Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1850-06-29
TFRoM OUR DAILY PAPER OF LAST MONDAY. I

T.
In complying with the particular request of an
old subscriber to transfer to our columns (see the
first page) from the Republic" an article vim
dicating the PRESIDENT from the bitter and wanton
assaults of the "Union' newspaper in reference
to the California question, we had no intention Of
interposing in controversy in which our Wing
neighbor is SO well able to take and maintain his
own part. The Introductory remark which ne
threw in, that President Folks last Annual Mes
sage contained the whole Platform of Gen. TAYLOR,
though apt to the purpose, certainly contained
nothing ne,c, and was only made because the op-
position of the Union" to the Presidents views
has been based upon contrary hypothesis. The
"Union' of Sunday last quotes from Mr.. Polk s
Message volume of extracts, which have almost
no application to the principle at issue in this con-
troversy, viz the expedency of leaving to the State
Governments, when formed out of the acquired
territories las that of California now u.s. and that of
New Mexico soon will be,) the right to establish
their own municipal law, uncontrolled by Con-
gress. The quotations of the Union from Mr.
PoLKs Message are copious upon incidental points,
but come to full stop just when they reach what
he says on the main question, every ,Dord of Dhich
IS omitted, and which we supply by here inserting
IT, as conclusive answer to all that the Union
says, or can say, on this subject:
J." The question is believed to be rather abstract
than practical, whether slavery ever can or would
exist in any portion Of the acquired territory, even
II it were left to the option of the slaveholdins
States themselves. From the nature of the eli
mate and productions, in much the larger portion
| nj I NJ 10 corfoi ~
remainder, the probabilities are il would not But,
however this may be, the question, involving as i
does principle of equality of rights of the sepa
parate and several States, as equal co-partners in
the Confederacy, should not be disreearded
l. In organizing Governments over these Terrific.
ries, no duty imposed on Congress by the Consti-
ton requires that they should egislate on the sub
ec of slavery while their power to do so is not only
seriously questioned, but denied by many of the
soundest expounders of that instrument. Whether
Congress shall legisate or not, the people of the
acquired Territories, when assembled in Conven
ton to form State constitutions, will possess the
sole and exclusive power to determine for them.
selves whether slavery shall or shall not exist
within their limits. If Congress shall abstain
from interfering with the question, the people of
these Territories will left free to adjust it. as they
may think proper, when they apply for admission
as States into the Union. No enactment of Con-
| gress could restrain the people of any of the
sovereign States Of the Union, old or new, North
or South, sayeholding or non-saveholding, from
determining the character of their own domestic
institutions, as they may deem wise and proper.
Any and all the States possess this right, and
Congress cannot deprive them of it. The people
Of Georgia might, if they chose so alter their
constitution as to abolish slavery within its limits
and the people Of Vermont might so alter their
constitution as to admit slavery within its limits
Both States would possess the right; though, as
| all know, it is not probable that either would
exert it.
" It is fortunate for the peace and harmony of
the Union that this question is in its nature tenn
porary; and can only continue for the brief period
which will intervene before California and New
Mexico may be admitted as States into the Union
From the tide of population now flowing into
men, It is highly probable that this will soon
occur" -
BURLINGTON lnI-WEEKLr TELEGRAPn-Ths is the
psne u pew paper which has just made its appearance
Burlington, Iowa. IL is published nv Moroa, and McK;nnv