The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1850-01-24
Spirit Of the Press.
From the baltimore Amaican.
The Presidents special Message.


If any reader Of the Presidents message TO the
House of Representatives, published in our columns
this morning, should fail ~ understand It's meaning
throughout, in every word and sentence the cause
of obscurity will not be found in the document IL
self Nor can those who may be inclined TO con-
test the Presidents position, in relation 10 the sub
ject matter of the message alle4 or pretend Tor
moment that there is any room Tor doubt us TO the
clearly defined nature of the position.
Ii is not our habit TO culogizc official persona ges
or official papers Both are best left to speak for
themselves Nothing but vain affectation indeed
could prompt any one, ~ would seem, 10 presume
upon proffering his terms Of eulogium upon such a
sturdy downright document as this, which, in its
whole impress, indicates profound indifference to
any body's praise or censure- II Is an eminently
charac teristic production, and might have been
written by that pen ofiron which told prosecuting
Administration that the man who welded il as he
welded his sword, asked favors and shrunk
from no responsibilities.
The right of the people, under our system of gov
eminent, to frame their own domestic institutions
and TO manage their own local concerns, subject
only to the provisions of the Constitution is the CEN
trail ground upon which the message takes its stand
The reader will observe the clear and comprehen-
siyc views which illustrate this whole subject
The simple mode which the President points out by
which the slavery question may settle itself, or
rather by which the people in every community
NAV settle il for themselves, is presented plainly,
vet with such considerable moderation of language
and tone, that If there should be undue excitement
about the matter hereafter, III any quarter the agi
will have to bear the whole blame oil II IN the
calm estimation Of the country. "Any attempt"
says the message, in allusion 70 California, to de-
nv to the people of the State the right of self gov
ernment, in matter which peculiarly affects
themselves, will infalbly be regarded by them
an invasion of their rights; and, upon the prnci-
pies laid down in own Declaration Of Independ-
ence, they will certainly be sustained by the great
mass of the American people. To assert that they
are a conquered people, and must as State sub
NIT to the will of their conquerors, in this regard,
will meet with cordial response among Amer
lean freemen. Great numbers Of them are native
citizens of the United States, not inferior to the
rest of our countrymen in intelligence and patri
otism; and no language of menace to restrain
them in the exercise of an undoubted right, sub
stantially guaranteed TO them by the treaty OF
cession itself, shall be uttered by me,
couraged and sustained by persons acting under
my authority"
This, We think, Is pretty well to the point These
words, as Emerson would say, strike like bullets.
Every of them would weigh at least pound in
the specific gravity Of forceful utterance General
Taylor evidently in earnest in this business. The
old Hero is on his way to Fort Brown, and If the
enemy should oppose his march, in tchaterer number he
lcM fight him. We have only TO add, that if this in
domtable soldier Is after the heart Of the
American people, then greatly mistake both
the man and the people.