The daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1848-1851, 1850-01-21
AdmIs.Ion Of NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS..

Admission Of -Non-intervenfion
The doctrine Of non-intervention in regard to
slavery IL unouestionablv the wise one for Congress,
rd III inst ana safe one for the peonle of the Ter
rtories and Of the States Isis an excellent theory
and commands in the abstract very general assent,
that every organized community is the best Judge
Of the laws and institutions which are suited to
its own social wants and interests But when
aetintions are called for that PARTIES may under
stand each other CLEARLY in view of legislative
action il soon beoirs 10 anoear that different ideas
are entertained Of what is the intervention which is
70 he ,vodsd and The on-;ntervention which it is
a dn,v ~ observs. Tn favor of the admission of
cal;eoSn;, into The IJnion. Al once great point is
n,de 4 he Eastern papers. ON the ground that it
refers the vexed question Of slavery to the parties
;n,erested and thus acts on the principle Of non
intervention in The domestic policy of State. On
,hase heads very different opinion is held by those
who ob;ect 10 the instant admission. They con-
tend on the contrary that it would be an indirect
but not less positive form of Intervention, which
,b;x IS hardly disguised in the substance. though il
he little nystified in the form of the pleas set
forth in favor OF admission.
It's not questioned that the people in California
have the natural right to regulate their domestic
affairs. How far this natural right is subordinate
to the sovereignty 10 which the soil belongs it is
not necessary to inquire-for granting them all the
abstract rights which can be demanded for them,
these cannot rightfully extend beyond the immedi-
ate government of themselves over space of ter
ritory necessary TO themselves for that purpose.
The notion, SO commonly promulgated that
number Of men, large or small, within the territory
of the United States, may constitute themselves OF
right into State, with the attributes of State
sovereignty, and select their own boundaries, and
embrace within them an immense and uhpeopled
areaprescrbng perpetual rules for the social char
acter of the future millions-wil not bear a mo-
ments calm investigation. just as well, on the
principle assumed might colony from Polynesia
or Japan have marked out territory as theirs, and
with paper Constitution, made at Honolulu, de-
manded admission State. Not that there is
any analogy in the semi barbarism OF these parti-
colored savages to the men or the Constitution Of
California, both Of which are in the main vigorous
and enlghtened-but the principle which demands
that Congress shall inquire for nothing more than
the republicanism OF the Constitution projected
would demand the same admission Tor one as for
the other
Ii there be right to investigate, to question, to
alter and to refuse then there is discretion acknow
lodged, and duty imposed IN the exercise OF that
discretion, The moment this is admitted the whole
subject is open to every sort OF investigation, lnvo-
wing all questions OF exPediency both as relates to
the people OF California among themselves and
their relations to the rest of the country And this
is not Intervention in the affairs of State It's the
denial that State exists lawfully, or can exist in
manner and form as this does, until approved by
some sanction by Congress, confirming acts that
were without law or authority before The Con-
gress of the United States could not without mani
lest wrong, reverse or abolish any municipal or