The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1850-02-08

Absurdity or General Tayior's scheme for Settling
the Territorial Question.
The plan proposed by Gen Taylor more truly by the
cabinet in his name-General Taylor being but nose OF
wax in their hands-for the disposition OF the territorial
questonis toleavethem without governments and permit
the people inhabiting them to form constitutions and ap
ply for admission into the Union This is simply the
doctrine of non-ntervenon forced upon the Territories
by non-acton 1t is the adoption Of General Casss prn
cpe OF nonnterventon. leaving the people Of the Ter
ories without government until they are admitted into
the Union. This is, in substance, the wise and cum
ming device Of the cabinet by which that lustous body
hope to settle the territorial question Is there man Of
common in America who will not say that is bet
ter to give the people Of the Territories governments for
their protection and security until they have sufficient
population and ready and willing adopt constitu
lions and apply for admission into the Union as States
than TO leave them without and protection
Is il not wiser, more manly, and more statesmanke,
to provide governments for the people Of the Territories
without the Wilmot Proviso than to leave them with
out the Wilmot Provso, and without governments, too
Who can doubt Who bw child or an idiot would
propose the latter alternative And why do the cabinet
advise this abandonment Of the people Of the Territories
For other than prevent the exposure Of the
shameful fraud perpetated upon the people in the late
presidential election with regard to the opinions and
course of General Taylor in relation to the Wmot Pro.
vso
The effect OF the Taylor plan would be to force the
people OF the Territories into the Union prematurely
Heretofore the nvariable policy OF the government has
been TO establish territorial governments for the new Ter
ritones, the expenses Of which paid by Congress
During such territorial existence the foundations OF
State laid; courts Of justice estabshed schools
provided for; and roads and other improvements are
made; the expenses Of all which are very heavy and
very upon the entepnsng pioneers who lead the
way the settlement OF the Territories Afterwards
suitable tme when the population and wealth OF the
Territories sufficient to bear the expenses Of State
government, the people form constitutions and are ad.
mted into the confederacy sovereign States In this
way have the whole seventeen States grown up,
which have been admitted since 1889 II is the wise and
statesmanlike mode Of treating the subject
Besides, Gen Taylors absurd scheme would force
these Territories into the Union each OF them, with
boundaries large enough for an empire II they should
grow up and become popuous as they will inevitably,
they would indeed, become empires, and possibly dis
pute the sovereignty Of the Union Their interests being
homogeneous and concentrated would very likely in the
anu
set up for themselves
Statesmen Should look to the future They should not
attempt avoid present evils by entang greater ones
upon posterity For the patry purpose OF conceang
base eeconeering fraud they should not sow the seeds
OF dissolution in empire Such conduct would be the
very Of cowardice and crminay. Yet that is the
very line OF conduct which Gen. Taylor and the cabinet
have marked out for themselves and their party.
The territory which have acquired from Mexico is
large half of Europe. We regard il as absurd to
think Of making but three States OF that immense domain
On the contrary, it should be provided with territorial
government governments, and admitted into the Union
it's different parts shall contain the necessary
elements for State. Such has been the policy with
regard to the territorial domain OF the Union and il
should not be departed from without good cause And
do not regard the necessity Of concealing vile and
wicked eeconeering fraud as sufficient excuse for a
departure from this system OF policy
In what we have written we do not particularv ade
to California On the contrary, we can very well con-
ceve how provision be made for the admission Of
general bin which win settle and dispose Of the whole
matter at And in that way the question should be
settled Let il be done now that no future contentious
may arise.
We are happy to find ourselves sustained in our
views as to the propety Of establishing territorial goy
ernments by many Of contemporaries OF the press in
the free States Whatever may be their opinions with
regard to the Wilmot Provso they believe that the ques
ton should be now permanently settled and therefore
they denounce the shutting skukng, cowardly and dis
graceful policy recommended by the cabinet through