The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1850-05-13

both formed convention. One framed
State government, and applied for ad-
mission; the other, Territorial govern
ment, and asked its adoption by Congress.
One excluded slavery by express proyl-
sion; the other was silent upon the sub
ject. Now, as an abstract proposition,
should not the people of each Territory
receive the same measure of justice at the
hands of Congressl Is not the principle
of local sovereignty, in regard to local
organization, common to both Peoplef-
and to both applicationsl Would it be
right to sanction what one has done, and
repudiate what the other saw fit to do
under the same circumstances and under
the same inducements?
The difficulty insisted upon in the
PRESIDENTS California message, touch
ing the claims of Texas, was an embar-
RAISING one. 1t was well put, and Justly
presented to Congress. But the compro-
mise bill provides for this difficulty. 1t
arranges the boundaries of New Mexico
with the consent of Texas, taking care
that no harm shall come to California in
the event Texas does not accept the terms
of adjustment And should the refusal Of
Texas to agree to the compromise work
prejudice to New Mexico, that Territory
will be no worse off under the law than
she is now.
Besides, the PRESIDENT, presupposing
the speedy application Of New Mexico for
admission as State, stated that no mate
rial inconvenience would result to her for
the want of territorial government 'Jor
a short time" This cannot be construed
to mean that New Mexico must be CO.
creed into the formation of State gov
eminent whether she wants one or not, or
remain without legal government forever.
Later advices do not encourage the hope
that she will be prepared soon to ask for
admission into the Union as State. The
causes which deferred her convention from
forming State constitution will probably
exist for long period. She is scarcely
able to support the burden Of a State gov
eminent, and the emigration and enter
prise of this country is flowing in direc-
ton which promises her no good. We
agree with the PRESIDENT that no consid-
cradle inconvenience would arise from
permitting her to remain as at present,
ssfor short time" Nay more-if such
inconvenience were admitted, we do not
think New Mexico should repine if she
was repaid for temporary injustice in the
peace and harmony which her suffering
brought to the whole Union. But it is
fair to allow that the people there know
what is good for them better than we do;
and is it fair that they should be held off
at arms length against their wishes,
against what they claim under the treaty
of cession, in the absence of that evidence
of understanding and trust which make
the ''temporary inconvenience" of part
an obvious and indubitable advantage to
the whole country
What is this advantage to the wholei
1t is the groundwork and basis of the
California message it was the moving
cause of the PRESIDENTS solicitude to
have the Territories apply for admission as
States. II was that the wisdom and pa
triotism of Congress might be afforded San
opportunity Of auoiding occasion of bitter
aud angry dissension among the people Of
the United States" Now, we would re-
spectfully ask if the opportunity is likely
to be improved by the wisdom and patriot
ism of Congress Is there any prospect
that agitation and discontents will cease
as long as there is a square mile of terri
tory left open to strife Does not the ex-
hibition in the Senate, on the eighth in
slant, admonish the country that the agi-
tation will be kept up both at the North and
the South, if there is any thing left to
agitate uponi The revelation was but too
palpable, and as painful as obvious. 1t
amounted TO a declaration that agitation
will be renewed and the probabilities are
that it will grow 6ercer and more incen-
diary in the adverse proportion to the
magnitude Of the territory it is waged
upon. In quarrels Of this nature, COM
menced in folly and continued in infatua-
ton, the smaller the object Of strife the
bloodier the battle over it. This is the
case with creeds, rituals, and formularies
Of divinest structure; il is eminently so in
family fueds, to which these insensate
troubles may be likened.
1t would be source of qualification if
the temper Of Congress was propitious to
the passage Of the committee bills as sep
arate measures. Those respecting New
Mexico and the Texas boundaries are con-
nected from necessity. But we apprehend
that the condition of the representation is