Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1850-05-31

country, even if it be not settled instantly. and
in particular way. What is there left? Two
thngs-thc admission of California, and the
government of the Territories. These are the
only two wounds which require surgery
Wherein arc they dangerous? If California is
admitted will the Union be dissolved /? Cali
tornia lns framed a Constitution, ana applied
Tor admission, in precisely the way marked out
by Mr.. CALHOUN and the South Upon their
own showing, she is entitled to instant and I'M
conditional admission If she is rejected, her
people may withdraw their request, and set up
government for themselves. The Union is in
danger, then, only in case California is not ad-
admitted. General TAYLOR proposes to admit
her, and thus that wound will be healed. Mr..
CLAY himself admits that the Presidents plan
would cure that wound very cffcctually.
II this analysis, then, be Just, there remains
but one source Of disquict. The Territorial
"wound' IS the only one from which the coun-
try has anything to fear. The other four helped
ont the metaphor, but do not touch the case
They can be safely left out of the question alto
gcther until more pressing matters have been
attended to- All that is left relates to the terri
tories. And upon that point Mr.. CLAWS smile
assumes that the President proposes nothing at
all. The smile, III our Judgment, Is entirely
mistaken. What is the precise point in contro-
ycrsy: The North insists upon positive lcgis-
lation, preciuding slavery. The South insists
upon positive legislation, recognizing slavery,
either in terms, or by silence. Here is the
wound" General TAYLOR recommends that
Congress let the matter entirely alone, and
teare The people Themselves to lcgslate upon the
matter, to suit themselves. General TAYLOR
does deign to disclose" the operation by which
the evil will be cured lie proposes resort to
the fundamental principle of REPUBLrcANIsM,
the right of the people to govern themselves.
In this he takes ground coincident exactly with
that Of the South in lS47, when Mr. CALHOUN
asserted the rigM of the inhabitants of the Ter
ritores, to just such sclf-goyernmcnt as the
President proposes to give them. Is this doing
nothing: Is there in this no remedy for the
evil? Is there any man, any party, any section,
which can justly complain of this policy Does
1t violate the igIts, or disregard the interests
Of any section? And is not the principle upon
which 1t Is based which gives to it vitality and
? strcngti,-thc principle that the people Of every
community have right to make their own local
laws,-onc which ought to command the assent
OF every section, and of every citizen, OF tins
Republic?
Whether it was the duty of the Administra
ton to abandon its own public policy, TO which
1t stood committed before the world, and to es
pOusc one originating with its political enemies
? is point we shall not now discuss. The coun
= try has had some experience on that point whcl
cannot be useless. Mr.. TYLER, on becomin:
President abandoned a measure to which
portion OF the party which elected him, suppoi
= ed him to be pledged. He turned his bacI
S upon his friends, and followed the advice Of hi
foes. The result will be remembered. II
was promptly turned over by his friends, to tn
: guardian care of his new allies, and no enc too
y a more conspicuous part in c1ccting the trans
fer than Mr. CLAY. The experiment is on
o which wise men will not repeat. If Gcncrf
, TAYLOR is to be denounced it will not be tt
abandoning position which he has once delhi
It erately and judicously taken.