The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1850-07-04

the two applications Is il the difference Of
population We can approximate as nearly
to that of the one as of the other; both being
involved in glorious uncertainty.
Is it the modus operandi In both it
was essentially the same. The New Mexi-
can Convention will assemble under the
same authority, and will register its edicts
under the same sanction, and probably, give
fully as fair reflex of the real will Of the
inhabitants of the Territory as that of its
exemplar, ...
Mr.. Cass, it seems TO US, was not par
ticularly happy inhis attempts at defining the
distinction between the cases; and MIR.
Seward certainly had him at disadvantage
in the argument on the subject.
Granting the first postulate, making valid
the first proposition, the conclusion seems to
US to follow as matter of course, and a
mental airline only divides the two cases.
We cannot, therefore, deny that the
course of those WHO claim the precedent Of
California as in all respects applicable to
New Mexico, is consistent, and their cen
clusion legitimate; they are parallel cases
throughout; the one daguerreotype of the
other But does it therefore follow that both,
or either, should be admitted
We have yet to learn that two wrongs
ever made right, and that even passive ac-
quiescence, or submission to one great out
rage, legalizes or authorises repetition oft.
1t certainly encourages it; but can any num-
Der of precedents give new construction
to the Constitution, and new powers to "the
people," accidentally congregated for time
at any given point of the public domain of
the United States ?
At any other previous period Of our ma
tonal history the answers to these questions
would have been self-evident but in these
days of political new-lights, as brilliant and
as difficult to catch as Paine's gas-light,
there is no knowing what responses will
come from political doctors, or how far lead
ing men will
Compound for sins they are inclined to,
By damning those they have no mind to-
How long Utah will hesitate to follow the
example set her no one can doubt Posi-
bly, she has already, in conformity with some
orders suggestions or hints, either by autho-
rty or otherwise, coming from persons
clothed with powers unknown to the Con-
stitution, and irresponsible to public opinion
or to Congress, taken the preliminary steps
and prepared to Join her sistcrhood in knock
ing at the doors of Congress. The same
solemn farce, so successfully played out in
California and New Mexico, may even now
be in progress Of re-enactment; for the letter
from Santa Fe, published by us on Monday
last, shows how few persons, how little
pains or preparation, and what small
amount of ingenuity it takes to constitute
STATE under this new dispensation.
All that it requires is the presence of ar
United States officer on the spot to stanl
sponsor for the Proclamation-a few signif-
cant limitations from head quarters that the
wishes of the people are to be respected il
they should desire to form State gorcrn-
ment-the congregation Of few persons in
what by courtesy is called A CONVENTION
and the adoption, by this irregular and ire
sponsible bod y, of a Constitution with the
provso inserted. These are all the appli-
ances needed to rehearse what loo S like a
broad burlesque, a foolish farce, but threat
ening to terminate in the saddest tragedy
There are bounds to all human patience !;
there are limits to all endurance and this
game has already been pushed too far. 1t
is time that the reign Of law and order, and
strict observance Of the Constitution, should
be restored.