The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1850-04-30

Oh California WIN present DOuuudfles unuef
circumstances, and leave the other pars Of this difficult
and dangerous subject unadjusted and unsettled But
wish il distinctly understood that do not oppose Caor
TACT that the people thereof decide against The institution
Of domestic slavery Every sovereign Slate is entitled "a
determine that question for herself The sovereign peo
pie the bes, judges OF their wants and their
nerests and so far Congress- concerned my choice
and preferred principle is pon-infrveaon to be carried
out in It's true spirit and honest understanding AT the
same time must be actual and real non. intervention
and not merely pretended and nominal 10 conceal and
coveT1p the TRUTH and gd the schemes of the abo-
ltonists understand the doctrine OF non-nervenlion
to mean ihs entire absence Of any sxtrausous influence
Judgment or action Of the people, with reference 10 the
subject Of slavery that they shall be left 10 their own
choice and discretion 10 determine the question on
s merits This was the view taken OF il in the canvass
OF lSiS BY the democratic party and by General Cass
their candidate for the presidency IL that sense. have
always been in favor IL and am 30 yet
But sir has not intervention, thus understood,
been applied 10 California! Have the people there been
left perfectly free 70 choose refuse slavery, and nu
enced alone By their own cIiuationl To answer these
inquiries. let the facts be adduccd and carefully consid.
cred
During the session OF Congress in lsls propositions
and the other territory without Tho any provision ID rgard
10 slavery leaving that subject be determined by the
people according 70 their will and pleasure and that
mode was called n0nanferUeaoa II was pressed again
and again. but was as often rejected BY the majority
thus declaring TO the Territories and to the world that Con
gress would not recognise the principle OF non-inerven
Of protection to the Territories unless connected with
The Wilmot Pf0viso, excluding slavery and prohibiting
the Territories from settling it for themselves All thss
fresh in the recollection OF members now present. The
House Representatives several passed the
Wno Proviso, and il ultimately sanctioned by the
Senate consequence Of the detection Of senator from
my State. From these facts il evident no gov.
ernment could be obtained for the Territories in e then
state of things, without positive enactment, excluding
slavery. Nor is this all Most Of the northern State
legislatures had declared against the admission Of any
more slave States The same thing had been done b
northern politicians, public speakers. meetings. and
societies. evncng liked purpose aud an unalteabe deter
mnation oppose the principle of intervention, and
compel the insertion Of provision forever excluding
slavery.
these facts were all before them They saw that Con-
gress had repudated the doctrine Of intervention
that Congress had refused to trust the decision OF the
Snd % The s,o Ni ns rs y That C
very hereron that the northern States, and northern
presses and northern feeling resolved to prevent
Ss % g S me
and seeing this, they knew that the only possible chance
to be admitted into the Union State was to prohibit
o This % ss
very They believed II was the only means OF obtaining
government That belief was predicated on the prior
action Of the free-so majority here The question ac-
or government at ALL Under these circumstances,
they decided and that decision is now before u.s. But
can that be called inferuention7 Were they at lib
they expect TO be admitted readily tCith as ioM sla-
very, No, sir; no. There was manifest compuison
operating upon them and to call such decision volun.
ary, and the result of onnerventon as contradic
tory as to say parted with his leg from otoice,
when, point Of fact, you had wounded il and caused
tito tester. and iniame, and morify until amputation
became necessary TO lite.
Sir in this connexion there is another fact worthy of
consideration When the proposition to exclude slavery
priey Of submitting that question 10 the direct vote Of
the people, in separate article suggested and yet
the convention did permit it be done They would
not trust the question To- The people They placed the
whole constitution as unit before them and compelled
them for it, including the prohibition OF slavery
against the whole, which would have left them with
government and without protection. Hence, the peo
pie themselves have had opportunity to deter
mine this question: free moral agents Constraint and
coercion exhibited throughout the whole proceedings
On question important and delicate, il was certain
" due 10 the people Of the territory well as the whole
Union, that il should have been submitted as single
question direct decision Of the qualified electors
And not only so but the whole structure OF the funda
mental law should have been lett TO those who, in
rect sense eiisaas, domiced there, and who to
live under the constitution after its adoption. II Is well
known that very large number OF those who partcipa
ted in that movement still citizens OF other States OF
the Union They left their families in the States al their
permanent homes, and went TO California for temporary
purpose and il is not Just for them TO shape the nsu
tons OF government under which they not to live
Ii Is contrary to the weestabished principle OF SELF
government The permanent citizens OF country should
govern IT, and not strangers and adventures, however
worthy who happen TO be within its limits And II IL
would be an arbitrary ACT for Congress interfere in
such cases. would certainly be equally objectionable for
czens other Staes after failing 10 get Congress 10
do so TO interfere and accomplish the thing And
what right had the Executive 10 advise the erection of
State when Congress had refused pass law authorz
ing the same thing The Executive advises encourages
and accompsbes hat Congress had refused 10 permit
And with all this evidence before 10 be told that
il is the quntessence OF non-nievenon Sir the case
| is quite anomalous and most extraordinary.
But 10 test the sincerity OF gentlemen, and TO bring
about understanding OF each others conduct
will submit proposition Let organize territorial
governments for New Mexico for Desere and Tor Cali
iosna authorizing The latter 10 form constitution. Just
as they may please provided II be republican, and gusaa
tying her admission into the Union. How many gentle.
men present would vote tor that propostonl How many
of those who pretend be in favor OF intervention
would support proposition which is such IN point o
fact and which would submit the question exclusively tc
the peopei No trouble or inconvenience would arise
from it. The people would be protected and society NOR.
settled and better prepared TO frame their fundamental
law They would then come into tie Union in the regu
lar way, they would settle the question for themselves
under The that they had their choices and pac
son OF The subject would pacify the South, and il coul'
no, possibly operate to the injury OF any section OF h'
Union And surely the North should be satisfied with
for they have already by keeping up the agitation KEEP
the Shareholders from going 10 California, and the Tree
solers are now exulting at having accomplished tina
much OF their unjust scheme.
Another objection to The admission OF California at TIM
time "a, the unreasonable boundary she claims. ins
subject OF boundaries for State falls appropriately
within the duty OF Congress California claims lne wnos
Pacific coast from Oregon TO the Mexican line, making
about nine hundred miles OF coast line, and nearly equal
in degrees OF laude the distance from Gaena 70 MAI
chez This ia TOO long for single State, and should