The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1850-07-10

no recognition of the constitutional existence OF
slavery in any part Of these territories, north OF
south, or east or west, of any line of latitude OF
longitude. Neither will you have repeal of any
existing law prohibiting slavery."A 8f.% %"
Thus summariy disposing Of the whole con-
troversy, he begins an argument to convince
this House that this Administration plan is the
most successful means of gaining his ends, and
of doing so with the least offence to the South.
! This is the method of adjustment, and such is
the palpable effect, recommended by Southern
President for the adoption of Congress. 'Fhe
letter OF the Constitution is observed in order to
make the most vital thrusts at its spirit
/, Congress, 1t is true, has the power to admit
new States. Such Is the letter of the Constitu-
ton; but iii Il wanton and arbitrary exercise Of
that power which is addressed to the discretion
OF Congress, great and palpable wrong could
be done, more offensive to the co-States than !,
clear, unqualified assumption of the power OUT
and ont f tsu .arae-s,It. Eu s.aaf @"a s12%G'5f
Suppose the Republic of Hayti should apply
for admission into our Union as q State with her
negro population: would the South have no
right to complain, to resist, because Congress
has the power to admit new States and the ma
lJorlty must exercise its discretion as it may suit
their tastes and prejudices. So if handful of
squatters upon the common territory, entering
and taking possession of the public property in
violation of the law, should undertake to erect
themselves into a sovereignty and demand ad-
mission as n State, claiming to exercise in one
branch of the legislative department of the Gov
eminent, power equal to the oldest or largest
State OF the Union, there is scarcely freeman
in the whole country who would not feel indig-
nant at the proposition. This feeling would be
| wn al fl,oftb a inI al
posing this community were but Yesterday cit-
zens of a hostile republic, knew nothing of our
institutions, and had given no proof whatever of
their attachment to our Government. The adj
mission of a State under such circumstances
would be an outrage, the more insulting and in
tolerable because it is sought to be done under
the letter OF the Constitution. But to carve
State out ofthe territory belonging to the Uni
ted States, without any permission from Con-
gress, or, as it has been done in the case of Cal
nornla, when Congress expressly refused to
grant permission, whose duty it is to dispose of
and to make all needfnl rules and regulations
respecting the same, without knowing who in
habit the same--whether citizens or foreigners,
who voted for the Constitution which they pre-
sentas republican, whether that clause of the Con-
stitutiOn which requires the number of Repre-
sentatives shall not exceed one for every thirty
thousand" Is not openly violated-is presump-
tous indeed beyond any parallel found in the past
history of the Government. And feel no hest
fancy in saying, that were it not for the most
singular position of other questions connected
with the territories, there would not be found a
sensible man in the whole country, who would
not reject such proposition with contempt as
cheapenng our institutions, and degrading the
States of this confcdcracy
hot h., III, Ill
ing President, who is charged with the custody of
the public property, to have advised the people in
the territories to form themselves into States,
so soon after Congress had refused to authorize
them to execute this privilege? After the Mis-
souri, struggle, and after the discussions during
the last Presidential election, he aust have
known, if he knew anything about political ques-
tons, that unless the applying territory exclu-
dcd slavery, it was vain to expect to gain admit
lance. | say, he must have known this his
special agent CT. b King) knew this; the de-
bates OF the convention show that this matter
was well understood there. Southern advcn-
turerS, some OF whom were the owners of slaves
in their anxiety to get into place by the admis-
sion of California voted for the exclusion OF
their own property, and Inundated themselves
in order to pandcr to this fell spirit of Abolition
which runs riot over the land. Yet, you call
the Constitution presented here, the free act
and the embodied will of California! ! do not
believe it. | have a great respect for the voice
of the people in any community, when fairly ex-
pressed. But it must be the voice of the people
the people who have an abiding interest in their
government, and not sojourners who do not ey-
pect to be governed by the laws which they
make. 1t must be a people who feel free and
independent TO decide finally all questions sub
| 9,.,l II Il
the people of California
In the first place, an acquaintance with frontier
life convinces me, that territorial government
is better suited for them, than Il State govern
ment, till fixed, permanent population is obtain
ed. TO raise revenue sufficient to support a
State government, will be onerous upon peo-
pie who emigrate without capital, and who have
not had the necessary time to acquire that property
which will be subject to taxation Inevery case
heretofore, the General government has borne
this burden, and California, if admitted now, will
come in mendicant, asking for aims Of this
Government. This will not enable her to take
her equal position among her sister States. She
has already demanded and received from the
officers of the United States, money which was
in the Treasury Of the United States, without an
appropriation by law. And it becomes q grave
question, if these executive officers instituted
with the custody of the public money, have not
already objected themselves to impeachment by
thus disposing of the public money.
In the second place, in forming State Gov
eminent, and in the prohibition of slavery, the
people were tempered with, and were not free to
follow their own choice See how beautifully
President Taylor defines his action in the premi-
SEES: This course" he says in his California
message, :" on their part, though in accordance
with, was not adopted Exclusively in conse-
quencc of any expression of my wishes, mas
much as measures tending to this end had been
promoted by the officers sent there by my predc-
cessor." How much influence he did exert so
as not to amount to an exclusion of all other in
nucnces, would require Il very exact calculation.
| Here, as in other cases, when have to examine
the course Of the Administration, feel 10 dis
position to press comments to the extreme.
regard him as a mere puppet i'll the hands of
strong and wicked men, playing part, the force
of which he cannot comprehend | am forced
to the belief that this whole plan Of inducing
the territories to form State Governments, with
out the consent of Congress, originated in the
! Al. "a Al.