The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1850-05-05

her selection OF members to the convention Worse
than all this. military officer OF the United States
even without any apparent authority from his own
government action Of the people OF California, un-
derook 10 call convention and prescribe the time
and terms OF the election OF its members These are all
certainly matters OF serious weight against sanconng
the action Of the California convention, and would
der different circumstances, perhaps insure its rejection
but there is constitutional bar TO her admission for II
should accept her constitution republican, the
very act OF acceptance would waive all previous r
regulares and render her admission legal and proper
r. then, bat question Of expedency g be udged q
with all the attendant circumstances All history teaches
us the lesson that the birth OF States resembles the natu
raj births-they usually attended with difficulty and
pain but they never be rspressed or prevented no
human power regenerate an individual, or replace
State in the womb OF time California has sprung, like
Minerva from the head OF Jupiter, fullgrown and ready
amed her destiny onward, and we may turn her aside
from confedeIacy, but again make her
Whatever may be the result Of our action in regard
California there is prospect that she will change
her attitude in regard to slavery II we remand her back
to territorial condition, the possibility is that she might
renounce allegiance, and that should have to i'm
brue hands in the blood of BRETHREN before the
stars and stripes would again float triumphant the
shores OF the Pacific But ii this misfortune avoid
ed there is not the remotes dream that slavery would
be recognised within its limits Amongst the count
less myrads already within her borders and those
their road but comparatively small number have been
accustomed 10 the menal services OF slaves and even
and expense OF the voyage added to the danger of loss,
leave their slaves behind them, and trust to their
labor and resources How is possbe then, under any
circumstances TO expect that the rejection OF California
be beneficial to future INTEREST," II the southern
States expect to remain in the Union and abide by the de-
cson OF Congress in regard to the questions OF slavery.
the real danger TO them would to arise from the
present rejection Of California; for furious agitation
against shareholders would Immediately recommence in
the North, and at the end Of two years. instead Of one
California seeking for admission might have two or
three savehodng States carved out OF her territory
and loudly demanding immediate recognition con-
stituent members Of our original confederacy | am.
far WEE qafis
factory adjust the other questions connected with it,
and thus let her enter our Union the harbinger Of
The second portion OF this bill provides for the erec
ton of territorial governments for Utah and New Mexico
without any restriction as % slavery The only very i'm
portant provision contained the subject s the seth
tion, which is as follows:
Aad be- farther enacted That the laws existing
part Of The territory Of the United States known as New
shah be the laws the Territory Of New Mexico
shed by this and shall be valid and operative in said
not Incompatible with the provisions of this
and the constitution and laws the United Stacs and
bs subject neSsshsless. Ss altered. modsd. q 70.
pealed BY the governor and Legislative assembly Of said
Terroy And the laws of the United States hereby
extended and declared be in force in said Territory
far the applicable All process, suits. and
proceedings civil and criminal In law and chancery, and
all indictments and nfomatons which shall be pending
and undetermined within the limits OF said Territory when
this act shall take eiect, shall be transferred, be heard
aud determined in the circuit by this
adig te district or county in which the same may be
~ kind whatsoevrf valid under cxisting within the
And al crimes and nisdsmsaao against the law. IN force
within the limits OF said Territory may be posccuted tried,
district or county in which the same may have been
mitted and penalties, oreitures and causes OF action,
the laws which shall govern the same at tbs time when this
| act shall take effect.
II seems 10 me that this provision will meet the wishes
to decide whether the Mexican laws prohibited slavery
not 1t alone continues those Mexican laws force,
in regard to the rights OF person or property which are
eIsia present. and not inconsistent with the consti-
tnon and Jaws Of the United States Now, il il be true
stated by northern friends that the laws OF Mexi-
co had abolished slavery in this Territory, and that the
extension OF constitution and laws the Terrific.
y did repeal those Mexican laws them sir this Ter
rtoy will remain free soil alter the passage OF this bill
unless the territorial legislature, the convention TO form
State government, shall alter repeal them On the
other hand il the Mexican laws had not abolished slave
ry il the extension OF constitution and laws
the Territory is VI terini repeal OF these Mexican
laws, and they inconsistent with the constitution and
laws Of the United States and the rights Of person and
property protected thereby then, by this BILL it is slave
territory until the law is altered by the people II seems
to that this is the true basis which the question
ought TO rest for, il il is free territory BY aiD,
| II ought 10 remain so, and no southern man ought
TO desire Congress TO establish slavery by law where
il does already exist for the power TO establish
would imply the power 10 abolish slavery, and this
the South has always denied But, II il is slave territory
by law, il is equally unjust for any northern man 10 in
woke the aid OF the general government in suppressng
an institution already established This the princi-
pie OF the Clayton compromise bill, which was almos,
universally acceptable to southern men, with the single
difference that, when that compromise offered, the
constitution and laws Of the United States were only
tended the territory by implication, whereas by this
bill they expressly enacted and enforced therein and
furthermore the territorial legislature may repeal or
enact laws the whole subject the people there may
deem best
i II the southern people right in their opinion, that
the acquisition OF territory by the United States. and
implied extension OF our constitution and laws over IL,
was virtual repeal OF all Mexican laws prohibiting sa.
yery then these laws longer IN erfsfsncs. and
such are not recognised adopted by the clause OF the
bill under consideration for only recognises such Mex
laws as are ersting and now in force IN the ier-
tory.
This section Of the BILL them in my opinion expresses
the masses-hrst that there be total non-nterven-
ton By the general government in the restriction
abhment of slavery; and. secondly that the people oi
the Territories, whether in their territorial legislature OF
in their State convention, dispose OF the whole sub
ect they deem best II their legislation in harmony
i with the constitution ot the United States.
4 In addition the adjustment Of the question o sa-
very fair basis, this bill creates governments for the
citizens residing in that distant land, and viii thus enable
them to have justice administered 10 their courts and
protect themselves by organized resistance against the
small bands Of hostile Indians, who hoverng
the frontier ready TO murder the defenceless and punder
the unwary.
i The last object achieved in this general measure OF
settlement is the amcable location OF the boundary OF
/ Texas This has been matter OF serious cmbarrass-
ment 10 deliberations, both account OF the nhe-
rent difficulties attending s proper settlement and the
delicate situation would occupy giving any
pleasing decision towards Texas Ii has always seemed
apparent TO that however illfoundcd the abstract