The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1850-06-26


bill which, to gether with the vote in detail,
appear in the report OF the proceedings.
"We would not vote for the admission of Califor-
mia per Sc; but waive all our objections to the
measure, if it can be made part of a system OF
compromise to give peace to the Republic. The
Compromise prostrates the Wilmot proviso, the
most insidious form which aboitionism has ever
assumed, and the most fatal to the South for this
Compromise organizes territorial governments
for Utah and New Mexico without any restriction
on slavery. OF course there is express under
standing that it is to be solemn compact, bind
ing upon the North well as the South and that
ifthis system is hereafter to be disturbed by the
influence of ianaticism-if the grossest violation
Of good faith is to be added to the violence of ag-
gression--the South will then be prepared to sa
that she no longer put faith in northern
brethren, and that it will be time to part"
Union, Of yesterday
''Would not vote for the admission of Cali
forna per SCI" Why, you were rampant for
its immediate admission per Sc, little over a
year ago! Here is what you said then:
Extract from the Union of february 18th, lS49
''Al will perceive that the people of California
and New Mexico should decide the question of
: slavery Tor themselves, without tue OlnclouS ala
and compulsory assistance Of Congress; that they
the most deeply interested in their own dones
tic institutions, and that their will and wishes
should alone be consulted.
''Thcse ideas have been fully embodied in Mr.
Douglass bill; and we cannot conceive why it
: has not been promptly passed. BY that bill, the
North yields nothing. Lei California be erected
info State at once, and the people of California
will be called upon TO do what every man
cedes they have right TO do, when admitted into
the Union. They have right to frame govern
ment for themselves. The South would surrender
nothing by this course; for the South asserts that
the people Of territory have right to abolish
prohibit slavery when thay come into the Union"
Not only did the editor of the Union advo-
cate, in lS49 the immediate admission of Cal
ifornia per Sc, but he was urgent for the admis-
sion of New Mexico also, as a State into the
Union, as soon as she should form State con-
stitution in conformity with the acquisitions of
the Constitution of the United States Here
are his own words to that effect:
Extract from same paper, of same date.
at has been ascertained, without doubt, that no
form of territorial government, under the authority
of Congress- can pass the House of Representatives
without being trammeled with the Wilmot pro-
viso slavery restriction. II is equally certain no
bill with the restriction can become a law. What
then, be done? IL there any Other mode in ,ohich
The difficulty be solved? In judgment there is;
and that mode is 10 prouide at for the admission
Of the acquired territories Of California and Nel,
Merico into The Union States, soon as they shall
form republican constitutions, proposed by the select
committee in the report made by Senator Douglas as
its chairman, or proposed in the minority report
of Senator Downs Of the Judiciary Committee By
this mode The question of the Wiinot proviso is
avoided"
In the same article the editor answers the OBJ
jections which had been made TO the measure
by some of the Southern members:
1--WE understand that some Of the southern mem.
bers obecting TO the bill. We have respectfully
weighed their arguments, but we cannot attach
the same importance TO them which they do.
will you,' say they, give up all southern claim
at To California, and not only surrender her,
but admit her two Senators at the next session TO
assist the other Senators from n-slav eholding
States in fastening the Wilmot proviso upon New
Mexico" We answer frankly. we have no idea
that California ever become a slavcholdine
State. Messrs. X. j. WALKER, BUCHANAN, and
CAss, in their respective letters, expressed the
qualified opinion that it could never become such
State; that the nature of the soil and climate
forbids it. But, independently Of these sugges-
tons, refer to the character of the population
. for the answer. There arc very few negroes
among them AS laborcrs. The great mass of the
people who already there, and who are cmi-
grating to her land, consist of American citizcns
and foreigners who are opposed TO slavery. What
benefit the South obtain from delay
"Thc people Of California, we hope, will prove
true to the Union; in which they will form
provisional government for their own protection,
and they will call convention to frame a consti-
tuition. They will knock at the doors of the next
Congress for admission a State; and the strong
presumption is, that she will then be admitted.
Her Senators will then be at liberty to vote with.
out restriction, and without virtual pledge TO the
country 10 vote for any territorial for
New Mexico which they may prefer; and the ap.
prchenson is, that under such circumstances
they will vote TO fcttcr New Mexico with the viii.
mot proviso. The situation of things will be very
different IL Congress should now vote for the bill
TO admit California as a State, and also New Mex
leo as she IL provided with an adequate
population. Tnis bill constitutes q system both for
California and Nctr Msrico. II would be the
grossest breach Of public faith, if the next Con.
gress should attempt TO incorporate the wilmot
proviso with the arrangements for the regulation
Of New Mexico. The two Senators from Califor-
MIA would be the last TO cooperate in such fraud;
and, Tor one, VIC say that if such an attempt
should succeed in Congress, VIC should be the
9 last person in this country TO submit to it, The
South would resist spch gross violation--not
only of their equal rights, but of the public faith
at any hazard We should hold men who could
be capable Of such double dealing as guilty Of
OF the greatest political trsnsgrossions which
could be committed. We should hold them az
unworthy of being confedcrates in this great Con.
federacy OF States. We should hold that such
government would not be fl to be trusted with
the lives, the property, the rights the liberty of
: the people who live under its laws. We see no
: benefit, therefore, in any delay. On the con-
trary, we see confusion, violence every species Of
disorder in California, from doing nothing at this
: session; and danger TO the Union, distraction