The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1850-07-26

I
the whole subject of slavery in the new Territories,
30 long they may remain Territories, to be de-
cided a question Of constitutional law by the Su-
preme Court of the United States.
IL have said that this question IL IN Its nature
transient. In California it must be finally decided
within brief period by the authority from which,
under our Constitution there can be no appeal. All
admit that the people of the Territory, when as
sembled in convention to frame State constitution,
possess the sole, the exclusive power to determine
whether slavery shall or shall not exist within its
limits; and the tide of population now flowing into
il fully justihes the belief that California will be adj
mited a State into the Union during the next
Congress.
'But what will be the condition of California
during the brief intervening period: When we
acquired it from Mexico it free territory, both
by law and in fact; and free it must remain, unless
its present condition shall be changed by the posi-
tive enactment of competent Legislative au-
thority.
Such being the clear law of the case, what is the
state of the fact? Time and more correct informa-
ton from California have fully demonstrated that
this is longer practical question Slavery
will exist in California Both the will of it's people
and the laws of nature have decreed the exclusion
OF slavery from that Territory The people already
| there are nearly unanimous upon the subject; and
the emigrants who arc now crowding into this fine
| and fertile Territory chiefly from the middle
and northern States Besides, the soil, the climate,
and the productions of California all opposed to
slavery Nature is thus opposed to it, and the art
| of man cannot carry it there. The power of Con-
gress cannot legisate it into that Territory. They
| may adopt the Wilmot proviso, the Missouri com
| promise the Senae's compromise, resolve to do
nothing and the practical result will be precisely
| the same.
Besides, does any man doubt, from the character
| and known opinions OF the people, that when they
come to frame their constitution they will forever
prohibit slavery in the new Slater This question
is therefore, tr ansient its nature and not of the
| least practical Importance. 1t will settle itself
within brief period, both in California and New
Mexico; and this is most propitous for the peace
and perpeuty ofthe Unon-o our blessed Union
| which we should never name without heartfelt
gratitude to Almighty God, and which can never
be endangered by any other question than that OF
slavery. This WILL fortunately, be final settle
| ment; because possess more territory to
which'the question can be at all applicable. As a
practical question, all the excitement which has
| been raised upon the subject has been worse than
| useless
| 'For my own part, respect profoundly the feel
| ings of those Democrats in my native State who
| have partaken in this excitement know them to
be intelligent and devoted to the great and
| glorious principles of tho party as any Demo
| Gratis throughout tho land. 1t is for this reason
| think may venture to you, that they will
never peril these principles for the vain purpose OF
| excluding slavery from Territory where, from
the nature of things, il never exist They will
not suffer the ancient and time honored banner OF
| Democracy which has waived over them in tri-
umph throughout many fought fields, to be
traed in the dust and rampled under foot by their
old political enemies, for the sake of a mere alb
straction If they should act in this manner, bitter
would be their regret upon finding Wing admin
istration installed into power by their deserton OF
the good old cause Mt the present critical moment
Sad would be their reflections in beholding their
ancient adversary engaged in the work of destroy
ing all those wise measures of Democratic policy
| which they themselves had contributed to esab
fish, and in substituting for them the oft exploded
measures Of the Wing party, which they all their
| lives had loudly condemned and resisted You
may rest assured, my fellow citizens, that shall
| never witness such spectacle in good old Demo
cratic Pennsylvania
Here Mr.. BUcHANAN assumes:
/. That the power of Congress could moi
legislate slavery into California-that the adop
ton of the Missouri compromise would not pro
duce that result.
2 That California would be admitted int
lhe Union as a free State during the present
Congress.
3. That in "a brief PERIOD New Mexico
would also be admitted as free State.
4. That the question whether or not SLAYER,
should be admitted into, or excluded from, tn,
Territories of California and New Mexico, wa,
transient in its nature, and not Of the leas
practical mportance-that it would settle itself
which was most propitious for the peace of ON
blessed Union.
8. That when we acquired this territory i
was free, both by law and fact; and free it mus
remain, unless its present condition shall b.
changed by the positive enactment of compe
tent legislative authority.
In his published letter to Berks county. re
ferred to by Mr.. b. in the extract abov,
quoted, and written the year before, he says:
Neither the soil, the climate, nor the produc
tons Of California south of 36o 30, nor indeed o
any portion of it, north south is adapted to slav
labor; and besides, every facility would be thcr
afforded for the slave to escape from his master
Such property would be entirely insecure in an,
part Of California. II Ia morally impossible
therefore, that majority of emigrants 10 tina
portion Of the territory south Of 36o 30 which vii
be chiefly composed Of our citizens, will rc-cstsb
lish slavery within its limits.
'In regard TO New Mexico cast Of the Ri
Grande, the question has already been settled b,
the admission Of Texas into the Union
Should acquire territory beyond the Ri
Grandc, and cast Of tho Rocky mountains, il /
,till more impossible that majority Of the peo
| pie would consent TO establish slavery. The,
T arc themselves colorcd population, and amonl
them the negro race docs not belong socially to
degraded race"
We have gone into the foregoing examina
ton of Mr.. BUcHANAS's views, as furnishe,
by his published letters, for the benefit Of thos
Southern politicians who rely upon him for eff
cient aid in effecting an adjustment upon tn,
principle of the Missouri compromise. II ap
pears that his supposed opinions on the subjcc
exercised great influence Upon the decision O
the Nashville convention. Mr.. RHETT. in hi
recent Charleston speech, after stating that tn
convention was unanimous in presenting tn
| n. 4 = -.