The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1850-04-22

same thing as leaving her TO form State
government We can see no difference
worth talking about. If California were
now admitted as State, and New Mexico
authorized to form State government, or
left to form a State government, it would
carry out Mr.. PREsroN's plan in all its
particulars, and this is the plan of the
PREsIDENT's message. How much diff
ference there may be between forming
State government for New Mexico, or au
thorizing her to form State government,
or forming territorial government-and
preserving silence on the slavery question
alike in all--is the subject-matter of the
controversy now going on in Congress.
We have given our own views on this
subject so frequently that we do not con-
slider it necessary to repeat them. Mr..
PREsToN, it will be seen, advocates the
policy of discharging the territorial trust,
and leaving the people of the Territories to
make their own government; or, in other
words, the policy of non-action--on the
ground that it is ssno compromise" on
either side, and that it gives tinality and
repose" to the subject. We cite portion
of Mr.. PREsToN's speech in which he de-
velopes these views:
s'The great merit of the bill which present is,
that it is bill under which neither party is victo-
rious, and neither party overcomes. IL is no CON-
promise ALL and therefore It recommends itself to
otI,ar hat has vet beer
suggested. In all other suggestions propositions
which have been offered for disposng of it, there is
question Of compromise, and the goodness or
badness of the bargain, the extent of the de-
mand you make the one side, the spirit with
which you stand up to it, and the courage or sa-
gacity with which you maintain 1t, are all ques-
tons to be weighed considered, and decided. How
is it in this bill? Here people numbering two
hundred thousand asking you to surrender the trust,
to give them the rights guaranteed to them, and for
which this acquisition of territory was made; and
ask you, does the point of honor forbid your giving
it up to them? do not ask my friends of the North
to surrender any thing to US. do not, as a south
ern man, surrender any thing to them. The spirit
Of republicansm, the spirit of popular supremacy,
comes at this fourth watch Of the night over this
tumultuous and tempestuous ocean, walking upon
the waters, and saying, in the language of old,
BE Of good cheer: II is l. be not afraid 1t is but
the spirit of the Revoluton-t is but the spirit of
Institutions that calls upon us. shall not re-
sis it, II there is dishonor in not resisting it, SUBJ
nit to the impeachment. If there is principle in
submission to it, claim for it, when the bill comes
up the votes of all gentlemen who feel that it is
privilege and an honor to bow down TO that before
which our fathers Of old made tyrants and govern
ments bow down. That is my second reason. IT
NO COMPROMISE. prefer it above the Missouri
~ k0II ha- l.
Here is my proposition, gentlemen of the North
and gentlemen of the South. ! prefer it above
the Missouri compromise for this Carry
the line to the Pacific. Let it be decided that
we have the right to the south and you to the
north Of that line, still-the territorial question
being, in the beginning ! attempted to show,
but limited and temporary one-the great SOL
emn question to the prohibition of slavery
back upon again in the creation Of State If
our citizens have gone there under the guarantee
Of the Missouri compromised there more
citizens for institution than against it there,
three or four five years hence there is to be
new struggle, a new convulsion, new mischief,
and new calamities. Presidential aspirants take
hold Of it. Ambitious gentlemen take hold Of it.
Partisan presses and leaders take hold of it. I
tcanf reposs, and the bill offered siues naiity
to the question. ,cant the question ended. want
it ended under this great principle that have SO
fcebly attempted to enforce.
al prefer il again TO the compromise bill Of last
year. Il is better measure for the South, and
better measure for the North. Look for one mo-
ment at that compromise. IL proposed to submit
to the judiciary of the United States this question,
TO be by them Observation-Disclosures could, while
that government is in territorial condition, carry
our slaves there' Suppose they decided for the
South-suppose they decided for the North-what
Is the effect Of the decision. Three or four years
no, not one year-would eapse even before the case
could be made; before the decision could be pro-
nounced by the Supreme Court, the people of Cali
fornia would come here and say, We want no such
decision; are going 10 form a State government.
Your law with regard to slavery in the Territory is
a matter of importance to We about
TO become sovereign. We have reached that
period when, like men, we can walk; and we viii
not ask your hand to sustain or uphold We
come as Americans; We say we have rights; we do
not beg them IA favors, demand them rights
appertainng 10 US az American citizens. Before
the question could be settled by the court the State
IL admitted a sovereign and Independent State
During this period exposed to all the evils
which result from the agitation and disturbance Of
this most pernicious question, both in these halls
and throughout the whole land.
~"What, then, is the great desideratumi ! am
not one Oh tnose VINO look most gfoomiiy AT the re-
suits Of ths slave question cannot believe there
Is the danger which many suppose; but know
there is, nevertheless, great danger The bill
which propose has merit which no other mea-
sure possesses. II Is not wholly my measure; Il
would be in bad taste for to speak Of IL in 30
strong terms Of commentator il IL were. The
great principle Of introducing these Territories as
States belongs TO others. have only adopted and
applied that principle TO the exigencics Of the pres
ent period
But, to go on with the argument: want inality
TO this question. How IL be attained How
can this question be relieved from perpetual agita-
ton, but by the enactment Of n law asserting 10
the surrender Of this territorial power TO those TO
whom il belongs, and taking IL from US, to whom IL
does not belong, except in cvent--in that ne
cessity alone which would compel ms 10 retain them
az Territories; and that has wholly passed and
/ hrri In .l,..a..I.-.lil..