The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1850-06-13

rsneies Of the country and 10 meet them IN the mode
prosided in The constitution 10 do nothing. when sucl
sxgences arise is neither fulfil our own duties NOR &c
exercise jns forecast, which ia aware OF impending
didfass and seeks V obsiais them BY prudence and
nsmnssS. r-ns, y. 49,. esr..' i9s1s .ps ..s
the President spprshsnd. Uaisr any sspsci declare
ton saving all uteIior rights would prevent any coeciu'
SION being drawn adverse 10 Texas, from an acs q 70
people ju-, passing under ,hs dominion Of The Omitted
States The President, howeye recommends 70 ns moi
% establish territorial government ~ rs% S.sq;ss -
claimed would practically decide the question adversely
10 The State oil Texas. BY excluding would decide y
in her favor Neither our acton nor inacuon can aneci
The rights Of Texas practically or specuiapsly II, IN
deed we wlege her Jurisdiction the Rio Grande,
there a. Of course end u the question. a.. being one
q s fs s,s we haSd w aslas he ssS
ment OF territorial government expressly 10 carry its
boundaries scros. the Rio Grande. how is il possible
eide the question adversely 10 the other We have
just much authority, by act OF Congress- TO decide
question between the United States and the British
possessions we have between the United States
and Texas But sir. there il. avery obvious mode
Of avoiding any improper interference with the claims
Of Texas. and that is the very mode. provided in
this bill II does not undertake to define her west
ern boundary, by defining the eastern boundary Of
New Mexico. II leaves that question Tor amicabe
adjustment and, if that cannot be brought about for
such Interior settlement constitution provides.
1t therefore decides no claim, adversely favora y,
spsculaiipsly or practically But il wisely offers liberal
terms to Texas, in the hope--a we-founded one,
troversy terminated without further difficulty Should
they not neither party can be injured BY the estab-
lishment Of these local temporary governments Tex
quye no new ones The latter will possess legal instead
Of doubtful order, actual disorder. How far il shall
extend il question we cannot authorativey settle; but
far as it does 90. it will be great benefit leaving 10
the parties all their Just rghtsihus removing the OBJ
lection to action stated by the President that such action
would "practicay decide a question which we have
But sir, in this brief examination of the objections Of
the administration to the establishment OF government
Tor New. Mexico. what becomes Of Utah, removed a
thousand miles by any travelled route from the western
boundary OF Texas. as claimed BY herself and where
there neither now have been auy Mexican laws
% justify our inacton These grounds of opposition to
our legislation are utterly napplicabe TO that region,
the reason given for reconclhng US to SIT still and DO
There is no .disct so claimed BY Texas to be found
there and therefore question of jurisdiction to be de-
cided favorably Or unfavoraby by our action. Nor do
he people Of this Territory still enjoy the benefit and
protection Of their municipal laws. originally received
from Mexico Nor have they "a military force sta
toned there TO protect them from the Indians which s
one Of the reasons especially" urged in the message
why "such course tthe establishment Of territorial
government would not be expedent' do not under
stand how, free country like thsssthe presence OF
armed force should reconcile Congress 10 the omission Of
y s q s people to hs %
dian incursons there il the duty Of the Executive 10
afford protection by an adequate force; but this duty j.
wholly independent of the question of civil government
and performance affords no just compensation for any
neglect in the establishment Of political institutions.
But though this objection 10 legislation is most promi-
nenty stated in the Presidents California message, there
10 still another, which is also presented, and which oil
coupe should meet with our consideration:
Seeing, then, (ays the Presdont) that the question
Ss sn a. u the %
causes independent OF the action of Congress- sub
a hesf
canses believing we shall thus avoid the creation Of
graphical parties, and the harmony of feeling
necessary beneficial action our political system
In the ANNUAL message here referred to- the policy OF
legislative inaction is recommended, solely on the
ground that thereby in consequence OF the necessary
action OF the people themselves, governments would be
established and all causes OF uneasiness avoided and
confidence and kind feeling preserved" The objection
TO legislation, founded the Texan claim, which occu-
gsiher nnnouced in he first Why. know moi for time
has made i neither stronger clearer, nor better
known. The policy Of inaciion seems TO have been
early determined upon, but the principal reason in its sup
port to have come from after reelection.
Now. sir. lshal deal fairly with this subject repeat
that do not call in question the motives OF the admias
ration Far from IL feel the importance, the vital
importance OF this question; and certainly when the
Presidents annual message prepared lis aspect
even more portenous than 4 j. now. do not wohder
was expected would be avoided by the neglect OF Con-
gress TO iuln its legislative duties There was but one
way Of calming the public agitation, and that was BY
10 be affected BY them the right TO manage their internal
concerns in their own way. How could agitation be
calmed, while the OF dispute 10 FULL opera
ton i-while the territories were without governments
and the Wilmot Proviso. like threatening cloud. was
hanging over the country That caamous and useless
nsssus could only be finally stopped BY the dna action
Of Congress exhausng ils powers upon the whole sub.
joct Till such action, ali the elements OF mischief
would be in full operation.
But, sir omitag all consideration OF the propriety OF
neglectng legislative duty, question Of political
ethics, sull the whole matter has undergone material
change since the policy OF the administration made
knowio tbe country AT that lime the result Of at
. territorial government was unknown. though the
DANGER II II succeeded apparent TO every reflect
ing man. Now no uncertainty rests upon the subject
This source OF uneasness Is removed from councils
No Wimol PfovIso can pass Congress This will
neither be disputed denied Whatever else we may
out the Wilmot Provso s harmless measures any
other upon the stautebook That Proviso is the
pie OF dscod, and being rejected, coincidence and kind
feeling would be preserved, and harmony and ranQu .
" resioed 10 the country IL Ia not the passage of laws
establishing territorial governments which would keep
awe the agitation, but their passage with proviso OBJ
noxious TO one half Of the coniederacy Why, then,
ehoud the policy of inactivity be continued as the policy oil
Ne sdmnlsIaton, and supported such in both houses
OF Congrcssf The passage of the bill without this Of
enslve restriction will produce no excitement in the
South. We all know that. On the contrary, Il will
allay H. by removing principal OF dissen
What then. is the possible objection TO our action Lei
hoss who consider the Wilmot Proviso Constitutional
and necessary vote for it. Bot LEI II not be urged as
ason Tor not meeting the question, that its agitation
donger0us That agitation has begun, has continued
and will 20 all il yields final action Agitation
indssdl Why many OF the very persons through the
country who deprecale i as reason for avoiding the