The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1850-03-22

nor whether they are the result of Executive inter
ference or Executive action the part Of the past
or present administrations. II is enough 10 state
the facts as they exist, without impugning the mo-
tives OF any one. Unfortunately for the country,
there are many who look 10 the settlement of this
question only with reference TO its bearing upon
political partes and hence great injustice is done
those who act only from the best and purest mo-
tives. While the first are vigant in finding out,
and clamorous in condemning any and every act
of the present Government connected with this
subject, they remember 10 forget what was done
by the past administration. Let state the ac-
count, and see, if we are permitted to draw in
ferences from facts, which is most responsible, the
present past administration, for having, by it's
action, influenced the result of this question, and
placed upon that Territory population opposed To
slavery On the hand find, that the records of
this Government show that the last administration
sent to California regiment Of some eight hundred
or thousand men, all the companies of which were
taken from a State holding, in very extreme de-
gree, anti slavery opinions. ] allude to Col. Ste
venson's regiment, sent out by Mr.. Polk. This of
itself was enough to settle the question TO the fu
ture existence Of slavery in that Territory but
this is by no means the worst feature in the
The condition imposed by the then Secretary of
War, under the direction of the then President, of
that they to be discharged from service in that
country without receiving any transportation back
to the United States This is act of the last
administration relative TO this subject which is
known; and how far il tended to produce the re-
suit which has taken place in California, i leave to
the consideration of the dispassionate. The present
Administration is charged with having interfcrcd
through its agents, and with having caused to
be incorporated into their constitution the anti
slavery clause; and reference is made to the
fact that the Hon. II. BUTLER KING was sent
to California for that purpose. 1t should be
borne in mind that this agent is not only the
resident of slave State, but is large owner
OF that kind Of property. ] mention these facts
not by way of charging the past administra
ton with having done what it did for the purpose
of excluding slavery from that Territory, but to
show into what extravagancies partisan politicians
may run who never had higher aspiration than
that of injuring political opponent, and thereby
securing party triumph. Men may school them
selves to believe that the sending of stakeholder
had great influence in preudcing the rights of the
South in California, while the sending Of thou
sand anti slavery men was small item in the ac-
count; but they will have some difficulty in i'm
posing far upon an honest and intelligent public
to procure for themselves the character of sim
cerity. If it necessary to indulge in yituper-
alton, a suitable occasion could never present
itself for holding up to the scorn and contempt Of
every honest man those who have attempted to
blacken the fame and impeach the integrity of that
sterling patriot and best of men, General TAYLOR,
because he has evinced an anxiety to settle this
question in conformity with the principles of JUS
tice, and in such manner as to preserve and per-
petuate the peace and prosperity of the American
people No speeches or essays required to
vince every section of this Confederacy of his in
tegrity and patriotism; and while it might be plea
SAINT to refer to his history for the proof of what
assert, the freshness Of that history in the memory
Of all renders such an act one of supererogaton.
JUSTICE.