Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1850-01-30
,ns.,;o, ube,ber The system of involuntary servi-


nde which prevails in many of the States, should or
should not be prohibited ia that Territory The
periods of excitement from This cause which have
heretofore occurred have been safely passed but dur
n1r the interval. Of whatever length, which may e.
larse before the admission of the Territures coded
by Mexico as States. il appears probable that slml'
lar EXCITEMENT will prevail 10 sn undue extent.
Hinder these circumstances, ] thought, and still
think, tina, il was my duty to endeavor To put It IN
The power Of Congress, by The admission OF Call.
forna and New Mexico as States, to remove all
occasions for the unnecessary agitation OF the puoc
mind -,
I, is understood that the people of the Western
mart of California have formed plan OF State
Constitution. and will soon submit the same 10 Inc
Judgment of Congress, and apply Tor admission as
State. This course on their part, Though IN ac-
cordance with was not adopted exclusively IN cum
sequence of any expression Of my wishes, inasmuch
as measures tending 10 this end had been promoted
by The officers sent there by my predecessor, and
were already in active progress OF execution before
any communication from me reached California
IF The pruposed constitution shall, when Submitted
10 Congress, BE- found TO be in compliance with the
reouisilions of The Constitution of The United States
earnestly recommend that il may receive the sane
ton of Congress.
The part of California not included in the pro-
no.ed State of that name, is believed 10 he unnhabl-
ted except in settlement of our coun,rymen in the
vicinity Of Salt Lake.
A claim has been advanced BY the State of Texas
to large portion Of the most populous district OF
ihe Territory, commonly designated by The name
of New Mexicu. If the people OF New Mexico had
formed plan ola Stale Government Tor that Ter
riory as cedeG by the treaty of Guadalupe iiidal-
90, and had been admitted by Congress as Slate,
our Constitution would have afforded The means VI
an adjustment OF the question OF boundary with lex
as by judicial decisiun. Al present. however, no
judicial tribunal has the power OF deciding that
question. and il remains for Congress 10 devise some
mode for its adjustment. Meanwhile submit 10
CONGRESS the uupsiun, whether it would be eXpe-
denI. before such adjustment, to establish Terri
al Government, which by including the district SO
claimed, would practically decide the question ad.
versey to the Stale Of Texas, or, by excluding 1t,
would decide in her favor. In my opinlon such a
course would not be expedient, especially as The
people Of this Territory still enjoy The benefit and
protection of their municipal laws, originally de-
rived from Mexico, and have military furce sta
toned there 10 protect them against the Indians 1t
is undoubtedly true that the property, lives, liberty
and religion of the people of Mexicu, better pro-
tected than they ever were before the treaty Of
cessun.
Should Congress, when California presents her
sell for Incorporation into the Union. annex con-
dion to her admission as Slate affecting her do
meslc institutions contrary to The wishes OF her peo
pie, and even compel her temporarily 10 comply
with it, YET the Safe could change her constitution
al any time, after admission, when To her it should
seem expedent. Amy attempt 10 deny 10 the peo-
pie Of the Stale the right of sell-eovernment, in
matter which peculiarly affects themselves, will In
aliby be regarded by them as an invasion Of their
rights and, upon The principles laid down in our
own Declaration Of Independence, they will Ger
tainIy he sustained by the great mass OF the Amerl-
can people. To assert that they are conquered
people, and must as State submit TO The will OF
their conquerors, in this regard, will meet with no
cordial response among American freemen. Great
numbers Of them are naive CITIZENS Of the United
States, no, inferior 10 the st Of our counrymen in
intelligence and patriotism; and no language of me-
mace to restrain Them in the exercise Of undOubt
ed right, substantially guaranteed 10 them by the
treaty of cesson ITSELF shall ever be uttered by me
or encouraged by and sustained by any persons act
;s .laIr ssy authority. IL is TO be expected that
in the residue Of The territory coded To us by Mex
leo, the people residing there will at The time Of
their Incorporation into The Union as Sta.e, settle
all questions Of domestic policy to suit themselves
No material inconvenience will result from the
want, FIR short period, Of Government establish.
ed by Cungressover that part of The Territory which
lies eastward of the new State of California; and
the reasons for my opinion that New Mexico will,
at no very distant period ask for admission into the
Union, are founded on unofficial information, with
suppose is common To all who have cared 10 make
inquire On that subject.
Seeing, then, that the question which now eX-
cites such painful sensations in the country, will in
the end certainly be settled by the silen, effect of
CT uses Independent Of the act Of Congress, | again
submit to your wisdom the policy recommended in
my Annual Message, Of awaiting the salutary ope-
ration of those causes, believing that we shall thus
avoid The creation Typographical parties, and SO.
cure The harmony of feeling 50 necessary To the ben
efcal action Of our political system. Connected
as the Union is, with the remembrance of past hap
piness the Of present blessings, and the hope
Of future peace and prosperity, every dictate of wis
dom, every feeling Of duty, and every emOion Of
patriotism, tend to inspire fidelity and devotion to-
wards it, and admonish us cautiously to avoid any
unnecessary controversy which can either endanger
it impair its strength. the chief element Of which
is to be found in the regard and affection Of the peo
pie fur each other. q. TAYLOR.
DEATH OF PoEr.-IVe regre, 10 learn the
death Of Philip Pendeton Cook, Esq. Of Clarke
County. He died on Sunday last Of Pneumonia,
~, CoL, liz N ,f Win