The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1850-03-10

source hey derived them or whether they are lett soel
to the guidance oil that code which Is famlilarly cae
the iaw Of nature II they in this condition, there
certainly the more blame to those whose duty may hav
been TO provide them other laws; but still, IN the ab
sence OF such laws, II is difficult to imagine upon wha
principle OF selection they proceeded IN determining VIII
and what manner oi persons should be entitled TO unit
with them IN the expression OF the views set forth IN thi
paper might be difficult 10 show that, by the princi
Piles OF this naarai Iaw, the has clearer in
alienabe right to iie liberty, and the puruit OF happi
ness" than the other or that the age OF tweny-on
n years is precisely the period when the right OF sefgov
ernment commences. II the inhabitants, indeed, hav
lately passed through revoution why, that explain
every thing but the President has melted or encour
aged such revolution among people owing allegiance
to the United States he has incurred grave responsi
| bility.
Sir, from some expressions in the first California mes
sage, am led to suspect that this terra iacognd-thi
State Of Californas part OF territory the shores
Of the Pacific; and that the proceedings, which resutet
in the adoption q what j. called STATE constitution
Let read ssme OF the expressions to which allude
did not hesitate 10 the people Of these Ter
comply win The requsions Of the constitution 81 the Uni
Ted States, form plan of State constitution, and sub
the same % Congress with prayer for admission into the
He adv,sed he people, What peope' Certainly, there
were none there who, by iaW, were authorized 70 ac
tie Unon STATE. Here, TOO, he assumed author
lty that belongs to Congress alone How could he pos
sbly know what disposition Congress might think proper
/ TO make OF the territory acquired from Mexico! In
1904 Louisiana divided into two Territories; and in
1922 East and West Florida were consolidated into one
And yet the Presidents in advance OF all Legislation, ad
vses the people OF each Territory 10 form plan OF
State constitution Again:
Under these circumstances, thonght and still think
s~ e q a. =
- Sa!e TO remove all occasion f the aga-
| The unnecessary agitation! Wings of the South, what
say you to this But surely there easier method
Of preventing this agtation he had only to declare his
purpose to redeem the pledges made on his behalf BY his
sorry. sir, that the President has thought fit TO
adopt this simple mode Of alayiGg the agitation which he
80 much deprecaies Instead Of that, the people now
dwelling in California and New Mexico invited to
usup powers belonging only to the representatives OF the
people Of the United Staiesfo preuent The public mind
from beng unnecessarily agitated Who knows but the
move may induce the President TO communicate to
This House the constitution of the State Of Columbia,
soon perhaps, to be adopted by the people OF this Dis
ct, in the exercise OF those natural rights Of segov
ernment which have been respected the other side Of
Sir had the President been disposed to seek for the
limit OF his authority IN The pecedents supplied by the
early legislation OF Congress- he could have been at no
loss to understand the extent OF his power In October,
S03 soon after the acquisition OF louisiana law was
passed authorizing the President to take possession OF
that territory and to appoint the military, CIVIL and u
dlclal officers similar law was passed in 1921, in reia
ton 10 Forida and in 1922, such citizens possessed
hs quasSns ssss z prescribed BY law wse aqhssd to
given the President both in the case OF Louisiana and
Foraia, 10 appoint legislative council II these early
pfeCeuents were now was III the law winch
passed the last session OF Congress, twelve months
ago, was also overooked allude TO the act establish
ing territorial government for Minnesota Congress- in
their simplicity, then supposed that the right prescribe
The qualifications OF voters exclusively theirs; and
that II especially proper conne to cizens OF the
United States the high privilege Of regulating the domes
But new lights have lately dawned upon US!
Sir, whatever surprise and regret the course and opn-
ions oil the administration may have occasoned 10 its
southern supporters, cannot say they unexpected
to me. could have wished, however, that my appre-
tensions had not been realized and that the President
elected as he was, with the concurrence OF SO many OF
the southern States would have deemed their cause that
OF the constitution. But fear il is too late; and II
Is with real modification that find myself constrained
TO class President Taylor in the number our opponents
But there only the greater necessity laid upon US, sup
ported they 10 be- by this powerful auxiliary,
expose the into which they have fallen, and assa
the positions they have assumed.
trust shall be enabled to enter upon this discussion
with calmness and moderation, and with all proper par
amentary Difference TO the feelings and opinions OF those
who differ from me.
We are told sir, that is the purpose OF the North
10 abolish slavery in any State or Territory where IL now
exits, but only TO prohibit its introduction into territory
which is tree This the statement OF the northern
position, and Il is this mode OF stating the question at
issue between us that has exerted so disastrous an
influence upon the opinions o the people oil the non
sayeholding States But in declaring that their sole OBJ
ect 10 prohibit the introduction oil this institution into
country where II does not now prevail, they only beg
the question They take for granted what they are re.
qured to prove. and what now most emPhancaliy
orna and the other territory acquired IRON Mexico and
the Legislation contemplated BY the Nonh II II could have
any constitutional validity at all would abolish and sup
press it, and not merely prevent its Introduction. do not
say that there are apes California but that sapery,
recognised relation, as domestic or political nsttu
lIon does this time prevail throughout California and
New Mexico The absence OF slaves does not necess.
rly prove the unlawfulness OF slavery. Ii all the slaves
the Stale of Virginia should be sent beyond her bor
ders, emancpaied by their several propneiors, could IL
he said that iDery longer existed there that this
cent ans legazed relation between master and servant
by this accidental absence or emancipation OF the
slaves, destroyed prohbiied Woad the right OF her
ctzens 10 acquire aud Introduce other slaves iIom oiher
Saes be at an end Undoubtedly not The right TO hold
slaves would exist though there mignt be no slaves A
right always precedes the occasion for its exercise The
right to establish bank precedes the actual creation OF
the bank the right elect to Office pecedes the actual
appointment o the olhcer; the right of properly in a
house pfecedes the actual erection OF the budng The
non existence OF thing does not prove egaty. The
absence OF persons holding the relation Of husband and
wife would prove the unawfuness oil tue institution
OF marriage.
Whether then, the institution OF slavery the right 10
hold slaves does does not exist in California depends
not at all upon the actual presence OF slaves in that Ter
nory. 10 determine this point must ascertain
whether the existing law in California authorizes or for
bids slavery there II is authorized, then the effect OF
northern interference is TO abolish slavery where
exists and not simply TO exclude il from places where II
does not exist
WHAT, then, are the laws prevailing in California
This material inquiry Tor u gentlemen insist that
slavery at thus time prohibited in that Territory, they
must tell US by what laws this state OF things has beeh
produced.
The only laws 10 which California Is or can be subject
the constitution oil the United States, the passed
IRON 10 time by Congress, the treaty between the