Daily Richmond times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1849-1850, 1850-10-15

power 10 admit new States the admission of Califor-
MIA purely question OF Congressional discretion.
The law admitting her is constitutional lew, passed
according to the prescribed FORMS and by virtue OF the
power vested IN Congress by the constitution 1t may
be wise or unwise, but it is constitutional law 1t in
icts no sectional wrong injury on the South and,
nmy opinion, ought not to be resisted by the South.
In the exercise of my discretion your representative,
| voted against the bill. My principal reasons were,
LIST. There had been act OF Congress authorizing the
people, inhabting that territory, to form Constitution
and erect State Government; ms has been the usual
but the universal rule and while admitting the right
OF Congress depart from it, adhered to it, because
believed it to be safest and best that important act
this should law and be conducted according
law. 2dly The title to nearly all the land of the country
still in the government. Nopiovision having been
made tor the primary disposition OF the soil, very
large proportion OF the population were In law nruders
on the public lands, with no fixed Indications, and
placed by these unfortunate circumstances in a
very untavorabe condition Tor the maintenance OF
cial order and good government Sd. The bounda-
ries declared by California, for herself nud i
cIouSly large including remote and disconnected settle
ments, separated by formidable natural barriers, and
perhaps not less in cases by dssimarty of pur-
SUITS wants and interests. None of these are
SECTIONAL and would as well warrant Massachusctt It's in
resisting the law as Georgia. Congress waived these
| objections, and had right to waive hem and Is
not to be denied that there weghty on the
other side Tor her admission. She had population OF
| American citizens much beyond the number requisite
i Tor her admission. Her people, without any tault
OF theirs, but account of our dsagreenlents the
slavery question, had been without lawful government
for several years. They were subjected to an illegal
and unconstitutional military usurpation, at the very
moment when they most needed stable and regular,
and lawful government. They had an undoubted
right to throw OFT that government, and were right
iuly entitled to a government OF laws instead OF
military force. The remoteness OF California, the
extraordinary state of things existing there resulting
from the unprecedented discoveries of gold, and the
nigh rate OF wages, made its government by Congress
not only announcement and difficult but enormous ex-
pensWe to u.s. The mixed character OF the population
from all countries inviting collision and hostility, au
Sumented the necessity tor efficient and regular govern
ment. In weighing these reasons, Congress dec lded
tor her admission, and doubt not that the exclusion
OF slavery by her constitution had great and perhaps
contr bling influence IN favor OF her admission with
the Northern members But they did not transcend
their powers 1t is equally due to truth and eandor
say, that the controlling for resistance to that
act at the South is founded upon that clause in
her constitution excluding slavery That reason ought
not TO have controlled either party and especially is
not Just sufficient reason for opposing the law and
resisting the government have already attempted to
vlndlcate the rights OF people forming consti-
luton tor admission into the Ouon, to admit or
cude slavery at their pleasure, and to prove that
congress had no other power such constitution
thus presented, than to that is republican, We
demanded it and compromised for Missouri. We
have demanded it and secured it for New Mexico and
Utah We should adhere to it, because it is right:
but it is expedient as well as right One hundred
ana nifty thousand American citizens, on the distant
shores OF the Pacific Ocean having by their repre-
sentatves, to form constitution for themselves, have
adlIdged 1t best under their peculiar circumstances,
Tor their interest their prosperity and their happiness
to prohibit the introduction of slavery into their new
commonwealth 1t is their business not ours. Wheth-
er they have decided wisely unwisey mol for us
to determine. We have settled the question differently
Tor ourselves, it is not for them TO disturb that judg
ment now or hearater both stand upon the
great prncipe-the right of free people, in entering
Inc family OF American States, to adopt such form
of Republican government as in rudgment will best
preserve their liberties promote their happiness and
Perpetuate their prosperity. II we wise we will
defend rather than resist this birthrght OF American
treemen so invaluable to u.s. formidable to the enc
mes OF our property, peace and safety. | am
ready to rally with you Tor the defence of this great
prlnclpe With no memory tor past differences Of
opinion, careless of the future am ready TO unite with
any portion or all ofmy countymen in defence OF the
| integrity ofthe Republic
am, very resi- ectfully
Your obliged Fellow Citizen.
R. TOOMBS