of the Union from Mr..
PoLK's Message are copious upon incidental points,
but come to a full stop just when they reach what
he says on the main question, every oord of sohich
IS omitted, and which we supply, by here inserting
it, as conclusive answer to all that the "Union"
says, can say, on this subject
(" The question is believed to be rather abstract
than practical, whether slavery ever can or would
exist IN any portion of the acquired territory even
if it were left to the option of the slaveholdns
States themselves. From the nature of the cli.
mate and productions, in much the larger portion
OF it, it is certain it could never exist and in the
remainder, the probabilities are it would not But,
however this may be, the question, involving as il
does principle of equality of rights of the sepa-
parate and several Staes as equal co-partners in
the Confederacy, should not be disregarded.
+" In organizing Governments over these Terrific
ries, no duty imposed on Congress by the Consti.
ton requires that they should legslate on the sub
ect of slavery, while their power to do is not only
seriously questioned, but denied by many of the
soundest expounders of that instrument. Whether
Congress shall legisate or not, the people of the
acquired Territories, when assembled in Conven-
ton to form State constitutions, will possess the
sole and exclusive power to determine for them
selves whether slavery shall or shall not exist
within their limits. If Congress shall abstain
from interfering with the question, the people of
these Territories will bee free to adjust it, as they
may think proper, when they apply for admission
as States into the Union. No enactment of Con-
gress could restrain the people of any Of the
9 sovereign States Of the Union, old or new, North
or South, slaveholding or non-slavehoding, from
determining the character Of their own domestic
institutions, as they may deem wise and proper.
Any and all the States possess this right, and
Congress cannot deprive them of it. The people
of Georgia might if they chose, so alter their
constitution as to abolish slavery within its limits.
and the people Of Vermont might so alter their
6 it,tia -.
Both States would possess the right though, as
all know, it is not probable that either would
exert it. .E"
1t is fortunate for the peace and harmony of
the Union that this question is in its nature tenn
porary and can only continue for the brief period
which will intervene before California and New
Mexico may be admitted as States into the Union
from the tide of population now flowing into
them' 1t is highly probable that this will soon
occur" -.... - -
BURLINGTON TnI-WEEKLr TELEsRAPH.-This is the