The southern press., 1850-09-02

ing part of the State of California, In fact
their representatives in the convention protested
against the. Formation OF any State government
that was to include them All the accounts that
receive from there up 10 this time, go to show
that they are still unanimously opposed to form
ing a part Of that State. The reasons for their
opposition seem substantial. The northern por-
ton of California is a gold mining country
Gold is abundant; and the prices arc most ex-
orbitant Salaries are enormously high and
State taxation is most excessive. From the
condition ofthings there, this is inevitable; but
the inhabitants OF southern California agr-
cuturalists, and are the owners OF the principal
landed estates of the country. They say that
it is impossible for them to bear this burdens
some taxation with the moderate returns which
their agricultural occupations yield them. Be-
sides, sir they are remote from the centre of the
State, and have no natural connection with It,
1t would be doing great injustice, therefore, 70
these people, opposite as are their Interests,
feelings, and habits, consisting mainlyas they do
OF the old Mexican population, to conpect them
with the gold miners of the North Why should
we not respect their wishes Why not base
our action here on just Difference TO the popu-
lar will Why make State so monstronsly
large-so greatly exceeding any Of the other
oEttco VI Llc OUioU cACtpp lCAt', "iAiNii' ~ ID
we'll known, was admitted with its present di-
mensons, solely because it was foreign State
which Congress had no power to divide, but
which the annexation resolutions themselves
provided for the future division OFF Many per-
sons, sir do not properly appreciate the vast ex-
tent OF California, on account OF its remoteness
from u.s. Why, sir, it has just that amount OF
sea-coast which exists between Charleston,
South Carolina, and Boston, Massachusetts.
And, sir, it is eontended that its population is
just sufficient to entitle it to two members on
this floor, or just equal to that Of the State of
Rhode Island. What would have been thought,
sir If the people Of that little State, landing on
our Atlantic coast, had carved out OF the public
domain a State reaching from Massachusetts to
Georgia? Would not this have been regarded
as Il most impudent assumption on their part
Would any one contend that it was right to yield
to such demand? And yet, sir, the existing
case is even worse one, as at least not nine
tenths of those ut present in California have
gone there, with the purpose of becoming per
m.lnent citizens, but with the intention of re-
turning to the United States after they shall
have gothered the gold they are in search Of
In fact nobody is as yet prepared to, say what
will ultimately be the population OF that coun-
try; nor what will be the boundaries finally
adopted for the States that may exist there
NV amendment makes no ether provision than
those that may be provided for the Territory OF
New Mexico by this bill.
Sir, the gentleman from Kentucky Mr.. BOYD
has just eulogized the principle of non-interven-
ton which he says has been adopted by the
Democratic party, and ought to be embraced by
the whole country. This doctrine, sir, was the
invention of an ingenious gentleman, Gen. Cass,
who desired to be supported alike by the Free
Soilers of the North and the shareholders OF the
South 1t was3a conyenient doctrine for this
purpose, being explained in opposite sections to
suit the views of its advocates AT the North it
was claimed that the Mexican laws prohibiting
slavery in the Mexcln territory would still re-
main in force, and that the inhabitants there,
hostile as they were supposed to be to the insti-
tuition would likewise have the right OF excud-
ing it by territorial legislation. AT the South
the opposite opinions Were maintained, and il
was asserted with great confidence that under
this principle the territory of the United States
would be open to everybody, and that any citizen
of any one of the United States might carry
there. hold, and enjoy every species OF property
that existed in any of the States. lhad to COM
bat this doctrine too often, MIR. Speaker, in the
Presidential canvass Of S4S, not to remember it
well. And at the previous session, on this floor,
i warned my Southern friends on the other side
against trusting to any such principle. What
did we SEQ J?
Sir, early in this session, when General Cass,
in M authoritative manner, expounded this doc
trine of his own invention; and expounded it,
too, lust rs it was understood at the North, -,
do YOU not remember, sir how this doctrine
thus explained was repudiatsd on this floor by
his former supporters from the South.
My purpose is, however, simply to put the
territory Of Colorado on the same footing with
that of New Mexico Whether shall support
the bills thus joined will depend on the provi-
sions which they may contain at the time may
be called upon to vote. 1t Is constantly said,
however, chiefly by northern men, that it this
territory be thus divided it may be the means of
creating two free States on the Pacific instead
iof one There is not the least force in this OBJ
lection live admit California with her present
boundaries we shall certainly have two or more
free States there. So extensive is the country,
that rs soon as it is populated its inhabitants
will demand division Would the people of
South Carolina and Connecticut find it conyen-
lent to form parts Of the same Statea And
will it not happen on the Pacific coast that the
interest and comfort of the people there will
require separation Rest assured, sir, we
shall have petitions, memorials, remonstances,
and but few years would elapse before Con-
gress would be compelled, by their importantly
and its own sense of justice, to divide them into
two or more States. Should California be
shortened, as proposed by my amendment, it
will still hayea sea coast greater than that on
the Atlantic between North Carolina and Massa-
husetts. "~
BY sustaining my amendment, Northern gen.
temen will not sacrifice any principle whatever,
and will attain the object of including in the
State all those who desire to be members of il
The creation of 4 southern territory will give
the South a chance to occupy it, frankly tell
gentlemen that, in my opinion, slavery will find
inducements sufficient to carry it there. From
all the information that have been able to OBJ.
tain by private correspondence with persons
there, from publications. in the papers, and from
conversations with gentlemen recently from that
country, including members of the Legislature
of California, ! believe thora are sufficient in
ducements to invite slave labor. Gold mines
are known to exist there. | am satisfied also.